Category: World

A new government website lists journalists and media outlets that Donald Trump’s administration considers liars. Experts say the move endangers free media ― and thus erodes democracy in the US.

It’s no secret that the current US administration doesn’t have too high an opinion of journalists. President Donald Trump recently called a female reporter asking him about his involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal “piggy.”

And in a press briefing on Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt talked about how much of her job is taken up by dealing with what she labeled inaccurate characterizations published by White House correspondents.

“The fake news that we see pumped out of this building on a day-to-day basis — it’s honestly overwhelming to keep up with it all,” she said.

New White House website a media ‘Hall of Shame’

In response to what Leavitt said were “fake news and … attacks” being spread by reporters, the White House has created a website that lists media outlets and reporters who, according to the government, publish false, biased or misleading stories.

The new “Media Offenders” website includes featured “Offenders of the Week” as well as a “Hall of Shame” that consists of four pages (at time of publication) of media reports the White House has sorted into the categories bias, lie, false claim, malpractice, omission of context, mischaracterization, circular reporting, failure to report and left-wing lunacy.

In a statement released on December 1, the White House said by creating the website, it “dropped a flamethrower on the Fake News Media.”

Katherine Jacobsen, the US, Canada and Caribbean program coordinator at the non-profit Committee to Protect Journalists sees it differently.

“When the language that is being used on the website … looks like a smear campaign [and] smells like a smear campaign, it probably is a smear campaign,” Jacobsen told DW. “And I can’t overstate how concerning that is.”

White House rhetoric puts journalists at risk

Jacobsen said a website like this, created by the US government, “creates a permission structure not only for potential verbal attacks against the press, but real-world attacks.”

In addition to the criticized outlets, the website also lists the names of the reporters who wrote or produced the offending report in question.

“These journalists are trying to expose factual information, create a more transparent environment,” Jacobsen said. “We do know this kind of rhetoric ratchets up the atmosphere, and that in turn makes it less safe for journalists out there doing their job.”

The website set up by the Trump White House amounts to threatening media outlets, Jonathan Katz, a fellow in governance studies at the think tank Brookings Institution, says, too.

“It can have a chilling effect on free speech, on independent media,” Katz told DW. “We’re watching carefully to see how this affects press freedom in the United States.”

Press freedom one of the foundational principles of the US

Anything but a fully free press goes against the very DNA of the country. The first amendment to the US Constitution reads, in part, “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press …”

In 1776, lawmakers in colonial Virginia passed a declaration of rights that noted the importance of a free press: “The freedom of the press is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.”

The late Ben Bradlee, executive editor of the Washington Post from 1968 to 1991, spoke about press freedom in 2009, on the 215th anniversary of the Bill of Rights, which includes the first amendment.

“You will never get a reporter to say that the relationships with the government are good,” Bradlee told Voice of America. “Because if he did, he would probably be lying and the government would be treating him too well. They don’t have to treat us all that well. They just have to stay out of the way.”

‘We’ve never seen a president attack the media the way Trump has’

The relationship between the federal US government and the press has never been purely harmonious. In a democracy, journalists are supposed to hold government officials accountable for their actions. That means they sometimes report stories that the government doesn’t like, and sometimes, the president and members of his government treat journalists in ways they don’t like.

But the “Media Offenders” website, along with the Pentagon’s reporting restrictions and Trump’s lawsuits against several media outlets publishing unfavorable stories about him, is a sign of how unprecedented the current US government’s antagonism against the press is.

“Every president, at times, has had issues with the media and media coverage. But we’ve never seen a president attack the media the way Trump has,” Tom Jones, senior writer at the nonprofit Poynter Institute, which, among other functions, provides journalism ethics training, told DW. “Donald Trump, by far, has been the most adversarial president when it comes to the press.”

Americans split on how critical they are of the press

White House press spokeswoman Leavitt says it is the journalists that are the problem, not the president.

“The standard for journalism has dropped to … a historic low in this country,” she said in her press briefing on December 1.

A significant number of Republican voters appear to agree with her, at least when it comes to coverage of the 2024 presidential elections.

According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in September 2024, before the actual election on November 5 of that year, 60% of Republican and Republican-leaning voters said the media was doing not too well or even not well at all covering the election campaign. Among Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters on the other hand, 77% said the media were doing a somewhat good or even a very good job of covering the election.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/how-white-house-attack-on-journalists-affects-us-press-freedom/a-75040640

Senator Flavio Bolsonaro declared himself heir to his father’s political dynasty, saying he’ll run for president in 2026.

Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of Brazil’s jailed former President Jair Bolsonaro, said his father has chosen him to lead his far-right Liberal Party and run for president in next year’s election.

“It is with great responsibility that I confirm the decision of Brazil’s greatest political and moral leader, Jair Messias Bolsonaro, to entrust me with the mission of continuing our national project,” the younger Bolsonaro wrote on X on Friday.

His father was sentenced in September to a 27-year prison term for planning a coup after losing the 2022 presidential election to current leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Shakeup for Brazil’s 2026 general elections

Flavio Bolsonaro was elected to Brazil’s senate in 2018 for an eight-year term after previously serving as a state legislator in Rio de Janeiro.

He is considered extreme on law-and-order issues, having even requested US airstrikes on boats in Rio de Janeiro to combat drug trafficking.

In his social media announcement, which included a picture of him kissing his father on the head, Bolsonaro said he “will not stand idle while families lose hope and democracy is crumbling.”

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/brazils-bolsonaro-backs-eldest-sons-bid-for-presidency/a-75043900

The new military service law will come into effect in January. Many think it goes too far, while others want to return to full conscription.

It is snowing, and 16-year-old Carlotta is standing on the vast military training ground in Grafenwöhr watching a howitzer 2000 fire live ammunition. It is cold and very loud when the shells are fired, so Carlotta has to wear earplugs.

This is not a day like any other for the young school student: While her friends are sitting in warm classrooms in Cologne, she has made her way to Bavaria by train alone. In the barracks of Tank Artillery Battalion 375 in Weiden, she has moved into a room and been given a uniform, in which she now stands in the winter cold on the grounds, together with two dozen other young men and women.

A whole team of supervisors looks after the young people: The German military is sparing no effort to recruit new soldiers. Carlotta also wants to see if the Bundeswehr is really something for her. To do so, she is taking part in the so-called “Discovery Days” — a kind of short internship with the troops, including early morning sports and camaraderie evenings.

The student can well imagine joining the army later. “For three or four years to start with, and if I like it, for eight years,” she told DW. But she doesn’t think much of conscription: “You shouldn’t force anything on people. It’s much better to join voluntarily than to be forced, because then you lose your motivation.”

Conscripts will earn more starting in January

Defense Minister Boris Pistoriussees it the same way: The aim of the new military service law, he says, is to motivate more young people to volunteer. One incentive is better pay: Starting in early 2026, new recruits will receive a respectable monthly wage of €2,600 ($3,000) before tax. In return, they must serve in the military for at least six months. Those who commit to at least twelve months will also receive a subsidy for their driving lessons.

Germany’s new military service, which the Bundestag approved on Friday, is therefore a kind of incentive drive with which Pistorius wants to avoid one thing: A rapid return to full conscription, which his center-left Social Democrats (SPD) reject. Military service will remain voluntary “if everything goes as well as we hope,” Pistorius emphasized in the Bundestag debate.

But will it be possible to fill the gaps in personnel without conscription? While the SPD hopes so, politicians from the other government parties, the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU) parties are skeptical. They would prefer to return to national service, which Germany suspended in 2011.

The Bundeswehr wants to recruit 80,000 new soldiers by 2035, and the path to that target is laid down in detail in the new law. The Defense Ministry must report its progress to the Bundestag every six months. In view of the perceived threat posed by Russia, the standing army is to grow from its current level of just under 182,000 soldiers to 260,000 — this is Germany’s commitment to NATO. In addition, there are to be 200,000 reservists.

First favored, then rejected: The lottery

The dispute over future military service plans has divided the governing coalition for months. Among the controversially discussed models was a lottery system. A proposal to determine who has to join the Bundeswehr by lottery outraged many young people in particular: Potentially life-and-death decisions should not be made at random. In general, many young people feel like they have been left out of the discussion about military service.

The new “Military Service Modernization Act” is now a compromise: For the time being, military service remains voluntary. But at the same time, all 18-year-old men will have new obligations: Starting in early 2026, they will receive a questionnaire that they must fill out. It will ask about their willingness to serve in the Bundeswehr, their physical fitness, and their education. For women, answering the questions is voluntary, as they cannot be required to perform military service under the Constitution.

From mid-2027, the process will go one step further: All men born in 2008 or later will then have to appear at an appointed to time for a fitness test that will determine, in the event of conflict, who could be drafted. Although the process will begin in 2026, it will not be until mid-2027 that the Bundeswehr will have sufficient capacity to take on new recruits.

Criticism of compulsory medicals

The compulsory medical examination is particularly controversial: Critics see it as a first step towards full conscription. They also fear that the lottery system will be back on the table if not enough volunteers come forward. In that case, the government may decide to introduce a so-called “needs-based conscription,” whereby a portion of the young men in a given age group would be drafted depending on the needs of the Bundeswehr. The decision on whether to reinstate conscription in whole or in part lies with the Bundestag.

On the day the law was passed, schoolchildren took to the streets in many German cities: “We don’t want to be locked up in barracks for half a year, trained in drill and obedience, and taught to kill,” wrote the organizers of the “school strike against conscription” in their call for nationwide rallies. “We feel neglected as a generation, and we don’t see why our generation should jump into the trenches for the government,” Leo Reinemann, a student and co-organizer of the school strike in Koblenz, told public broadcaster SWR.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/germany-new-military-service-law-polarizes-society/a-75033848

In his second term, US President Donald Trump has taken his MAGA movement global, criticizing election outcomes, climate change initiatives and migration policy while backing populist presidential candidates.

Days after the presidential election in Honduras, the two leading candidates are still neck and neck. At one point, only about 500 votes were separating the centrist Salvador Nasralla and the conservative Nasry Asfura.

This was reason enough for US President Donald Trump to pipe up for his favorite, Asfura. “Looks like Honduras is trying to change the results of their Presidential Election. If they do, there will be hell to pay!” he posted on his own social media platform Truth Social.

There have been allegations of election fraud on both sides. This is not uncommon in Honduras, where serious allegations of the like overshadowed the elections of 2013 and 2017. But since Honduras is a small country with little influence over global politics, why has Trump reacted so strongly?

For Cathryn Clüver-Ashbrook, a trans-Atlantic expert at the independent German Bertelsmann Foundation, the US president has clearly taken a liking to the idea of political spheres of influence.

“He sees himself almost as imperial in his role in the White House, and he likes it when the world dances to his tune — especially in the Western Hemisphere. And it must be emphasized that these are his interests, not those of traditional US foreign policy.”

One of his “spheres of interest” seems to be Latin America. “The military operations off the coast of Venezuela, the well over $20 billion that went to Argentinian President (Javier) Milei to save his election, the intimidation of the Colombian head of state, the election recommendation in Honduras, with threatening postures,” Clüver-Ashbrook lists.

“A new policy is emerging here that the US has not pursued so actively toward its neighbors in Latin and South America for a long time.”

Interference in Europe

But Europe is also a target.

• In Poland, Trump openly supported the nationalist-conservative EU skeptic Karol Nawrocki.
• In Hungary, he stands behind Viktor Orban.
• In Germany, the US government and the far-right AfD party are currently intensifying their contacts.

Just a few days ago, the US instructed its diplomats to promote anti-immigration policies in Europe.

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that is closely aligned to Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement , has actively lobbied against the EU’s climate targets. In April, it published “Project 2025,” which is considered a blueprint for restructuring the US government.

In the first year of his second presidential term, Trump has radically changed the US’s foreign policy. More radically than almost any of his predecessors, he is breaking with the unwritten principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of allied states.

Trump sees Europe as a ‘parasite’ exploiting the US

In this context, domestic and foreign policy are essentially one and the same for the US president, concluded Celia Belin, the author of a study by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) in May 2025. She argued that the US president saw his foreign policy primarily as an international continuation of the cultural struggle raging within the US.

“Liberals and Democrats are the enemy within; Europeans are their extension outside,” she wrote. She went on to say that Trump perceived Europe as a “parasite” exploiting the US, just as he accuses Democrats in the US of weakening the country.

“An ideologization of US foreign policy can already be found in the core documents of Project 2025,” agreed Clüver-Ashbrook, explaining that these argued that US foreign policy should be more closely aligned with strict conservative values.

This, she continued, fits in with the attitude of Trump’s former campaign advisor Steve Bannon, who recently described Russia in an interview as a “devoutly Christian nation” and a “true ally during World War II.”

She explained that the Trump administration was breaking with previous foundations of US foreign policy and pursuing a “major ideological shift” driven by “very strategic ambitions regarding foreign policy.”

Clüver-Ashbrook pointed out that Europeans were not only on ending the war in Ukraine but there had been several occasions, on which left-wing liberal Europeans in particular had been treated with contempt by representatives of the US government.

She cited a Signal chat about a potential US attack on Yemen that was leaked by The Atlantic, a US magazine, earlier this year, in which US Vice President JD Vance said that it would benefit Europe more than the US. “I just hate bailing Europe out again,” he wrote. And in response, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who now calls himself Secretary of War, wrote: “I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It’s PATHETIC.”

Europe is in the midst of a cultural war

According to Pawel Zerka from the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), Europe is in the midst of a cultural war fueled by this mindset. He believes the US government is waging an open ideological battle in Europe too over values such as migration, climate change, “wokeism” and freedom of expression.

He says that Trump supports New Right movements wherever possible, normalizing its radical positions. The strategies supported by MAGA ideology include active interference in elections in favor of right-wing and conservative candidates, he explains, as well as the establishment of a kind of “MAGA International” through the creation of conservative networks and the promotion of right-wing media outlets, parties, and conferences such as the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/donald-trump-maga-honduras-2025-election-migration-climate-change-policies/a-75023825

Bihar-born Abhay Kumar Singh, a medical graduate from Russia, joined President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia Party in 2015. He became the first Indian-origin lawmaker in Russia after winning an election in 2017. Speaking to India Today TV, he recalled how he infused Indian-style campaigning into Russian elections, which helped him secure a record-margin victory.

In 1991, when Abhay Kumar left Patna to study medicine in Russia, he never imagined he would one day become a lawmaker in a foreign land. Today, the Bihar-born Kumar serves as a Deputat in the Kursk city legislature, a role equivalent to an MLA in India.

Days before Russian President Vladimir Putin’s tenth state visit to India, Abhay Kumar Singh hailed Russia-made India’s S-400 batteries as “a very good missile system”. He, however, urged India to acquire the advanced S-500 missile system.

“S-400 is a very good missile system. But the S-500 is the latest technology, and it is being used in Russia only. Russia is not giving it to any other country. If Russia decides to supply it to India, India will become the first country to get it. Even China hasn’t got this system,” Singh, who also won his second election in 2022, said.

So, who is Abhay Kumar Singh, the boy from Patna who went on to become an MLA in Russia and a member of Putin’s party.

HOW ABHAY KUMAR SINGH, MEDICINE STUDENT FROM PATNA, GET INTO RUSSIAN POLITICS?

Abhay Kumar Singh is a native of Bihar’s Patna, and did his schooling at Loyola High School. In Russia, he completed his graduation from Kursk State Medical University in Russia.

After the course’s completion, he returned to Patna to practice as a registered doctor. But he soon went back to Russia to start a pharmaceutical business, later expanding into real estate and construction.

Soon, the Patna boy became a known business personality in Kursk, overcoming all the obstacles being a non-white foreigner he found on his way.

He joined politics in 2015 and contested the polls for the first time in 2017.

HOW SINGH JOINED PUTIN’S PARTY, TOOK BIHAR TO RUSSIA

Singh’s foray into politics began when he joined the United Russia party, the ruling party of Putin, in 2015.

Just two years later, in 2017, he contested and won a seat in the Kursk city assembly as a “deputat”, becoming the first Indian-origin lawmaker elected to public office in Russia.

Speaking to India Today TV, Abhay Kumar Singh recalled his political journey and how he blended Indian politics into Russian elections.

“Politics has always been a part of me. You know, even school children in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh talk about politics and understand it. I joined politics in 2015 after being inspired by Putin,” he said.

Speaking about Russian politicians, he said that in Russia, lawmakers do not interact with people. However, when he first contested elections in 2017, he decided to add an Indian political ‘tadka’ to the Russian elections.

“In Russia, MLAs and MPs do not stay in touch with the people. We brought a tadka of Indian politics to the Russian elections. We held many public meetings and interacted with the local people. In return, they ensured I won with record numbers,” Singh, who represents Russia’s Kursk region bordering Ukraine, told India Today TV.

According to a 2023 report in The Week, Kursk elected Singh as the “first Indian-origin lawmaker not once but twice”, in 2017 and 2022.

Singh also noted Russia’s growing openness to Indian skilled and semi-skilled workers, while claiming Western countries, especially the US, are tightening long-term stay opportunities for Indians.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/putin-bihari-mla-dr-abhay-kumar-singh-kursk-region-who-added-indian-tadka-to-russian-polls-s500-defence-patna-2831222-2025-12-06

A HUGE fire has erupted at the Roswell Air Center nearby the mysterious Hangar 84, the site linked to the bizarre 1947 UFO crash.

Just south of the “alien” site, local fire crews arrived at the scene after the blaze was reported late on Thursday.

Massive plumes of smoke filled the sky, in New Mexico, as the horror fire unfolded.

Officials were initially alarmed the fire could trigger a devastating explosion with hazardous materials and oxygen canisters stored in close proximity.

After considering the risk of explosion, authorities expanded the safety perimeter and were forced into a shock evacuation of neighbouring facilities.

Conspiracy theorists are convinced the eerie coincidence was set-up by officials to burn the bodies of stashed aliens.

The smoking scene was reported at 7:55pm and by 9:45pm Roswell firefighters were able to contain the flames.

No injuries have been reported and authorities are yet to confirm the cause of the blaze and if any historical objects were destroyed by the flames.

Alien conspiracy theorists have been having a field day with the incident launching a fresh wave of extraterrestrial speculation.

Theorists have often sparked rumours about Hangar 84, claiming it’s linked to the mysterious 1947 Roswell crash.

They have taken to social media to discuss the fire, raising questions about what secrets are still buried at this iconic landmark.

One Reddit user said: “Chances are they were storing alien bodies in this hangar for over 80 years, but then when a documentary came out, they were like “alright boys, they all know now. Time to light it up and skedaddle.”

Another person wrote on X: “Well, isn’t that super interesting and an oddly timed “coincidence”… that right as the public starts getting all curious about our past… weird fire breaks out for no reason right next to Hangar 84.”

Authorities are yet to release further information regarding the incident.

The infamous Roswell incident captured international attention when the US Air Force claimed they had recovered debris from a “flying disk.”

Officials attended the peculiar scene on a rancher’s land, after he reported the unusual debris.

On July 8 1947, the intelligence office announced the wreckage was pieces of a flying saucer.

Major Jesse Marcel, an investigator, recalled the site as being ” a large area heavily scattered with metallic debris from a single impact point that scarred the Earth.”

In what conspiracists call a suspicious twist, the military did a u-turn less than 24-hours later, announcing the debris had come from a crashed weather balloon.

Since the incident, worldwide fascination with UFO’s and Aliens has exploded with many alleging the American government have been covering-up their existence.

Earlier this year Britain’s brainiest scientists told The Sun aliens might be lurking on a far-off ocean planet in an “astounding” discovery.

Top alien-hunting astronomers at the University of Cambridge say they’re now 99.7% confident they’ve spotted the best-ever-seen signal of biological activity – and say the planet may be “teeming with life”.

It’s taking place on a distant alien world called K2-18b, which is 120 lightyears away and roughly 2.5x the size of Earth.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/15596916/roswell-fire-ufo-hanger-alien-bodies/

Finland cut Russian energy imports and closed the shared border after the Ukraine war, erasing €12 billion in trade. The shocks deepened the Nordic nation’s deficit, already strained by defense and welfare spending.

Finland, ranked the world’s happiest nation for eight years and traditionally one of the European Union’s most fiscally disciplined countries, has just received a wake-up call from Brussels.

The European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, last week ordered Helsinki to devise a credible plan to resolve the country’s budget deficit, which has crossed the EU’s limit of 3% of gross domestic product (GDP).

The Commission said Finland’s deficit was projected to reach 4.5% of GDP in 2025, while the country’s debt burden was set to hit 90% of GDP next year, up by nearly half since 2019.

The Nordic nation, whose annual economy is worth €300 billion ($349 billion), has now been formally placed under the EU’s Excessive Deficit Procedure. This could lead to financial sanctions, including large fines, suspension of EU funds and stricter fiscal oversight by Brussels.

Low growth, high spending, then Ukraine war

Since the 2008/09 global financial crisis, Finland has struggled with fiscal discipline. The collapse of mobile phone maker Nokia, once the engine of growth, left the economy without a clear driver.

That challenge was deepened in recent years by high welfare costs, a huge increase in defense spending and the economic shock of severing energy and trade ties with neighbor Russia over the war in Ukraine.

In 2021, before Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, bilateral trade between Moscow and Helsinki reached €12.71 billion and made up 4.3% of the Finnish economy. By the first three quarters of this year, trade had fallen by nearly 93%.

The collapse was compounded by Finland’s decision to close its eastern border in late 2023, citing security concerns and Moscow’s weaponized migration tactics. The move halted cross‑border shopping and tourism almost overnight, hitting Finnish border regions especially hard.

According to the Bank of Finland, the country’s central bank, more than 2,000 Finnish firms exported to Russia in 2019. By the end of 2023, that number had dropped to around 100.

Jarkko Kivisto, adviser to the Bank of Finland’s forecasting division, told DW that it’s hard to measure the direct impact of the collapse in Finnish-Russian trade on the deficit.

“We don’t have an estimate for this effect,” Kivisto told DW, adding that the impact had been “indirect through weaker economic activity and lower value added, as well as missing tax revenues from Russian tourism.”

Defense budget hiked over Russian aggression

Faced with its own threats from the Kremlin, from disinformation campaigns to airspace violations, Finland has sharply raised defense spending from €5.1 billion in 2022 to over €6.2 billion in 2024, now exceeding 2.3% of GDP.

The NATO member has pledged to push military spending toward 3% by 2029, which would make it one of the highest spenders in Europe.

Asked whether the fallout from the Ukraine war would have tipped Finland’s deficit over the edge, forcing additional EU scrutiny, Lauri Holappa, Executive Director of the Finnish Centre for New Economic Analysis (UTAK), told DW: “Maybe. It’s possible.”

“Without the invasion, you can argue that we could have used those inputs [defense spending] on more productive things,” added Holappa.

The combination of military spending, collapse of bilateral trade and near-total loss of Russian tourism would have forced the Finnish government to take on additional debt — at a time when the debt burden was already climbing sharply.

Before the war, about a third of Finland’s energy supply came from Russia, leaving the country highly exposed when supplies were cut.

“The largest effect came from the higher energy prices as Finland was quite dependent on energy inputs from Russia,” Heil Simola, senior economist at the Bank of Finland’s Institute for Emerging Economies (BOFIT), told DW.

Energy crisis hiked Finland’s oil costs

Simola said the Nordic country was able to diversify from Russian energy sources relatively quickly — albeit at much higher prices. The switch jacked up Finland’s oil import costs by 109% to over €6 billion in 2022 alone, according to state agency Statistics Finland. Finnish exporters were able to adjust to the wiping of nonenergy trade with Russia without cutting output or jobs, Simola added.

Moscow has, meanwhile, sought to weaponize the deficit debate by spreading disinformation that exaggerates the economic fallout of cutting trade with Moscow, framing Helsinki as unstable, when the deficit issue had been growing for years.

Domestic pressures have mainly pushed Finland’s deficit over EU-acceptable limits. An ageing population has swelled pension and health care costs, while the country’s extensive welfare state — employing nearly a third of the workforce — makes fiscal consolidation politically fraught.

Finland faces years of austerity

Despite the challenges, Finland’s government has passed one of the EU’s strictest budgets for 2025, combining steep spending cuts with tax hikes. A new so-called debt-brake mechanism commits all political parties to long-term deficit reduction. However, some policymakers warn that additional austerity measures and tax hikes will be needed in the next parliamentary term.

“Economic growth alone will not be sufficient to restore fiscal balance,” the Bank of Finland’s Kivisto told DW. “Rough estimates suggest adjustments [tax rises and public sector cuts] of approximately 3% of GDP, or €9–10 billion, are needed over the next 5–10 years.”

But with 80% of Finland’s GDP coming from domestic sectors like household consumption, public services, construction, retail and state-sector employment, economists caution that strict fiscal rules risk choking off the very growth the country needs.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/finland-russia-war-ukraine-eu-budget-deficit-spending-trade-nato/a-74917409

On a jagged coastline in Central California, brown pelicans gather on rock promontories, packed in like edgy commuters as they take flight to feed on a vast school of fish just offshore. The water churns in whitecaps as the big-billed birds plunge beneath the surface in search of northern anchovies, Pacific sardines and mackerel.

If awkward and wobbly in appearance on land, they are graceful once airborne. The signature pouch dangling beneath the lower bill can scoop up to 3 gallons of water with every dip into the ocean — the largest pouch of any bird in the world.

It is what scientists call a “feeding frenzy.” And it is an encouraging sign for a bird that has struggled in recent years with a warming ocean, inconsistent breeding patterns and toxic algae blooms in Southern California.

“I would say the populations are somewhat stable, but some events are concerning,” says marine ornithologist Tammy Russell, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

The gorging seabirds are a “good sign for the marine environment,” Russell said.

On this warm, clear day, thousands of birds have populated the nearby beaches and cliffs, drawn by the abundant food. Cormorants and gulls mix with the pelicans. The incessant roar of the waves and the chorus of bird cries are all that can be heard on this jutting jawbone of coast.

The bird’s range along the Pacific coast extends from British Columbia, Canada, into Mexico. In their struggle for survival, Russell notes that the California brown pelican was once on the federal endangered species list, after a sharp population decline was attributed to the pesticide DDT, which causes eggshell thinning. The population recovered, and the bird was removed from the list in 2009, though it still faces multiple challenges.

They are large birds, with adults weighing about 8 pounds with a wingspan of nearly 7 feet. And because they are big, they need large volumes of fish each day, their favorite food.

“When they don’t get that, they can crash pretty quickly,” Russell noted.

If the water warms, fish can move into deeper, colder water, making it more difficult for the birds to feed. Last year, scores of sick and starving pelicans were found in coastal California communities, and many others died. Wildlife authorities were baffled in 2022 when large numbers of California brown pelicans were found sick and dying.

Source : https://apnews.com/article/california-brown-pelicans-feeding-frenzy-coast-c7292ef7377c5c123eda38e4afe62110

The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case on whether some children born in the US have a constitutional right to citizenship.

On his first day in office in January, President Donald Trump signed an order to end birthright citizenship for those born to parents who are in the country illegally, but the move was blocked by multiple lower courts.

No date has been set yet for the Supreme Court arguments, and a ruling is months away.

Whatever the court decides could have major implications for Trump’s immigration crackdown and for what it means to be an American citizen.

For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution has established the principle that anyone born in the country is a US citizen, with exceptions for children born to diplomats and foreign military forces.

The language of the amendment states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.”

Trump’s executive order seeks to deny citizenship to the children of people who are either in the US illegally or are in the country on temporary visas. It is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to reform the nation’s immigration system and combat what they have called “significant threats to national security and public safety”.

The administration has argued the 14th Amendment clause “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” means the amendment excludes children of people who are not in the country permanently or lawfully.

Cecillia Wang, national legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing the plaintiffs in the case, told the BBC’s news partner CBS that no president can change the 14th Amendment’s fundamental promise of citizenship.

“For over 150 years, it has been the law and our national tradition that everyone born on U.S. soil is a citizen from birth,” Ms Wang said in a statement.

“We look forward to putting this issue to rest once and for all in the Supreme Court this term,” she added.

The US is one of about 30 countries – mostly in the Americas – that grant automatic citizenship to anyone born within their borders.

After legal challenges were brought to Trump’s executive order, several federal court judges ruled that it violated the Constitution, while two federal circuit courts of appeals upheld injunctions blocking the order from going into effect.

Trump then went to the Supreme Court to fight the injunctions. In a win for Trump, the court ruled in June that the injunctions issued by the lower courts exceeded their authority, though it did not address the issue of birthright citizenship itself.

