Desmond Milligan

BOSTON (WWLP) – A local travel agency has released the top destinations this Labor Day weekend. AAA has released data showing that Seattle, Orlando, New York City, and Boston are the most popular U.S. destinations for Labor Day weekend, with travel costs decreasing compared to last year. They say that round-trip flights are 6% less, hotels decreased by 11% and car rentals are 3% lower. Stronger, bigger Hurricane Erin to create dangerous surf, high winds along East Coast Although gas prices have fluctuated this year, as of August 18th, the average price per gallon in Massachusetts is 36 cents less than this time last year. AAA says that with the exception of Hurricane Erin affecting the Gulf Coast refineries, gas prices should stay below what they were last Labor Day. “Labor Day caps off summer travel and provides one final holiday weekend before the fall routine begins,” said Mark Schieldrop, senior spokesperson for AAA Northeast. “While some families are going on dream cruises or European vacations, many travelers are staying closer to home and taking road trips to nearby beaches or national parks.” Top 10 Labor Day destinations in the U.S.Seattle Orlando New York Boston Anchorage Chicago Atlanta Denver Miami Las Vegas Top 10 Labor Day international destinationsFor those booking international destinations this Labor Day weekend, hotels cost 2% less than last year, while flight costs are up 8%, according to AAA. The top international travel spot this year is Vancouver, Canada. Vancouver, Canada Rome, Italy Dublin, Ireland London, England Paris, France Amsterdam, Netherlands Barcelona, Spain Athens, Greece Edinburgh, Scotland Lisbon, Portugal The busiest days for travel are expected to be Friday, August 29, and Saturday, August 30, so it’s best to leave before lunchtime to avoid traffic. Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car Date Best Travel Time Worst Travel Time Thursday, Aug. 28 Before 1 p.m. 1 p.m.-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29 Before noon Noon-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30 6-10 a.m. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31 Before 11 a.m. Noon-5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 1 Before noon 1-4 p.m. 7 Day Forecast in western Mass.Local News Headlines Mass. man charged as Fugitive from Justice in Vermont West Street in Easthampton closed due to downed wires Top U.S. destinations for Labor Day weekend revealed by AAA Massachusetts hospitals ranked among best in America WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. View the full article

(Corrects misspelled name in paragraph two) KINSHASA (Reuters) -Islamic State-backed rebels armed with machetes and hoes have killed at least 52 civilians in the Beni and Lubero areas of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in recent days, UN and local officials said. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels were taking revenge on civilians after suffering defeats by Congolese forces, Lieutenant Elongo Kyondwa Marc, a regional Congolese army spokesperson, said. "When they arrived, they first woke the residents, gathered them in one place, tied them up with ropes, and then began to massacre them with machetes and hoes," Macaire Sivikunula, chief of Lubero's Bapere sector, told Reuters over the weekend. About 30 civilians were killed in the village of Melia alone, Alain Kiwewe, a military administrator for the Lubero territory, told Reuters. "Among the victims were children and women whose throats were slit in their homes, while several houses were set on fire," he said. The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) condemned "in the strongest possible terms" the attacks by the ADF between August 9 and 16, the mission's spokesperson said on Monday. The attacks killed at least 52 civilians, including eight women and two children, and the toll could rise as the search is ongoing, the spokesperson said. The ADF is among several militias wrangling over land and resources in Congo's mineral-rich east. Congo's army and its ally, Uganda, have intensified operations against the ADF in recent weeks. In late July, ADF rebels killed 38 people in an attack on a church in eastern Congo. (Reporting by Congo newsroom; Writing by Ange Kasongo and Ayen Deng Bior; Editing by Portia Crowe, Toby Chopra and Andrew Heavens) View the full article

WASHINGTON (AP) — Zelenskyy signals he's open to having a trilateral meeting with Trump and Putin to negotiate end to Russia-Ukraine war. View the full article

At the Rafah crossing into the Gaza Strip, hundreds of aid trucks sat unmoving in the Egyptian desert, stuck for days with only a handful allowed through by Israel to relieve the humanitarian disaster across the border. After nearly two years of war, UN-backed experts have said famine is unfolding in the Palestinian territory, while there are also dire shortages of clean water and medicines. Yet aid groups say the flow of essential supplies remains painfully slow, despite the growing crisis. Israel continues to deny entry for life-saving medical equipment, shelters and parts for water infrastructure, four UN officials, several truck drivers and an Egyptian Red Crescent volunteer told AFP. They said the supplies were often rejected for being "dual-use", meaning they could be put to military use, or for minor packaging flaws. Some materials "just because they are metallic are not allowed to enter," said Amande Bazerolle, head of emergency response in Gaza at French medical charity MSF. Sitting on the Egyptian side was a truckload of intensive care gurneys baking in the sun, held back by the Israelis despite the UN reporting a severe shortage in Gaza, because one pallet was made of plastic instead of wood, aid workers said. Other shipments were turned away because "a single pallet is askew, or the cling film isn't wrapped satisfactorily", said an Egyptian Red Crescent volunteer. Even with everything lined up and approved beforehand, shipments can still be turned back, said Amal Emam, chief of the Egyptian Red Crescent. "You can have a UN approval number stuck to the side of a pallet, which means it should cross, it's been approved by all sides, including COGAT, but then it gets to the border and it's turned back, just like that." COGAT is the Israeli ministry of defence agency that oversees civil affairs in the Palestinian territories. Complying with the restrictions was also incredibly costly, Emam said. "I have never in my life as a humanitarian seen these kinds of obstacles being put to every bit of aid, down to the last inch of gauze," she added. - 'Engineered hunger' - Simple medicines such as ibuprofen can take a week to cross into Gaza. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation often has to rush to get insulin and other temperature-sensitive medicines through in regular trucks when Israeli officials reject the use of refrigerated containers. In a tent warehouse, dozens of oxygen tanks sat abandoned on Monday, gathering dust months after they were rejected, alongside wheelchairs, portable toilets and generators. "It's like they're rejecting anything that can give some semblance of humanity," a UN staffer told AFP, requesting anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the press. Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the UN's humanitarian agency OCHA, said the prohibited list "is pages and pages of things". Truck drivers have reported spending days stuck watching other vehicles that are often carrying identical supplies either waved through or rejected without explanation. Egyptian driver Mahmoud El-Sheikh said he had been waiting for 13 days in scorching heat with a truck full of flour. "Yesterday, 300 trucks were sent back. Only 35 were allowed in," he said. "It's all at their discretion." Another driver, Hussein Gomaa, said up to 150 trucks lined up each night on the Egyptian side, but in the morning "the Israelis only inspect however many they want and send the rest of us back". AFP could not independently verify the daily aid volume entering Gaza from Egypt. A WHO official said that at most 50 trucks enter Gaza every day while Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said only 130-150 trucks cross daily, sometimes 200 -- about a third of what is needed. "This is engineered hunger," Abdelatty said on Monday, adding that over 5,000 trucks were waiting at the border. - 'Losing limbs' - Last week, COGAT denied blocking aid. In a post on X, it said Israel facilitates humanitarian aid while accusing Hamas of exploiting aid to "strengthen its military capabilities" and said 380 trucks entered Gaza last Wednesday. MSF warned aid bottlenecks were costing lives. It cannot bring in vital medical supplies as basic as scalpels or external fixators used to treat broken limbs. "People are at risk of losing limbs because we don't have basic tools," Bazerolle said. She added supplies were depleting faster than expected. "We order for three or five months and then in two months it's gone." bha-maf/dcp/dv View the full article