The 14th Amendment was passed in the wake of the US Civil War in order to settle the question of the citizenship of freed, American-born former slaves.

US Solicitor General D John Sauer has argued that the amendment was adopted “to confer citizenship on the newly freed slaves and their children, not on the children of aliens temporarily visiting the United States or of illegal aliens”.

He has said it’s a “mistaken view” that birth on US soil confers citizenship and has argued that that understanding has had “destructive consequences”

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c208j0wrzrvo

Frank Gehry, one of the most influential architects of the last century, has died aged 96.

Gehry was acclaimed for his avant garde, experimental style of architecture. His titanium-covered design of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, catapulted him to fame in 1997.

His breakthrough in the architectural world came years earlier when he redesigned his own home in Santa Monica, California, using materials like chain-link fencing, plywood, and corrugated steel.

His death was confirmed by his chief of staff Meaghan Lloyd. He is survived by two daughters from his first marriage, Leslie and Brina, as well as his wife, Berta Isabel Aguilera, and their two sons, Alejandro and Samuel.

Born in Toronto in 1929, Gehry moved to Los Angeles as a teenager to study architecture at the University of Southern California, before completing further study at the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 1956 and 1957.

After starting his own firm, he broke from traditional architectural principles of symmetry, using unconventional geometric shapes and unfinished materials in a style now known as deconstructivism.

Through blending unexpected materials and sheathing buildings in stainless steel to create curvy exteriors, Gehry created buildings that took on arresting sculptural shapes.

Later in his career, Gehry used 3D modelling similar to that used by aerospace engineers to shape windy buildings, a practice largely avoided by other architects because of the complexity and costliness of construction.

In 1989, at the age of 60, Gehry was awarded the industry’s top accolade, the Pritzker Architecture prize, for lifetime achievement.

The Pritzker jury said his work possessed a “highly refined, sophisticated and adventurous aesthetic”.

“His designs, if compared to American music, could best be likened to Jazz, replete with improvisation and a lively unpredictable spirit,” the panel said at the time.

Gehry’s international breakthrough with the Guggenheim transformed the city of Bilbao, boosting tourism to the city and the local economy. Crafted out of titanium sheets, limestone, and glass, the museum was instantly celebrated as a modern marvel.

Architect Philip Johnson, Gehry’s American contemporary, described the structure as “the greatest building of our time”.

Other cities tried to replicate its success, branded the “Bilbao effect”, where investment in daring art could revitalise ailing economies.

The cultural phenomenon was parodied in a 2005 episode of The Simpsons, in which the fictional town of Springfield invites Gehry, who voiced himself in the cartoon TV show, to design a new concert hall.

In the episode, the shape of the concert hall is jokingly inspired by a letter Gehry had scrunched up.

The guest appearance later “haunted” Gehry, who told the Observer in 2011 that people sincerely believed his real-life designs were inspired by crumpled paper instead of complex computations.

Washington must move even faster to bolster critical minerals projects and offset Beijing’s grip on the world’s supply of the building blocks for electronics, weapons and a range of other goods, three U.S. mining and refining executives said on Thursday.
The push underscores how Washington’s surging support this year for the sector – including taking stakes in mining companies and guaranteeing a price floor for the only U.S. rare earths mine – is falling short of what industry leaders say is needed amid intense Chinese competition.

Executives from Perpetua Resources (PPTA.O), American Rare Earths (ARR.AX), and Westwin Elements told the Reuters NEXT conference in New York that the U.S. government should release a comprehensive minerals plan, pressure Indonesia to trim nickel production, and speed up the time for the U.S. Export-Import Bank and other agencies to approve loan funding, among other steps.
“We need an industrial vision,” said Melissa Sanderson, a director at American Rare Earths, which is working to build a rare earths mine in Wyoming.
“What we need is an integrated plan for building the critical minerals supply chain with all of the myriad inputs, antimony, nickel, copper, rare earths and how that flows through to the battery makers, to the magnet manufacturers, to the various end-users.”

KaLeigh Long, CEO of privately held Westwin, which is building the only U.S. nickel refinery, is asking the Trump administration to pressure Indonesia to limit its nickel output, which has surged in the past two years to roughly 60% of global supply and dragged down nickel prices nearly 50% as a result.
That forced BHP BHP.AX and others to shutter their operations and has posed a challenge for Westwin as it aims to secure financing to refine 34,000 metric tons of nickel per year in Oklahoma by 2030.
“I’m really urging the U.S. government to think simple,” Long said. “In terms of nickel, let’s get a quota on Indonesian production. You do that, and I can almost promise you that overnight you will see a cure in the nickel price.”
Long said a price floor for nickel from Washington would be impractical given the large size of the market for that metal and pushed for limits on Indonesia’s output instead.

“A price floor is kind of a waste of our energy right now,” she said. “I don’t see that being a stable solution or a near-term solution.”
Rare earths, though, are a much smaller market than nickel and price supports are key until there is more transparent pricing, said Sanderson, a former U.S. diplomat and executive at copper miner Freeport-McMoRan (FCX.N).

The London Metal Exchange, for example, trades nickel but not rare earths, a market that China also dominates.
“The LME has shown no interest so far in trying to develop a rare earths market and part of that is because it’s currently a narrow spectrum of an already narrow market,” Sanderson said. “It would be helpful if LME were to develop a pricing mechanism for rare earths, but the question becomes, ‘Would China actually honor it?'”

Source : https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/us-minerals-projects-seek-more-support-washington-compete-with-china-2025-12-04/

During a closed-door White House meeting in his first term, President Donald Trump demanded to know why the U.S. was accepting immigrants from “shithole countries” like Haiti and some African nations, remarks widely reported at the time by Reuters and other media outlets.

Outrage followed. Lawmakers, including some Republicans, condemned the language as offensive. Even Trump sought to do damage control, denying in a social media post that he had used those words.

On Tuesday, during a televised cabinet meeting, Trump reacted to reports of government fraud among pockets of Minnesota’s large Somali population by calling immigrants there “garbage” and saying he wanted them sent “back to where they came from.”
This time around, Republican members of Congress stayed quiet. Vice President JD Vance banged the table in agreement, while White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized Trump’s remarks as “amazing” and an “epic moment.”
The response underscored how Trump’s racial views are no longer seen as out of bounds among some of his allies and supporters. Civil rights advocates and researchers say his comments have become increasingly bold, normalized and politically permissible.

“Racism is no longer a dog whistle in America. We’re dehumanizing and targeting people,” said LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter Fund, a group that pushes for better voter access for marginalized and predominantly Black communities.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement that President Trump is right to highlight problems caused by”radical Somali migrants.”
“While the media feigns outrage, Americans who have suffered at the hands of these schemes will celebrate the president’s comments and strong support for American citizens,” Jackson said.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this week that his agency is investigating allegations that tax dollars from Minnesota were diverted to the militant group Al-Shabaab in Somalia.
Trump has a long history of racist rhetoric, particularly against immigrants of color. He propelled himself into national politics by advancing the false conspiracy theory that President Barack Obama, a Democrat, was not born in the United States.

Critics say that, as president, Trump has implemented policies that reflect his rhetoric, particularly his immigration crackdown.
On Wednesday, Trump doubled down on his comments, telling reporters in the Oval Office that Somalia “is considered by many to be the worst country on earth” and accusing Somali immigrants of having “destroyed the country.”
Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and several other Democrats in Congress called his comments “xenophobic and unacceptable” in a statement and warned that militant groups like the Islamic State could use them to stoke anti-American sentiment abroad.

ESCALATING RHETORIC

Alvin Tillery, a political science professor at Northwestern University, said that Trump’s use of the presidential bully pulpit as a platform for racist commentary is “absolutely unique” in the modern era and goes beyond the rhetoric of previous Republican Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, who were often criticized for making what many saw as thinly veiled racial appeals.
“They never went anywhere near this kind of hateful rhetoric targeting communities of color or minority groups,” Tillery said. “It’s very dangerous.”
In many ways, Trump’s immigration policies echo his political statements. He has blocked virtually all new refugees, save for white South Africans whom he falsely claims are the targets of a “white genocide.”
Masked federal officers have employed aggressive tactics in immigration sweeps across the country and have been criticized for detaining people who simply look Latino or speak Spanish.
In recent days, Trump has escalated his rhetoric and immigration restrictions in the wake of the shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C. The suspected shooter, an Afghan national who came to the U.S. under a program for Afghans who helped American forces during the war in their country, pleaded not guilty to murder and other crimes.
In response, the White House announced it was pausing immigration applications from 19 non-European countries.
Immigration remains one of Trump’s stronger issues, though Reuters/Ipsos polling shows his net approval rating on the subject has gone from plus-7 in January to negative-10 in mid-November. Still, analysts say it gives him leverage at a time when broader support for his policies is faltering.
“It is easy to scapegoat immigrants and say they’re the reason for all these problems,” said Melik Abdul, a Republican strategist and political commentator who supports Trump.

LANGUAGE CARRIES RISKS

Historians say there’s risk to people of color when authorities use racist rhetoric. In October, leaked political group chats exposed racist, antisemitic and violent rhetoric among young Republican leaders, fueling concerns that hate speech has become normalized in American politics.
Trump’s comments on Tuesday have alarmed the sizable Somali American community in Minnesota, amid news reports of possible federal immigration raids there. There were 76,000 people of Somali descent living in Minnesota in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau; more than half were born in the United States.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-garbage-rhetoric-about-somalis-draws-cheers-administration-silence-2025-12-04/

The U.S. Supreme Court revived on Thursday a redrawn Texas electoral map designed to add more Republicans to the U.S. House of Representatives, boosting President Donald Trump’s quest for his party to keep control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections.
The court, whose 6-3 conservative majority includes three justices appointed by Trump, issued the ruling amid a nationwide battle unfolding in Republican-governed and Democratic-led states involving the redrawing of electoral maps to change the composition of congressional districts for partisan advantage.

A lower court that had blocked Texas from using the map concluded it likely was racially discriminatory in violation of U.S. constitutional protections.
The reinstated map – sought by Trump, approved in August by the Republican-led state legislature and signed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott – could flip as many as five currently Democratic-held U.S. House seats to Republicans. Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Texas Republicans cheered the ruling. Texas Democrats called it an affront to democracy, and the Supreme Court’s three liberal justices dissented from the court’s action, which came in an unsigned order.

Republicans currently hold slim majorities in both chambers of Congress. Ceding control of either the House or Senate to the Democrats in the November 2026 elections would endanger Trump’s legislative agenda and open the door to Democratic-led congressional investigations targeting the president.

‘DELICATE FEDERAL-STATE BALANCE’

The Supreme Court granted a request by Texas officials to lift the lower court’s ruling blocking the map.
“The District Court improperly inserted itself into an active primary campaign, causing much confusion and upsetting the delicate federal-state balance in elections,” the court said in a brief opinion explaining the decision.
The court in the order, acknowledging the political aims of Texas to benefit the Republican Party, also said the lower court mistakenly did not fault the new map’s challengers for not themselves producing “a viable alternative map that met the state’s avowedly partisan goals.”

Liberal Justice Elena Kagan criticized the court’s majority, saying it disrespected the work of the lower court, whose ruling actually was authored by a judge appointed by Trump.
“We are a higher court than the district court, but we are not a better one when it comes to making such a fact-based decision,” Kagan wrote in a dissent joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson.
“This court’s stay guarantees that Texas’s new map, with all its enhanced partisan advantage, will govern next year’s elections for the House of Representatives. And this court’s stay ensures that many Texas citizens, for no good reason, will be placed in electoral districts because of their race. And that result, as this court has pronounced year in and year out, is a violation of the Constitution,” Kagan wrote.

CALIFORNIA REACTS

Democratic-governed California reacted to the Texas redistricting by initiating its own effort targeting five Republican-held districts in the state. California voters in November overwhelmingly approved a new map beneficial to Democrats. The Trump administration has sued California to try to stop its new congressional map from taking effect.
Republicans in the Indiana state House of Representatives are expected on Friday to approve a new map targeting the state’s only two Democratic U.S. House members. It is unclear whether the map has enough support to pass the Republican-controlled state Senate.

Other states including Republican-led North Carolina, Missouri and Florida and Democratic-led Virginia and Maryland have either passed new maps or are considering doing so.
Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, lauding the Supreme Court’s ruling, said that “Texas is paving the way as we take our country back, district by district, state by state.”
“This map reflects the political climate of our state and is a massive win for Texas and every conservative who is tired of watching the left try to upend the political system with bogus lawsuits,” Paxton said.
Democratic lawmakers in Texas expressed anger.
“The Supreme Court failed Texas voters today, and they failed American democracy. This is what the end of the Voting Rights Act looks like: courts that won’t protect minority communities even when the evidence is staring them in the face,” said Gene Wu, the Democratic State House minority leader, referring to the landmark 1965 U.S. law that barred racial discrimination in voting.
“Latino and Black voters are being punished for how we vote, plain and simple,” State Representative Ramón Romero Jr. said.
Redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts in a state is a process called redistricting. There have been legal fights at the Supreme Court for decades over a practice called gerrymandering – the redrawing of district boundaries in order to marginalize a certain set of voters and increase the influence of others.
The Supreme Court in a 2019 ruling declared that gerrymandering for partisan reasons – to boost the electoral chances of one’s own party and weaken one’s political opponent – cannot be challenged in federal courts. Gerrymandering driven primarily by race remains unlawful under the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment guarantee of equal protection under the law and 15th Amendment prohibition on racial discrimination in voting.
Many Texas Republican lawmakers have said the new map was devised in response to Trump’s request to redraw electoral maps for a partisan advantage in House races. But the El Paso-based court ruled 2-1 on November 18 that the map likely amounted to an unlawful racial gerrymander, siding with civil rights groups that sued to block it.
Each of the 50 U.S. states is represented in Congress by two U.S. senators, with representation in the 435-seat House based on population. California, the most-populous state, has the most House members with 52, while Texas is second with 38. Republicans currently hold 25 of 38 U.S. House seats in Texas.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/us-supreme-court-revives-pro-republican-texas-voting-map-2025-12-04/

In the days after a Washington Post report raised questions about a September strike by the US military on a suspected drug trafficking boat in the Caribbean, lawmakers in Congress pledged to investigate further.

It was a rare moment of bipartisan concern about a controversial Trump administration action – prompting speculation that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was narrowly confirmed to office in January, might be on shaky ground.

“Members are very concerned,” Republican Congressman Mike Turner said in a television interview on Thursday morning. He added that his colleagues were questioning the accuracy of information provided to them by the Trump administration.

By Thursday afternoon, however, after senior members of Congress reviewed footage and heard from the admiral in charge of the operation, familiar partisan divisions had begun to reemerge.

Republicans defended the boat strike operation – and praised Hegseth.

Democrats condemned what they saw – and called for further inquiries.

At the heart of the divide is a fundamental disagreement over the legality, and morality, of the Trump administration’s ongoing anti-narcotics military campaign in the Caribbean, including its decision to designate narcotics traffickers as “terrorist organisations” and to use lethal force against civilians without outside legal oversight.

Since that first September attack, the US has conducted at least 22 similar strikes resulting in more than 80 deaths.

The Post had reported last Friday that the US launched two attacks on the boat in question and that the second had killed two survivors from the first strike, who were in the water, clinging to the “smoldering wreck”.

The newspaper also said that prior to the attack Hegseth had given an order to “kill them all”. In comments on Tuesday, the secretary said he witnessed the first attack but had left the room before the second strike took place.

After being briefed by General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Admiral Frank Bradley, who oversaw the operation and gave the order for the second strike, none of the congressional lawmakers said they had heard evidence that Hegseth did, in fact, issue a “kill everybody” order.

That, however, was where the consensus ended.

Jim Himes of Connecticut, the senior Democrat on the House intelligence committee, said he found the video of the second attack “deeply, deeply troubling”.

“The fact is that we killed two people who were in deep distress and had neither the means nor obviously the intent to continue their mission,” he told reporters after the briefing.

Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas disagreed, calling the strikes “entirely lawful and needful”.

“I saw two survivors trying to flip a boat loaded with drugs bound for the United States back over so they could stay in the fight,” he said.

For the moment, these differing descriptions from partisan lawmakers, and the original Washington Post reporting, are all the American public has on which to base their own conclusions.

That may change, however. Donald Trump has said he supports releasing the video of the second strike – as the Pentagon has done for many of its Caribbean operations in recent months.

If the video is as disturbing as some Democrats say, it could shift public opinion that has been similarly divided largely along partisan lines.

By Thursday evening, however, Hegseth’s seemingly tenuous position seemed more secure, all the more so after an inspector general report left him largely unscathed.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62dg3x8931o

Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia will boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, after Israel was allowed to compete.

They were among a number of countries who had called for Israel to be excluded over the war in Gaza, as well as accusations of unfair voting practices.

Spanish broadcaster RTVE led calls for a secret ballot on the issue at a meeting in Geneva. It said organisers denied that request – a decision that “increased [our] distrust of the festival’s organisation”.

Ireland’s RTÉ said it felt that its “participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk.”

Spain is one of Eurovision’s “Big Five” countries along with France, Germany, Italy and the UK.

Their artists are allowed straight into the final, as their broadcasters provide the largest financial contribution to the EBU.

Approximately 50 broadcasters, including the BBC, attended a meeting of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) on Thursday to discuss the future of the contest, which is watched by more than 150 million people each year.

They were asked to back new rules intended to discourage governments and third parties from organising voting campaigns for their acts, after allegations that Israel unfairly boosted its entrant, Yuval Raphael, this year.

BBC News understands that voting to accept those measures was tied to a clause whereby members agreed not to proceed with a vote on Israel’s participation.

“This vote means that all EBU Members who wish to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 and agree to comply with the new rules are eligible to take part,” the EBU said.

Martin Green, director of the Eurovision Song Contest, said he was “pleased” that members had been given an “opportunity to debate” Israel’s place in the contest before the vote.

“It was a full, frank and honest and quite moving debate, but as we can see from the emphatic result, they really came together on a belief that the Eurovision Song Contest shouldn’t be used as a political theatre, it must retain some sense of neutrality.”

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog praised the decision to allow the country to compete, calling it “an appreciated gesture of solidarity, brotherhood, and co-operation, symbolising a victory over those who seek to silence Israel and spread hatred”.

He said he was “glad that Israel will participate again in Eurovision and I hope that the competition will remain one that sanctifies culture, poetry, and friendship between peoples and cross-border cultural understanding”.

He added that Israel “deserves to be represented on every stage in the world, and I am fully and actively committed to that”.

The CEO of Israel’s broadcaster, KAN, said the attempt to disqualify its entry “can only be understood as a cultural boycott.

“A boycott may begin today – with Israel – but no-one knows where it will end or who else it may harm,” said Golan Yochpaz.

“Is this what we truly want this contest to be remembered for on its 70th anniversary?”

The BBC, which broadcasts Eurovision in the UK, said in a statement: “We support the collective decision made by members of the EBU. This is about enforcing the rules of the EBU and being inclusive.”

However, the decision has exposed a deep rift in the Eurovision community.

In a statement, Dutch broadcaster Avrotros said that “participation under the current circumstances is incompatible with the public values ​​that are essential to us”.

Spanish broadcaster RTVE added: “The board of directors of RTVE agreed last September that Spain would withdraw from Eurovision if Israel was part of it.”

“This withdrawal also means that RTVE will not broadcast the Eurovision 2026 final… nor the preliminary semi-finals.”

Slovenia’s broadcaster RTV added that their position also “remains unchanged”.

“The recent rule changes do not alter our view. As a public service broadcaster, RTV Slovenia is committed to upholding ethical principles and expects that equal rules and standards apply to all EBU members and all participating countries.”

Belgium’s broadcaster said it would “take a position in the coming days”.

Those who approved of the changes included Nordic broadcasters from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland who issued a joint statement saying they “supported” the EBU’s decision to “address critical shortcomings” in the voting system.

Despite that, Iceland’s RÚV said it would not make a final decision on its participation until next week.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cde6d8wyp79o

President Vladimir Putin has warned again that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war in Ukraine.

“Either we liberate these territories by force, or Ukrainian troops will leave these territories,” he told India Today. Moscow controls some 85% of Donbas.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out ceding territory.

Putin’s comments come after Donald Trump said his negotiators discussing a US peace plan believed Russia’s leader “would like to end the war” after Tuesday’s talks in Moscow.

Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, who was in Moscow, was due to meet Ukraine’s team in Florida.

Trump said Tuesday’s talks in the Kremlin were “reasonably good”, adding it was too soon to say what would happen as “it does take two to tango”.

The original iteration of the US peace plan proposed to hand over areas of the Donbas still under Ukrainian control to the de facto control of Putin – but the Witkoff team presented a modified version in Moscow.

In his India Today interview ahead of a state visit to Delhi, Putin said he had not seen the new version before his talks with Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law.

“That’s why we had to go over every point, that’s why it took so long,” the Kremlin leader said.

He also said Moscow disagreed with parts of the US plan.

“At times we said that yes, we can discuss this, but to that we can’t agree,” Putin said.

He did not name the sticking points. At least two significant points of contention remain – the fate of Ukrainian territory seized by Russian forces and security guarantees for Ukraine.

Putin’s senior foreign policy adviser and key negotiator Yuri Ushakov earlier said straight after the talks that they produced “no compromise” on ending the war.

Ushakov also implied that the Russian negotiating position had been strengthened thanks to what Moscow said were its recent successes on the battlefield.

Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of stalling any ceasefire agreements, saying Moscow is seeking to seize more Ukrainian territory.

Commenting on the Kremlin talks, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybhia said Putin was “wasting the world’s time”.

Ukraine has long insisted on firm security guarantees for Ukraine in any deal.

On Wednesday, Zelensky said “the world clearly feels that there is a real opportunity to end the war” – but negotiations must be “backed by pressure on Russia”, which Kyiv and its European allies accuse of deliberately stalling any ceasefire agreements.

The Ukrainian president said last week his top negotiators had managed to make some key changes in the original US peace plan – seen as strongly favouring Moscow – during talks with an American delegation in Geneva on 23 November.

In a joint statement, US and Ukrainian negotiators said at the time that they had drawn up an “updated and refined peace framework” – but provided no further details.

Top negotiators from Europe – who had voiced concern over the original US plan – were also in the Swiss city last week, meeting separately with the Ukrainian and the US teams.

In a separate development on Thursday, Germany’s Der Spiegel news website said it had obtained a confidential transcript of a conference call in which European leaders expressed concern over the US negotiations.

“There is a possibility that the US will betray Ukraine on the issue of territory without clarity on security guarantees,” French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly said, according to an English transcript of Monday’s conference call.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was quoted as warning that Zelensky had to be “extremely careful in the coming days”.

“They are playing games, both with you and with us,” Merz reportedly said.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb was also quoted as saying: “We mustn’t leave Ukraine and Volodymyr alone with these guys.”

The BBC has not seen the reported transcript.

In response to a Der Spiegel inquiry, France’s Élysée Palace stated that “the president did not express himself in those terms”. The presidential office declined to provide details on how Macron expressed himself, citing confidentiality.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgexgwr1wrro

A unique natural wonder is being eroded. Can Japan bring its breathtaking “juhyo” back from the brink?

Each winter, the upper slopes of Mount Zao in northern Japan – one of the country’s best-known ski areas – are transformed. Fir trees coated in thick frost and snow swell into ghostly figures known as “juhyo” or “snow monsters”.

Juhyo form only under exceptionally rare atmospheric conditions, emerging when strong, persistent winter winds carry supercooled water droplets that freeze on contact with the local evergreen Aomori todomatsu trees, gradually layering into rime ice.

At Mount Zao, these formations occur during sustained westerly winds of up to 26m per second (85ft per second), with surface air temperatures between -6.3C to -0.1C (21-31F) and unusually high cloud liquid water content. Under these precise conditions, the rime thickens on the windward side of trees into overlapping ridges known as “shrimp tails”, the distinctive shapes that cluster together to form the towering juhyo figures.

“Because such precise meteorological and ecological conditions align in very few places, Zao’s snow monsters are a phenomenon almost unique to northern Japan,” says Fumitaka Yanagisawa, an emeritus professor of geochemistry who studies the juhyo at Yamagata University.

The snow monsters are the biggest winter draw of the Zao area, a mountain range which lies between Japan’s Yamagata and Miyagi prefectures and attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually.

But recent research indicates that the monsters are becoming slimmer.

In August 2025, a research team led by Yanagisawa announced findings that quantified what locals have long observed. By analysing identical-angle photographs of Zao’s summit taken since 1933, the team measured the thickness of the figures on a six-point scale. The findings (which have not yet been published in a scientific journal) indicate a widespread shrinking of the juhyo.

“In the 1930s, we saw juhyo five to six metres [16-20ft] across,” Yanagisawa says. “By the postwar decades, they were often two to three metres [7-10ft]. Since 2019, many are half a metre [1.6ft] or less. Some are barely columns.”

The cause is twofold, says Yanagisawa: a warming climate and a forest under attack. The host tree, Aomori todomatsu, suffered a moth outbreak in 2013 that stripped its needles. Bark beetles followed in 2015, boring into weakened trunks. Yamagata officials report that around 23,000 firs, about a fifth of the prefectural side’s stands, have died. With fewer branches and leaves, there is little surface for snow and ice to cling to.

Another 2019 study found that in nearby Yamagata City, average temperatures from December to March have risen by about 2C (3.6F) over the past 120 years. The lower altitude limit of juhyo formation has shifted upward in step with this warming, it found, while the juhyo also last for fewer days of the year.

“Unique landscapes are already being lost to climate change,” says Akihiko Ito, an ecologist who specialises in forests and climate change at the University of Tokyo.

Research shows that Japan’s warming climate and extreme weather are already damaging many of its high mountain forests. “Seasonal shifts in spring and autumn can harm leaves, and insect outbreaks are expanding. These stresses may reduce forest growth and density,” Ito says.

Across Japan’s alpine zones, temperatures have been rising faster than the global average since the 1980s. “In scenarios where climate change continues to advance significantly by the end of this century, it is possible that in warmer-than-usual winters, juhyo may no longer form at all,” Ito says.

The threat has prompted action across Yamagata. In March 2023, the prefecture launched the Juhyo Revival Conference – a permanent council bringing together researchers, officials, local businesses and residents to coordinate long-term efforts to restore the fir forests and preserve Mount Zao’s snow monsters.

Juhyo are not only a natural spectacle but also a pillar of the local economy. “The influx of tourists supports hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops throughout the area,” says Genji Akiba, deputy director of the Zao Onsen Tourism Association. “If the juhyo disappear, it would be a huge blow.”

“Revival is a strong wish of our citizens,” says Yoko Honma, a conservation specialist at Yamagata Prefecture’s nature division. Since 2019, the local forest office has transplanted more than 190 naturally regenerated saplings from lower slopes to the summit zone near the ropeway station. “Because it takes 50 to 70 years for these firs to mature, the key is sustaining conservation across generations,” says Honma. “We need patience and continuity.”

In Murayama, about 20km (12 miles) north-west of Zao, students from a forestry and environmental science course at Murayama Technical High School have also taken up the challenge of reviving the firs.

Since 2022, the students have been planting Aomori todomatsu trees and studying how to propagate and protect the species. Together with staff from the Yamagata Forest Office, they visit Mount Zao to collect young fir saplings and bring them back to their school for research. There, they cultivate stems through cuttings and experiment with methods for artificially propagating and efficiently producing seedlings.

“It’s been challenging,” says Rin Oizumi, a second-year student in the course. “When the seeds we sowed in heavy rain finally sprouted, I felt both relief and excitement. But it was heartbreaking to find that some plots had been damaged by field mice, which had eaten the young shoots.” The students have also conducted preliminary experiments using branches of a related fir species, which have shown successful germination.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20251203-japans-disappearing-snow-monsters

New investigative reports into a series of high-profile and costly Navy mishaps during a U.S.-led campaign against Yemen’s Houthi rebels reveal that the most intense running sea battle that the military service has faced since World War II took a toll on ships and personnel.

The four reports released Thursday cover a “friendly fire” incident in December 2024 that saw the cruiser USS Gettysburg shoot at two fighter jets from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, downing one, as well as the Truman’s collision with a merchant vessel and the loss of two more multimillion-dollar jets from the carrier to mishaps earlier this year.

Taken together, the reports paint a picture of an aircraft carrier that was not only beset by regular missile attacks that stressed the crew but also other operational demands that put pressure on top leaders to the point that the ship’s captain and navigator were extremely sleep-deprived. That was just halfway through an eight-month deployment originally slated to last six months.