A coalition of attorneys general from 20 states and Washington, D.C., is asking a federal judge to stop the U.S. Department of Justice from withholding federal funds earmarked for crime victims if states don't cooperate with the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts. The lawsuit filed Monday in Rhode Island federal court seeks to block the Justice Department from enforcing conditions that would cut funding to a state or subgrantee if it refuses to honor civil immigration enforcement requests, denies U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers access to facilities or fails to provide advance notice of release dates of individuals possibly wanted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement because of their immigration status. The lawsuit asks that the conditions be thrown out, arguing that the administration and the agency are overstepping their constitutional and administrative authority. The lawsuit also argues that the requirements are not permitted or outlined in the Victims of Crime Act, known as VOCA, and would interfere with policies created to ensure victims and witnesses report crimes without fear of deportation. “These people did not ask for this status as a crime victim. They don’t breakdown neatly across partisan lines, but they share one common trait, which is that they’ve suffered an unimaginable trauma,” New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said during a video news conference Monday, calling the administration's threat to withhold funds “the most heinous act” he’s seen in politics. The federal conditions were placed on VOCA funding, which provides more than a billion dollars annually to states for victims compensation programs and grants that fund victims assistance organizations. VOCA funding comes entirely from fines and penalties in federal court cases, not from tax dollars. Every state and territory has a victims compensation program that follows federal guidelines, but largely is set up under state law to provide financial help to crime victims, including medical expense reimbursement, paying for crime scene cleanup, counseling or helping with funeral costs for homicide victims. VOCA covers the cost of about 75% of state compensation program awards. The funds are also used to pay for other services, including testing rape kits, funding grants to domestic violence recovery organizations, trauma recovery centers and more. Advocates and others argue that the system needs to protect victims regardless of their immigration status and ensure that reporting a crime does not lead to deportation threats. They also say that marginalized communities, such as newly arrived immigrants, are more likely to be crime targets. “The federal government is attempting to use crime victim funds as a bargaining chip to force states into doing its bidding on immigration enforcement,” New York Attorney General Letitia James, who also joined the lawsuit, said in a statement Monday. “These grants were created to help survivors heal and recover, and we will fight to ensure they continue to serve that purpose … We will not be bullied into abandoning any of our residents.” The Associated Press left a message seeking comment from a DOJ spokesperson Monday afternoon. President Donald Trump’s administration has sought to withhold or pull back other federal funding or grant funding midstream, saying awardees and programs no longer agree with its priorities. In April, it canceled about $800 million in DOJ grants, some of which were awarded to victims service and survivor organizations. And in June, states filed a lawsuit over added requirements in Violence Against Women Act funding that mandated applicants agree not to promote “gender ideology,” or run diversity, equity and inclusion programs or prioritize people in the country illegally. Several attorneys general said the VOCA conditions appear to be another way the administration is targeting so-called sanctuary jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, though there is no clear definition of what a sanctuary state or city is. The Trump administration earlier this month released an updated list of states, cities and counties it considers sanctuary jurisdictions. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in the August announcement that the department would “continue bringing litigation against sanctuary jurisdictions and work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to eradicate these harmful policies around the country.” As of Monday afternoon attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin — all Democrats — had signed on to the lawsuit. View the full article

ST. LUCIE COUNTY – While state officials announced the arrest of a man in connection with an Aug. 12 crash on Florida’s Turnpike that left three dead, questions remain about the incident and the arrest. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles stated Aug. 16 that Harjinder Singh, whose age and city of residence were not provided, was in custody on vehicular homicide charges and immigration violations. The deadly crash happened about 19 miles north of the Fort Pierce exit when the driver of a northbound semi-truck and box trailer is accused of trying to make a U-turn at the “official use only turn around” area. The semi-truck was in the outside lane. Meanwhile, a northbound 2015 Chrysler minivan with a driver and two passengers was in the inside lane. The semi-truck driver is accused of trying to make the U-turn, crossing all northbound travel lanes. The minivan crashed with the left side of the trailer, and was wedged beneath it. The minivan passengers – a 37-year-old Pompano Beach woman and a 54-year-old Miami man – died at the scene. The minivan driver, a 30-year-old Florida City man, died after being taken to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce. FHP did not provide names of the three who died. Lt. Indiana Miranda, Florida Highway Patrol spokesperson, declined Aug. 18 to answer questions about where and when Singh was taken into custody, under what circumstances he was taken into custody and where he is being held. “Like stated, this is an active traffic homicide investigation we are not releasing anything else at this time,” Miranda stated via e-mail. According to a St. Lucie County Jail official on Aug. 18, Singh is not at the St. Lucie County Jail. Defendants typically are booked in at the jail in the county in which the crimes of which they are accused occurred. Defendants arrested elsewhere on warrants can be extradited back to the county and state in which the crimes of which they are accused occurred. The St. Lucie County Clerk’s office did not have records related to Singh’s apprehension. Port St. Lucie bank ATM case: Three men sought after bank drive-thru ATM caper Deadly encounter in St. Lucie County: Law enforcement officers fatally shoot homicide suspect on I-95 after he points gun at them In a news release about the crash before Singh’s name was released, the driver of the semi-truck was identified as a 28-year-old man from Stockton, California. His passenger was identified as a 25-year-old man from Yuba City, California. State officials reported determining Singh entered the United States illegally in 2018 via the border with Mexico. He got a commercial driver’s license in California. Singh is expected to be deported after his state level charges are concluded, according to statements from Dave Kerner, executive director of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at [email protected]. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Unanswered questions after 3 die following crash on Florida's Turnpike View the full article