One report also found that, in some parts of the ship, the intense combat operations “led to a numbness among the crew” and some sailors “lost sight of the purpose of their role to the mission.”

The four preventable mishaps cost the Navy over $100 million in three lost aircraft and damage to the Truman as well as injuries to multiple sailors. While no one died, several of the mishaps hinged on just seconds of reaction time.

‘A wake-up call’ for the Navy

The investigation into the Truman’s collision with a merchant vessel said that “had the collision occurred 100 ft forward, the impact would have likely pierced a berthing compartment with 120 sleeping Sailors.”

Capt. Dave Snowden, the Truman’s commander at the time, “reduced the angle of impact, and delayed the time to impact, which likely prevented more significant damage and potential loss of life” in the seconds before the collision, the report said.

The mishaps with the Truman are a “wake-up call” for the Navy about the demands of battle and the dangers of overextending ships and their crew, said Bradley Martin, a senior policy researcher at RAND and a retired Navy captain.

“The clear message from this deployment is that the Navy is not ready to deal with the reality of extended combat,” Martin said, adding that the Truman “was obviously at a point where it was running at a ragged edge.”

The campaign against the Houthi rebels in Yemen began in October 2023 when the militants began launching drones and missiles at ships in the Red Sea amid the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. U.S. military operations to counter the Houthis began under then-President Joe Biden, and President Donald Trump continued the campaign.

It culminated with a monthlong bombing campaign earlier this year, during which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared sensitive information about a strike over Signal chat. The Pentagon’s inspector general said Thursday that the move put U.S. troops at risk, even though Hegseth had the authority to declassify the material.

Unclear accountability following major mishaps

It is unclear what, if anything, the Navy did to hold most of the sailors and leaders involved to account because those sections in the reports were redacted. The Navy did publicly relieve Snowden of command about a week after the collision with the merchant vessel.

Adm. James Kilby, the Navy’s second-highest ranking officer, assured reporters Thursday that “accountability actions were taken across all the operators involved” in the four mishaps but he did not offer any details.

Martin of RAND said there should be individual accountability but added that “some of this is a case of the Navy writ large asking for too much and finding out what happens when too much is demanded.”

“The level of air threat that was coming from the Houthis, it’s nothing like you’d get from China, but it was enough to be stressing,” Martin said. “And I think what you saw was a lot of brittleness in the readiness and preparation.”

All four investigations revolve around the Truman. The ship was the third aircraft carrier dispatched to the region, arriving in December 2024.

Firing on US fighter jets and a collision at sea

The Truman conducted its first defensive strike against the Houthis on Dec. 22, 2024, and other ships in the carrier’s strike group spent several hours defending against retaliatory cruise missiles and attack drones.

The USS Gettysburg, one ship in the strike group, mistook several F/A-18F fighter jets from the Truman for more Houthi missiles and fired at two of them. The heavily redacted report largely faulted the sailors in the Gettysburg’s combat information center for being poorly trained and overly relying on technology that had faced problems.

The troops from one jet ejected before the missile struck, while the ship stopped the second missile shortly before impact.

In February, sailors on the Truman told investigators that they felt the strain of “a pressurized schedule and a culture of ‘just get it done.’”

As it prepared to head back to the Red Sea following a port visit, it had to sail through the highly trafficked waters just outside the Suez Canal. Running behind schedule, an officer drove the massive aircraft carrier at a speed that investigators later called unsafe. It would have needed almost a mile and a half to come to a stop after halting the engines.

As a merchant ship moved into the carrier’s path, the officer did not take enough action to escape danger, the report found, listing his actions as the top cause for the collision. The commander and the ship’s navigator also were faulted for not fully realizing the risks of the transit.

The loss of two more Navy jets

Once the ship was back in the Red Sea, the crew was conducting combat operations and “flying everyday with little exception” since March 15, Capt. Christopher Hill, the new commander, told investigators.

In April, the ship made a sharp turn to avoid an incoming Houthi missile as sailors in the hangars were moving aircraft around. As the Truman began to tilt with the turn, the jet began to slip.

The sailors moving the jet told investigators that as the plane slipped off the deck and into the ocean, its landing wheels were rolling despite the sailor inside the plane “actively attempting to brake.”

The deck also was far dirtier and more slippery than normal, partly because “high operational tempo of combat flight operations impeded the regular 10-day scrubs” that were needed.

Source : https://apnews.com/article/navy-investigations-mishaps-houthi-attacks-1d6593bb438fa0f1263c0dca43d5c25e

The end of 2025 is near. And the season of unwrapping our online lives — or at least a glimpse of what they looked like over the past year — is well underway.

Music streamers, social media sites and a host of other apps have already started delivering their annual recaps into customers’ inboxes. That gives users a peak at anything from the top songs they had on repeat and the videos they streamed the most, to online language-learning or everyday tips they turned to the internet for in 2025.

Here’s some of the biggest platforms that have already released their 2025 recaps (covering data for at least the majority of the year) — and where to find them. Most instruct users to download the latest version of their apps to get the best experience.

Spotify Wrapped

Spotify released its Wrapped on Dec. 3. The platform will prompt users to view their annual “year in audio” — recapping the top songs, artists, podcasts and more they streamed the most in 2025 (or, more specifically, January through mid November ). You can otherwise click on “Wrapped” on the top banner on the app to view your stats and download your yearly playlist.

This year, the music streamer is also introducing “Wrapped Party” — a feature that allows you to compare listening habits with friends who use Spotify, too. Wrapped Party is only available on Spotify’s mobile app. You can start it within Spotify’s Wrapped hub or searching for “Wrapped Party” within the app.

YouTube Recap

Google’s streaming giant unveiled its new “YouTube Recap” on Dec. 2, starting in North America. Recap gives an overview of YouTube users’ watch history over the last year — including top artists and songs if you listened to music on the platform.

YouTube said Recap would roll out worldwide over the first week of December. According to the platform, it can be found on the YouTube homepage or under the “You” profile tab on the mobile app or desktop. You must be signed into the platform and have the latest update.

Apple Replay

Apple Music released its annual “Replay” on Dec. 2 — which gives its users a look at their top songs, artists, genres and more streamed on the platform over the past year.

To find Replay on the Apple Music app, you need to go to the Home tab, scroll down to “Your Top Music” and then click “Go back in time,” Apple says. On the web, you can also sign into your account at replay.music.apple.com and click “Jump In.”

Amazon Delivered

Amazon’s music and podcasting service also has an annual recap, which is called “Delivered.” 2025 Delivered rolled out on Dec. 2 — available for Amazon Music customers with at least a few hours of listening history in a dozen countries.

According to Amazon, you can see Delivered by tapping the “Find” button in the Amazon Music App and navigating to “Listen Your Way.

Twitch Recap

Twitch also offers an annual recap for viewers and streamers on the platform. According to the livestreaming site, personalized recaps are only available to those who have watched or streamed at least 10 hours of content on Twitch during its yearly window — which ran from Oct. 31, 2024 to the end of October this year.

To find your Twitch recap, which went live in early December, users can visit twitch.tv/annual-recap. You will need to have an account to log in.

Duolingo Year in Review

Language-learning app Duolingo also released its annual “year in review” in early December — giving users a look at how many lessons, streaks, minutes and more they spent on the app this year.

Duolingo may prompt you to look at your 2025 recap once you open the app. But in the bottom corner of the home navigation page, there’s also a small logo you can click on to watch the review.

Source : https://apnews.com/article/spotify-youtube-twitch-amazon-recap-2025-3d057a82a1c75c13b1ddabb6da84f1f3

WASHINGTON DC pipe-bomb suspect Brian Cole Jr. has been unmasked in a resurfaced family photo five years after he allegedly planted explosive devices ahead of the January 6 riot.

The smiling image of Cole, dressed in a blue shirt and tie, was posted by his mother on Instagram for National Son’s Day in September 2024.

It marked the first time the public has seen his face since the bomb plot shocked Washington.

The snap resurfaced just hours after FBI arrested a suspect in its nearly five-year-long investigation into the person who planted pipe bombs in Washington DC before Donald Trump‘s January 6, 2021 rally.

On January 5, 2021, a shadowy figure was recorded planting two explosive devices – the night before rioters stormed the Capitol building as the 2020 presidential election was certified.

Now, the FBI and Department of Justice have announced that suspect Cole Jr. was arrested following an investigation that stumped federal agents for years.

Agents descended on his home in Woodbridge, Virginia, an affluent suburb of Washington DC, hours before confirming he was cuffed.

He’s been charged with the use of an explosive device, and more charges could be dropped as the investigation continues, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a conference.

Federal authorities said the arrest came after a painstaking investigation where detectives traced the purchase of every part of the makeshift bombs, from end caps to wires to batteries.

“Let me be clear: There was no new tip, there was no new witness. Just good diligent police work and prosecutorial work,” said Bondi.

Though the suspect’s motive remains a mystery, he has been linked to statements that show anarchist ideology, sources told MS NOW.

Unnamed law enforcement sources said the bulk of the evidence against the alleged bomber was obtained in 2021 and 2022.

It’s an embarrassing blow to the FBI as agents reportedly could have made an arrest years ago, the insiders claimed to the outlet.

The arrest brings to a close a five-year-long mystery that’s sparked conspiracy theories questioning the motives of law enforcement.

Onlookers speculated that the incident could have been a complete hoax or that the suspect was a foreign agent.

The public was left terrified after surveillance video capturing the masked and hooded bomber was released – but didn’t lead to any arrests.

It sparked nationwide fears that the violent bomber could strike again and actually detonate the device in a second feared attack.

Two bombs were recovered near the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee offices and disabled, narrowly avoiding a disastrous explosion.

Authorities believe it was planted between 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm that evening, but they weren’t found until the following morning, 15 hours later.

Cops were forced to divert from the chaos at the Capitol and disable the devices. Investigators believe the suspect had ample time to escape the scene before the devices were found.

Then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris walked just 20 feet away from the DNC bomb before authorities learned about the incident.

Although the bombs were crudely made, authorities made it clear that if the devices had been ignited, they would have hurt anyone who was near them.

Online rumors swirled about whether the bomber was connected with the riot, which mainly consisted of outraged MAGA supporters questioning the legitimacy of Joe Biden‘s election win.

Officials have offered a reward of up to $500,000 to anyone who could help bring the suspect in.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/15589863/washington-dc-pipe-bomber-arrested-fbi-mystery/

A FRIGHTENING alert was accidentally sent across California and Nevada, causing panic as residents braced for a massive earthquake.

The earthquake alert warned Americans of a powerful 5.9-magnitude earthquake, advising them to “Drop, Cover, Hold on!”

The false alarm was sent to millions of people across the California Bay Area and near Carson City, Nevada.

The MyShake app, which alerts citizens of the US Geological Survey-controlled ShakeAlert system, informed residents of the mistake.

“There was no M5.9 earthquake near Carson City, NV,” the company posted on social media.

“This was a false alert by the #ShakeAlert system and this is currently being investigated.”

USGS later deleted the accidental alarm, but not before it reached the residents of San Francisco, who had been preparing for a city-ending earthquake for years.

San Francisco residents have long been warned of a massive earthquake set to destroy the city, according to The Daily Mail.

The chances of the much-anticipated “Big One” hitting the city have increased by 72 percent, USGS’ Sarah Minson previously reported.

Had the falsely reported earthquake actually happened, San Francisco would’ve been 185 miles away from the epicenter.

If the 5.9-magnitude earthquake were to hit, it would’ve been felt over 200 miles away and caused buildings to collapse, walls to crack, and windows to break.

Social media users posted the jarring messages they received.

“Phones blasting alerts across Nevada and California to Drop, Cover, Hold On! Aftershocks coming,” one person posted on social media.

The false alarm was further confirmed by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

The agency posted on X that the alert was sent “to a broad audience in Northern California.”

“Cal OES is coordinating with our Nevada and federal partners to understand exactly what the federally run monitoring system detected and why,” the agency continued.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/15592746/earthquake-mistake-california-nevada/

The move allows Texas to use a new electoral map that advantages the Republican Party at next year’s midterm elections. The Republicans currently hold a slim majority in Congress.

The US Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that Texas can use a new electoral map that would add more Republicans to the House of Representatives.

It allows next year’s midterm elections to be held using the new districts, which were drawn to favor Republicans.

Thursday’s ruling temporarily pausesa previous judgement by a lower court that stuck down the redistricted electoral map on the grounds that it likely discriminated based on race.

Texas made an emergency request to the Supreme Court for quick actions because the qualification process in the new districts was already underway, with primary elections scheduled for March.

“The District Court improperly inserted itself into an active primary campaign, causing much confusion and upsetting the delicate federal-state balance in elections,” the Supreme Court said in a brief opinion explaining the decision.

Why is Texas redrawing its electoral map?

Republican lawmakers in Texas introduced the new electoral map after President Donald Trump urged his party to redraw districts to benefit him and his party.

Under the existing electoral map in Texas, Republicans hold 25 House seats while Democrats hold 13. The new map would potentially hand Republicans up to 30 seats.

This sparked a political crisis in the state along with accusations of gerrymandering — the redrawing of districts for political gain.

Thursday’s ruling in favor of the new map was backed by the Supreme Court’s six conservative justices, while its three liberal justices issued dissenting opinions.

“The District Court conducted a nine-day hearing… And after considering all the evidence, it held that the answer was clear. Texas largely divided its citizens along racial lines to create its new pro-Republican House map,” Justice Elena Kagan wrote in her dissent.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/texas-electoral-map-redistricting-gerrymandering-republican-supreme-court-ruling/a-75025453

After six days of inspecting the suspect’s bowel movements, New Zealand police recovered a stolen Faberge pendant that he had swallowed after being caught.

New Zealand police arrested a man suspected of stealing — and swallowing — a James Bond-inspired Faberge pendant worth some $19,000 (€16,300).

After six days of supervising the the 32-year-old suspect’s bowl movements, police said the limited-edition Faberge egg had been recovered late on Thursday.

Police said the piece of jewelry came out of the thief’s body naturally, without any medical intervention.

They also provided a photo of the recovered pendant and the attached price tag, which stayed intact despite going through the thief’s digestion system.

Inspector Grace Anderson said police would continue monitoring the man.

“Given this man is in Police custody, we have a duty of care to continue monitoring him given the circumstances of what has occurred,” she said.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/stolen-faberge-egg-bowel-movement-new-zealand/a-75025623

Taylor Swift cut a hefty check to snag a bride’s wedding date at a posh Rhode Island venue, Page Six is told.

Multiple sources tell us that the billionaire pop superstar wanted to marry her fiancé, Travis Kelce, at Ocean House in Watch Hill on Saturday, June 13, 2026.

However, upon learning that another couple was already set to tie the knot there on that day, Swift dipped into her deep pockets and made an offer the bride couldn’t refuse.

Reps for Swift, Kelce and Ocean House did not respond to Page Six’s repeated requests for comment.

As Page Six previously reported, Ocean Hill has been on the singer-songwriter’s radar for some time.

After Swift and the NFL star — who got engaged in August — started going over their guest list, sources told us they realized they wanted to invite a lot more people than they initially thought.

The US Sun later reported that the ceremony would be held at Swift’s Watch Hill mansion. Our sources said that might not be a realistic venue, so the couple turned their sights to Ocean House.

Notably, the luxury hotel and event space is located a stone’s throw away from the Grammy winner’s estate.

As for why Swift, 35, was allegedly adamant about the June 13, 2026, date to marry Kelce, 36, it seems to be numerically significant.

Swifties already know that their Easter egg-loving idol’s favorite number is 13, but upon further dissection, we noticed that there could actually be more meaning behind the day, which has been highly speculated about online.

Source : https://pagesix.com/2025/12/04/entertainment/taylor-swift-cut-hefty-check-to-snag-brides-wedding-date-at-posh-rhode-island-venue/

Kim Kardashian revealed she changed her name shortly before she and her family achieved reality TV fame with “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.”

“I used to always go by Kimberly, until we signed on to do the reality show. And when I looked at my chyron, Kimberly Kardashian, I said, ‘I think that’s so long for people to say.’ And like, ‘Let’s just shorten it to Kim,’” the “Kardashians” star, 45, told Time in an interview published on Thursday.

“And it’s so weird, because all my friends from high school and growing up, and my dad, everyone calls me Kimberly.”

The Skims founder, who has been known to use her name when branding her various entrepreneurial endeavors, also took credit for ultimately getting her family to agree to the reality TV show.

“I think I was the one that convinced everyone for sure. I really wanted it. I really wanted to do a reality show since the day MTV’s ‘The Real World’ came out and I watched it with my best friend,” Kardashian shared.

“I looked at her and I told her, ‘That’s what I’m going to do.’ And she said, ‘I’ll be your manager.’ I think we were 11. I said, ‘When we’re 18, we have to make a tape and send it into “The Real World.”‘

“Her dad’s in the music-business management world. So she said, ‘Oh, we can get my dad to send it to someone at MTV.’ We made a whole plan,” she continued.

While the job of Kardashian’s manager famously went to her mom, Kris Jenner, the model did eventually start working with “The Real World” producers as “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” was backed by Bunim/Murray, who produced the MTV series.

The “All’s Fair” star went on to admit that she convinced her sisters, Kourtney and Khloé Kardashian and her mom, Kris Jenner, that the show would be an opportunity to promote their now-defunct Dash clothing boutique.

Source : https://pagesix.com/2025/12/04/entertainment/kim-kardashian-reveals-she-changed-her-name-right-before-reality-tv-fame/

Dozens of airline pilots tell Reuters they are reluctant to disclose mental health issues — even minor or treatable ones — because of the risk of grounding and a career‑ending review

Annie Vargas could see her son slipping away and pleaded with him to seek help. But her son, Brian Wittke, a 41-year-old Delta Air Lines pilot and father of three, pushed back, terrified that getting treatment for depression would cost him his license and livelihood.
The drop in air travel during the pandemic kept Wittke at home more and affected his mental health, Vargas told Reuters.
On the morning of June 14, 2022, Vargas tried to reach Wittke by text, but his location data was disabled. By the time it reappeared, Wittke had died by suicide in the Utah mountains near his home outside Salt Lake City.
Commercial airline pilots often conceal mental health conditions for fear that disclosing therapy or medication, or even just seeking help, could mean having their license pulled, putting themselves and their passengers at risk, according to Reuters interviews with three dozen pilots, medical experts and industry officials, as well as a review of medical studies.

For this story, Reuters spoke to at least 24 commercial pilots at U.S. and foreign carriers who said that they were reluctant to disclose mental health issues — even minor or treatable ones — fearing immediate grounding and a lengthy, costly medical review that could end their careers.
The pilots Reuters spoke to cited multiple reasons for not coming forward with mental health challenges, including airline policies, regulatory requirements and social stigma.

REAL PEOPLE, REAL PROBLEMS

“Real people have real problems,” Vargas said. “And they shouldn’t be penalized for dealing with it.”
Vargas said she was speaking to Reuters about her son’s experiences because she hoped the family’s tragedy would challenge the culture surrounding mental health in the aviation industry. The news agency corroborated details of her account with Wittke’s wife.

Delta said Wittke was a valued team member and called his death “tragic and heartbreaking”. It also said the pilot community had a stigma against seeking mental health services.
Like many major U.S. carriers, Delta offers confidential peer support programs and counseling services for staff. It recently launched a new employee assistance program for pilots, offering access to therapy and coaching and taking into account medical certification requirements.

“We will continue to work tirelessly to deliver additional solutions,” the airline said.
In most industries, individuals can seek medical or psychological treatment without involving employers or regulators, such as the Federal Aviation Administration.

“Avoiding mental health care opens up the door to pilots who avoid taking care of their health. And that’s when problems can arise in the cockpit.”

Aviation operates under stricter standards: pilots must meet rigorous physical and psychological criteria to maintain their FAA medical certification, in some cases undergoing medical exams every six months. Pilots who report anxiety or depression may be grounded. While mild cases can be cleared quickly, severe conditions require an extensive FAA review that can take up to a year or more.
The FAA said in a statement that it is committed to prioritizing the mental health of pilots and is continually updating its approach based on the best medical science available.

FEAR OF BEING GROUNDED

A decade after a Germanwings pilot with a history of severe depression flew an Airbus A320 jet into a French mountainside, the global aviation industry has yet to formulate a uniform global framework for addressing pilot mental health and stigma remains a major barrier, according to Reuters interviews.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency requires airlines to offer peer-support programs for pilots and has strengthened oversight of medical examiners.

In the United States, the FAA has broadened its list of approved antidepressants and other medications used to treat mental health conditions. It has established a pathway for pilots who disclose an ADHD diagnosis. Meanwhile, airlines and pilot unions have expanded confidential peer support programs.
Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority allows pilots with depression and anxiety to keep their medical certification on a case-by-case basis — even while receiving treatment — if safety risks are managed. Kate Manderson, CASA’s principal medical officer, said her team typically resolves certification reviews in 20 days.

But the gap between policy and perception remains wide. In a 2023 study of 5,170 U.S. and Canadian pilots, more than half reported avoiding healthcare because of concerns about losing flying status. The feeling is captured by a morbid saying in the pilot community: “If you aren’t lying, you aren’t flying.”
Pilot unions, advocacy groups, and industry organizations are urging the FAA to adopt the recommendations of its Aviation Rulemaking Committee — steps to protect pilots who disclose issues and speed their return to duty. In September, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to require the FAA to implement those changes within two years.

WAITING TO BE CLEARED TO FLY

For U.S. commercial airline pilot Elizabeth Carll, 36, those reforms can’t come soon enough. In 2021, she was grounded during her pilot training after she disclosed she was on a low dose of an anti-anxiety medication. After a mandatory six-month waiting period, she waited six months for an appointment with an FAA-approved mental health specialist. The regulator then spent more than a year reviewing her report — only to deem it outdated and order a new exam.
Carll, who worked as a flight dispatcher while training, did not face financial hardship, but she told Reuters any medication change could trigger the same lengthy, costly process.
“The joke is you just ignore it and pretend it doesn’t happen because people are afraid that their livelihoods are going to be taken away.”
An FAA spokesperson told Reuters the agency is updating its mental health policies and has approved more medications. The spokesperson did not comment on Carll’s case when asked, and did not disclose the typical turnaround time to review medical reports for pilots who have undergone mental health treatment.
“We encourage pilots to seek help early if they have a mental-health condition since most, if treated, do not disqualify a pilot from flying,” the FAA spokesperson said.

Pilot wellbeing returned to the spotlight in June when an Air India Flight 171 crashed after takeoff, killing 260 people. A preliminary investigation report found both fuel cutoff switches had been manually moved, ruling out mechanical failure. The final report is months away.
After the crash, the Indian government said Air India recorded a slight increase in pilots taking sick leave across all fleets. The airline responded by directing pilots to a mental wellness app, Reuters found.
Air India did not provide a comment.
In November, former Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph David Emerson was sentenced to time served and three years’ probation after pleading guilty to interfering with flight crew and attempting to shut down the engines of a passenger plane in 2023 while riding off duty in the cockpit. Court documents show Emerson told police he was having a nervous breakdown and had taken psychedelic mushrooms, which are sometimes used to treat depression.
He declined to be interviewed for this story.

‘A BETTER PILOT TODAY’

When a pilot is grounded for a health concern, the financial fallout can be significant. After using up sick time, they are often placed on disability, which can significantly reduce their income.
Troy Merritt, a 33-year-old U.S. commercial airline pilot, voluntarily grounded himself in December 2022 and started taking medication after realizing depression and anxiety had compromised his ability to fly safely, he said.

Getting back in the cockpit meant six months on stable medication and a series of psychological and cognitive tests — some of which were not covered by health insurance. He told Reuters the process cost him about $11,000.
Reuters could not independently confirm this figure.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/investigations/if-you-arent-lying-you-arent-flying-airline-pilots-hide-mental-health-struggles-2025-12-03/

Nvidia (NVDA.O), on Wednesday published new data showing that its latest artificial intelligence server can improve the performance of new models – including two popular ones from China – by 10 times.
The data comes as the AI world has shifted its focus from training AI models, where Nvidia dominates the market, to putting them to use for millions of users, where Nvidia faces far more competition from rivals such as Advanced Micro Devices (AMD.O), and Cerebras.

Nvidia’s data focused on what are known as mixture-of-expert AI models. The technique is a way of making AI models more efficient by breaking up questions into pieces that are assigned to “experts” within the model. That exploded in popularity this year after China’s DeepSeek shocked the world with a high-performing open source model that took less training on Nvidia chips than rivals in early 2025.
Since then, the mixture-of-experts approach has been adopted by ChatGPT maker OpenAI, France’s Mistral and China’s Moonshoot AI, which in July released a highly-ranked open source model of its own.

Meanwhile, Nvidia has focused on making the case that while such models might require less training on its chips, its offerings can still be used to serve those models to users.
Nvidia on Wednesday said that its latest AI server, which packs 72 of its leading chips into a single computer with speedy links between them, improved the performance of Moonshot’s Kimi K2 Thinking model by 10 times compared to the previous generation of Nvidia servers, a similar performance gain to what Nvidia has seen with DeepSeek’s models.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/china/nvidia-servers-speed-up-ai-models-chinas-moonshoot-ai-others-tenfold-2025-12-03/

A parliamentary inquiry in Kenya has accused British troops training there of a pattern of sexual misconduct and environmental harm that has led the forces from the former colonial power to be seen as an “occupying presence”.
The findings of the investigation by a parliamentary committee focused on defence and foreign relations highlight rising frustrations in the East African country at the conduct of soldiers from the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), who have faced a raft of highly-publicised accusations in recent years.

A spokesperson for Britain’s defence ministry said in a statement to Reuters that the ministry deeply regrets “the challenges that have arisen in relation to our defence presence in Kenya” and said it was prepared to investigate new allegations in the report once evidence is provided.
Thousands of British troops can pass through Kenya for training missions in any given year.
The most prominent allegation relates to the 2012 murder of 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru near the British forces’ training camp in the town of Nanyuki. The suspect, a British soldier named Robert Purkiss, was arrested in Britain last month after years of campaigning by Wanjiru’s family and Kenyan rights groups, who said her killers were being shielded by a defence cooperation agreement between the two countries.

Purkiss, who now faces extradition hearings, has denied any involvement in Wanjiru’s death.
The committee’s report, which was dated November 25 but published on parliament’s website on Tuesday, said it had “uncovered a disturbing trend of sexual misconduct by BATUK personnel, marked by rape, assault, and abandonment of children fathered by soldiers”.
It said public hearings in areas where BATUK trains had brought to light evidence of numerous injuries and deaths to Kenyans employed by British forces to clear unexploded ordnance without protective equipment, as well as environmental damage caused by the illegal dumping of toxic materials.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/kenyan-lawmakers-identify-disturbing-trend-misconduct-by-british-troops-2025-12-03/

A New Zealand man has been charged for theft after he allegedly stole a diamond-studded locket in a rather unusual way – by swallowing it.

The ingested loot – a Fabergé egg locket valued at NZ$33,585 ($19,300; £14,600) – has not yet been recovered, police told local media outlets.

Police were called to Partridge Jewellers in central Auckland last Friday afternoon and the 32-year-old man was arrested in store minutes later. He has undergone a medical assessment and remains in custody, police say.

The allegedly stolen Fabergé egg is set with 60 white diamonds and 15 blue sapphires, according to the jeweller’s website, and opens to reveal an 18-carat gold miniature octopus.

The Octopussy egg, as it is named, was inspired by the 1983 James Bond film of the same name, which centres on an elaborate Fabergé egg heist.

Fabergé is a world-renowned jeweller founded in Russia more than two centuries ago, famous for its eggs made of gems and precious metals.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7vm754r80vo

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have released never-before-seen images of Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous island.

The photographs and video appear to show several bedrooms in the US Virgin Islands home, as well as a room with masks on a wall and a phone with names written on speed-dial buttons.

In a statement, the committee’s Democratic leader, Robert Garcia, said they collectively form a “disturbing look” into Epstein’s world and are being released to “ensure public transparency”.

On 19 November, President Donald Trump signed a bill that ordered the release of government files on the late convicted sex offender – a significant turning point in a months-long fight over the documents.

Multiple survivors have alleged that they were trafficked to and abused on the island, known as Little St James, which Epstein purchased in 1998.

The new images from 2020 also show what appears to be a dental chair and a room with a black chalkboard on which is scrawled with words including “truth”, “deception” and “power”. Some of the words have been redacted.