Multiple earthquakes shook parts of California over the weekend, including a temblor in San Bernardino County. Coso Junction in Inyo County experienced back-to-back quakes beginning at 4:21 p.m. on Sunday. Multiple earthquakes shook parts of California over the weekend, including a temblor in San Bernardino County.The first was a magnitude 2.8 quake, followed a minute later by a magnitude 3.0, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The earthquakes were centered between Highway 395 and Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. Further south, a magnitude 2.8 earthquake occurred at 3:27 p.m., about three miles north of San Jacinto in Riverside County. On Friday at 9:31 a.m., a magnitude 2.8 earthquake occurred four miles northwest of Rialto in San Bernardino County. Earlier this month, San Bernardino County was hit by several earthquakes, including a magnitude 3.7 quake that struck near Highway 138 in the Cajon Pass, the Daily Press reported. There were no reports of injuries or damages. Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Multiple earthquakes strike across California over the weekend View the full article

A hiker died in Tennessee on Aug. 8 after being bitten by a rattlesnake he picked up, local officials said. The man likely died from an allergic reaction to the snake's venom, though the official cause of death has not yet been released, according to Matthew Griffith, the director of the Grundy County Emergency Management Agency. The snake that bit the hiker was likely a timber rattlesnake, reported The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency says their habitats include mature and heavily wooded forests with rocky hillsides, bluffs or ledges. Do they live in Illinois? Here's what you should know before your next hike. How common are venomous snake bites? How deadly?Venomous snake bites are relatively uncommon, with an estimated 7,000–8,000 people being bitten per year by venomous snakes in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thanks to the frequency of victims seeking immediate medical care, only about five of those people typically die, the CDC says. Does Illinois have timber rattlesnakes?Yes, the timber rattlesnake is one of four types of venomous snakes found in Illinois. More about Illinois snakes: Don't reach under that log! See which venomous snakes to look out for in Illinois Types of venomous snakes in IllinoisOnly four of Illinois' 40 native snake species are venomous, according to the IDNR. Here's what to look out for: Eastern Copperhead: Found throughout southern Illinois. Average length of 24 to 36 inches with a flattened head wider than its neck and ridged scales. The snake has a copper-red head, red-brown or yellow-brown body and hour-glass markings across the back when viewed from above. They prefer forests and river bluffs. Copperhead snakes, seen on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, have hourglass markings on their back.Timber Rattlesnake: Found mostly in southern and western regions of Illinois. Average length of 36-60 inches in length. A flat head much wider than the neck with a rattle at the tip of its tail and ridged scales. The body is gray, yellow or green-white with a series of dark bands along the back and a rust-colored stripe in the middle of the back. A dark bar may be found between the eye and jaw. A timber rattlesnake is shown during a reptile show at the Tuscaloosa Public Library in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in July 2018.Northern Cottonmouth: Found in swamps and wetlands in the southern tip of Illinois. Averages 30-42 inches in length with a flat head much wider than its neck. Ridged scales with plain black or brown coloring and little evidence of a pattern. Some have dim crossbands across the back. A cottonmouth is seen in its exhibit within the herpetarium at Memphis Zoo in Memphis, Tenn., on Thursday, June 6, 2024.Eastern Massasauga: Found in prairie wetlands and river flood plains in the Chicago metro area, as well as parts of central Illinois. Average length of 18-30 inches with flat head much wider than its neck and ridged scales. The snake has a rattle at the tip of its tail, a row of dark blotches down its back and three rows of dark spots on the sides. The body is gray. The only venomous snake in Michigan, the Eastern massasauga rattlesnake.What to do if you see a snakeThe Illinois Poison Center and IDNR recommend avoiding the following actions if you find yourself in areas with snakes: Intentionally handling a snake. Attempting to trap or feed a wild snake. Touching a snake that appears dead (freshly killed snakes can bite). Stepping on a snake in the wild. Reaching under or stepping over rocks or logs (look around before sitting). The two organizations recommend wearing leather boots in areas known to house venomous snakes. What to do if a snake bites youThe IPC recommends the following actions if you are bitten by a snake: Immobilize the affected limb. Remove any jewelry such as rings, bracelets and watches. Do not apply ice or heat, tight tourniquet, electric shocks, conduct oral suctioning or make incisions to the bite area. Go to the nearest emergency department immediately. You can speak to toxicology experts through the IPC's helpline 24/7 at 1-800-222-1222. Signs you've been bitten by a venomous snakeHere's a list of venomous snakebite symptoms, according to the IPC: Rapid progressive swelling. Severe pain. Redness on skin. Broken blood vessel or bruised appearance. Large blisters. Bleeding. Tissue ulceration. Tingling of the mouth, hands and feet. Drop in blood pressure or shock. Respiratory failure. Weakness and sweating. Nausea and vomiting. Kirsten Fiscus and Anthony Robledo contributed to this article. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Does Illinois have timber rattlesnakes? Snake bite safety, local species View the full article

South Carolina's governor has authorized the deployment of 200 South Carolina National Guardsmen to the Capitol in Washington, D.C., amid a federal crackdown on crime. Gov. Henry McMaster announced on August 16 that Palmetto State guardsmen will be deployed to Washington, D.C. to support President Donald Trump. The U.S. Department of Defense stated that Trump called roughly 800 troops from the Army and Air National Guard into the Capitol on August 11 in a crime-fighting effort. This move faced criticism by city leaders, including Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who says crime in the nation's capital is at a 30-year low. District of Columbia National Guard members patrol Washington, DC, on Aug. 14, 2025.South Carolina is one of three states that have chosen to deploy their state National Guard to the Capitol. The other two states are West Virginia and Ohio. The federal government will pay for South Carolina's deployment under Title 32, according to the governor's office. That title enables the Secretary of the Army to offer financial aid to a state that utilizes its National Guard to support specific federal duties. “South Carolina is proud to stand with President Trump as he works to restore law and order to our nation's capital and ensure safety for all who live, work, and visit there,” McMaster said in a statement. The governor's office said South Carolina National Guardsmen are subject to immediate recall in case of a hurricane or other natural disaster in the state. National Guard troops patrol the National Mall on Aug. 12, 2025, in Washington, DC.Crime rates in South Carolina versus Washington, D.C.The White House issued a media release on August 11 saying that crime in Washington, D.C., is "out of control." Aug 14, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; District of Columbia National Guard presence along with United States Capitol Police at Union Station in Washington, DC on Thursday, August 14, 2025. Homeless encampments are also being cleared in Washington days after Trump seized control of D.C.'s local law enforcement, deployed National Guard troops, and ordered people living outside to "immediately" move, suggesting, as the president put it, that they be relocated "FAR from the Capital.". Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY"While Fake News journalists and politicians go out of their way to claim otherwise, the reality is that our nation's capital is anything but safe," the White House release stated. The U.S. Department of Justice stated on January 3 that crime in the capital is at a 30-year low. Data from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) showed a 35% drop in violent crime between 2023 and 2024. The Rochester Institute of Technology compared 2024 homicide rates across 24 U.S. cities. It put Washington D.C.'s homicide rate at 27.3 per 100,000 people. That ranking put Washington, D.C. as the city with the fourth-highest crime rate of the ranked U.S. cities, in between Atlanta and Detroit. The 2023 homicide rate in Washington, D.C. was 40.4, according to population data from World Population Review and crime statistics from MPD. The capital notably had a significantly higher homicide rate in 2023 than in previous years, with 226 incidents in 2021 and 203 reports in 2022. How does this compare to South Carolina cities? The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) works with Beyond 20/20 to operate an interactive crime statistic database. The most recent data set available is from 2023. More: Panelists address gun policy challenges: 'Thoughts and prayers are not enough anymore' City Population (2023) Homicide Count (2023) Homicide Rate per 100,000 People Washington D.C. 679K 274 40.4 Columbia 142.4K 20 14.0 Charleston 155.4K 13 8.4 North Charleston 121.5K 31 25.5 Greenville 72.8K 5 6.9 Spartanburg 38K 8 21.1 Anderson 30K 3 10 North Charleston had the highest homicide rate of the three most populous cities in South Carolina at 25.5 per 100,000 people. Spartanburg had the highest homicide rate of the three Upstate communities, with a rate of 21.1. Members of the National Guard stand outside Union Station on August 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy federal officers and the National Guard to the District and also placed the DC Metropolitan Police Department under federal control.Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson do not have a population over 100,000. Their homicide rates were calculated with the same formula used for Washington, D.C., and the three most populous South Carolina cities. The data for those three cities indicates an estimate of a homicide rate if each municipality had a population of at least 100,000. Lawmakers applaud, criticise use of National GuardPresident Trump signed the Presidential Memorandum on August 11 to "restore law and order" in Washington, D.C. The order directs the Secretary of Defense to mobilize the capital's National Guard to fight crime in the city until law and order are restored. Aug 14, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; District of Columbia National Guard presence along with United States Capitol Police at Union Station in Washington, DC on Thursday, August 14, 2025. Homeless encampments are also being cleared in Washington days after Trump seized control of D.C.'s local law enforcement, deployed National Guard troops, and ordered people living outside to "immediately" move.The response to McMaster's deployment of the South Carolina National Guard is split along party lines, with Democratic lawmakers criticising the decision as Republicans applaud it. Attorney General Alan Wilson, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Congresswoman Nancy Mace, and Congressman William Timmons are some Republican politicians who have expressed support for the move on social media. State Rep. Wendell Jones (D-Greenville), State Sen. Karl Allen (D-Greenville), and Democratic Party leadership all came out in opposition to the decision over the weekend. "Hurricane season is here. We need our soldiers home, not on call for photo ops," Jones said in a statement posted to the media. Bella Carpentier covers the South Carolina legislature, state, and Greenville County politics. Contact her at [email protected] This article originally appeared on Greenville News: National Guard deployment to Washington, D.C.: SC gov. sends guardsmen View the full article

CAIRO (Reuters) -Sudan's army chief appointed a raft of new senior officers on Monday in a reshuffle that strengthened his hold on the military as he consolidates control of central and eastern regions and fights fierce battles in the west. Sudan's army, which controls the government, is fighting a more than two-year civil war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, its former partners in power, that has created the world's largest humanitarian crisis. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan made new appointments to the Joint Chiefs of Staff a day after announcing the retirement of several long-serving officers, some of whom have gained a measure of fame over the past two years. Burhan, who serves as Sudan's internationally recognised head of state, kept the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mohamed Othman al-Hussein, but appointed a new inspector general and a new head of the air force. Another decree from Burhan on Sunday brought all the other armed groups fighting alongside the army - including former Darfur rebels, Islamist brigades, civilians who joined the war effort and tribal militias - under his control. Sudanese politicians praised the decision, saying it would prevent the development of other centres of power in the military, and potentially the future formation of other parallel forces like the RSF. The RSF has its roots in Arab militias armed by the military in the early 2000s to fight in Darfur. It was allowed to develop parallel structures and supply lines. The reshuffle comes a week after Burhan met U.S. senior Africa adviser Massad Boulos in Switzerland, where issues including a transition to civilian rule were discussed, government sources said. The war erupted in April 2023 when the army and the RSF clashed over plans to integrate their forces. The RSF made quick gains in central Sudan, including the capital Khartoum, but the army pushed them westward this year, leading to an intensification in fighting in al-Fashir in Darfur. (Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz; Writing by Nafisa Eltahir; Editing by Andrew Heavens) View the full article