In a statement, Democrats on the oversight committee said that the images and videos stem from an 18 November request to the attorney general of the US Virgin Islands for information about investigations into Epstein and his imprisoned co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell.

“These new images are a disturbing look into the world of Jeffrey Epstein and his island,” Garcia said.

“We are releasing these photos and videos to ensure public transparency in our investigation and to help piece together the full picture of Epstein’s horrific crimes,” he added. “We won’t stop fighting until we deliver full picture of Epstein’s horrific crimes.”

According to Garcia, the committee has also received records from JP Morgan and Deutsche Bank, which they intend to release “in the days ahead”.

Little St James was one of two islands in the Virgin Islands owned by Epstein.

In 2022, the attorney general of the US territory reached a settlement of over $105m (£78.6m) after local authorities alleged that “dozens of young women and children” were trafficked, raped and assaulted on the two islands.

The images shed little new light on the case, besides providing a glimpse of one of Epstein’s crime scenes and opulent lifestyle in the Virgin Islands.

The release, however, comes as the Trump administration remains under pressure to release the broader set of documents kept by the US justice department, with Garcia saying in his statement that “it’s time for President Trump to release all the files, now”.

Later on Wednesday, the committee released a second batch of some 200 images as well as several videos. Most of those showed the same rooms as the first batch, with some new close-ups of the apparent dentist chair and the masks on the walls of that room.

All of the masks are in a similar style and depict male faces.

Other images show personal items around the house, such as a large selection of shampoos and conditioners and various art items including statues and paintings.

There is also a picture of Epstein and Maxwell meeting Pope John Paul II.

The photos seem to have been taken in 2020 according to the metadata – after the death of Jeffrey Epstein in 2019 – so the house appears to have been packed away, with furniture stacked up and artwork removed from walls.

The release also includes a video showing a walk through of Epstein’s property. It shows a palm tree-lined swimming pool with a statue of an archer and a path to the ocean.

The bill Trump signed last month gives the department a 30-day window – until 19 December – to make them available in a “searchable and downloadable format”.

But there are obstacles to the files being shared with the US public on that date.

For one, the bill said that the justice department can hold back any documents that jeopardise “an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution, provided that such withholding is narrowly tailored and temporary”.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g5rrlve33o

Meta has started booting Australian children under 16 years off its Instagram, Facebook and Threads platforms, a week before an official teen social media ban begins.

The tech giant announced last month that it had begun notifying users aged between 13 to 15 years old that their accounts would start being shut down from 4 December.

An estimated 150,000 Facebook users and 350,000 Instagram accounts are expected to be affected. Threads, similar to X, can only be accessed via an Instagram account.

Australia’s world-first social media ban starts on 10 December, with companies facing fines of up to A$49.5m (US$33m, £25m) if they fail to take “reasonable steps” to stop under-16s from having accounts.

A spokesperson for Meta told the BBC on Thursday that “compliance with the law will be an ongoing and multi-layered process”.

“While Meta is committed to complying with the law, we believe a more effective, standardised, and privacy-preserving approach is needed,” she said.

The government should require app stores to verify the age of users when they download apps and ask for parental approval for under-16s, Meta said, as this would eliminate the need for teens to verify their age across different apps.

Last month, Meta said users it had identified as under 16 would be able to download and save their posts, videos and messages before their accounts are deactivated.

Teens who believe they have been wrongly categorised as under 16 can ask for a review and submit a “video selfie” to verify their age. They can also provide a driver’s licence or a government-issued identification.

Alongside Meta’s three platforms, the other social media sites affected by the ban are YouTube, X, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick and Twitch.

The government says the ban is aimed at protecting children from the harms of social media but critics say the move may isolate certain groups who depend on platforms for connection and push children to less-regulated corners of the internet.

Communications Minister Anika Wells on Wednesday said she expected teething problems in the first few days and weeks of the ban but it was about protecting Gen Alpha – anyone under 15 years – and future generations.

“With one law, we can protect Generation Alpha from being sucked into purgatory by the predatory algorithms described by the man who created the feature as behavioural cocaine,” Wells said.

She described youngsters as being connected to a “dopamine drip” from the moment they got a smartphone and social media accounts.

YouTube, which was originally exempt from the ban but then later included, labelled the law as “rushed” and claimed that banning children from having an account – which comes with parental controls – will make its video-sharing platform “less safe”.

Australia’s social media ban, the first of its kind in the world, is being closely watched by global leaders.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxekqryn1jo

Police arrested former University of Delaware student Luqmaan Khan after finding guns, body armor and a manifesto outlining plans to kill all, the New York Post reported. The FBI later uncovered more unregistered weapons.

A Pakistani-born former University of Delaware student was arrested with an arsenal of weapons, body armor and a handwritten manifesto outlining plans to kill all in a mass shooting on campus, the New York Post reported. Police say the discovery may have prevented a devastating attack.

Luqmaan Khan, 25, was arrested just before midnight on November 24 after New Castle County officers found him sitting in his pickup truck in a closed Wilmington park and became suspicious of his behaviour.

What they found in his vehicle, investigators said, was chilling — a .357 Glock pistol fitted with a conversion kit turning it into a semi-automatic rifle, multiple 27-round magazines, body armor plates and a notebook allegedly spelling out plans for a campus attack.

The notebook contained a map of the University of Delaware police headquarters marked with entry and exit points and repeated phrases such as kill all – martyrdom, according to ABC 6. Prosecutors described the writings as premeditated assault plans and warfare techniques.

According to the New York Post, Khan allegedly told investigators that dying as a martyr was one of the greatest things you can do. One campus police officer was named in the notes, though prosecutors said the motive remains unclear.

Khan, a US citizen who moved from Pakistan as a youth, had no prior criminal record, but neighbours told Spotlight Delaware he had recently become unusually standoffish.

The FBI later searched Khan’s Wilmington home and uncovered even more weapons — an AR-style rifle with a red-dot scope, a second Glock pistol equipped with an illegal machine-gun conversion device known as a switch, 11 extended magazines, hollow-point bullets and a tactical vest. None of the weapons were registered.

In the handwritten notebook, Khan discussed additional weapons and firearms, how they could be used in an attack, and how law enforcement detection could be avoided once an attack was carried out.

The notebook referenced a member of the University of Delaware’s Police Department by name, and included a layout of a building with entry and exit points under which the words “UD Police Station” were printed.

Federal prosecutors charged him with illegal possession of a machine gun, though authorities say further charges are possible as the investigation continues. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.

Officials emphasised that the foiling of the alleged attack came down to simple but vigilant police work.

“They just randomly drove up in Canby Park West,” Master Cpl. Richard Chambers said. “Rather than just shooing the person out, they did police work.”

“This case is a quintessential example of federal and state law enforcement collaborating to neutralize a grave threat to Delaware before the worst could come to pass. I want to thank our dedicated law enforcement partners at the FBI and the NCCPD for their exceptional work. As always, we are proud to work with them to keep Delaware safe,” said Acting US Attorney Murray.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/world/us-news/story/pakistan-born-us-man-arrested-with-guns-martyrdom-mass-shooting-plan-glbs-2830361-2025-12-04

NEVER-before-seen images of Jeffrey Epstein’s home located on his infamous private island have been released by US authorities.

Chilling photos show the paedophile financier‘s exclusive property in the US Virgin Islands – with one of the pictures showing a bizarre dental room with faces across the wall.

Bombshell images of the convicted sex offender‘s elusive Caribbean island were released by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee.

Several chilling photos showed different rooms on Epstein’s Little Saint James island – one of which had a dentist’s chair and multiple chilling masks hung up on the walls.

Another showed a chalkboard with strange text written on it – including the words “power” and “deception”.

Others showed large rooms devoid of life, “no trespassing” signs on the island’s beach, and luxury swimming pools next to palm trees.

Creepy footage also showed a tour of the notorious island where the convicted sex trafficker lived.

Washington is still waiting for the Justice Department to hand over all of its files on the notorious case.

It comes after Donald Trump gave the Justice Department 30 days to make all “unclassified records, documents, communications and investigative materials” public last month.

The US Senate unanimously approved the official release of the Epstein trove just hours after the House of Representatives did on November 18.

Epstein pleaded guilty to a Florida state felony prostitution charge in 2008 and served 13 months in jail.

In 2019, he was charged with sex trafficking of minors. Epstein pleaded not guilty to those charges.

The sex offender killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019 on charges he sexually abused and trafficked underage girls.

Epstein’s convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, 63, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting underage girls for him.

Sky Roberts, the brother of one of Epstein’s most prominent victims, Virginia Giuffre, previously called on US lawmakers to “stop talking and act”.

For years, victims of the disgraced financier and their families – as well as conspiracy theorists – have called for the release of the files about the investigations into his crimes.

Tens of thousands of pages of evidence from federal investigations into Epstein and Maxwell – known as the Epstein files – have been released to the public in stages over several years.

These documents, some released in redacted format, include Epstein’s flight logs, his contact book, email exchanges, court documents, and testimonies from victims and witnesses.

Names of many high-profile figures have appeared in them – but that does not mean they were aware of, or involved in Epstein’s crimes.

Earlier this year, a memo from the Justice Department and FBI said there was “no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions” or had a “client list”.

Epstein personally “harmed over one thousand victims,” the FBI and DOJ said.

But they added: “We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties”.

Digital searches of Epstein’s electronic devices and physical searches of his various properties, which included a private Caribbean island, had yielded a “significant amount of material, including more than 300 gigabytes of data and physical evidence,” the memo said.

The disgraced financier’s island was raided in 2019, with shocking images showing the FBI raiding the complex.

Since Trump signed the bill late on November 19, the deadline for the DOJ to release the files will either be December 19 or Christmas Eve.

Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that the DOJ intended to abide by the deadline.

She earlier said that the Trump administration will make all of the eligible files on the convicted sex offender public for “maximum transparency”.

Following Trump’s latest move to release the files, Epstein’s victims have come forward to claim the convicted sex offender had a tiny and “extremely deformed” penis that looked like a lemon.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/15585585/jeffrey-epstein-paedo-island-home-pics/

MEGHAN Markle’s father Thomas is fighting for his life after being rushed to hospital and now faces further surgery, a report claims.

Thomas Markle, 81, was taken to hospital on Tuesday after falling ill at his home in the Philippines.

It is understood he underwent surgery on Wednesday and was transferred to the intensive care unit, as reported by the Mail.

Doctors are now reportedly waiting to prepare him for another operation to remove a blood clot.

His son Thomas Jr. said: “I took dad to a hospital close to our home and they did various scans and the doctors said his life was in imminent danger.

“They raced us by ambulance, with the sirens going, to a much bigger hospital in the center of the city. My dad has undergone emergency surgery.

“I would ask everyone around the world to keep him in their thoughts.”

He added: “My only wish is that Meghan shows my father some compassion. He is literally fighting for his life.”

Meanwhile, daughter Samantha, 61, said: “He is a strong man, but he has been through so much. I am praying that he is strong enough to survive this.

“My father has been through two heart attacks, a stroke and an earthquake. I hope he can pull through this.”

Thomas has suffered with ill health, including a stroke, in recent years and had been living in Mexico for the past 10 years before relocating to the Philippines in January.

He has been estranged from Meghan since her wedding to Prince Harry.

Thomas suffered two heart attacks on the eve of the big day in 2018 and was unable to walk his daughter down the aisle.

It came after he had posed for paparazzi pictures ahead of the wedding.

Meghan then cut him off after he put the phone down during a heated row with Harry while recovering in hospital.

The duke told him he was in that position because he had not listened to their advice not to speak to the press – following the paparazzi scandal.

Thomas told The Sun On Sunday at the time: “I felt disrespected by them. I was recovering from a heart attack, lying in a bed, having a phone call, and the things were being said that hurt me.

“I felt like I was being blamed for my mistakes when I was in my hospital bed recovering from a heart attack.”

Concerns were also raised for 81-year-old Thomas just a few months ago when his daughter Samantha claimed he was stuck on the 19th floor of his Philippines flat after a deadly earthquake.

Meghan’s half-sister sparked alarm by posting online that their father was unable to walk and had been left stranded following the 6.9-magnitude quake.

Samantha Markle had written on X: “My father is stuck on the 19th floor of a building in the Philippines after a massive earthquake and he can’t walk and he is trapped.”

However, Thomas bizarrely later declared he was “fine” and urged people not to worry.

The pensioner’s latest health update comes as a new episode of Meghan’s Netflix Christmas special was released on Wednesday.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/royals/15586452/meghan-markle-dad-intensive-care-surgery-thomas-markle/

THE White House hit back at headlines claiming Donald Trump dozed off during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday as questions swirl about the president’s stamina.

The 79-year-old appeared to struggle to keep his eyes open during the two-hour televised conference.

Trump closed his eyes for an extended period of time at nine points throughout the meeting, the Washington Post reported.

At one point, the president appeared to be nudged by Marco Rubio as the secretary of state spoke with the executive team.

The bizarre incident came amid a flurry of searing headlines from left-leaning outlets questioning Trump’s health and ability to serve his full term.

However, in a press conference on Wednesday, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt set the record straight, saying Trump was “listening attentively and running the entire” meeting.

“In all of these historic meetings, the president and his incredible team highlight the exhaustive list of accomplishments they have delivered on behalf of the American people to Make America Great Again,” Leavitt said in a statement.

Trump’s apparent sleepiness comes the day after posted over 160 times on Truth Social between 7 pm and 11 pm, the Daily Beast reported.

Early in the meeting, Trump complained about the scrutiny he receives compared to his predecessor, Joe Biden, who he called “Sleepy Joe.”

At 79, Trump is the oldest person to assume the presidency.

Biden was the first octogenarian president and dropped out of the presidential election last year because of concerns about his mental acuity.

In Tuesday’s meeting, Trump blasted a New York Times article analyzing his aging and claiming he had a lighter public schedule.

“I’ll let you know when there’s something wrong. There will be someday,” Trump said.

“That’s going to happen to all of us. But right now I think I’m sharper than I was 25 years ago. But who the hell knows?”

HEALTH CONCERNS

The Times reported that Trump has trimmed his public appearances to between 12 pm and 5 pm, a change from his first term.

However, the White House said the Times only cited publicly available information, and insisted that Trump’s private log is filled with back-to-back meetings and calls.

His administration hit back at claims by providing the New York Post documents that they said prove Trump is working “up to 12 hour days.”

The president has also squashed concern by saying he got “all A’s” on his recent physical exam.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/15586531/white-house-responds-trump-falling-asleep-cabinet/

THE doctor who supplied Matthew Perry with dozens of vials of ketamine began crying after he turned to apologize to the actor’s family minutes before he was hauled away to serve 30 months in prison.

Dr. Salvador Plasencia was seen teary-eyed as he told Perry’s mother, Suzanne, and relatives, “I’m just so sorry.”

He stood before the court and told Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett: “I never imagined I’d be standing before you. I spent so many years and came so far to help people, to take them away from pain.”

Placenscia, 43, explained that he will one day have to find a way to tell his own young son that he “couldn’t protect a mother’s son.”

He admitted that there was “no excuse,” adding that he failed Perry and his family.

He agreed to plead guilty in July to four counts of distribution of ketamine as part of a deal with prosecutors, who dropped five other counts.

Plasencia is the first of five defendants who are set to be sentenced in the coming weeks, although he did not deliver the fatal dose.

Minutes before his apology, the court heard from the grieving parents of Perry, 54, who died after being found face-down in a jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023.

The two-hour sentencing hearing saw the actor’s mother, Suzanne Morrison, decide to speak directly to Placenscia, explaining her son fought so hard to stay alive after suffering for years with addiction and even bounced back after serious medical issues.

She expressed the importance of the Hippocratic Oath doctors take and, through tears, told Placesncia, “This is my boy!”

Looking him directly in the eye and being comforted by her husband, Keith Morrison, she said, “I just wanted you to see the mother. This was a bad thing you did.”

She also scolded him for calling her son a “moron” in damning text messages read out in court, as he was seen looking solemn and sweating, repeatedly mopping his brow and face.

Perry’s sisters and stepmother also spoke in court about how loyal and connected the family is and how their lives will never be the same again.

Perry’s stepfather, Keith Morrison, also wrote a victim impact statement, although he never read it out in court.

He described the emotional toll the actor’s mother has continued to endure since her son’s death more than two years ago.

“Many people, mothers mostly, have told me over the years how things like that breaks you, makes you feel broken,” he wrote.

“And I didn’t quite get what that meant until I watched what this thing did to Matthew’s mother. Still does, two years on. It’s a deep well, can’t see the bottom yet.”

The star’s father, John Perry, was absent due to illness.

The Government recommended 36 months behind bars, while the probation service recommended 12 months, and Plasencia’s team asked for just one day.

His lawyers still tried to argue that he was initially trying to treat Perry, his first high-profile patient, for his depression.

But Judge Garnett told the defense, “I don’t buy that argument.”

She also pointed out how the doctor further encouraged Perry to take ketamine, with a text to his assistant that read, “I know you mentioned taking a break. I have been stocking up on the meanwhile. I am not sure when you guys plan to resume but in case its when im out of town this weekend I have left supplies with a nurse of mine …I can always let her know the plan.”

Judge Garnett disagreed that Plasencia was trying to help Perry and believed he was selling drugs for a profit, as Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian Yanniello called him a “drug dealer in a white coat.”

“You and others helped Mr. Perry on the road to his death by continuing to feed his addiction,” Judge Garnett added.

Perry’s mother and stepmother also slammed Plasencia and the other defendants as “greedy jackals” who came out of the dark and fed on the vulnerability of their son.

“I believe the man you are going to sentence today is among the most culpable of all. His crime I find truly hard to understand,” the parents’ statement read.

“Sometimes it’s a little easier to understand when a person commits a terrible crime.

“Maybe in the heat of passion, or because that person makes one very bad decision.. or some drug dealer, bad to the bone, who takes the calculated risk of getting caught and spending many years in prison.

“But… a doctor? Who trades on respect, and trust? And not just one bad decision.. No one alive and in touch with the world at all could have been unaware of Matthew’s struggles.

“But this doctor conspired to break his most important vows, repeatedly, sneaked through the night to meet his victim in secret.

“For what, a few thousand dollars? So he could feed on the vulnerability of our son…and crow, as he did so, with that revealing question: ‘I wonder how much this moron will pay. Let’s find out.’”

Plasencia’s disgruntled mother, Luz, was an emotional wreck as she watched her son be escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs after learning his fate.

He will serve 30 months and be on supervised release for a further two years after his release.

The doctor was also ordered to pay a $5,600 fine and a $400 special assessment.

Outside the courthouse, Luz told reporters that she wants Perry’s family to know she’s “so sorry,” but defended her son, saying he has a “good heart.”

“I love him and to all the parents, no matter how old your children are, talk with them,” Luz said when asked if she had a message to her son.

Keith had little to say after the sentencing, but admitted, “It’s a tragic story. Sometimes people do bad things.”

Perry’s stepmom, Debbie, whose victim impact statement was on behalf of herself and the actor’s father, John, condemned Plasencia’s action, saying their son’s recovery counted on the defendant “saying no.”

“Your motives? I can’t imagine,” Debbie and John wrote.

“A doctor whose life is devoted to helping people? Whatever were you thinking? How long did you possibly see supplying Matthew countless doses without his death to eventually follow?

“Did you care? Did you think? How many more people have you harmed that we don’t know about?”

The parents lamented that Plasencia devastated the family and contributed to the loss of their only son.

‘DR. P’

After the hearing, Plasencia’s lawyers released a statement saying that their client, “accepts the Court’s sentence today with humility and deep remorse.”

They added that he had voluntarily given up his medical license, a fact that was repeatedly mentioned in court.

“He was a good doctor loved by those he treated. He is not a villain. He is someone who made serious mistakes in his treatment decisions involving the off-label use of ketamine — a drug commonly used for depression that does not have uniform standards,” they said.

“The mistakes he made over the 13 days during which he treated Mr. Perry will stay with him forever.”

Federal investigators said Plasencia and Mark Chavez – a former physician in San Diego, who is also scheduled to be sentenced on December 17 – coordinated with Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s personal live-in assistant, to distribute the drugs to the actor.

Martin Estrada, the US attorney for the Central District of California, said Perry fell back into addiction during the fall of 2023.

“These defendants took advantage to profit for themselves,” Estrada said at the time.

On September 30, 2023, Plasencia, who was known to Perry as “Dr. P,” and Chavez discussed purchasing ketamine so they could sell it to the actor, according to a federal indictment.

In a text message, prosecutors said Plasencia and Chavez discussed how much they were going to charge Perry, writing, “I wonder how much this moron will pay” and “Let’s find out.”

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/15584050/matthew-perry-parents-rip-salvador-plasencia-ketamine/

THIS is the shocking moment Vladimir Putin’s “secret daughter” is blasted by a Ukrainian journalist on the streets of Paris – before being told: “Your dad killed my brother.”

The bombshell clip reportedly shows Elizaveta Krivonogikh – long suspected to be the Russian tyrant’s love child – being confronted over her alleged father’s bloody invasion.

In the astonishing footage – posted by Ukrainian outlet TCH – the man behind the camera can be heard slamming the woman in a composed tone.

He blames her “dad” for killing his brother – as a result of the pariah’s war in Ukraine.

He is heard saying: “How do you even live in Europe? In this hateful, cursed Europe, this ‘Gay-rope’.

“Or what is it like with you people. Say something at least. Do you support his policies?”

Refusing to comment on the journalist’s claims, the woman simply tells him he doesn’t have permission to film.

Putin’s rumoured secret daughter Krivonogikh, 22, also known as Luiza Rozova and now Elizaveta Rudnova, lives in self-imposed exile in the French capital.

She is suspected to be the secret love-child of Putin and Svetlana Krivonogikh – a glamorous former cleaner turned multimillionaire.

Krivonogikh works at two anti-war art galleries in Paris according to Russian artist Nastya Rodionova – while also reportedly launching thinly veiled attacks on Putin.

In August, German outlet Bild, which claimed to have seen her private Telegram channel, reported that Luiza wrote about “the man who took millions of lives and destroyed mine”.

Krivonogikh grew up drenched in luxury – private jets, exclusive nightclubs, and designer wardrobes.

She would flaunt her life of privilege on Instagram while Russia grappled with poverty and pandemic chaos.

But in early 2022, just before Russia launched its brutal invasion of Ukraine, she abruptly vanished from Russian social media.

Her alleged mum Svetlana, now in her 40s, went from scrubbing floors to owning a stake in sanctioned Rossiya Bank and a property empire worth over $100 million.

She also owns a raunchy St Petersburg nightclub, Leningrad Centre, known for its erotic shows.

The suspected daughter of the Russian despot re-emerged in Paris in 2022 under a new name – Elizaveta Rudnova – reportedly in a bid to sever ties with her past.

Ukrainian TV later claimed she was living in the French capital with a passport under the name Rudnova, allegedly ditching the patronymic Vladimirovna, which would confirm her father’s name as Vladimir.

Her new surname is a likely nod to the late Oleg Rudnov, one of Putin’s longtime cronies.

When independent outlet Proekt first exposed the story, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he’d “never heard anything” about Krivonogikh — an evasion that only intensified speculation.

Putin, who officially recognises only two daughters from his previous marriage, has never acknowledged Luiza — nor denied her.

Mad Vlad has two publicly known children, Maria Vorontsova and Katerina Tikhonova – both of which were born to the dictator’s ex-wife Lyudmila Aleksandrovna.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/15587035/putins-daughter-confronted-angry-ukrainian-killed-my-brother/

Qatar and Saudi Arabia are investing in new terrestrial cable systems to relieve the strain on underwater cables in the Red Sea. This is part of a fundamental modernization strategy.

Ooredoo, a Qatar-based communications company, plans to spend 500 million US dollars (430 million euros) on new terrestrial fiber optic cable systems in the coming years. The cables will stretch from the Arabian Peninsula to Europe. According to a report by the Qatari news agency QNA, they will start in Oman, run from there to Iraq and Turkey and finally to France.

Notwithstanding, according to press reports, Syria and Saudi Arabia are also in talks to build a similar system of data cables that would also run from the Arabian Peninsula — more precisely Saudi Arabia — to Europe.

Ayad Al-Ani, a Professor for Change Management and Consulting in Berlin, told DW that it was noteworthy that both Qatar and Saudi Arabia were attempting to establish a land connection.

“This implies that both Iraq and Syria are safe transit countries that can be invested in,” he said. “It will integrate the two countries more into the international data communication system, from which the local digital economy will benefit. This is likely to promote their economic development.”

Alternative routes to bypass Red Sea challenges

According to QNA, Aziz Al Uthman Fakhroo, CEO of Ooredoo, suggested at a conference in Doha that the system would “strengthen the resilience of global networks, create alternative routes that bypass current challenges in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.”

From the perspective of network operators, both regions are currently sensitive. The Strait of Hormuz separates the Arabian Peninsula from Iran — meaning Iran is separated from countries that until recently were considered its rivals, namely Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In the recent past, there have been formidable clashes with Saudi Arabia in particular. Qatar meanwhile maintains good relations with Iran.

The situation in the Red Sea is more fragile. Every year, 22,000 ships pass through the Bab al-Mandab Strait that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. It’s also a main route in the digital network: There are currently 15 intercontinental undersea cables running through the area, and according to HGC Global Communications, 80% of data traffic between Asia, Africa and Europe runs through them.

The cables have repeatedly been the target of attacks — or might have been, because there is not always clear evidence of damage having been caused deliberately.

There were several outages in 2008 when, according to a study by the Henry Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington, five cables were damaged in different incidents. Three of the cables connected Asia and Europe, and as a result 70% of Egypt’s internet connectivity was temporarily lost, while India experienced a 50% to 60% loss of bandwidth.

Houthi attacks on shipping routes and cable systems

In the recent war between Israel and the militant Islamist group Hamas in Gaza, the latter received support from the Houthi rebel group in Yemen. Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by the EU, the US and others.

Houthis attacked several ships in the Red Sea to disrupt international trade, and according to HGC, also damaged four cable systems in the spring of 2024, including one called Asia-Africa-Europe 1, which connects the three continents. A good quarter of data traffic was reportedly affected.

In a statement, HGC described how it was maintaining international communication by rerouting data traffic to Europe via mainland China, the US or undamaged cables in the Red Sea.

The idea is that the new systems will prevent such incidents. According to the QNA report, Aziz Al Uthman Fakhroo of Ooredoo said that “cross-border cooperation has become both an operational and strategic necessity, especially given that the Middle East is a global logistical and digital hub, with 30% of the world’s data and 90% of the data exchanged between Europe and Asia passing through it.”

Qatar expands telecommunications sector

Qatar is systematically expanding its telecommunications industry. Last fall, Qatar National Broadband Network (QNBN) and Gulf Bridge International (GBI) announced their intention to merge their telecommunications divisions. This merger has now been completed. QNBN specializes in fiber optic cables, while GBI focuses on underwater and terrestrial cables.

The Peninsula, an English-language daily in Qatar, reported that the “integration of QNBN and GBI brings together two highly complementary businesses to create a carrier-neutral digital and AI infrastructure leader, further connecting Qatar to the world.”

Ayad Al-Ani pointed out that the projects were not focused only on infrastructure but also on Qatari digital technology, such as data centers.

“The infrastructure alone is already considered a significant source of revenue today. But in conjunction with data and innovation centers, it provides the prerequisites for a successful digital economy,” he told DW.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/gulf-region-paves-the-way-to-become-digital-data-hub/a-75003002

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth risked endangering troops by using the Signal messaging app to discuss a strike on Houthis in Yemen, sources say a Pentagon watchdog report finds.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth put American troops and mission at risk when he used the Signal mesaging app on his personal device to discuss planned strikes against Houthi militants in Yemen, a report by the Pentagon’s watchdog has found.

That’s according to US media, including CNN and ABC, and news agencies. They cite sources familiar with the results of the investigation by the Pentagon’s inspector general, which hasn’t yet been publicly released.

Hegseth didn’t violate rules on classification, the report found according to the sources, because as the head of the Pentagon, he has the authority to declassify information.

But the information shouldn’t have been discussed on the commercial app, the report said. That’s because the information was so sensitive that it could have endangered the lives of American troops and the mission itself if it was intercepted.

Hegseth declined to sit for an interview with the inspector general, sources said, citing the report. Instead, he provided written answers. He also only provided a small number of his Signal messages for review.