For years, Donald Trump criticized presidents for empty threats. He often pointed to then-President Barack Obama failing to enforce his “red line” on Syria using chemical weapons. During his first term in 2017, Trump called it a “blank threat” that cost us “in many other parts of the world.” When Trump pulled the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, he intoned: “Today’s action sends a critical message: The United States no longer makes empty threats. When I make promises, I keep them.” When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Trump decried the Biden administration for letting Vladimir Putin off “with no repercussions whatsoever.” But Monday, as Trump prepares to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and a host of European leaders, his own threats to sanction Russia are looking pretty empty. The president last month issued a tight new deadline for Russia to agree to a peace deal or face supposedly crippling economic punishment. That deadline passed 10 days ago with no new sanctions on Moscow, although he did announce higher tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, set to go into effect later this month. And on the day of his sanctions deadline, Trump instead announced he’d be meeting with Putin, which he did on Friday in Alaska. But to the extent we know anything that came of that summit, it seems to be that Trump has not only backed off on his sanctions threat – at least for now – but he’s also backed off on his push for a ceasefire in Ukraine. He instead wants a full peace deal now – which could take much longer to hash out and could buy Putin time, with little to no public evidence that the Russian president is serious about peace. There is something to be said for being nimble in foreign policy and adjusting to new inputs. But there’s also something to be said for making threats that you intend to back up. And Trump’s commentary here has been clear. For months now, he’s said sanctions were right around the corner. “If we don’t make a ‘deal,’ and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries,” Trump said on social media on January 22. Nearly seven months later, “soon” apparently still hasn’t arrived. When asked in May about a package of Russia sanctions that has widespread support in the Senate, Trump told Fox News it was “turkey time.” “That would be crushing for Russia, because they’re having a hard time now with the economy,” Trump said. “Turkey time” was three months ago. Russia still hasn’t been crushed. By July, Trump got more explicit with his timeframe. He initially said Russia had 50 days to cut a deal or face sanctions and “secondary tariffs.” Two weeks later, he tightened that to 10-12 days and then 10 days, with a deadline of August 8. “So, what I’m doing is we’re going to do secondary sanctions unless we make a deal,” Trump said. The planned meeting with Putin appeared to forestall that deadline, at least temporarily. But Trump assured it was a new deadline. Asked last Wednesday what would happen if Putin didn’t agree to stop the war after the Alaska meeting, Trump said: “There will be very severe consequences.” The Russian leader hasn’t agreed to stop the war, and the very severe consequences haven’t arrived yet. The situation is dynamic, particularly with Monday’s meetings at the White House. But the administration appears to be inching back from its threats. Asked about the sanctions Friday night on Fox News, Trump responded: “We don’t have to think about that right now.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday actually pitched sanctions as an impediment to a potential peace deal. Appearing on multiple shows, he suggested the administration would wait until there was no hope of peace. “The minute you issue new sanctions … our ability to get them to table will be severely diminished,” Rubio said of Russia on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” He added on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” “You’ve basically locked in at least another year to year-and-a-half of war and death and destruction. We may unfortunately wind up there, but we don’t want to wind up there.” While Trump has called economic punishment “very devastating,” his administration has also recently rather curiously focused on the idea that sanctions on Russia might not even be that effective – noting Putin has dealt with them for years. In other words, it sounds a lot like they’re laying a predicate for not following through on these threats any time soon. If that’s the case, it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise. Trump has a tendency to set deadlines for himself that ultimately fall by the wayside. “Two weeks” has become an inside joke in DC political circles, owing to the many times the president has promised a decision or announcement and never followed through. Even when Trump announced the 10-day deadline for Russia, I wrote about how we probably shouldn’t take it at face value. But as a former version of Trump would seem to agree, major foreign-policy threats are in a different class than promising a policy or personnel decision. Trump got extensive political mileage out of savaging Obama for his red line on Syria, because the stakes were so huge. He pitched the Democratic president as too timid to make good on the threat. The question now is whether Trump is doing the same with Putin. Maybe Trump has reason to believe there are serious prospects for a peace deal that warrant this pause. But Trump has certainly shown a reluctance to truly get tough with the Russian leader before. And some more hawkish Republicans are urging Trump to keep up the pressure. Sen. Lindsey Graham told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” that Trump can end the war, while re-upping the importance of the threat of sanctions. And perhaps tellingly, he said it required getting “tough.” “I’m cautiously optimistic we’ll get there, if we’re tough,” the South Carolina Republican said. Trump’s former vice president, Mike Pence, said it was time for the Senate to pass Graham’s sanctions bill. “I know his style in dealing with these dictators; it’s the velvet glove,” Pence told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union.” “But I think the hammer needs to come, and it needs to come immediately.” The hammer appears to have been holstered for now. And you could understand if these Republicans worry that Trump’s harder line on Putin has been, too. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com View the full article

FIRST ON FOX: A prominent pro-energy group is calling on the Trump administration to investigate what it suspects is a coordinated "national lawfare campaign" by left-wing climate activists aimed at influencing thousands of judges on how to approach climate litigation. In a letter sent this week to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Power the Future Founder and Executive Director Dan Turner warned that the Federal Judicial Center, in partnership with the Environmental Law Institute's Climate Judiciary Project, is engaged in "behind-closed-doors advocacy" for climate lawfare. "Specifically, Power The Future is concerned that the FJC is actively assisting in a campaign which boasts of having ‘educated’ approximately two thousand judges, including federal judges, on how to approach climate" litigation," the letter explains. "'Climate’ litigation actually seeks in part to impose federal energy (rationing) policy through the courts, even though policy ‘must be addressed by the two other branches of government.’ The FJC enlisted in this campaign by hosting seminars for judges with speakers drawn exclusively from the world of plaintiffs’ witnesses or historic amicus brief filers in support of the plaintiffs." The Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Law Institute created the Climate Judiciary Project (CJP) in 2018, establishing a first-of-its-kind resource to provide "reliable, up-to-date information" about climate change litigation, according to the group. The project's reach has extended to various state and federal courts, including powerful appellate courts, and comes as multiple cities and states pursue high-profile litigation against the oil industry. Un Court Rules Wealthy Nations Pay Up For Climate Change Damages In Controversial Global Ruling Protester holds "There is no Planet B" sign in a composite photo with a judge's gavel.A Fox News Digital review in December shows that several CJP expert lawyers and judges have close ties to the curriculum and are deeply involved in climate litigation, while the group attempted to distance itself at the time, saying, "CJP doesn’t participate in litigation, support or coordinate with any parties in litigation, or advise judges on how they should rule in any case." Read On The Fox News App Power the Future included FOIA requests in the letter, which the group says shows coordination between judges and ELI's network. "For example, several records obtained under FOIA, enclosed herein, reference the involvement of Judge David Tatel, who served for nearly 30 years on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit until 2022," the letter says. "One February 2021 email from a plaintiff’s witness who ELI arranged to serially brief judges on ‘climate’ litigation, Dr. Don Wuebbles, references 'the kind of issues that Judge Tatel raised towards counteracting arguments from nonbelievers' in catastrophic man-made global warming." Wuebbles hit back against claims there were "cozy ties" between judges and climate activists in comments to Fox News Digital, calling the Power the Future letter a "highly distorted look at what we do as scientists," while defending that he is a "PhD atmospheric scientist and professor…," not an "activist." Wuebbles did explain that he has helped "educate judges on the science of climate change" when asked by the courts across his career. "Those meetings were very professional and just about the state of the science," he told Fox News Digital. "If a senator, other politicians, or anyone with biases about the state of the climate cannot handle the truth, that is their problem. But the truth should still come out for all Americans to be aware of, including judges and the courts. As part of this, the misinformation of contrarians needs to be responded to by responses demonstrating the real state of the science and what the actual measurements and scientific analyses really show us — that is what we do as scientists. As someone with high moral standards, I could add much more, but I will leave it there." Climate Lawfare Campaign Dealt Blow In South Carolina Climate protester at rallyThe letter to the DOJ included other FOIA'd emails, including one dated March 23, 2021, that was sent by CJP founder Paul Hanle to "a serial presenter, plaintiff’s expert witness Dr. Ben Santer" regarding presenting a climate science lecture to more than 100 judges. "In another email, dated March 23, 2021, from ELI’s Paul Hanle to a serial presenter, plaintiff’s expert witness Dr. Ben Santer — also a member of the board of the activist Union of Concerned Scientists, which was an original organizer of the climate litigation campaign — Hanle describes ELI as working ‘through the auspices of the National Judicial College, with which our project is partnering,'" the letter to the DOJ reads. "Hanle later thanked Santer for Santer’s presentation ‘to a large group of judges — perhaps one to two hundred,’ stating, in relevant part, ‘I would venture you convinced many who did not know before that the science has moved far and fast and the scientific case is underpinned by very strong evidence.’ Hanle added, ‘Your approach is very effective with judges.’" While another email, sent by an ELI official to both Hanle and Santer, the official says, "that [the judge] connected this material to her own docket …[is] [j]ust what we want to see!" "You certainly had an impact on her," Hanle said. Santer told Fox News Digital in an emailed comment Monday when asked about the correspondence that his job is to "improve scientific and public understanding of the nature, causes, and impacts of climate change." "I've done this job for over 35 years, through my research in ‘climate fingerprinting’ and through public lecturing to a variety of different audiences. Judges are one of those audiences, along with professional societies, Rotary Clubs, universities, schools, and conservative organizations like the Pacific Club, Jonathan Club, and Bohemian Grove," he wrote. "As of today, U.S. climate scientists still have the freedom to educate U.S. citizens on the reality and seriousness of climate change. I cherish that freedom. While it still exists, I intend to continue serving as a ‘serial presenter’ on climate science," he continued. Climate Justice Group Has Deep Ties To Judges, Experts Involved In Litigation Amid Claims Of Impartiality When approached for comment on the matter, FJC's Deputy Director Clara Altman said it had not worked with ELI since 2020, after holding a series of seminars in coordination with the group the year prior. "The Federal Judicial Center conducted a series of small one-day seminars with the Environmental Law Institute for fewer than 100 judges in total in 2019 and early 2020. The Federal Judicial Center has not done any programs with ELI since. In all its programs, the Center strives to present content objectively and from a range of views," Altman said, adding that FJC is not affiliated with NJC. A climate protester scales the Wilson Building as part of an Earth Day rally against fossil fuels on April 22, 2022.Fox News Digital reported in July that CJP organized a years-long, nationwide online forum with jurists to promote favorable information and litigation updates regarding climate issues — until the email-styled group chat was abruptly made private last year. The listserv was established after CJP coordinated with the National Judicial College to establish its first cohort of judges who took part in a "Judicial Leaders in Climate Science" program in 2022. The listserv, which included at least five judges from across the nation and CJP leaders, was active from September 2022 to May 2024, and facilitated correspondence between the group's members as they traded links on climate studies, congratulated one another on hosting recent environmental events, shared updates on recent climate cases that were remanded to state courts and encouraged participation in other CJP meet-ups. In one message, for example, a Delaware judge shared a YouTube video of a 2022 climate presentation delivered by a Delaware official and a Columbia University professor that focused on the onslaught of climate lawsuits since the mid-2000s. The video included claims that those lawsuits could one day bankrupt the fuel industry. The judge stipulated in his message to the group when sharing the link: "Because the link is of a judicial event that is otherwise not public, please do not forward or use without checking with me. I suspect that goes without saying, but the powers that be will be happier that I said it." Unearthed Chat Sheds Light On Cozy Ties Between Judges, Climate Activists, Raising Ethical Concerns A handful of other judges responded to Laster's video and message, praising it as "great work." CJP, in a comment to Fox Digital at the time, defended the listserv as one to help members of its Judicial Leaders in Climate Science program communicate and network with one another for the duration of the program. The one-year program, established by CJP in coordination with the National Judicial College, "trains state court judges on judicial leadership skills integrated with consensus climate science and how it is arising in the law," the group told Fox News Digital. Following Fox News Digital's reporting on the listserv, CJP's website received a facelift that included removing one of the judge's names and his favorable testimony of the group's work and anonymized the names of other judges who praised CJP as an "essential" resource for jurists. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, questions Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be attorney general, during her Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in Hart building on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025."Judges are encouraged, and many required, to participate in continuing education on topics relevant to emerging trends in the law — including those related to science. Recent changes to CJP's website were made to protect privacy and prevent baseless criticism and harassment," the spokesperson told Fox News Digital in August when asked about the website revamp. When asked about Power the Future's letter, a spokesperson for ELI underscored the group is "a non-partisan organization that has been operating for over 50 years. ELI educates professionals and the public, provides objective data and analysis, and convenes diverse groups of leaders to solve problems." "The programs in which CJP participates are no different than other judicial education programs, providing evidence-based training on legal and scientific topics that judges voluntarily choose to attend," the spokesperson continued. "CJP does not participate in litigation, provide support for or coordinate with any parties in litigation, or advise judges on how they should rule in any case." News of CJP’s outreach comes as the U.S. has seen a sharp uptick in climate-related lawsuits in recent years — including cases targeting oil giants Shell, BP and ExxonMobil for allegedly using "deceptive" marketing and downplaying the risks of climate change. Lawsuits have also been brought against state governments and federal agencies, including the Interior Department, for allegedly failing to address pollution risks or protect against the harms of climate change, according to the plaintiffs. Conservative lawmakers have meanwhile put CJP under the public's microscope for alleged "lawfare," most notably Sen. Ted Cruz, who said during a Senate subcommittee hearing in June that there is a "systematic campaign" launched by the Chinese Communist Party and American left-wing activists to weaponize the court systems to "undermine American energy dominance." CJP, Cruz said, is a pivotal player in the "lawfare" as it works to secure "judicial capture." Judicial communications with climate activists over litigation and environmental issues date back years. In 2019, a federal judge hit "reply all" to an email chain with 45 other judges and court staff about an invitation to a climate seminar hosted by the Environmental Law Institute. Colleagues later chastised the judge for sharing "this nonsense" and suggested it was an ethics violation, though others defended the judge’s decision, saying flagging the event was not unethical. Fox News Digital reached also reached out to NJC, DOJ and Tatel for comment. Fox News Digital's Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report. Original article source: Top energy group calls for probe into secretive 'national lawfare campaign' to influence judges on climate View the full article