The meant the investigation had to rely on screenshots published by The Atlantic magazine, whose editor-in-chief was accidentally added to the Signal chat, according to sources.

The classified review was delivered on Tuesday evening to Congress.

A partially redacted version of the report is expected to be released publicly later this week, possibly on Thursday.

Trump stands by Hegseth

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the review affirms the Trump administration’s statements that “no classified information was leaked, and operational security was not compromised.”

“President Trump stands by Secretary Hegseth,” Leavitt said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Pentagon said the review exonerated Hegseth.

“This matter is resolved, and the case is closed,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement to CNN.

Hegseth used Signal to discuss Yemen strikes

Hegseth’s use of the commercial messaging app came to light when the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, Jeffrey Goldberg, was mistakenly added to a Signal chat by then-national security adviser Mike Waltz.

Signal is encrypted, but it isn’t authorized for carrying classified information and isn’t part of the Defense Department’s secure communications network.

The group chat included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubioand the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard as well as others.

The officials discussed March 15 military operations against the Iran- backed Houthis in Yemen.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/hegseth-signal-group-chat-yemen-houthi-endanger-troops-pentagon-watchdog-report/a-75007964

Meghan Markle’s estranged father, Thomas Markle, was admitted into the intensive care unit after he underwent emergency surgery.

The “Suits” alum’s brother, Thomas Markle Jr., confirmed the patriarch was taken to the hospital and underwent surgery after becoming sick at his home in the Philippines on Tuesday, the Daily Mail reported.

Thomas, 81, will later undergo another procedure to remove a blood clot.

“I took dad to a hospital close to our home and they did various scans and the doctors said his life was in imminent danger,” Thomas Jr., 59, told the outlet.

“They raced us by ambulance, with the sirens going, to a much bigger hospital in the centre of the city.”

Thomas’ 61-year-old daughter, Samantha, blamed his illness on the hardships her father has faced over the past few years.

“He is a strong man, but he has been through so much. I am praying that he is strong enough to survive this,” she told the Daily Mail.

“My father has been through two heart attacks, a stroke and an earthquake. I hope he can pull through this.”

Reps for Meghan, 44, weren’t immediately available to Page Six for comment.

Over the years, Thomas has battled a series of health issues and notably missed the actress’ wedding to Prince Harry after undergoing heart surgery in 2018.

He was hospitalized again in 2022 after suffering from a stroke while living in Tijuana, Mexico.

“I feel hugely grateful and know how lucky I am to be alive,” Thomas told the Daily Mail after he was discharged five days later.

Source : https://pagesix.com/2025/12/03/celebrity-news/meghan-markles-estranged-dad-thomas-in-icu-following-emergency-surgery/

Bethenny Frankel cried while discussing her lengthy divorce from her second husband, Jason Hoppy, in a new interview.

The “Real Housewives of New York City” alum got shockingly candid about the painful split on Wednesday’s episode of Alex Cooper’s “Call Her Daddy” podcast, saying “nothing” — not even her rough childhood — could compare to the “torment” she experienced when leaving Hoppy.

“I have seen my mother slit her wrists. I have lived my whole life chasing her into bathrooms, trying to catch her throwing up. I’ve been around guns, the mafia, the race track. I’ve been through everything. I’ve seen her beaten within an inch of her life. I have seen everything. Nothing compares to what my divorce was for 10 years. Nothing,” Frankel, 55, stated.

The Skinnygirl founder noted that her mom’s lifelong struggles with bulimia and alcoholism were “child’s play” compared to the “trauma of someone wanting to torture you and telling you that they’re going to do it.”

Because she was the “more successful” of the two, Frankel felt the “optics” made her look like “the powerhouse tyrant” while Hoppy, 56, was branded “the victim.”

“It was so traumatic. It was 10 years of my life. I lost hair. I thought I would never survive it. I didn’t want to,” she confessed to Cooper as she got choked up. “I had to because of my daughter. I literally thought, ‘I’ll never be happy again.’”

Frankel and the pharmaceutical executive wed in March 2010. They welcomed daughter Bryn, 15, two months later. They announced their separation in December 2012, with Frankel filing for divorce the following month.

The split wasn’t finalized until January 2021.

“I treated it like a marathon, and I went one mile at a time, and I checked every box,” the former Bravolebrity said of the divorce process, alleging that “it was fraud, it was stealing, it was hacking, it was harassment, it was abuse, it was Googling me 60 times a day, it was staying in bed and staring into my face, it was calling me every bad character in the books.”

In January 2017, Hoppy was arrested and charged with aggravated harassment in the first degree, harassment in the second degree and stalking in the fourth degree after allegedly sending Frankel a series of abusive emails and then showing up at Bryn’s school to threaten his then-estranged wife, “I will destroy you.” (Hoppy denied the charges.)

Frankel told Cooper that her divorce was “the worst thing [she] could ever wish upon a person.”

She recalled spending “millions of dollars” in the split and claimed that “every single lawyer said they’ve never seen anything like it, ever. Like, it was insane.”

The businesswoman admitted that the “only thing that got [her] through” that time was the hope that she could one day “help people” experiencing similar distress.

She emphasized the importance of having a prenuptial agreement in place before marrying someone and “going with your gut” because “cracks become craters.”

Despite her feelings of despair and defeat during her separation, Frankel made it a point to “never talk bad” about Hoppy in front of Bryn, even though she believes the teen “energetically felt” the situation.

“Just because you’re not saying it in front of the child, it doesn’t mean they don’t feel,” she argued, adding, “It’s a long road. Your kids will become cognizant, and they will understand. You don’t have to say it to them. You don’t have to prove it to them.”

Source : https://pagesix.com/2025/12/03/celebrity-news/bethenny-frankel-cries-over-traumatic-jason-hoppy-divorce-thought-i-would-never-survive-it/

Chiefs president reveals his promise to Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift to never ‘monetize’ off their relationship

Kansas City Chiefs President Mark Donovan revealed he promised Travis Kelce not to profit off his romance with Taylor Swift.

“I told Travis, ‘Look, we are going to treat you and your relationship with the same respect that we treat any other player or coach’s relationship,’” the businessman shared on Monday’s episode of “Up & Adams.”

“It’s a relationship. We’re not going to monetize it, we’re not going to go out there and go crazy.”

Donovan explained that Swift is never shown on Arrowhead Stadium’s broadcast boards, unlike other news outlets that flash her on-camera.

“For a couple of years, all those shots you see in the stadium. He scores a touchdown. He makes a catch. It goes to Taylor,” he said.

“Especially the first year. We never showed Taylor on our big boards in our stadium, never. It was respectful. We’re not going to do that.”

Donovan emphasized that he’s not interested in “taking advantage of [Kelce and Swift’s] relationship.”

Mysterious Taylor Swift installation pops up on Sunset Boulevard

Swifties are making their way to a mysterious Taylor Swift-themed installation in Los Angeles.

The display at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Holloway Drive left fans speculating about what the “Life of a Showgirl” songstress could be teasing.

The setup features cutouts of the singer, including one showing Swift from behind in a “Fearless” dress while holding her guitar in front of a gold, glittery backdrop.

Another cutout captures her singing into the microphone during the Eras Tour while performing her hit 2024 track, “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived.”

The pop-up, wrapped in a barricaded sidewalk perimeter, also includes promotional banners with the Disney+ logo and the titles of Swift’s upcoming docuseries and concert film.

Her releases — “End of an Era” and the “Final Show” — are both set to premiere on Disney+ on Dec. 12.

Sabrina Carpenter gushes over being the only featured artist on ‘bestie’ Taylor Swift’s ‘Life of a Showgirl’ album

Sabrina Carpenter is still in disbelief that she was chosen as the only featured artist on Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl” album.

“Ten-year-old me, for so many reasons, could not believe it — to hear our voices together,” the singer told Variety Wednesday.

“We definitely realized it was special, but I would have never been like, ‘Hey, bestie, put me on a song,’” the “Espresso” hitmaker quipped.

“She was so gracious to think of me for a song that spoke to our life experiences in such a real, genuine way. It really sums up what so many young women in this industry go through.”

Carpenter is featured on the album’s title track, and the two Grammy winners definitely know a thing or two about the life of a superstar.

Fans watched their friendship bloom as the “Manchild” singer opened up for Swift on her record-breaking Eras Tour. Last month, the besties were also spotted having a glam girls’ night out at one of NYC’s trendiest spots, The Corner Store.

Taylor Swift’s top Spotify listeners received a very special message from the pop star this week.

Those who streamed her music the most this year were treated to a video when opening their 2025 Spotify Wrapped on Wednesday.

“Oh, hey! So if this is popping up on your phone, then chances are you listened to a lot of my music this year on Spotify. It’s Taylor, by the way,” Swift’s message began.

“Thank you for doing that. Thank you for all your support with ‘The Life of a Showgirl.'”

The singer teased there’s “a lot of reminiscing” on the way with her new docuseries, the “End of an Era,” and concert film, the “Final Show,” both premiering on Disney+ on Dec. 12.

Toward the end of her video, the “Fate of Ophelia” songstress wished her fans a “wonderful holiday season” and shared one final message of appreciation.

“I’m so grateful for you. Thank you for everything,” she concluded, blowing a kiss to the camera.

Last year, Swift was crowned Spotify’s “Global Top Artist” for the second year in a row, with 26.6 billion streams worldwide.

However, she was dethroned this year by Bad Bunny.

The Super Bowl 2026 performer reached 19.8 billion global streams and previously held the title for three consecutive years.

Travis Kelce gushes over ‘beautiful’ vacation with Taylor Swift in rare look inside romance

Travis Kelce gushed over his “beautiful” Italy vacation with his fiancée, Taylor Swift.

During the latest episode of the “New Heights” podcast, George Clooney asked the Kansas City Chiefs star about his 2024 trip to Lake Como.

“Me and Tay danced around Lake Como for a little while. I loved it out there,” Travis told the “Ocean’s Elven” actor, who owns a villa in the area.

“They love to point it out whenever you’re on the lake,” the tight end quipped.

Clooney, 64, joked that his home was “part of the tour.”

Travis Kelce insists he and Taylor Swift ‘never’ argue as he gets marriage advice from George Clooney

Travis Kelce’s latest podcast confession is “Sweeter Than Fiction.”

The athlete insisted he and fiancée Taylor Swift “never” argue as he chatted with George Clooney on Wednesday’s “New Heights” episode.

The Kansas City Chiefs player, 36, asked the actor, 64, whether he stood by his recent statement that he and wife Amal Clooney “have not got in a fight in 10 years.”

Clooney turned the question back on Kelce, asking, “I’m not lying. Shall we ask you the same?”

The tight end replied, “It’s only been two and a half years, and you’re right. I’ve never got in an argument. Never once.”

Sombr praises Taylor Swift’s engagement and calls the ‘Life of a Showgirl’ his album of the year

Sombr is in his Swiftie era.

In a recent interview with Vulture, the “Back to Friends” artist gushed over Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement.

“Man, I’m just happy for them,” he said in a recent interview with Vulture.

“I grew up with Taylor Swift, and seeing one of my favorite artists from my childhood getting engaged is really cool to see. I just hope they invite me to the wedding.”

Sombr — born Shane Boose — also listed the “Opalite” songstress’s new album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” as one of his favorites of the year, alongside Olivia Dean’s “Art of Loving,” and Ravyn Lenae’s “Love me Not.”

Source : https://pagesix.com/2025/12/02/entertainment/taylor-swift-live-updates-dec-2-5-25/

An independent review released on Tuesday by vaccine experts of more than 400 studies and reports found that long-standing U.S. policy of giving the hepatitis B vaccine to newborns has cut infections in children by more than 95%.
The policy, adopted in 1991, will be discussed and voted on later this week by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine advisers hand-picked by U.S. health secretary and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“After extensive review, we did not discover safety or effectiveness data that support delaying the choice parents have to vaccinate their newborns against hepatitis B,” said Dr. Michael Osterholm, an infectious-disease expert at the University of Minnesota who helped found the Vaccine Integrity Project that released the review.
The Vaccine Integrity Project is an initiative dedicated to safeguarding vaccine use in the United States set up to counter controversial vaccine information and recommendations from the Trump administration that are lacking or contrary to scientific evidence.
The revamped CDC advisory panel, following Kennedy’s firing of all 17 previous expert members, in September decided to postpone a vote to delay the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine.

Since then, U.S. President Donald Trump and other health officials have called for delaying the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine until as late as age 12, saying that the virus is largely sexually transmitted.
Osterholm said the evidence clearly supports keeping the current U.S. policy.
Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. It primarily spreads through blood, semen, or certain other body fluids.
Infants infected with hepatitis B during their first year of life have a 90% chance of developing a chronic infection, increasing the risk of serious liver disease such as cirrhosis or cancer.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/data-supports-us-policy-hepatitis-b-vaccine-newborns-officials-push-delay-2025-12-02/

Global growth is holding up better than expected as an artificial intelligence investment boom helps offset some of the shock from U.S. tariff hikes, the OECD said on Tuesday, nudging up its outlook for some major economies.
The Paris-based organisation warned, however, that global growth was vulnerable to any new outbreak of trade tensions while investor optimism about AI could trigger a stock market correction if expectations are not met.

In its Economic Outlook, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development forecast global growth would slow modestly from 3.2% in 2025 to 2.9% in 2026, leaving its forecasts untouched from its last estimates in September. It predicted a rebound to 3.1% in 2027.
OECD head Mathias Cormann said the trade shocks triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes had so far proved relatively mild, but added their costs were likely to rise.
“The full effects of those higher tariffs since the start of the year will become clearer as firms run down the inventories that they built up,” he told a press conference.

UPGRADED GROWTH FORECASTS FOR 2025, BUT RISKS REMAIN

The U.S. economy is forecast to grow 2% in 2025, revised up from 1.8% in September, before slowing to 1.7% in 2026 – up from 1.5% predicted in September.
AI investment, fiscal support and expected Federal Reserve rate cuts are helping offset the drag from tariffs on imported goods, reduced immigration and federal job cuts, the OECD said.

However, it warned that the Trump administration had put U.S. fiscal policy on an unsustainable trajectory with large budget deficits and rising debt that would require a “significant adjustment” in the coming years.
China’s growth is expected to hold steady at 5% in 2025, up from 4.9% in September, before slowing to 4.4% in 2026 – unchanged from September – as fiscal support fades and new U.S. tariffs on goods imported from China bite.
The euro zone’s 2025 growth forecast was revised up to 1.3% from 1.2%, supported by resilient labour markets and increased public spending in Germany. Growth is expected to moderate to 1.2% in 2026 – it was seen at 1% previously – as budget tightening in France and Italy weighs on the outlook.

Japan’s economy is projected to grow 1.3% in 2025, up from 1.1%, and buoyed by strong corporate earnings and investment, before slowing to 0.9% in 2026.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/china/tariffs-ai-boom-could-test-global-growths-resilience-oecd-says-2025-12-02/

Officials in Minneapolis on Tuesday said they were not aware of imminent federal immigration raids targeting the area’s Somali community, which has come under blistering attacks from U.S. President Donald Trump in recent days.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, responding to a report in the New York Times that upward of 100 federal immigration agents were poised to descend on his city and neighboring St. Paul to target undocumented Somali residents, said regardless of whether raids were coming, the Somali community would be supported in every way possible by local authorities.

Frey, a Democrat, said local police would not work with federal agents on any immigration matters, and he strongly criticized Trump’s recent attacks on the Somali community, including on Tuesday when the president called them “garbage” and said “we don’t want them in our country.”
The president has increased his attacks on Somalis in the U.S. since last week’s shooting of two National Guard troops in Washington, a shooting that killed on of the troops and for which an Afghan national has been charged.
“To villainize an entire group is ridiculous under any circumstances,” Frey said.
Anti-immigration rhetoric was a major part of Trump’s campaign and since taking office in January he has overseen an aggressive campaign by masked federal agents across the country that has instilled fear in immigrant communities and prompted protests and backlashes in the cities targeted.

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, did not confirm raids were imminent in Minneapolis, but said agents were enforcing immigration laws across the country every day.
About 80,000 Somalis live in Minnesota, mostly in the Twin Cities metro region. Frey said the community had been an economic and cultural boon to the area and had been living in the U.S. for several decades. The vast majority of Somalis in the U.S., Frey said, are American citizens, and he said he’s convinced any immigration action would ensnare people in the country legally.

LATEST ATTACKS

Trump last month said he was immediately terminating temporary deportation protections for Somalis living in Minnesota, saying “Somali gangs” were terrorizing the state, without offering evidence or details. Local officials said Trump’s portrayal is untrue. In all, 705 Somalis are in the country with TPS status, according to government records.

During a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump ratcheted up his inflammatory rhetoric about Somalis, saying they had contributed nothing to the U.S.
“I don’t want them in our country, I’ll be honest with you,” Trump said. “Their country is no good for a reason. Their country stinks.”
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said the president was “absolutely right to highlight the problems caused by the radical Somali migrants that the Democrats let invade our country and steal from American taxpayers.”
Trump has long used incendiary rhetoric, as well as racist and sexist language, saying on several occasions that immigrants in the U.S. illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country.”

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/us/minnesota-officials-defend-somali-community-against-trumps-attacks-2025-12-02/

Russia and the U.S. did not reach a compromise on a possible peace deal to end the war in Ukraine after a five-hour Kremlin meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump’s top envoys, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.
Trump has repeatedly complained that ending Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two has been one of the elusive foreign policy aims of his presidency. The U.S. president has at times scolded both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Talks in Moscow between Putin and Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law Jared Kushner went past midnight. Afterward, Putin’s top foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, said “Compromises have not yet been found.
“There is still a lot of work to be done,” Ushakov told reporters at a briefing in the Kremlin.
Putin reacted negatively to some U.S. proposals, Ushakov said. Witkoff went to the U.S. embassy in Moscow after the talks to brief the White House, Ushakov said.
Ushakov added that a meeting between Putin and Trump was not currently planned, though he said the talks were constructive and that there were huge opportunities for U.S.-Russian economic cooperation.

NO FURTHER AWAY FROM PEACE

Ushakov said Putin had sent a series of important signals and his greetings to Trump, but that the sides had agreed not to disclose details to the media.
He added that they had discussed the “territorial problem”, Kremlin shorthand for Russian claims to the whole of Donbas, though Ukraine controls at least 5,000 square km (1,900 square miles) of the area which Russia claims as its own. Almost all countries recognise Donbas as part of Ukraine.
“Some American draft proposals look more or less acceptable, but they need to be discussed,” Ushakov said. “Some of the formulations that have been proposed to us are not suitable for us, that is – the work will continue.”

Witkoff, a billionaire U.S. real estate developer who has known Trump since the 1980s, and Kushner, the husband of Trump’s daughter Ivanka, began talks in the Kremlin after a stroll across Red Square past the mausoleum of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin to the towers of the Kremlin.

They talked with Putin, Ushakov and Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev, via interpreters.
“Our people are over in Russia right now to see if we can get it settled. Not an easy situation, let me tell you. What a mess,” Trump said on Tuesday in Washington, adding that there were casualties of 25,000 to 30,000 per month in the war.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, triggering the biggest confrontation between Moscow and the West since the depths of the Cold War.

EUROPEAN POWERS WORRIED BY U.S. EFFORTS

A leaked set of 28 U.S. draft peace proposals, emerged in November, alarming Ukrainian and European officials who said it bowed to Moscow’s main demands.
European powers then came up with a counter-proposal, and at talks in Geneva, the U.S. and Ukraine said they had created an “updated and refined peace framework” to end the war.
Zelenskiy, speaking in Dublin, said everything would depend on the talks in Moscow but that he was afraid the U.S. could lose interest in the peace process.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/china/putin-witkoff-discuss-peace-options-ukraine-past-moscows-midnight-2025-12-02/

Salvador Nasralla, of the centrist Liberal Party, on Tuesday took a razor-thin lead in Honduras’ presidential election over Nasry Asfura, the conservative candidate backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, in a vote count plagued by delays and allegations of fraud.
The latest results released by the electoral authority around 6 p.m. (0100 GMT Wednesday) showed Nasralla on 40.13% and Asfura of the National Party on 39.71%, with around 68% of votes counted. The front runners were separated by just 9,129 votes. Asfura had previously been leading by around 500 votes when earlier results were released on Monday.

Rixi Moncada, of the ruling leftist LIBRE Party, was well behind in third place with 19.09%.
Earlier on Tuesday, Honduras’ electoral authority pleaded for calm as it scrambled to overcome a system failure that left about 20% of votes in the presidential election uncounted, as Trump alleged possible fraud and swore “there will be hell to pay” if results are altered.
On Monday the electoral body said Asfura and Nasralla were in a “technical tie” with each holding just under 40% of the vote and that votes would have to be counted by hand.
The initial rapid count system was beset by issues, the CNE electoral authority said in a statement on Tuesday. That had also resulted in problems with the web portal where results were meant to be updated in real time. The website was down much of Monday, causing tensions to rise in the tightly contested race, plagued by accusations of possible fraud before votes were even cast on Sunday.

As the count continues, former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez of the National Party was released from a U.S. prison on Monday, where he was serving a 45-year prison sentence for drug trafficking and firearms charges, a Federal Bureau of Prisons registry showed.
His release came after Trump urged Honduran voters to cast their ballots for the National Party candidate, Asfura, and said he would pardon Hernandez. A White House official confirmed on Tuesday that Trump had pardoned Hernandez.
Trump weighed in on Monday in a social media post in which he alleged, without evidence, that Honduras was “trying to change the results of their Presidential Election.”
“If they do there will be hell to pay! The people of Honduras voted in overwhelming numbers on November 30th,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

There was high voter turnout in Sunday’s election, which was peaceful across the country, according to the Organization of American States, which observed the vote. It said in a statement on Monday that it “was able to verify that the voting proceeded normally, except for isolated incidents in some municipalities of the country.”
But there are concerns that if the vote count drags on, the highly charged election environment could lead to protests and possible violence.
The electoral authority said it would now release information about the count directly to media and political parties to ensure the public was able to follow the results.
Former President Manuel Zelaya, who is also the husband of current President Xiomara Castro, lambasted Trump’s interference in the election, saying on X that it was an attempt to stop Moncada’s bid, and vowing the Honduran people would stand up for democracy. “We who fight for liberty are on our feet,” he wrote. “We are patriots and nobody yields.”

On Monday evening, Moncada said the elections were “still not lost” and alleged that the other parties had manipulated the process. She also denounced U.S. interference in the election.
Both Asfura and Nasralla have said they may resume diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which were severed in 2023. Such a move would mark the biggest diplomatic setback for China in the region for decades.
In Taipei on Wednesday, Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung told reporters that the island would actively engage with whoever was elected.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/us/honduras-election-remains-virtually-tied-former-president-is-released-us-prison-2025-12-02/

US President Donald Trump has been ramping up pressure on Venezuela’s leader, President Nicolás Maduro.

The Trump administration has doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture, and its warships are within striking distance of Venezuela. Dozens of people have been killed in attacks on boats alleged to have been transporting drugs from the South American country.

Trump reportedly also gave Maduro an ultimatum to leave Venezuela, in a phone call the two men had on 21 November.

The UK government has criticised delays in aid being allowed into Gaza after a consignment of more than 1,100 tents it sent to the strip took more than a year to arrive.

The foreign secretary has also raised concerns that other UK-funded aid had been unable to reach residents, despite the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.

Yvette Cooper said the situation in Gaza remains “dire” as the United Nations warned that 1.5 million people are in need of urgent shelter amid worsening rains and plummeting temperatures ahead of winter.

The Israeli government said it was upholding aid delivery agreements and had “facilitated the transfer of close to 250,000 tents and tarpaulins” to Gaza in recent months.

The UK-funded tents – each capable of housing a family of five – reached Gaza on Monday, with more expected to arrive this week.

Government sources said the tents will provide shelter to as many as 12,000 people over the winter months.

Cooper said the delay in getting aid into the strip could not be allowed to continue and that all crossings into the territory should be opened to allow unhindered humanitarian access.

She said: “The situation in Gaza remains dire, with worsening weather conditions compounding the critical issues caused by damaged infrastructure and over two years of conflict.

“Parents have been trying to shelter their children under broken roofs and open skies.

“These tents will provide a lifeline to thousands of people needing shelter, protecting them from the cold winds and relentless rain turning rubble into mud.”

About 1.9 million people in Gaza, nearly 90% of the population, have been displaced since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October 2023, according to the UN.

Cooper said the arrival of the tents “represents months of ongoing work by the international community to push for greater aid access” and she had been frustrated to see “yet another consignment of aid stuck at the border” earlier this year.

“This cannot be allowed to continue,” she said.

“The arrival of these tents shows the scale of potential impact when our aid gets in, and we will continue to do all we can to urge unhindered humanitarian access, the opening of all the crossings, the implementation of the peace plan, and a path to peace.”

Unicef Special Representative to the State of Palestine Jonathan Veitch said more aid would still be needed.

“The situation in Gaza is devastating as cold, and heavy rains continue to affect families living in extremely difficult conditions,” he said.

“Even with the ceasefire, daily life remains incredibly challenging for children in the Gaza Strip.

“UK aid–supported tents have now entered Gaza and will provide urgently needed shelter to help families face the harsh winter. Much more is needed.”

In a statement, Cogat, the Israeli defence body which controls Gaza’s crossings, said: “Contrary to the claims, we emphasize that Israel is committed to and fully upholds its obligation to transfer humanitarian aid trucks in accordance with the agreement.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqlk663555no

Lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs have hit out at a new Netflix documentary produced by rapper 50 Cent, which they say is “a shameful hit piece” that “relied on stolen footage”.

The four-part documentary, titled Sean Combs: The Reckoning, was released on Tuesday and is billed as a “staggering examination” of the hip-hop mogul, who was convicted on prostitution-related charges earlier this year.

It includes what Netflix described as “explosive” footage of Combs filmed in the days before his arrest, including a phone conversation with his lawyers.

The director said she obtained the footage legally, but Combs’ spokesman said it was “fundamentally unfair, and illegal” to use his private footage.

A video claiming that the Swaminarayan Mandir in Karachi hosted the “first-ever screening of India’s first Oscar-eligible animated film, Mahavatar Narasimha” is going viral on social media, sparking widespread curiosity and conversation online.

The clip has been reshared across multiple platforms by various users. However, it was originally posted on Instagram by a creator identified as Ramjeet Raj. Text on the video reads: “First time ever in Pakistan. Maha Avatar Narsimha at Swaminarayan Mandir Karachi.” The caption adds, “First time ever in Pakistan — witnessing the divine might of Maha Avtar Narsinha at Swaminarayan Mandir Karachi. A blessing to be a part of this moment.”

The footage shows the animated film playing on a large screen inside the temple, with a sizeable audience watching attentively and with enthusiasm. The clip has quickly gone viral, amassing over 6 lakh likes, more than 1,000 comments, and over 6 million views.

The video was also reshared on Times Now’s Instagram account with the caption: “Pakistan’s Karachi witnessed a historic moment as Swaminarayan Mandir hosted the first-ever screening of the Mahavatar Narasimha animated film, creating a rare cultural celebration for the community.”

Source : https://www.instagram.com/p/DRv9s3Zjwm1/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=1739eabd-9918-4cc6-9649-68c0dd259dff 

The RELOS agreement sets the procedure for sending military formations, warships and military aircraft of Russia to India and vice versa, and the organisation of their mutual logistical support.

Russia’s lower house of parliament, State Duma, on Tuesday ratified a key military pact with India ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to New Delhi on December 4-5.

The Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support (RELOS) signed on February 18, between the two governments was sent to Duma last week for ratification by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

“Our relations with India are strategic and comprehensive, and we value them. We understand that today’s ratification of the agreement is another step toward reciprocity and, of course, the development of our relations,” Vyacheslav Volodin, Speaker of State Duma, said at the plenary session of the house.

The RELOS agreement sets the procedure for sending military formations, warships and military aircraft of Russia to India and vice versa, and the organisation of their mutual logistical support.

The agreement will regulate not only the dispatch of troops and equipment but also their logistics.

The established procedure will be used during joint exercises, training, humanitarian aid, disaster relief efforts after natural and man-made disasters, and in other cases as agreed.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/russia-okays-key-defence-pact-with-india-ahead-of-vladimir-putin-visit-9740532?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

PRESIDENT Donald Trump has given a significant update on the 2028 election after teasing a third term for months.

He opened up about the next presidential election cycle during a cabinet meeting in the White House on Tuesday.

Speaking with reporters about the Democrats, Trump said, “They have really bad policy.”