Monday, Sept. 1 marks Labor Day, a federal holiday in the U.S. that's celebrated on the first Monday of September. On this day, many individuals will receive the day off, as the day is set aside to honor and recognize the American labor movement. Retailers are likely to be open and hosting Labor Day sales events, although, certain offices and businesses may be closed in observance of the holiday. Labor Day is a federal U.S. holiday. Here's what's opened and closed in LouisianaSince Labor Day is a federal holiday in the U.S., government offices are closed on the holiday, including federal, state and local government offices. While federal employees typically have the day off with pay, private sector employers, such as those in essential services, are not legally required to provide paid time off. Are banks open on labor day?As banks tend to follow the Federal Reserve's schedule, most banks will be closed on Labor Day. Are post offices open on Labor Day? Will mail run?The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will close all operations for Labor Day, and there will be no regular mail or package delivery. A United States Postal Service truck is used to deliver mail on September 12, 2024 in Miami Beach, Florida. The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors warned the Postmaster General that problems with the postal service might disenfranchise voters in the upcoming election. They cited USPS mail delivery delays and other issues.Are UPS and FedEx services available on Labor Day?There will be no UPS pickup or delivery service on Labor Day, except for UPS Express Critical, and store locations may be closed. On Labor Day, most FedEx services will be unavailable, except for FedEx Custom Critical, and offices may be closed or operate with modified hours. Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at [email protected] This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: What's open and closed on Labor Day? Here's what to know in Louisiana View the full article

Time is running out for some residents of North Carolina to prepare for Hurricane Erin as the threat of dangerous surf, coastal flooding and beach erosion is escalating. The Outer Banks for North Carolina are expected to be the area of the United States hit the hardest by Erin, with local officials declaring a State of Emergency for Dare County and mandatory evacuations for Hatteras Island. Residents have been told to evacuate by 8 a.m. EDT Tuesday. "Now is the time to make final preparations, secure property, evacuate with all personal belongings and follow instructions from your property management company," Dare County officials said in a statement. In this image taken from the North Carolina Department of Transportation camera, cars are lined up to evacuate via a ferry on the island of Hatteras Island, N.C., Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, due to the expected impact of Hurricane Erin. (North Carolina Department of Transportation via AP)People who stay behind to ride out the storm may be cut off from the mainland for several days as Highway 12, the main road in the area, is likely to be impassable. Waves are predicted to be between 10 and 15 feet along the Outer Banks with the pounding waves to persist most of the week. "Roads will likely be impassable under several feet of water, and vehicles will likely be submerged," officials said. "Large dangerous waves will likely inundate and destroy protective dune structures. Severe flooding will likely extend inland where there is vulnerable or no protective dune structure flooding homes and businesses with some structural damage possible." Elsewhere along the Atlantic coast, beaches are announcing closures due to the risk of rip currents from Hurricane Erin. Wildwood, New Jersey, is one of the beaches that is closed to swimmers, saying on Facebook, "To ensure the safety of everyone, including those who may be called to perform a rescue, please stay on the sand until the storm passes later this week." Puerto Rico flooded as Erin tracks nearby Parts of Puerto Rico were underwater in the wake of Erin, which unleashed heavy rain across the island over the weekend. The eye of the major hurricane stayed north of Puerto Rico, but it tracked close enough for tropical downpours to flood regions of the island. Water surrounds a house in Guayama, Puerto Rico, as Hurricane Erin brings rains to the island, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)Nearly 150,000 electric customers were without power due to impacts of the hurricane, according to The Associated Press, but that number has gradually declined as weather conditions improve. San Juan measured 2.9 inches of rain since late last week, but some remote areas picked up as much as 8 inches. A truck drive through a flooded street in Naguabo, Puerto Rico, on Aug. 16, 2025. (Ricardo Arduengo/AFP vis Getty Images)Cleanup is underway, but residents are advised that the far-reaching influence of Erin will continue to produce life-threatening rip currents in the coming days. View the full article

Gov. Mike DeWine says it's the "right thing to do" to send 150 Ohio National Guard members to Washington, D.C., as President Donald Trump deploys troops and seizes control of the city's Metropolitan Police Department. Trump announced on Aug. 11 that he would deploy National Guard troops to Washington to crack down on crime in the nation’s capital. Late Aug. 15, Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll asked DeWine to send military police to D.C. Gov. Mike DeWine says it's the "right thing to do" to send 150 Ohio National Guard members to Washington, D.C., as President Donald Trump deploys troops and seizes control of the city's Metropolitan Police Department."The initial decision to deploy D.C. National Guard was not my decision. That was the president of the United States' decision," DeWine told the statehouse bureau. "But when the secretary of the Army asks for backup support to our troops that are already deployed, yes, we will back up our troops." DeWine is one of three Republican governors who said they'll send additional troops, Reuters reported. Ohio House Democrats are calling on DeWine to bring the Ohio National Guard home. “Ohio’s National Guard exists to protect and serve Ohioans and other Americans in moments of true crisis. When disasters like floods, storms, or community emergencies happen here at home, they’re there to rebuild," said House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn, D-Cincinnati. "Their mission is helping Ohioans, not serving as props in a president’s political theatre." But DeWine says his decision, which was optional, is consistent with how he's deployed the Ohio National Guard in the past. More: DeWine ordered National Guard troops to assist in DC. What to know about Trump's plan What will the Ohio National Guard do in D.C.?The Ohio National Guard will patrol Washington, D.C., and protect federal buildings, DeWine said. "If in doing a patrol or if in standing guard of a federal building, an arrest has to be made, our guard will be in direct contact with the D.C. police department who will make arrests," DeWine said. "Our people won't make the arrests." How long will the Ohio National Guard be in the nation's capital?The Ohio National Guard will leave Aug. 20 for a 30-day deployment, DeWine said. The secretary of the Army could ask for an extension, which DeWine could grant or deny. How often does DeWine deploy the Ohio National Guard?DeWine deployed Ohio National Guard members and Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers to the southern border in 2021. He also sent members to assist with hurricane recovery in Florida, North Carolina and Louisiana. In 2020, DeWine sent the National Guard to Columbus and Cleveland to respond to protests following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. In both instances, mayors requested help. The Ohio National Guard played a key role in Ohio's COVID-19 response and assisted with the aftermath of a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023. Is the D.C. deployment different?Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser didn't ask for help with the city's violent crime rate, which declined 35% between 2023 and 2024. Attorneys for the District of Columbia are suing the Trump administration over its police takeover. DeWine says that doesn't matter, legally. Approximately 50 people came to a protest outside of the Ohio Statehouse organized earlier that day by 50501 to voice opposition to Gov. Mike DeWine sending 150 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C."The people who don't like it in D.C. don't have the authority. The president of the United States has that authority," DeWine said. "Anybody can argue whether or not he should or shouldn't have the authority, but it's very clear. There is no debate he has the authority to do what he did." But Democrats say the deployment is political. Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Columbus, said in a statement: "The men and women of Ohio's National Guard signed up to serve their country, not a lawless president who has repeatedly ignored our nation's constitution and principles." Is sending the National Guard optional?It depends. Typically, governors control the National Guard within their states. The federal government can request assistance from state National Guard members, which governors can approve or reject. That is the case with Secretary Driscoll's request for Ohio National Guard assistance in D.C. "The law is not a blank check allowing the president to use military forces anywhere in the country and for any purpose so long as they can find one willing governor," according to a Brennan Center for Justice analysis. In certain circumstances, presidents can federalize the National Guard by invoking the Insurrection Act. But this is rare. Earlier this year, Trump deployed the California National Guard to respond to protests over immigration enforcement − against the wishes of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. An appeals court ruled that Trump could retain control of the troops while a judge reviews the legality of Trump's decision. Will the Ohio National Guard be deployed to Cincinnati?DeWine said he's received no requests to deploy the Ohio National Guard to Cincinnati, where a viral brawl led to debates about the city's security, and has no plans to deploy them. DeWine instead offered other help to Cincinnati officials that included traffic enforcement and aviation surveillance. "They've taken me up on part of it, but not all of it," DeWine said. "But that's their choice. They have the choice." USA TODAY contributed to this article. State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at [email protected] or @jbalmert on X. What do you think of Gov. DeWine sending Ohio Guard troops to DC?This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: DeWine explains why he sent Ohio National Guard to Washington, DC View the full article