The president purposefully refused to elaborate on his dig, explaining, “I don’t want them to change it necessarily cause I want to run against it.”

He went on to clarify, “It’s not gonna be me,” putting to rest his jokes about trying for an unconstitutional third term.

However, the president did tease that his future endorsement could be sitting in that same room.

“It’s gonna be somebody […] probably sitting at this table,” he explained in reference to his presidential cabinet.

“Could be a couple of people sitting at this table.”

Trump has previously said he’s joked about gunning for a third term to provoke the “fake news media.”

However, he’s continued to flip-flop his story, at one point suggesting that Vice President JD Vance could win the election and then pass the baton.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/15580715/donald-trump-updates-presidential-bid-teases-third-term/

CHINA has unveiled new “dirt cheap” missiles, already in mass production after successful combat trials, as fears grow that President Xi Jingping is about to invade Taiwan.

The hypersonic glide missiles, produced by a private aerospace firm, are 40 times cheaper than US equivalent weapons.

Bejing aerospace firm Lingkong Tianxing’s new war toy, the YKJ-1000, reportedly costs $99,000 per unit and are capable of flying at Mach 7 with an 800 mile range.

The “dirt cheap” missiles are made from civilian-grade materials like foamed cement and mass-produced commercial components, enabling the unusually low manufacturing costs.

It is believed to be the first instance of a commercial firm offering a strategic-level weapon to the Chinese military.

In a promotional video, the new missiles’ capabilities are illustrated by a doctored airstrike on Japan.

The missile maintains powered flight for 360 seconds, according to the company.

A company spokesperson said the missile was able to be launched from a shipping container, and was: “designed for rapid, precision strikes against high-value targets deep in enemy territory”.

An version of the weapon incorporating artificial intelligence-enabled decision-making and swarm collaboration capabilities is under development, according to local media reports.

State media and military analysts say the affordability of the new missiles could upend global defence markets due to the imbalance between low-cost offence and high-cost defence.

Experts say the “cement-coated” YKJ-1000 could prove “formidably competitive” internationally.

A single SM-6 naval interceptor costs about US$4.1 million, over 40 times the price of one YKJ-1000.

Meanwhile, the THAAD system costs US$12-15 million for each interceptor, while the Patriot PAC-3 that Taiwan hopes to buy would cost US$3.7-4.2 million each.

It comes as China has been bullying its tiny neighbour Taiwan – with all the signs of gearing up for an invasion.

As tensions between historic foes China and Japan explode over Taiwan, Beijing has warned the world that it is ready for war.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/15581239/china-unveils-concrete-missile-xi-eyes-taiwan/

MILLIONS of Americans will get to see an extra $250 in the Trump Accounts coming in 2026, thanks to a $6.25 billion donation.

The donation comes from Michael Dell, the founder of Dell Technologies.

Dell and his wife, Susan, announced the donation Tuesday in a video shared on X. The donation will be spread across 25 million accounts, coming out to $250 each, the pair said.

The Trump Accounts, which are meant to “give the next generation a jump start on saving,” per the White House, were part of President Donald Trump‘s One Big Beautiful Bill that passed during the summer.

The accounts will become available to those eligible on July 4, 2026, Trump announced Tuesday.

Trump said the Dells are giving funds to “children that won’t be born particularly rich.”

“They’re gonna hopefully be very rich some day,” Trump said.

“This will give millions of children, middle-class families a stake in American prosperity, a benefit from the rising stock market and a better shot at the American dream.”

Officials confirmed that an official outline for the accounts will be available on July 5 for families to begin signing up for accounts.

In the meantime, Americans can visit TrumpAccounts.gov to sign up for email updates about the accounts until more information is released on December 17.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

The savings accounts are designed for American children under the age of 18 who were born after December 31, 2024, and before January 1, 2029.

The Trump Account would be established on the child’s behalf and would come with a $1,000 deposit from the government.

Now, with Dell’s investment, some accounts will come with a $250 deposit.

The $250 credit will “reach the accounts of most children age 10 and under who were born prior to the qualifying date for the federal newborn contribution,” Dell said.

“Children older than 10 may benefit, too, if funds remain available after initial sign-ups. ”

The $250 will go toward children who live within zip codes where the median household income is $150,000 or less, Dell confirmed Tuesday.

WHY THE INVESTMENT?

“Susan and I believe the smartest investment we can make is in children,” Dell said on X.

“That’s why we’re so excited to contribute $6.25 billion from our charitable funds to help 25 million children start building a strong financial foundation through Invest America.”

“We see what happens when a child gets even a small financial head start, their world expands,” he added.

The investment further comes as Dell has had a successful fiscal year, reporting a revenue of $27 billion in the third quarter, up 11% year over year.

Dell, with a net worth of around $151 billion, is considered one of the richest people in the world, previously appeared alongside the CEO of Uber and the Goldman Sachs boss in June to announce a willingness to contribute to the accounts, per The Independent.

Trump said Tuesday that he expects others to follow Dell’s lead in donating money toward the Trump Accounts.

HOW THE ACCOUNTS WORK

With the Trump Accounts, parents are able to contribute up to $5,000 a year. Susan Dell noted that relatives and friends can also contribute to the account.

Employers are also able to make an annual contribution of up to $2,500. Officials noted this contribution would not impact an employee’s taxable income.

Parents’ employers can also make a contribution up to $2,500 a year, which would also not have an impact on their taxable income.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/money/15578497/michael-dell-trump-bank-accounts-donation-checks/

RUSSIA and the United States failed to reach a peace deal over Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine following highly anticipated crunch talks in Moscow.

Donald Trump’s top diplomatic duo Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met the Russian tyrant and his cronies for a five-hour meeting – but failed to clinch a breakthrough plan to end the bloodshed.

Kremlin mouthpiece Yuri Ushakov, who was present alongside Vlad at the summit, said the group’s discussion was “useful, constructive and meaningful”.

He added that Witkoff was asked by Putin to “convey a number of important political signals to Trump”.

Noting that peace was “no closer but also no further away”, Ushakov explained the two sides had failed to reach an agreement on one of the most difficult issues – territorial disputes.

Witkoff has headed to the US embassy in Moscow, seemingly to update the Don on the group’s progress.

Top Putin aide Kirill Dmitriev who posted a picture of himself alongside Witkoff said on X after the talks: “Productive.”

Trump’s peace squad’s visit came after war-hungry Putin raged that Russia is “ready right now” to fight with Europe.

Mad Vlad hinted Russia was ready for World War Three earlier on Tuesday, saying: “We’re not going to fight Europe, but if Europe wants to fight us, we’re ready right now.”

The despot also said that European powers were making demands on a possible peace settlement for Ukraine that Moscow considers absolutely unacceptable.

Putin’s fighting talk came before he greeted the US delegation to the Russian capital for the latest round of Ukraine peace talks which lasted nearly five hours.

The key discussions came after weeks of behind-the-scenes diplomacy with global leaders – signalling a possible breakthrough in efforts to bring an end to the war.

Kushner, 44, and Witkoff, 68, were entrusted by Trump to help bring about an end to the almost four-year war and finally stop the Kremlin tyrant.

At the start of the talks, the American pair were asked about their stay in the Russian capital so far.

Witkoff praised Moscow as a “magnificent city” and hailed Putin’s leadership in an unconcealed effort to butter up the Russian dictator.

The US is determined to get both sides on the same page over how the conflict can end with certain peace terms already being hashed out.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X following a visit to Ireland today: “We must end this war in a way that prevents Russia from coming back a year later with a third invasion.”

He said: “The Russians started the war, and there is no other way to put it.

“The whole world is a witness. They came with aggression to destroy us.”

The Zel added: “They will return, and Russia will continue building up its military strength, preparing for yet another invasion.

“This is why we want clarity. This is what Ukrainians need.”

The wartime leader also hailed Ireland for “doing the right thing” as premier Micheal Martin pledged to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes”.

The US delegation is expected to travel to meet Zelensky after they leave the Kremlin to update him on the latest negotiations.

Washington and Moscow are currently focusing today’s crunch talks on two possible peace plans put forward in recent weeks.

The first is a 28-point plan based on many of Putin’s demands which he told Trump about during their Alaskan summit.

It was reportedly devised by Witkoff and Kremlin official Dmitriev.

The plan was seen as highly favourable towards Russia and included Ukraine halving their armed forces and giving up swathes of territory.

Ukraine and their European allies said it would be impossible to ever agree to such terms.

They instead joined forces to redraft a tighter 19-point plan in Geneva which “refines” what the US had proposed.

Both plans were discussed in Moscow now with Kushner and Witkoff looking to leave Russia with an ironclad deal to take back to President Trump.

This will then be shared with Kyiv where further talks can take place.

Across the past two days, officials from Ukraine and the US – including Witkoff and Kushner – have been holding separate talks in Florida.

Zelensky described the talks as “constructive”, but made it clear some “tough issues still need to be worked through”.

He met with France’s President Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer for marathon meetings on Monday.

During a Parisian press conference, Zelensky said the 19-point peace deal was a big improvement on the original US-Russia plan.

Despite Zelensky’s insistence that a complete deal is still far off based on the current negotiations, the White House say they are “very optimistic” about reaching a deal soon.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt added: “The president and his team have been working so hard on this effort and they all really want to see this war come to an end.”

One notable name missing from the US delegation is Marco Rubio – Trump’s secretary of state.

Rubio is widely seen as more sympathetic towards Ukraine’s fight for a fair deal to end the war.

Kushner, a savvy businessman and dad-of-three, and Witkoff, now a seasoned peace broker under Trump, are both seen as much firmer voices.

Kushner, the husband of Ivanka Trump, has grown into an increasingly active role in US diplomacy under Trump in recent months.

This is despite him having no formal role in the White House.

The Harvard graduate served as Senior Adviser to President Trump between 2017 and 2021.

Witkoff also has a positive past in Moscow and has met with Putin on several occasions.

One of the main issues yet to be ironed out in the negotiations is how the land seized by Russia during the war will be divided up.

Putin has been adamant that he must be handed over some key regions in Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/15577634/putin-meets-trump-men-jared-kushner-ukraine-peace-talks/

THE White House has said it won’t apologize after receiving backlash from pop star Sabrina Carpenter, who slammed the Trump administration.

Pop icon Carpenter, 26, called out the White House for using one of her songs in a video she described as part of an effort to push their “inhumane agenda.”

A video posted online on Tuesday by the White House played the singer’s song Juno in the background of a video of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents making arrests.

Carpenter called out the unapproved use of her music in a post on X.

“This video is evil and disgusting,” she wrote.

“Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”

The White House doubled down on its decision to post the video and called out the singer for supporting “illegal murderers.”

“Here’s a Short n’ Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter: we won’t apologize for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Newsweek.

Jackson used Carpenter’s lyrics from her song “Man Child,” in which Carpenter sings, “Is it stupid, or is it slow?”

“Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?” Jackson added.

SOUND SCRUTINY

This isn’t the first time the White House has faced criticism for using a song in a social media post.

In July, pop star Jess Glynne scrutinized the White House for using her song Hold My Hand.

Glynne’s song went viral over the summer, playing in the background of a Jet2 promotional ad.

The ad says: “Nothing beats a Jet2 Holiday.”

Social media users would put the sound behind a video of them on a cheap vacation or something going wrong.

The White House’s social media accounts hopped on the trend and released a 20-second clip showing several people in handcuffs being escorted onto flights by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

“When ICE books you a one-way Jet2 holiday to deportation,” the account captioned the video.

“Nothing beats it!”

The video quickly amassed over 12 million views.

Glynne fired back at the account and said the post made her “sick.”

“This post honestly makes me sick,” she posted on Instagram.

“My music is about love, unity, and spreading positivity – never about division or hate.”

Even the woman who voices the Jet2 Holiday deal spoke out against the sound being used for the video.

“What can be done about @whitehouse using @jet2pics sound and my voiceover to promote their nasty agenda?” voiceover actress Zoe Lister posted.

Apart from Glynne, fellow stars and bands alike including ABBA, Bruce Springsteen, Olivia Rodrigo, Neil Young, Guns N’ Roses, Celine Dion, Rihanna, Phil Collins, Beyoncé and Adele have all spoken up against the White House using their music.

The backlash from celebrities comes after President Trump pushed through with his vow to crack down on illegal immigration.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/15580176/white-house-sabrina-carpenter-song-use-backlash/

A revised version of a peace proposal was discussed in Moscow, after the Ukrainian leader said the current proposal “looks better” than the initial plan that had 28 points. DW has the latest.

Of the platforms named by the government as being covered by the ban, only X and Reddit have not publicly committed to abide by the law.

Google’s YouTube shared a “disappointing update” to millions of Australian users and content creators on Wednesday (Dec 3), saying it will comply with a world-first teen social media ban by locking out users aged under 16 from their accounts within days.

The decision ends a stand-off between the internet giant and the Australian government, which initially exempted YouTube from the age restriction, citing its use for educational purposes. Google had said it was getting legal advice about how to respond to being included.

“Viewers must now be 16 or older to sign into YouTube,” the company said in a statement.

“This is a disappointing update to share. This law will not fulfil its promise to make kids safer online and will, in fact, make Australian kids less safe on YouTube.”

The Australian ban is being closely watched by other jurisdictions considering similar age-based measures, setting up a potential global precedent for how the mostly US tech giants behind the biggest platforms balance child safety with access to digital services.

The Australian government says the measure responds to mounting evidence that platforms are failing to do enough to protect children from harmful content.

SIGNED OUT

YouTube said any user aged under 16 would be automatically signed out of their account from Dec 10, meaning they could no longer subscribe, like or comment on posts, although they could still view content logged out.

That meant underage content creators also could not log in or post. YouTube did not say how it would verify someone’s age.

The company also reiterated its position that the ban would not make the internet safer, and said in an email to caregivers of underage users that “parental controls only work when your pre-teen or teen is signed in, so the settings you’ve chosen will no longer apply”.

Communications Minister Anika Wells, speaking to reporters in Canberra, said it was “weird that YouTube is always at pains to remind us all how unsafe their platform is in a logged-out state”.

“If YouTube is reminding us all that it is not safe and there’s content not appropriate for age-restricted users on their website, that’s a problem that YouTube needs to fix.”

The law prohibits platforms from allowing under-16s to hold accounts, with penalties of up to A$49.5 million (US$32.5 million) for breaches. Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, TikTok and Snap’s Snapchat previously said they would comply.

Of the platforms named by the government as being covered by the ban, only Elon Musk’s X and message board Reddit have not publicly committed to abide by the law.

Source : https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/australia-youtube-comply-teen-social-media-ban-5529326

Netflix’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery’s studios and streaming unit is expected to reduce streaming costs for consumers by bundling Netflix and HBO Max, according to two people familiar with the proposal.

In recent talks with Warner Bros Discovery, Netflix said the potential combination of its streaming service with HBO Max would benefit consumers by lowering the cost of a bundled offering, the sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters. They requested anonymity to discuss confidential negotiations.

Netflix’s argument seeks to address potential regulatory concerns that combining one of the nation’s leading subscription video streaming services with a top rival would reduce consumer choice and raise prices, the sources said. The services are not currently offered as a bundle by either company.

Warner Bros Discovery has been exploring a sale of all or part of its business, which includes film and television studios, cable networks such as HBO and CNN, and the HBO Max streaming service.

Reuters reported in October that Netflix was actively exploring a bid for Warner Bros Discovery’s studio and streaming business, a tie-up that was seen as potentially reshaping the streaming landscape. Now, by framing the acquisition as pro-consumer, Netflix aims to build a case that the deal should withstand a potential regulatory challenge, according to the sources.

Reuters previously reported that Netflix had submitted a mostly cash offer for the studio and streaming unit.

Other bidders for Warner Bros Discovery – Paramount Skydance and Comcast – also would use HBO Max, together with the Warner Bros film and television library, to bolster their streaming services.

Netflix did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while Warner Bros Discovery declined to comment.

If Netflix’s bid is successful, the deal is expected to expand Netflix’s movie and television library.

But the sources familiar with the matter said the potential combination of the two services is unlikely to radically expand its market share because the vast majority of HBO Max customers also subscribe to Netflix.

The combination of HBO Max and Paramount Skydance’s Paramount+ would create a top-tier streaming service in the U.S., capable of challenging Netflix and Walt Disney’s Disney+ in terms of volume and breadth of content, wrote Bank of America media analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich in a recent report.

HBO Max would similarly lift NBCUniversal’s Peacock service, which has yet to turn a profit. NBCUniversal is owned by Comcast.

“Comcast risks being left behind as PSKY or NFLX scale (their streaming services), limiting Peacock’s reach and weakening NBC’s ability to compete in the global media market over time,” Ehrlich wrote.

A successful acquisition would give Netflix control over Warner Bros’ vast library of content, including the entire HBO catalog, the Warner Bros film archive, and DC Comics properties.

Source : https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/netflix-warner-bros-discovery-combo-seen-lowering-costs-consumers-sources-say-5529391

A 13-year-old boy executed a man convicted of murdering 13 members of his family in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Khost. Around 80,000 people watched the execution, which was ordered by the Afghan Supreme Court and sanctioned by the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. The public execution has been condemned by the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan.

A chilling video of a public execution has emerged on social media that reports say is from eastern Afghanistan’s Khost. A man convicted of murdering 13 members of a family, including nine children, was executed on Tuesday at a stadium in Khost, reported several news outlets, including the Associated Press. The execution carried out in a stadium, witnessed by an estimated 80,000 people, was carried out by a 13-year-old boy whose family was among the victims.

The executed man, identified by Taliban officials as Mangal, had been convicted by Afghanistan’s Supreme Court and approved for execution by the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.

The public execution drew international condemnation, with the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, calling it “inhuman, cruel and contrary to international law”.

The execution marks the 11th judicial killing carried out by the Taliban since their return to power in 2021, according to Afghanistan’s Supreme Court.

“In Khost Province, the divine order of Qisas (retaliation) was carried out on a murderer,” said Afghan Supreme Court, adding, “At the conclusion of the gathering, prayers were made for the strengthening of national security, for the people’s better access to their legitimate rights, and for the proper implementation of lslamic Sharia throughout the country.”

PUBLIC EXECUTION IN AFGHANISTAN STADIUM. 13-YR-OLD BOY KILLS CONVICT

Tens of thousands, including relatives of the victims, gathered at the sports stadium in Khost to witness the execution. Mostaghfar Gurbaz, spokesperson for the Taliban governor in Khost, confirmed that Mangal had been found guilty of killing a Khost resident, Abdul Rahman, and other family members in Ali Shir and Terezio districts approximately 10 months ago.

In the video, tens of thousands can be seen packed inside and outside the stadium. As five gunshots rang out, people chanted religious slogans.

“The murderer, Mangal, son of Tala Khan, grandson of Rahmat Khan, was originally from the Sajank area of Said Karam district of Paktia province, and a current resident of the Kuzi Abukhani area of Alishero and Terezio district of Khost province. He had deliberately killed Abdul Rahman, son of Zabit, grandson of Ali Khan, an original and current resident of the Kuzi Abukhana area of Alishero and Terezio district of Khost,” said a press release by Afghanistan’s Supreme Court.

According to Taliban authorities, the man was convicted after proceedings in courts of first instance, appeal, and the Supreme Court. Victims’ families were reportedly offered the option of forgiveness and reconciliation, which could have spared Mangal’s life. But they requested the death penalty instead.

Citing local sources, Afghanistan’s Amu News reported that the execution was carried out by the 13-year-old boy, after he was asked if he wished to pardon the convicted man. Upon his refusal, the boy fired the fatal shot.

Khost police spokesman Mustaghfir Gorbaz confirmed the identity of the executed man and reiterated that the case involved the killing of an extended family, including nine children and their mother, Amu News reported.

“This is what an Islamic system means, a system that fears no one and implements the commands of Allah on earth,” Kabul-based journalist WA Mubariz posted on X.

THE TALIBAN AND ITS METHODS OF “JUSTICE” IN AFGHANISTAN

The Taliban have reinstated a strict interpretation of Sharia law, including public executions, floggings, and other corporal punishments. This echoes the practices from their previous rule in the late 1990s.

Human rights organisations have repeatedly criticised the Taliban’s justice system for lack of transparency, due process, and fairness.

Richard Bennett, UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, took to X to condemn the execution. “Public executions are inhumane, a cruel and unusual punishment, and contrary to international law,” he said, urging the Taliban to halt public executions and retribution killings immediately.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/afghanistan-khost-public-execution-80000-watch-13-year-old-public-stadium-executes-man-convicted-murdering-family-2829665-2025-12-02

Airbus (AIR.PA), confirmed on Monday it faced an industrial quality issue with metal panels on some A320-family jets, in its latest challenge after a recall to fix a computer glitch.
Reuters exclusively reported earlier that Airbus had found quality problems affecting the fuselage panels of several dozen A320-family aircraft, delaying some deliveries.

There were no indications that any had reached aircraft in service, but shares in the world’s largest planemaker fell as much as 11% as the glitch eclipsed the grounding of thousands of A320 jets for a software update. Shares closed down 5.9%.

“Airbus confirms it has identified a quality issue affecting a limited number of A320 metal panels,” it said, adding: “The source of the issue has been identified, contained and all newly produced panels conform to all requirements”.
A spokesperson said the problem stemmed from a supplier, who they declined to name.
Airbus has internal and external suppliers for its aerostructures, with the front of the A320 fuselage broadly made in France and the rear in Germany. Upper panels tend to be produced in-house with the rest involving multiple suppliers.
The problem is the latest for the best-selling model after a weekend recall of over half the A320-family fleet for repairs triggered by a software vulnerability to solar flares.

Operations were returning to normal on Monday after a change of software version was implemented faster than expected, with fewer than 100 still needing a possibly deeper hardware repair.
The A320, which recently ousted the Boeing 737 as the most-delivered jetliner, is also wrestling with repair bottlenecks that have grounded hundreds of jets for logistical reasons. On Friday Airbus introduced limits on some cold weather take-offs.

LOWER-THAN-EXPECTED DELIVERIES IN NOVEMBER

The quality problems emerged as Airbus is beefing up efforts to meet challenging delivery targets for the year and followed lower-than-expected indications for deliveries in November.
Shares in airline customers Lufthansa (LHAG.DE), and easyJet (EZJ.L), were also dragged lower, traders said.
A person with direct knowledge of the matter said some deliveries were already being impacted, but there was no immediate confirmation of how many nor for how long. One source told Reuters the total number of jets affected was around 50.

How badly the flaw affects deliveries and whether the impact will fall in the current year or in 2026 depends where on the aircraft the problem is located, and on how serious it is.
Airbus said “only a portion” would need further action.
Industry sources told Reuters that Airbus delivered 72 aircraft in November, fewer than many analysts had previously expected and bringing the total for the year so far to 657.
Airbus, which declined comment, is targeting “around 820” deliveries for the year, meaning it would have to reach what analyst Rob Stallard called an “astronomical” performance of more than 160 jets in December.
“It was already a big ask for Airbus to hit that 2025 delivery number, and so these fuselage issues could not have come at a worse time,” the Vertical Research Partners aerospace expert said in a note. Demand for the jets is strong, he added.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/airbus-faces-new-quality-problem-dozens-a320-jets-sources-say-2025-12-01/

The White House on Monday defended a U.S. admiral’s decision to conduct multiple strikes on an alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling vessel in September, saying he had Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s authorization, even as critics questioned the legality of a strike on survivors.
The Washington Post had reported that a second strike was ordered to kill two survivors from the initial strike and to comply with an order by Hegseth that everyone be killed.

President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he would not have wanted a second strike on the boat and said Hegseth denied giving such an order.
But White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that Hegseth had authorized Admiral Frank Bradley to conduct the strikes on September 2.
“Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes. Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated,” Leavitt said.
Leavitt said the strike was conducted in “self defense” to protect U.S. interests, took place in international waters and was in line with the law of armed conflict.

“This administration has designated these narco terrorists as foreign terrorist organizations,” Leavitt said.
Starting in September, the U.S. military has carried out at least 19 strikes against suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and off the Pacific coasts of Latin America, killing at least 76 people.
Critics have questioned the legality of the strikes, and both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have pledged to look into them.
International humanitarian law prohibits attacks on incapacitated combatants. The Defense Department’s Law of War Manual states that shipwrecked persons cannot be knowingly attacked and must receive medical care unless they act with hostility or attempt escape.

George Washington University law professor Laura Dickinson said most legal experts do not believe the boat strikes qualify as armed conflict, so lethal force would only be allowed as a last resort.

“It would be murder outside of armed conflict,” she said. Even in war, the killing of survivors “would likely be a war crime.”
A group of former military lawyers, the JAGs Working Group, called the order “patently illegal,” saying service members have a duty to disobey it and that anyone who complies should be prosecuted for war crimes.
On X, Hegseth defended Bradley, calling him “an American hero” and saying he has his “100% support.” Hegseth said he stands by Bradley’s combat decisions “on the September 2 mission and all others since.”
Trump on Monday discussed with top advisers the
pressure campaign against Venezuela, among other topics, a senior U.S. official said.

US OPTIONS INCLUDE EFFORT TO OUST MADURO

Trump has flagged the possibility of U.S. military intervention in Venezuela. On Saturday, he said the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela should be considered “closed in its entirety,” but gave no further details, stirring anxiety and confusion in Caracas.
Trump confirmed on Sunday that he had spoken to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom the U.S. considers an illegitimate leader, but Trump declined to provide details of the conversation.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/white-house-admiral-approved-second-strike-boat-venezuela-was-well-within-legal-2025-12-01/

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s inexperienced army is prepared to wage a prolonged guerrilla war and spread anarchy throughout the country if the US attempts a ground invasion to depose him, according to a new report.

As the US continues to build up its threats against Maduro’s regime, the Venezuelan dictator appears to be fully aware that his nation’s military is dwarfed by the might of the American army.

Rather than face an invading force head on, Venezuela plans to mount a guerrilla-style resistance and sow chaos to make it impossible for the US to quickly boot Maduro and replace him with a new leader, according to sources and documents obtained by Reuters.

The preparations come as the US has more than 10 US warships — including the country’s largest carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford — in the Caribbean amid escalating tensions between Trump and Maduro.

A Marine Expeditionary Unit capable of an amphibious land invasion has also been deployed as part of Trump’s plan to stem the flow of drugs into the US from the socialist country.

Venezuela’s army is small, inexperienced, and ill-equipped

While the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela (FANB) boasts about 123,000 active personnel, the army’s primary combat experience has been confronting unarmed civilians during street protests.

Venezuela’s armed force is also regularly mired by lack of training, low wages, desertions, and deteriorating equipment, six sources familiar with Caracas’ military told Reuters.

Should Maduro activate the supposed 8-million strong civilian militia training in Venezuela, analysts expect only thousands of people loyal to his ruling party to show up for war.

The FANB’s aging army equipment is a big problem for the nation as it relies heavily on Soviet-era weapons and military tech that were acquired by Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chávez.

While Caracas has some 20 Sukhoi fighter jets that were acquired in the 2000s, they would do little against American B-2 jets.

Venezuela preparing for ‘prolonged resistance’

In the event of a US ground or air attack, Venezuela will mount guerrilla warfare referred to by high-ranking officials in Carcass as “prolonged resistance,” sources told Reuters.

The military units have been ordered to split into more than 280 locations across the country to employ guerrilla tactics and acts of sabotage against invaders.

Maduro has also recently deployed 5,000 of the nation’s Russian-made Igla missiles, which will be used for surprise attacks, one source said.

Venezuela’s military has also reinforced the routes leading to the capital, creating a fortified road filled with anti-vehicle barriers and heavy machinery to stymie any form of ground invasion of Caracas.

Maduro’s forces are also set to launch a so-called “anarchization” strategy, which would use intelligence services and tap loyalists to create disorder in the capital and make Venezuela ungovernable for anyone tapped by the US to lead.

Will third party actors get involved?

It remains unknown if any allies or third party actors could get involved if war breaks out between the US and Venezuela.

The country’s western border sees heavy use by Colombian guerrilla forces like the National Liberation Army, which cultivates the main ingredient for cocaine in the area.

Source : https://nypost.com/2025/12/01/world-news/maduros-forces-prepared-for-guerrilla-war-if-the-us-invades-venezuela-report/

A Ground Zero FDNY hero who died from a 9/11 illness was memorialized as an “inspiration” to his colleagues at his emotional funeral in Brooklyn on Monday.

Former Deputy Chief James “Jim” Riches Sr., who died on Thanksgiving at 74, set an example for his colleagues as he sifted through the wreckage to find his firefighter son’s remains after the terror attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001, grieving colleagues said at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Bay Ridge.

Hundreds of mourners saluted Riches’ casket at the church – a scene reminiscent of when the Riches family buried their son, Jimmy Jr., about 24 years ago.

Riches, the 30-year FDNY veteran, ultimately spent months at Ground Zero as he and others never wavered on recovery efforts, grieving colleagues said.

“I can remember vividly the same kind of service, and now here we are, 24 years later, for Jimmy Sr. A lot of this is attributed to him being there every day looking for his son with a bunch of other firefighters that were looking for their sons,” said former FDNY commissioner Sal Cassano.

“I can remember the inspiration that those people gave us, knowing that if they were looking for their sons – some of them were retired – we could look harder than we’d ever worked before.”

Cassano, who was commissioner between 2010 and 2014 said Riches was steadfast in finding his eldest boy’s remains, which he eventually did on March 5, 2002.

“He kept us going. We knew that he was on a mission, and we were on the same mission to bring everybody home,” said Cassano, who knew Riches for about 50 years. “And unfortunately, Jimmy paid a dear price for it.”

Another three of Riches’ sons have served in the fire department, including two who are retired and one still active.

Riches, a Brooklyn resident, served in the FDNY between 1977 and 2007, and was an advocate for Big Apple first responders dealing with post-9/11 issues well into his retirement.

“September 11th didn’t stop on September 11th. We’re doing this almost every day,” Cassano said.

“Jimmy was one of our advocates. Jimmy went to Washington many times for us, he fought for benefits for the families of the people that were killed and for us that are still living.”

The former fire commissioner noted the number of active and former FDNY members who lined the street for Riches was as if he just was working the other day, including some members who did not know him personally, but knew what he stood for.

Source : https://nypost.com/2025/12/01/us-news/ground-zero-fdny-hero-jim-riches-remembered-as-inspiration-at-funeral-from-9-11-related-illness/

From corporate executives to Wall Street analysts to Federal Reserve officials, references to the “K-shaped economy” are rapidly proliferating.

So what does it mean? Simply put, the upper part of the K refers to higher-income Americans seeing their incomes and wealth rise while the bottom part points to lower-income households struggling with weaker income gains and steep prices.

A big reason the term is popping up so often is that it helps explain an unusually muddy and convoluted period for the U.S. economy. Growth appears solid, yet hiring is sluggish and the unemployment rate has ticked up. Overall consumer spending is still rising, but Americans are less confident. AI-related data center construction is soaring while factories are laying off workers and home sales are weak. And the stock market still hovers near record highs even as wage growth is slowing.

It also captures ongoing concerns around affordability, which is much more of a concern for middle and lower-income households. Persistent inflation has received renewed political attention after voter anger over costly rents, groceries, and imported goods helped Democrats win several high-profile elections last month.

“Those at the bottom are living with the cumulative impacts of price inflation,” said Peter Atwater, an economics professor at William & Mary in Virginia. “At the same time, those at the top are benefiting from the cumulative impact of asset inflation.”

Here are some things to know about the K-shaped economy:

Not an L, U or V

Atwater actually popularized the label “K-shaped economy” during the pandemic after seeing it crop up on social media. Other economists were discussing different letters to describe how the COVID recession in 2020 could play out: Would it be a V-shaped recovery, meaning a sharp decline and then rapid bounce-back? Or would it be U-shaped, meaning a more gradual rebound? Or, worse, L-shaped: A recession followed by extended stagnation.

“There was sort of this land-grab for letters,” Atwater said. “To me the letter that made the most sense was K.”

Back then, it captured the differing fortunes between white-collar professionals still employed and working at home while stock prices rose, even as massive layoffs at factories, restaurants, and entertainment venues pushed unemployment to nearly 15%.

Inequality persists

Inequality was somewhat reversed in the aftermath of the pandemic, when businesses offered large raises for blue collar workers as the economy reopened and demand surged. Many companies — restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues — were caught short-staffed and sought to rapidly increase hiring. Lower-income workers saw larger pay gains than higher-paid ones.

In 2023 and 2024, inflation-adjusted wages for the bottom quarter of workers rose at a yearly rate of 3.9%, outpacing the 3.1% gains for the top quarter, according to research by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

“We had that kind of two-year period where the bottom was catching up and that talk of the K-shape went away,” Dario Perkins, an economist at TSLombard, said. “And since then, the economy’s cooled down again,” he added, bringing back K-shape references.

This year, however, inflation-adjusted wage growth has weakened as hiring has fallen, with the drop more pronounced for lower-income Americans. Their wage growth has plunged to an annual rate of just 1.5%, the Minneapolis Fed found, below that of the highest earning quarter of workers at 2.4%.

Slower income growth has left many lower-income workers less able to spend. Based on data from its credit card and debit card customers, the Bank of America Institute found that spending among higher-income households rose 2.7% in October compared with a year ago, while lower-income groups lagged at just 0.7%.

And a Federal Reserve Bank of Boston study in August found that consumer spending in recent years has been driven by richer households, while lower- and middle-income Americans have piled up more credit card debt even as they’ve spent less.

Businesses take note

Corporate executives are paying attention and in some cases explicitly adjusting their businesses to account for it. They are seeking ways to sell more high-priced items to the wealthy while also reducing package sizes and taking other steps to target struggling consumers.

Henrique Braun, chief operating officer at Coca-Cola, for example, said in late October that the company is pursuing both “affordability” and “premiumization.” It is generating more of its earnings from higher-end products such as its Smartwater and Fairlife filtered milk brands, while at the same time introducing mini cans for those looking to spend less.

“We continue to see divergency in spending between the income groups,” Braun said in a conference call with analysts last month. “The pressure on middle and low-end income consumers is still there.”

Sales of first- and business-class tickets have been fueling revenue and profit for Delta Air Lines, its CEO Ed Bastian said in October, while lower-end consumers have been “clearly struggling.”

And Best Buy CEO Corie Barry on Tuesday said that the top 40% of all U.S. consumers are driving two-thirds of all consumption.

The remaining 60% are focused on getting the best deals and are more dependent on a healthy job market, she said.

“One of the things we’re watching closely is how does employment continue to evolve for particularly that cohort of people who are living more paycheck to paycheck,” she added.

AI plays a role

The massive investment in data centers and computing power has also contributed to the K-shaped economy, by lifting share prices for the so-called “Magnificent 7” companies competing to build out AI Infrastructure. Yet so far it’s not creating many jobs or lifting incomes for those who don’t own stocks.

“What we see at the very top is an economy that is sort of self-contained … between AI, the stock market, the experiences of the wealthy,” Atwater said. “And it’s largely contained. It doesn’t flow through to the bottom.”

Driven by big gains for companies like Google, Amazon, Nvidia, and Microsoft, the stock market has risen nearly 15% this year. But the wealthiest 10% of Americans own roughly 87% of the stock market, according to Federal Reserve data. The poorest 50% own just 1.1%.

Source : https://apnews.com/article/kshaped-economy-spending-income-inequality-dfa59144ecb2e1b674242666e28ff556

Elon Musk recently shared a touching personal connection to India during a podcast with Nikhil Kamath.

In a moment that’s melting hearts across India, global tech titan Elon Musk revealed a deep personal connection to the country during his riveting chat with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath on the “People by WTF” podcast. The Tesla and SpaceX visionary shared that his partner, Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis, is half-Indian, and that one of their sons bears the middle name “Sekhar” – a loving tribute to the legendary Indian-American Nobel laureate Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, said a Fortune India report.

Musk’s exact words on the podcast:

“I’m not sure if you know this, but my partner Shivon is half Indian.”

When Kamath expressed surprise (“I did not know that”), Musk beamed: “Yes, and one of my sons with her… his middle name is Sekhar after Chandrasekhar.” Diving deeper into Zilis’s roots, Musk explained her unique story: “She was given up for adoption when she was a baby. I think her father was an exchange student at a university or something like that. I’m not sure of the exact details, but she grew up in Canada.”

This ancestral tie to India – through her father’s exchange student days – adds a poetic layer to the power couple’s bond, blending Canadian upbringing with desi heritage.

The BNP expressed sincere gratitude to PM Narendra Modi for his message wishing Khaleda Zia’s speedy recovery. She has been placed on ventilation and remains under the supervision of a medical team that includes specialists from abroad.

Bangladesh’s main opposition party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), on Tuesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he sent a message wishing a speedy recovery to BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, who remains critically ill.

On X, PM Modi expressed concerns over the condition of the 80-year-old former Bangladesh prime minister, who has been in Evercare Hospital since November 23. “Deeply concerned to learn about the health of Begum Khaleda Zia, who has contributed to Bangladesh’s public life for many years,” he wrote.

“Our sincere prayers and best wishes for her speedy recovery. India stands ready to extend all possible support in whatever way we can,” he added.

The BNP responded through its official account, saying it expresses sincere gratitude to PM Modi for the goodwill gesture at a time when its leader’s condition has deteriorated sharply. “BNP deeply appreciates this gesture of goodwill and the expression of readiness to extend support,” the party said on X.

ZIA REMAINS IN CRITICAL CONDITION

Zia, the first woman to serve as Bangladesh’s prime minister, was admitted with a lung infection that later worsened, forcing doctors to transfer her to the hospital’s Coronary Care Unit. BNP officials say she has been placed on ventilation and remains under the supervision of a medical team that includes specialists from abroad. She was admitted on November 23 after complications affecting her heart and lungs worsened sharply.

BNP leaders said that Khaleda Zia’s condition has not improved. Vice-Chairman Ahmed Aazam Khan said doctors have exhausted most medical options, adding, “She is in a very critical condition. There is nothing more to do except seek prayers from the whole nation.”

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/khaleda-zia-critical-condition-bnp-thanks-pm-modi-glbs-2829096-2025-12-02

DISGRACED Sean “Diddy” Combs has been captured uttering a now-telling warning in newly leaked footage taken just days before his arrest.

Behind-the-scenes clips of the 56-year-old rapper are set to air in a four-part Netflix documentary produced by the music mogul’s bitter rival.

Combs hired a videographer to capture what would be his final days of freedom before he was cuffed, Good Morning America reported.

Now, that footage has dubiously ended up in the hands of a documentary team run by 50 Cent, who’s been embroiled in a years-long feud with Combs.

In a raw moment revealed in a teaser trailer, Combs was seen anxiously awaiting his indictment as he stayed at the Park Hyatt hotel in New York City.

He appears to be chatting with someone about legal strategy as he says, “We have to find somebody that’ll work with us, that has dealt in the dirtiest or dirty business.”

The visibly upset rapper then makes an ominous admission, saying, “Listen to me, I’m [gonna] get off the phone right now, and I am gonna let you professionals look at the situation and come back to me with a solution.

“No matter what nobody said. Here and there, y’all are not working together the right way.

“We’re losing,” he said.

The mega producer would go on to be arrested on September 16 and be convicted nearly a year later on two counts of transportation of prostitution.

He’s now serving out a 50-month sentence in a low-security prison in New Jersey.

Diddy’s fall from grace is set to be examined in the upcoming Netflix series Sean Combs: The Reckoning, directed by Alexandria Stapleton and produced by 50 Cent.

In an interview with Good Morning America, 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson III, said he was shocked that Combs actually filmed the raw moments.

At one point during the documentary, Combs returned to Harlem, where he was born and raised, to meet with fans.

After shaking hands and hugging the locals, he got back into his car and asked for hand sanitizer.

“It shows you his character,” said 50 Cent.

Combs pleaded not guilty to all charges and has denied ever sexually assaulting anyone as he battled a mountain of civil cases.

In a statement released Monday, Combs’ spokesperson Juda Engelmayer said the rapper’s legal team was “deeply concerned” about Netflix using the footage.

They described the videos as “private moments, pre-indictment material from an unfinished project, and conversations involving legal strategy.”

“None of this was obtained from Sean Combs or his team, and its inclusion raises very serious questions about how this material was accessed and why Netflix chose to use it,” read the statement provided to The U.S. Sun.

“As Netflix and CEO Ted Sarandos know, Mr. Combs has been amassing footage since he was 19 to tell his own story, in his own way.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/15573706/diddy-netflix-documentary-video-leaked-50-cent/

THIS is the moment an off-duty paramedic heroically saved a seven-year-old girl from a roaring house fire.

Richard Recinos was driving home from his family‘s Thanksgiving celebration when he came upon the burning East Hollywood home, just minutes before firefighters arrived.

Dramatic footage shows the moment the veteran paramedic realised a little girl was standing on the porch alone and surrounded by the blaze.

In a split-second decision, Recinos zipped up his leather jacket to protect himself from the heat, and rushed towards the house, by now engulfed in flames.

He picked up seven-year-old Savannah, and slung her over his shoulder before running away from the inferno, taking her to safety.

Savannah spent the night in hospital being treated for minor burns to her feet.

Recinos said he would make the same decision again “in a heartbeat”.

“Considering the circumstances, I saw my opportunity for a quick grab and go, quick exit, and everything went well,” he later told KTLA.

Firefighters arrived moments later, helping Savannah’s remaining family members escape the home safely.

The Los Angeles Fire Department later posted a statement to social media, saying they had responded to reports of a tree fire that was threatening a two-storey duplex at 11.43pm.

When crews arrived they quickly got to work and upgraded the status of the blaze to a structure fire, as the flames had engulfed two large trees.

Thankfully, damage was largely focused on the outside of the house, however the family’s car was completely destroyed.

No additional injuries were reported.

Recinos said he had always dreamt of being a firefighter and Thursday’s act of heroism confirmed that goal.

Community members and fellow first responders praised Recinos for his quick thinking and bravery.

He said the moment was “pure instinct”.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

Thursday’s Thanksgiving saw more than one house fire, with one family losing two daughters to a blaze.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/15574221/hero-paramedic-rescues-girl-house-fire-los-angeles/

Mohammed Badaru Abubakar’s resignation comes as Nigeria scrambles to respond to a wave of mass kidnappings.

Nigeria’s defense minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has resigned, the presidency said on Monday, with immediate effect.

Presidential spokesperson Mayo Onanuga said in a statement that Abubakar was quitting on health grounds.

“His resignation comes amid President [Bola] Tinubu’s declaration of a national security emergency, with plans to elaborate on its scope in due course,” the spokesperson said.

Nigeria’s armed banditry is a security crisis

Nigeria has long been plagued by mass kidnappings, but the past weeks have seen a surge in attacks and abductions by armed bandits.

Most recently, gunmen attacked a church in Kogi state in central Nigeria, abducting the pastor along with nearly a dozen worshipers during a Sunday morning service.

On Saturday, some 30 women, including a bride and visiting wedding guests, were kidnapped in Sakoko in northwestern Nigeria.

In all, some 490 people have been abducted across multiple states in the past two weeks, according to Nigeria’s Punch newspaper.

A large number of these were from the St. Mary’s private Catholic boarding school in Papiri, Niger State, where 315 people, mostly children, were abducted in late November. Around 50 children managed to escape.

Armed bandits, often operating in Nigeria’s northwest and north-central regions, frequently carry out kidnappings for ransom.

As well as banditry, Nigeria is also battling a deadly Islamist insurgency in its northwestern regions.

But the Nigerian government has long been criticized for failing to stem the security crisis andprotect schools in particular.

Security forces stretched thin

In the wake of the kidnappings, President Tinubu declared a security emergency and ordered mass recruitment of police and military personnel.

But the military and police are already low paid, lacking in equipment and in need of training.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/nigerias-defense-minister-resigns-amid-security-crisis/a-74975544

The term “rage bait” has been chosen as Oxford’s Word of the Year for 2025, reflecting the rise of outrage-driven online content. It beat contenders “aura farming” and “biohack” in a public vote.

The publisher Oxford University Press on Monday announced it had chosen the term “rage bait” as its Word of the Year for 2025 after a three-day public vote involving more than 30,000 participants.

According to Oxford’s language data, rage bait has tripled in usage over the past 12 months, emerging as a defining expression of 2025’s digital climate.

What does ‘rage bait’ mean?

The term refers to “online content deliberately designed to elicit anger or outrage by being frustrating, provocative, or offensive, typically posted in order to increase traffic to or engagement with a particular web page or social media content.”

Experts at Oxford Language say the term captures how online culture has evolved from click-driven attention to emotion-driven manipulation. They noted that 2025’s news cycle, dominated by social unrest and debates on regulating online content, contributed to rage bait becoming a widely recognized linguistic marker of the moment.

Rage bait was first documented in 2002 on Usenet, where it described a driver’s deliberate provocation of another motorist. It later shifted into internet slang, particularly around viral posts on platforms such as Twitter, and has since become a standard reference in newsrooms and creator communities.

“The fact that the word rage bait exists and has seen such a dramatic surge in usage means we’re increasingly aware of the manipulation tactics we can be drawn into online,” said Casper Grathwohl, President of Oxford Languages.

“Before, the internet was focused on grabbing our attention by sparking curiosity in exchange for clicks, but now we’ve seen a dramatic shift to it hijacking and influencing our emotions, and how we respond.”

The Oxford Word of the Year need not be a single word. It can also be a longer expression that experts think of as a single unit of meaning.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/oxford-names-rage-bait-as-word-of-the-year-2025/a-74963784

Tulip Siddiq, ousted PM Hasina’s niece, was convicted in a case involving the illegal allocation of a plot of land. Hasina and her sister were also found guilty in absentia.

The case involves the alleged illegal allocation of a plot of land in the capital Dakka, which was supposed to be used toward a new township to ease housing pressure. A judge said Hasina misused her power as prime minister while Siddiq influenced her aunt to help her mother and two siblings get the land instead.

Siddiq was sentenced to two years in absentia. Hasina, who has been in India since she fled the uprising in Bangladesh in August last year, was given five years in jail, while her sister Rehana was sentenced to seven years, also in absentia.

Hasina was already sentenced to death last month over the crackdown on the uprising which eventually led to her ousting. Up to 1,400 people were killed in the crackdown, according to United Nations figures.

How have Siddiq and her Labour Party reacted to the court ruling?

Siddiq, who resigned from her role as Britain’s minister for financial services and anti corruption efforts in January, after scrutiny over her financial ties to her deposed aunt, condemned the Monday verdict, describing the trial process as “flawed and farcical.”

“The outcome of this kangaroo court is as predictable as it is unjustified,” she said in a statement. “My focus has always been my constituents in Hampstead and Highgate and I refuse to be distracted by the dirty politics of Bangladesh.”

A spokesperson for Siddiq’s Labour Party said she did not get access to a fair legal process and was not informed of the details of the charges against her.

“Anyone facing any charge should always be afforded the right to make legal representations when allegations are made against them. Given that has not happened in this case, we cannot recognize this judgment,” the spokesperson said.

Prosecutors said Bangladesh’s interim government would formally notify British authorities regarding the verdict. Britain does not have an extradition treaty with Bangladesh.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/bangladesh-sentences-ex-uk-minister-siddiq-over-corruption/a-74972924

Authorities say bird flu poses a low risk to people right now, but in animals — both wild and domestic — it’s causing global devastation. If left uncontrolled, it could also mutate into something far worse for humans.

Despite the bird flu-related death of a man in the US, the risk of another human pandemic remains low — currently — according to public health agencies and experts.

The man who died in November 2025 was the first human case in the US since January. He did not appear to have passed the disease to anyone else, which experts say keeps the risk of a new and major human disease outbreak minimal. The same is true for other human bird flu cases in 2025.

But for animals, the disease has been devastating.

“It’s not, any longer, only an impact on the poultry sector or wild birds,” Gregorio Torres, head of science at the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), told DW.

Data obtained by DW shows almost nine million poultry birds have been culled worldwide since October, mainly in the US, Canada and in Germany, as both North America and Europe grapple with outbreaks on farms and in the wild.

And the effect has spread beyond birds. The current wave, largely of the H5N1 subtype, has seen cattle, pigs, cats and dogs, and wild mammals infected as well.

Bird flu: Disease and death

Highly pathogenic avian influenza — HPAI — refers to those bird flu viruses that cause severe infection in poultry.

Though the designation of these viruses is based on how they affect chickens, ducks, turkeys and other poultry, the effect of infection is usually the same as for wild birds — disease and then death.

WOAH, which is an intergovernmental organization responsible for coordinating and monitoring animal health across the globe, views the virus — specifically the 2.3.4.4b clade of H5N1 bird flu that is driving most infections in animal species — as a major threat to biodiversity.

Management of disease outbreaks is an intensive task. Collaboration between animal monitors, such as WOAH, veterinary and wildlife scientists and human public health agencies, is considered critical for controlling the spread.

Low risk to humans for now, high impact on animals

HPAI has been detected on every continent in 2025, both on land and at sea.

The scale was highlighted on November 25 when Australian authorities confirmed bird flu had reached its remote, sub-Antarctic, Indian Ocean territory of Heard Island — around 4,300 kilometers (2,600 miles) southwest of the mainland — where it has infected elephant seals.

Bird flu has previously caused widespread death in similar populations along South America’s coastlines. Researchers have also detected infections in dolphins.

But bird flu continues to trouble the agricultural sector most of all.

In fall 2025, German poultry farmers were confronted with an unwelcome early start to the bird flu season, with the disease being spread by migrating cranes from Sweden for the first time. This has led to more than a million poultry being culled in Germany.

Migrating birds are the chief reason bird flu spreads across continents.

As they flee the northern hemisphere when winter approaches, these birds make stopovers near wetlands to rest and recover. These stopovers can bring them into contact with local bird populations.

Mutations make bird flu spread easier

If infected with HPAI, there is a high chance migratory birds will transmit the pathogen to other wild or farm birds, setting off chain reactions of transmission. Recent research shows mutations in the 2.3.4.4b clade of H5N1 have made infection with all wild birds easier.

That means an airdrop of the disease among local duck, swan or geese populations can effectively bring it to a region, where it may then continue to spread even without the help of migratory birds.

Part of the solution lies in “strong biosecurity” measures, experts told DW, meaning governments should have strict protocols in place to ensure agricultural spaces minimize bird flu risks at their local level.

Strong biosecurity is essential for containing outbreaks, preventing transmission and reducing the risk of future episodes, said Justin Bahl, an epidemiologist and evolutionary biologist at the University of Georgia, US.

“As long as we have biosecurity and we are being vigilant, then I think we’re in a good place right now,” Bahl told DW. “Lax biosecurity is probably the bigger risk.”

Controlling the spread of the virus among animals reduces the risk of a worse-case scenario — a mutation that makes transmission to, and potentially among humans, easier.

It’s a view echoed by Amira Roess, a global health epidemiologist at George Mason University, US. Roess told DW that active surveillance and disease testing helps to prevent bird flu spread among bird flocks, but that it also reduces the risk of mutations that could make transmission to humans easier.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/virus-has-killed-almost-9-million-birds-and-counting/a-74972319

United States President Donald Trump has “excellent” cardiovascular health, his doctor said on Monday (Dec 1), citing an MRI taken during an unannounced hospital visit that ignited fresh scrutiny over his medical condition.

The Republican billionaire, who turns 80 in June, has long faced criticism for limited transparency around his health. His sudden Oct 10 trip to Walter Reed medical centre – outside the usual annual exam – spurred speculation about what prompted the check-up.

But in a memo released by the White House, physician Sean Barbabella said the advanced imaging was purely preventive, intended “to identify issues early, confirm overall health, and ensure he maintains long-term vitality”.

“Overall, his cardiovascular system shows excellent health. His abdominal imaging is also perfectly normal. All major organs appear very healthy and well-perfused,” Barbabella said.

MRI scans, or magnetic resonance imaging, are commonly used to detect serious conditions such as tumours, strokes and multiple sclerosis, as well as more minor issues like muscle tears and inflammation.

Pressed by reporters in recent weeks, Trump – the oldest person ever sworn in as US president – had sidestepped questions about the purpose of the visit, directing inquiries to his medical team.

During his second term, he has often appeared with bruising on his right hand, occasionally covered with makeup. The White House has attributed the marks to the aspirin he takes as part of a “standard” cardiovascular health regimen.

Source : https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/us-trump-mri-cardiovascular-health-5521421

The Trump administration has agreed to take a stake in xLight – a startup seeking to develop free-electron lasers viewed as key to making faster computing chips.

The U.S. Department of Commerce said on Monday the government will inject up to $150 million into the company but did not disclose the size of the stake.

The department’s CHIPS Research and Development Office said that it has signed a non-binding preliminary letter of intent to provide U.S. government incentives. This marks the office’s first investment after the Trump administration took over a $7.4 billion Biden-era semiconductor research institute.

In the world of advanced chip manufacturing, the most critical tool is an extreme ultra-violet lithography machine that prints the pattern of chips onto silicon wafers. The Netherlands’ ASML is currently the only company in the world that makes such a machine, though startups such as Substrate are trying to develop rivals.

Within the lithography machine, the most difficult part to make is the laser.

XLight has proposed using technology derived from particle accelerators to create one that would use far less electricity than current lasers, and is working with U.S. national labs to develop a prototype that could be connected to machines made by ASML or others.

Source : https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/trump-administration-inject-up-150-million-chip-laser-startup-xlight-5521526

Waves of rain have caused deadly flooding in southern Thailand.

More than 800 Singaporeans have safely returned from flood-stricken Hat Yai in Thailand to Singapore.

In a Facebook post on Monday (Dec 1), Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said that a total of 822 Singaporeans who had e-registered with or reached out to the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) have safely returned.

He praised the dedication of MFA’s consular response teams that “worked tirelessly on the ground to reach Singaporeans and help bring them home”.

Dr Balakrishnan also thanked the Thai government, the Royal Thai Armed Forces, as well as non-governmental organisations and volunteers whose swift support enabled MFA to assist Singaporeans effectively.

He also expressed his gratitude to the Malaysian government, which helped receive Singaporeans where possible and provided timely support during the evacuation efforts.

“As Thailand moves into the recovery phase, I hope families and communities affected by the floods will soon be able to rebuild and find stability again,” Dr Balakrishnan said.

MFA previously said on Nov 28 that 608 out of 893 Singaporeans in Hat Yai who e-registered with or reached out to MFA were either at the city’s airport or had already departed for Singapore.

At the time, MFA said the Singapore Embassy in Bangkok was coordinating assistance on the ground and remained in close contact with the Thai authorities.

In that update, MFA also said that it had located and transported 34 Singaporeans from flood-affected areas directly to Hat Yai International Airport since Nov 27.

In the Nov 28 Facebook post, MFA added it would continue to deploy vehicles to support ongoing evacuation efforts.

Source : https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singaporeans-more-return-safely-thailand-hat-yai-floods-5516361

The death toll mounted to over 600 from floods and landslides caused by torrential rains across three countries in Southeast Asia, officials said on Sunday, as relief efforts for tens of thousands of displaced people continued over the weekend.
Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand faced large-scale devastation after a rare tropical storm formed in the Malacca Strait fuelling heavy rains and wind gusts for a week. There were 435 dead in Indonesia, 170 in Thailand, and three deaths reported in Malaysia.

Rescue and relief officials in the Southeast Asian countries were still trying to get access to many flood-hit areas on Sunday even as flood waters receded and tens of thousands of people were evacuated across the three countries. Over 4 million people have been affected – nearly 3 million in southern Thailand and 1.1 million in western Indonesia, according to official statistics.
Separately, across the Bay of Bengal, another 153 people were killed by a cyclone in the island nation of Sri Lanka, authorities said, with 191 others missing and more than half a million affected nationwide.

INDONESIA

The death toll surged in Indonesia to 435 on Sunday, up from 303 on Saturday, official data uploaded on a government website showed, as officials compiled reports of casualties and damage pouring in from the western island of Sumatra, where three provinces had been devastated by landslides and floods after the rains.

Many areas were cut off due to blocked roads, while damage to telecommunications infrastructure has hampered communication. Relief and rescue teams used helicopters to deliver aid to people in areas that could not be reached by road.
From a navy chopper flying over the isolated town of Palembayan in West Sumatra, a Reuters photographer saw large tracts of land and homes swept away by floodwaters. As the helicopter landed in a soccer field, dozens of people were already standing close by waiting for food.
There have been reports of people looting supply lines as they grow desperate for relief in other areas, officials said on Saturday.
“The water just rose up into the house and we were afraid, so we fled. Then we came back on Friday, and the house was gone, destroyed,” Afrianti, 41, who only goes by one name, told Reuters in West Sumatra’s Padang city.

She and her family of nine have made their own tent shelter beside the single wall that remains of their home.
“My home and business are gone, the shop is gone. Nothing remains. I can only live near this one remaining wall,” she said.
According to official figures, 406 people were still reported missing and 213,000 displaced.

THAILAND AND MALAYSIA

Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health reported the death toll from flooding in southern Thailand at 170, an increase of eight from Saturday, and 102 injuries. Songkhla Province had the highest number of fatalities at 131.
Hat Yai, the largest city in Songkhla, received 335 mm (13 inches) of rain last Friday, its highest single-day tally in 300 years, amid days of heavy downpours.
In neighbouring Malaysia, there are still about 18,700 people in evacuation centres, according to the country’s national disaster management agency. Meteorological authorities lifted tropical storm and continuous rain warnings on Saturday, forecasting clear skies for most of the country.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/tropical-storm-deaths-cross-500-southeast-asia-over-4-million-affected-2025-11-30/

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa dismissed on Sunday U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to exclude Pretoria from next year’s G20 summit, reaffirming South Africa’s status as a founding member of the group.
Washington boycotted the Group of 20 leaders’ summit held under South Africa’s presidency in Johannesburg on November 22-23, with Trump repeating allegations, widely discredited, that the host country’s Black-majority government persecutes its white minority.

Trump said last Wednesday that South Africa would not be invited to the summit to be held in Florida next year because it had refused to hand over the G20 presidency to a senior representative of its embassy who was at the closing ceremony. Pretoria says it handed over the rotating presidency to a U.S. embassy official.

“South Africa is and will remain a full, active and constructive member of the G20,” Ramaphosa said in a state of the nation address on Sunday.
He also described as “blatant misinformation” Trump’s repeated claims that South Africa was committing “genocide against Afrikaners” – descendants of Dutch settlers – and confiscating land from white citizens.

Ramaphosa noted that despite the diplomatic rift, U.S. businesses and civil society groups engaged actively in G20-related events in Johannesburg in November.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ramaphosa-dismisses-trumps-threat-bar-south-africa-2026-g20-summit-2025-11-30/

Kazakhstan told Ukraine on Sunday to stop attacking the Black Sea terminal of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which handles more than 1% of global oil, after a major drone attack halted exports and seriously damaged loading infrastructure.
The CPC, which includes Russian, Kazakh and U.S. shareholders, said it had halted operations after a mooring at its Russian terminal on the Black Sea was significantly damaged by a Ukrainian naval drone attack.

Ukraine this year mounted wave after wave of attacks on Russia’s oil refineries and crude oil terminals in an attempt to undermine one of the most important sources of income for the Russian war economy.
Kazakhstan’s foreign ministry said the drone attacks were the third such series of attacks on what it called “an exclusively civilian facility whose operation is safeguarded by norms of international law.”

ATTACK ON CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Kazakhstan “expresses its protest over yet another deliberate attack on the critical infrastructure of the international Caspian Pipeline Consortium in the waters of the Port of Novorossiysk,” the ministry said.

“We view what has occurred as an action harming the bilateral relations of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Ukraine, and we expect the Ukrainian side to take effective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.”
Ukraine said its actions were not directed against Kazakhstan or third parties and were only aimed at repelling what it called “full-scale Russian aggression”.
“Ukraine hits back at the aggressor,” Ukraine’s foreign ministry said.
CPC accounts for about 80% of oil exports from OPEC+ member Kazakhstan, which exported about 68.6 million tons of oil last year.
It brings crude from the Tengiz, Karachaganak and Kashagan fields of Kazakhstan to the Yuzhnaya Ozereevka terminal at Novorossiysk. CPC’s main suppliers are fields in Kazakhstan but it also collects crude from Russian producers.

TANKERS WITHDRAWN FROM CPC WATER AREA

The CPC’s 1,500 km (930 mile) pipeline includes Russian, Kazakhstan’s state-owned KazMunayGas, and units of Chevron (CVX.N), Russia’s Lukoil (LKOH.MM), and ExxonMobil as shareholders.
CPC said on Saturday that a November 29 naval drone attack on its terminal had “significantly damaged” Single-Point Mooring (SPM) 2 – essentially a floating buoy which connects to tankers to load oil.
“Further operation of Single Point Mooring 2 is not possible,” CPC said. “Loading operations and other operations were stopped (and) tankers were withdrawn from the CPC water area.”
“We believe that the attack on the CPC is an attack on the interests of the CPC member countries,” CPC said.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/kazakhstan-criticises-ukraine-over-drone-attack-cpc-oil-terminal-2025-11-30/

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says talks with Ukraine over a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war were productive, but there’s “more work to be done”.

The talks, held in Florida, were attended by a Ukrainian delegation led by national security council secretary Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s new chief negotiator.

Also at the meeting were President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Witkoff is due to visit Moscow for talks next week.

Umerov was brought in to replace the Ukrainian president’s top negotiator, Andriy Yermak, after he quit following an anti-corruption raid on his home.

Sunday’s meeting is the latest step in two weeks of intense diplomatic activity.

It was sparked by the leaking of a 28-point US peace plan which shocked Ukraine and its European allies for appearing to favour Russia, which invaded Ukraine nearly four years ago.

“It’s not just about the terms that ends fighting,” Rubio said at the meeting in Hallandale Beach, north of Miami.

“It’s about also the terms that set up Ukraine for long-term prosperity… I think we built on that today, but there’s more work to be done.”

He also told the Ukrainian delegation that the aim of peace talks with Russia is to leave Ukraine “sovereign, independent and prosperous”.

As Sunday’s talks began, Umerov said: “We are discussing about the future of Ukraine, about the security of Ukraine, about no repetition of aggression of Ukraine, about prosperity of Ukraine, about how to rebuild Ukraine”.

“US is hearing us,” he said, speaking in English. “US is supporting us. US is working beside us.”

He later described the talks as “productive and successful” while Rubio said they had been “very productive and useful”.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said the talks were “going along well”, and there was a good chance of a deal being made to end the conflict.

Trump said earlier he would send Witkoff and possibly also Kushner to Moscow this week to meet President Vladimir Putin to discuss the peace plan which has been much revised.

In a post on social media, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said: “It is important that the talks have a constructive dynamic and that all issues were discussed openly and with a clear focus on ensuring Ukraine’s sovereignty and national interests.”

He added he was grateful to the US and Trump for their efforts to try and end the war.

One crucial unresolved issue is the fate of Ukrainian territory that Russia has either annexed or controls.

The talks in Florida were “not easy”, a source who is said to be close to the Ukrainian delegation told AFP news agency.

“But everyone is trying to be constructive and find a solution,” the source added.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd9z2e3exk9o

For Aditya-L1, India’s first solar observation mission in space, the year 2026 is expected to be like no other.

It’s the first time the observatory – which was placed in orbit last year – will be able to watch the Sun when it reaches its maximum activity cycle.

According to Nasa, it comes roughly every 11 years when the Sun’s magnetic poles flip – the Earth equivalent would be the North and South poles swapping positions.

It’s a time of great turbulence. It sees the Sun transition from calm to stormy and is marked by a huge increase in the number of solar storms and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) – massive bubbles of fire that blow out of the Sun’s outermost layer called corona.

Made up of charged particles, a CME can weigh up to a trillion kilograms and can attain a speed of up to 3,000km (1,864 miles) per second. It can head out in any direction, including towards the Earth. At top speed, it would take a CME 15 hours to cover the 150 million km Earth-Sun distance.

“In the normal or low-activity times, the Sun launches two to three CMEs a day,” says Prof R Ramesh of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA). “Next year, we expect them to be 10 or more daily.”

Prof Ramesh is the principal investigator on Visible Emission Line Coronagraph, or Velc – the most important of the seven scientific instruments on Aditya-L1 – and closely monitors and decodes the data it gathers.

Studying CMEs is one of the most important scientific objectives of India’s maiden solar mission, he says. One, because the ejections provide an opportunity to learn about the star at the centre of our solar system, and two, because activities that take place on the Sun threaten infrastructure on Earth and in space.

CMEs rarely pose a direct threat to human life, but they do affect life on Earth by causing geomagnetic storms that impact the weather in near space, where nearly 11,000 satellites, including 136 from India, are stationed.

“The most beautiful manifestations of a CME are auroras, which are a clear example that charged particles from Sun are travelling to Earth,” Prof Ramesh explains.

“But they can also make all the electronics on a satellite malfunction, knock down power grids and affect weather and communication satellites.”

The most powerful solar storm ever recorded was the Carrington Event in 1859, which knocked out telegraph lines across the globe. More recent events were recorded in 1989, when a part of Quebec’s power grid was knocked out, leaving six million people without power for nine hours. In November 2015, solar activity disrupted air traffic control, leading to chaos in Sweden and some other European airports.

In February 2022, Nasa reported that a CME had led to 38 commercial satellites being lost.

Prof Ramesh says that if we are able to see what happens on the Sun’s corona and spot a solar storm or a coronal mass ejection in real time, record its temperature at origin and watch its trajectory, it can work as a forewarning to switch off power grids and satellites and move them out of harm’s way.

There are other solar missions watching the Sun, but Aditya-L1 has an advantage over others, including the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory sent jointly by Nasa and Esa (European Space Agency), when it comes to watching the corona.

“Aditya-L1’s coronagraph is the exact size that lets it nearly mimic the Moon, fully covering the Sun’s photosphere and allowing it an uninterrupted view of almost all of the corona 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, even during eclipses and occultations,” says Prof Ramesh.

In other words, the coronagraph acts like an artificial Moon, blocking the Sun’s bright surface to let scientists continuously observe its faint outer corona -something the real Moon does only during eclipses.

Moreover, this is the only mission that can study eruptions in visible light, letting it measure a CME’s temperature and heat energy – key clues that show how strong a CME would be if it headed toward Earth, says Prof Ramesh.

To prepare for next year’s peak solar activity period, the IIA collaborated with Nasa to study the data it gathered from one of the largest CMEs that Aditya-L1 has recorded until now.

It originated on 13 September 2024 at 00:30 GMT, Prof Ramesh says. Its mass was 270 million tonnes – the iceberg that sank Titanic was 1.5 million tonnes, he says.

At origin, its temperature was 1.8 million degrees Celsius and the energy content was equivalent to 2.2 million megatons of TNT – in comparison, the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were 15 kilotons and 21 kilotons respectively.

Even though the numbers make it sound incredibly large, Prof Ramesh describes it as a “medium-sized” one.

The asteroid which wiped out the dinosaurs on Earth was 100 million megatons and during the Sun’s maximum activity cycle, he says, we could see CMEs with energy content equal to even more than that.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8dy9qp71v2o

Elon Musk publicly revealed his partner, Shivon Zilis, is half Indian during a podcast with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath. He stated one of their sons has the middle name ‘Sekhar,’ honouring Indian Nobel laureate Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. Musk also commented on US visa restrictions potentially affecting the flow of Indian talent to America, noting a shift.

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk shared personal details about his partner, Shivon Zilis and their family background in a recent appearance on Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath’s podcast People by WTF. During the conversation, Musk mentioned for the first time publicly that Zilis is half Indian, noting that her heritage had influenced the naming of one of their children.

He explained that one of the sons he shares with Zilis has the middle name ‘Sekhar,’ chosen in tribute to renowned Indian-American astrophysicist and Nobel laureate Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. Musk highlighted this as a nod to Chandrasekhar’s scientific legacy and as a subtle recognition of Zilis’s Indian roots.

When Kamath asked Musk about where Zilis grew up, Musk offered additional context about her early life. He said that Zilis was raised in Canada and had been adopted shortly after birth.

According to Musk, her biological father had been an exchange student at a university, though he admitted he was not fully certain about the complete details of her biological family circumstances. Nevertheless, he reiterated that she was adopted as a baby and spent her formative years in Canada.

Musk Met Zilis In 2017

A panel was tasked with re-examining the Bangladesh Rifles revolt that erupted in Dhaka and spread nationwide. The two-day mutiny in 2009 left 74 people dead, including top military officers, only weeks after Sheikh Hasina returned to power.

In fresh trouble for Sheikh Hasina, a commission set up to investigate a violent Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) mutiny that saw dozens of senior army officers massacred 16 years ago claimed that the ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister personally ordered the mutiny,

According to news agency AFP, the panel alleged India’s involvement in weakening the Bangladesh Army.

The findings, released on Sunday, add fresh pressure on the 78-year-old leader, who is already facing a death sentence in absentia for “crimes against humanity” linked to her government’s crackdown on last year’s protests.

The commission, formed by the Muhammad Yunus-led interim administration after Hasina’s ouster last year, was tasked with re-examining the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) revolt that erupted in Dhaka and spread nationwide. The two-day mutiny in 2009 left 74 people dead, including top military officers, only weeks after Hasina returned to power.

Commission chief ALM Fazlur Rahman alleged the then-Awami League government was directly involved in the revolt. He named former MP Fazle Noor Taposh as the “principal coordinator” and claimed Taposh acted “at the behest” of Hasina, who provided the “green signal” to carry out the killings.

INDIA ACCUSED OF DESTABILISATION PLOT

Rahman’s summary of the report, released by the government’s press office, also alleged the involvement of an unnamed foreign power. “The involvement of a foreign force was strongly evident in the investigation,” it said.

“The conspiracy aimed to weaken this force and destabilise Bangladesh. At that time, India sought to create instability while the then government sought to extend its rule,” Rahman said as quoted by local media bdnews24.

“After the BDR carnage took place, the government wanted to prolong its power, and the neighbouring country (India) wanted to destabilise Bangladesh,” he said in a press conference.

When pressed to identify the neighbouring country he was referring to, Rahman said it was India, where Hasina and several party leaders had taken refuge.

“Around 921 Indians came to the country during that time. The whereabouts of 67 of those Indians are unknown,” Rahman said, pointing to what he described as evidence of Indian involvement in the incident.

India has not issued a response to the allegation. Ties between Dhaka and New Delhi have already been strained since Hasina fled to India following massive anti-government protests in July-August 2024.

Meanwhile, Yunus welcomed the commission’s findings. “Through the commission report, the truth has finally been revealed,” he said.

A previous investigation, conducted under Hasina’s government, had blamed soldiers’ long-standing resentment over pay and treatment. Her political rivals, however, long insisted she used the mutiny to tighten control over the military.

DHAKA PUSHES FOR HASINA’S EXTRADITION

DONALD Trump confirmed he spoke to dictator Nicolás Maduro over a call before announcing the closure of Venezuela’s airspace.

While Trump revealed no details of the chat, he is said to have offered Maduro a chance to escape with his family amid fears of all-out war between Washington and Caracas.

During the call, Trump offered Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores and son a safe passage out of the country, the Miami Herald Reports.

In return, Washington demanded that Maduro resign right away and leave Venezuela immediately, along with his aides, to allow the restoration of democratic rule.

A source said that the call, first reported by the New York Times, was viewed as a last-ditch effort to avoid a confrontation.

But it is understood that both leaders failed to reach a detente after Caracas refused Washington’s ultimatum.

When asked if he had spoken with Maduro, Trump said: “I don’t want to comment on it. The answer is yes.”

Trump and “I wouldn’t say it went well or badly, it was a phone call,” Trump said regarding the conversation.

On Saturday, Trump said the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela should be considered “closed in its entirety,” but gave no further details.

The move – widely interpreted in Venezuela as a prelude to an imminent attack – stirred anxiety and sowed chaos in Caracas.

Soon reports emerged that a presidential jet flew from Caracas to the border with Brazil after the announcement.

According to the ADSB Exchange website, which monitors flight tracking data, the aircraft departed from Caracas and flew to the border with the Brazilian state of Roraima before returning to the Venezuelan capital.

The aircraft was an Airbus A-319 operated by Conviasa, a Venezuelan state-owned airline, CNN Brazil reported.

The plane landed at Santa Elena de Uairén Airport, about 250km from the border with Brazil, before returning to Caracas.

The plane is described by the website as a “VIP government aircraft” and has been used by dictator Nicolás Maduro on official trips.

It is not clear if Maduro was on that plane.

When asked whether his airspace comments meant strikes against Venezuela were imminent, Trump said: “Don’t read anything into it.”

The Trump administration has been weighing Venezuela-related options to combat what it has portrayed as Maduro’s role in supplying illegal drugs that have killed Americans.

The socialist Venezuelan president has denied having any links to the illegal drug trade.

Plans are reportedly being drawn up that could see bombings on military installations, cocaine labs – and even dictator Nicholás Maduro’s palace in Caracas – after the Department of War launched Operation Southern Spear.

Trump told military service members last week the US would “very soon” begin land operations to stop suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers.

It is the clearest signal yet that the US forces are now openly preparing for a military confrontation against Venezuela.

Carnage in Caracas

And the strikes could target everything from army bases to drug labs, drug trafficking installations, and Maduro’s fierce guerrilla camps.

Top of the list would be strategic military installations to ensure minimal resistance of force from Caracas.

This includes the La Orchila air and naval base – a strategic island used for large-scale naval and air drills.

The second key military installation could be the El Libertador Air Base, which serves as Venezuela’s main air base and logistics hub.

Fort Tiuna Main military complex in Caracas, which hosts the Defence Ministry headquarters, could also be bombed to wipe out the country’s top military leadership.

Apart from these, the US forces will seek to destroy every major narcotics hub across the country.

This includes cocaine production labs, logistical centres and transport facilities.

Trump’s options

Military experts argue that the easiest way for Trump to wipe out his targets inside Venezuela would be long-range bombings using US fighter jets and missile strikes.

Some 10,000 troops have gathered in the region, backed up by dozens of warships, submarines and fighter jets, armed with hundreds of long-range missiles.

The US military has sent the world’s biggest warship to join Trump’s drug-busting naval force in the Caribbean.

State-of-the-art Gerald R Ford Carrier Strike Group has joined the American ring of steel stationed near Venezuelan waters.

The deadly aircraft permanently assigned to the ship include the 18E Super Hornet, the 18G Growler, the 2D Advanced Hawkeye, and the 2A Greyhound, alongside Seahawks.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/15571186/trump-gave-maduro-ultimatum-flee-venezuela-save-family/

THE son of fugitive Travis Turner has broken his silence during the first public outing since the ex-football coach was charged with child sex crimes.

Bailey Turner, 23, attended the football game of his dad’s former team against the Ridgeview High School Wolfpack on Saturday.

The Virginia-based team, the Union High School Bears, continued their unbeaten season with a 21-14 win which began under the helm of his dad.

Bailey, who watched on from the sidelines, appeared visibly upset and was tearful as he called the win “bittersweet” amid the search for his father, the Daily Mail reported.

Turner, 46, vanished from his Appalachia home where he lived with his wife and three children on November 20.

That same day, Virginia State Police arrived at the house to question the high school coach, but he had already gone.

His family has said that he was last seen disappearing into the nearby woodland with a firearm and they have not heard from him since.

The family’s attorney clarified that at the time he fled the home, there were no warrants out for Turner’s arrest.

But, on Tuesday, cops confirmed that 10 warrants have been issued and he has been charged with five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor.

“The investigation remains ongoing,” Police spokesperson Robin Lawson said.

“Additional charges are pending.”

Cops have scoured the mountain wilderness for the wanted man but have not yet found anything.

Bailey Turner, who was a former quarterback with the Bears, told the Mail that his family “appreciated the support” they have received from the community in the wake of the bombshell allegations.

He was seen on the sidelines celebrating with the team after Saturday’s win and taking photos with fans.

According to the outlet, he was fighting back tears as the final whistle blew and his father’s colleagues, the other coaches, rushed onto the field to begin celebrations.

“Everyone is here to support the team, and wants them to do well. It’s a tight knit community and this really hit everyone hard,” a fan anonymously told The Mail.

“A lot of people have known the family for years, since Travis’ father coached the team and that makes it harder. It’s not something anyone wants to talk about, especially today.

“Today is about the boys and the team doing their best.”

After charges were filed against Turner, Wise County Public Schools, which oversees Union High, issued a brief statement clarifying that Turner is on administrative leave.

“The individual remains on leave and is not permitted on school property or to have contact with students,” they said.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/15569515/travis-turner-son-breaks-silence-football-coach-charges/

TAYLOR Swift has some lavish bachelorette celebrations planned and they include three big trips, The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal.

The pop star is knee-deep in wedding preparations for her and Kansas City Chiefs‘ tight end Travis Kelce‘s special day.

Fans have been eagerly awaiting details about what’s expected to be the event of the year since the couple announced their engagement in August.

However, chatter has also been swirling about what the multi-Grammy Award winner and her bridal party, which includes BFFs Selena Gomez and Gigi Hadid, have planned before she says, “I do,” aka her bachelorette party.

A source close to Taylor exclusively revealed to The U.S. Sun that the singer’s bridesmaids have been hard at work organizing the festivities, which will involve “at least three or four girls’ trips or bachelorette-style getaways” to some of Taylor’s favorite spots, including New York, Nashville, the Bahamas, and Italy.

“The goal is to have fun, spend weekends together, and enjoy the process while also working on the planning in beautiful locations where they can relax, celebrate, and bond,” the insider shared.

HERE COMES THE BRIDE

Additionally, the ladies, including Taylor’s mother, Andrea, and her soon-to-be mother-in-law, Donna, have been hands-on in the wedding planning process.

“The bridesmaids have been talking for the past two weeks, several times a week, whether on the phone, through texts, FaceTime, or Zoom,” the source revealed.

“Their commitment is incredibly solid, and the excitement is massive. It’s a truly fun experience for everyone already involved.”

They also added that the group has continuously exchanged ideas in person and virtually, and Selena is especially excited to share her marriage experience after tying the knot with record producer Benny Blanco in September.

“[Selena] constantly brings ideas and suggestions to make it the best experience possible for her best friend, Taylor,” said the source.

“They’re all having such a great time; they love the process, and it feels like a dream experience for them — all so excited to support their very close friend, their ‘sister,’ Taylor.”

While an exact date for the wedding hasn’t been disclosed, the bridal party is buckling down on getting the details just right and will “meet all together in person in the coming months in New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville, where Taylor will host them” and ensure that “the plan unfolds perfectly.”

Taylor has been open about wanting an extravagant wedding and about not being tight on the guest list, and it appears she’ll get just that as the group plans a multi-day event.

“The plan is to organize an entire wedding weekend — from Friday to Sunday — not just a single ceremony.

“Taylor and the girls are working on a multi-day celebration, wanting to make it a unique, unforgettable memory they’ll cherish for the rest of their lives,” the insider revealed.

The source also added that the songwriter, who regularly displays her close bond with her girlfriends, is soaking up time with her gal pals and enjoying every minute of it.

“Taylor absolutely loves seeing the love, unity, and dedication from her friends as they help her create the best wedding weekend of her life.”

BEACH WEDDING?

The U.S. Sun exclusively revealed earlier this month that Taylor, 35, and Travis, 36, were eyeing a $32million Rhode Island mansion to exchange vows in a fairytale ceremony.

According to The U.S. Sun’s source, the Cruel Summer singer is planning to create a new garden on-site, to include her favorite red roses, hydrangeas, orchids, and peonies.

The three-story pad, which the billionaire singer purchased over a decade ago, has been the site of a number of Taylor’s star-studded events, including her famed Fourth of July parties and birthday get-togethers.

It also appeared in the entertainer’s music video for her track The Last Great American Dynasty, off her 2020 album Folklore.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/15554202/taylor-swift-bachelorette-parties-wedding-travis-kelce/

European and, above all, German arms manufacturers sold significantly more military equipment in 2024. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute has found that the war in Ukraine is the main reason.

Arms manufacturers have never earned as much as they did in 2024. This is according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on the 100 most important arms manufacturers worldwide. Their revenues from the sale of weapons and military services amounted to $679 billion (€582 billion) last year.

This represents an inflation-adjusted increase of 5.9% compared to 2023. Even then, increasing geopolitical tensions and, above all, the war in Ukraine had led to increased demand for arms. In 2024, this trend accelerated even further.

So is Russia’s war in Ukraine good for business elsewhere? “For the defense sector, for sure,” Nan Tian of SIPRI, one of the authors of the report, told DW. “In the last two years, the revenues have gone up substantially in these arms companies,” Tian said. This means developing new military equipment, restocking supplies and replacing equipment that has been destroyed.

German companies with particularly high growth rates

Of the 100 companies listed, 39 are based in the US, by far the leading country. These 39 companies account for just under half of global arms sales revenue. However, their growth rate of 3.8% is still relatively modest. The situation is different for the 26 European companies (excluding Russia). Taken together, they have seen a 13% increase in revenue.

German companies have been particularly successful, growing by as much as 36%. “It’s almost all linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” said Nan Tian. “There has been an increase in demand from the German armed forces. Whether it’s Rheinmetall or Diehl, building tanks, armored personnel carriers, ammunition, of course, for the German armed forces to replenish what they’ve sent to Ukraine as military aid, but also to expand their number of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, etc.”

Russia’s war economy thrives despite sanctions

Russia is listed separately in the SIPRI ranking. And it is not surprising that Russian arms manufacturers have seen significant growth. While Russia’s export revenues fell due to international sanctions, the sharp increase in domestic demand more than offset the losses.

But Russia is a special case, said Nan Tian of SIPRI. “The country has completely changed its priorities. The production has now, for the last three years, been geared to a war economy.” All resources have been channeled into the war, said Tian. According to the SIPRI report, Russia increased its production of 152mm artillery shells by 420% between 2022 and 2024: from 250,000 to 1.3 million.

Due to international sanctions, the Russian arms industry lacks parts from abroad, especially electronics for aircraft. However, the belief that the Russian economy would collapse as a result has proven to be false, said Nan Tian. “The country is far worse off now than it would have been if it hadn’t invaded (Ukraine), because of course there wouldn’t be sanctions, but the country has proven to be quite resilient to these various sanctions and economic issues.”

Nan Tian thinks that the transformation of the Russian economy has now gone so far that, if a lasting peace is achieved in Ukraine, it will be difficult for Russia to return to a non-war economy.

Declining Chinese arms revenues due to corruption

Asia ranks third after the US and Europe, with 23 listed arms companies. But Asia is the only region where companies had lower revenues than in 2023. It was mainly Chinese companies whose revenues declined significantly — by 10%. No other country recorded such a decline according to the SIPRI report.

“This almost has nothing to do with the peacefulness of regions,” said Nan Tian. “Specifically, Asia and China, the reason for the decrease has been, there have been a lot of corruption allegations against Chinese arms companies,” he said, explaining that this had led to the cancellation or postponement of larger arms orders.

By contrast, companies from the Middle East recorded larger increases of 14%. Never before has this region been represented in the annual SIPRI statistics by so many companies: nine in total. Three are based in Israel, which has a particular demand for drones and air defense systems.

This region also includes Turkey, which once again has seen increased revenue. However, Baykar, the manufacturer of the Bayraktar combat and reconnaissance drone, failed to match its export figures to Ukraine from 2024.

Top companies are based in the US

According to SIPRI, the five largest arms companies in the world are Lockheed Martin (which makes F35 fighter jets), RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies, which makes aircraft engines and drones), Northrop Grumman (which produces long-range missiles), BAE Systems and General Dynamics (which makes nuclear submarines and guided missiles). With the exception of the British company BAE Systems, all are based in the US.

This is the first time since 2017 that a company not based in the US has appeared among the five largest arms manufacturers. By way of comparison, the military division of the European Airbus consortium ranks 13th among the 100 most important companies, while the German company Rheinmetall ranks 20th.

In 2024, four of these 100 companies were based in Germany: Rheinmetall, Thyssenkrupp, Hensoldt and Diehl. Together, they generated revenues of $14.9 billion. The war in Ukraine led to a large number of orders, especially from the manufacturer Diehl for their land-based defense systems.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/sipri-war-in-ukraine-boosts-arms-manufacturers-profits/a-74941558

As the US pushes for an end to the war in Ukraine, Kyiv’s diplomats held meetings with Steve Witkoff and Marco Rubio in Florida. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will travel to France on Monday.

Trump expresses hope and says ‘good chance’ there will be a deal to end Ukraine war

President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that there was a “good chance” of a Russia-Ukraine deal, following the latest US-Ukraine talks in Florida.

Trump also said “Ukraine’s got some difficult problems,” after a top aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy resigned after anti-corruption police raided his home on Friday.

Andriy Yermak, who was Zelenskyy’s trusted right-hand man, was Kyiv’s top peace negotiator. He was a fixture in talks to end Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

When pressed for clarity on “difficult problems,” Trump said the allegations of corruption among senior political and business figures in Ukraine were “not helpful.”