The first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season is also one of the largest, fastest-growing hurricanes in recorded history. Hurricane Erin, which reached hurricane-force winds Friday, grew to a Category 5 storm with sustained wind speeds of more than 157 mph Saturday. The storm has since weakened and is bringing heavy rains to Puerto Rico, parts of the Bahamas and other islands in the region. It is forecast to bring these rains and “life-threatening surf and rip currents” to the East Coast over the next several days, according to the National Hurricane Center. NBC News will be updating the hurricane’s projected path map with the latest forecast. Hurricane Erin is one of the five North Atlantic storm systems to reach Category 5 status the fastest, according to an NBC News analysis of government hurricane data. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com View the full article

Donald Trump et Volodymyr Zelensky vont tenter lundi lors d’une rencontre cruciale de rapprocher leurs visions pour l’heure très éloignées sur une trajectoire de paix en Ukraine, où la Russie continue ses frappes meurtrières. Assistera-t-on dans le Bureau ovale à une humiliation publique du président ukrainien comme lors de sa dernière visite le 28 février ? Ou les deux hommes parviendront-ils à trouver un terrain d’entente, sous la pression des dirigeants européens qui se déplacent également à Washington ? Volodymyr Zelensky s’est réuni en matinée avec plusieurs d’entre eux, avant le début de sa rencontre avec le président américain. Alors qu’une alerte aérienne retentissait à Kiev, le chef de l’Otan Mark Rutte, la présidente de la Commission européenne Ursula von der Leyen et le Premier ministre britannique Keir Starmer ont été les premiers à arriver à la Maison Blanche, où ils ont été reçus par la cheffe du protocole Monica Crawley. PUBLICITÉOnt suivi, dans un ballet protocolaire sans précédent, le chancelier allemand Friedrich Merz, la Première ministre italienne Giorgia Meloni, le président finlandais Alexander Stubb et le président français Emmanuel Macron. Le président ukrainien, qui verra donc d’abord Donald Trump en format bilatéral avant une réunion élargie avec les Européens, a redit lundi qu’il ne fallait pas que la Russie soit « récompensée » pour avoir envahi son pays en février 2022, et appelé à assurer une paix « solide et durable », passant par des garanties d... Lire la suite sur ParisMatch View the full article

(Reuters) -The measles outbreak in West Texas has ended, state health officials said on Monday, after meeting the criteria of six weeks since the last reported case. Texas is now shifting focus to vaccination campaigns to strengthen immunity and prevent future outbreaks, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) said. The outbreak, which began in late January, led to 762 confirmed cases as of August 18, with 99 hospitalizations and two fatalities in school-aged children, according to the state's health department. Texas led a surge in cases nationally, with the United States recording its largest outbreak since the disease was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. While the Texas DSHS will continue to monitor the cases, it has decided to discontinue its interactive outbreak dashboard. "The end of this outbreak does not mean the threat of measles is over. Since there are ongoing outbreaks of measles in North America and around the world, it is likely that there will be additional cases of measles this year in Texas," the DSHS said. Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that causes symptoms such as fever, cough and a characteristic rash. It can also lead to severe complications like pneumonia and encephalitis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 1,356 confirmed measles cases nationally as of August 5, but the updates have been delayed following the August 8 shooting on its Atlanta headquarters, the CDC said. "We remain in close communication with public health partners and jurisdictions reporting measles and will resume regular data updates as soon as possible," a CDC spokesperson said. (Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo) View the full article

Back in 1993, Alicia Silverstone made her film debut in Alan Shapiro's thriller The Crush. Vinnie Zuffante / Getty ImagesAlicia, who was 15 when she shot the movie, starred as protagonist Adrian Forrester — a teenage girl who has a dangerous obsession with writer Nick Eliot, played by then-30-year-old Cary Elwes. In recent years, the film has been described as “controversial” due to its subject matter. ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett CollectionRelated: 23 Celebrity Women Who I Always Knew Were Tall, But They're Actually Much Taller Than I Expected This week, while reflecting on some of her iconic roles from the ‘90s in a video with Entertainment Weekly, Alicia recalled what it was like kissing Cary in the film. ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection"I thought Cary always was my boyfriend, for sure, because he kissed me. I had to kiss the guy from The Princess Bride! I just remember that, when I was little... But he's a lot older than me," she shared. Entertainment Weekly / Via youtube.comRelated: Kieran Culkin Explained Why His Kids Haven’t Watched “Home Alone” Yet, And His Reasoning Makes Total Sense “We had this kiss in the film and, because I was young — I think I was 15 — I thought that that meant he was my boyfriend now! Not really, but a little bit. I went to his trailer and asked him if that was OK, and he was so kind,” she detailed. Entertainment Weekly / Via youtube.comAlicia went on to recall feeling somewhat possessive over Cary when his wife, Lisa Marie Kubikoff, took photos of the two of them on set. “Lisa Marie, his wife, sent me pictures from back in the day where we're laying together, and I'm looking at her while she's taking the picture like, 'This is my man,’” she said. Related: "Honey Boo Boo" Is A 19-Year-Old College Student Now, And Here's What She Looks Like Today Alicia clarified that Cary was incredibly “sweet” and took great care of her on set. “He was a really good big brother to me and took care. He was so lovely. We had a very professional relationship, and he was very big-brother-like to me, and very sweet and kind. It was just a great job. What a great part to play. It was so fun,” she said. Entertainment Weekly / Via youtube.comYou can watch Alicia’s video with Entertainment Weekly here. Related: Leonardo DiCaprio’s 26-Year-Old Girlfriend, Vittoria Ceretti, Just Talked About What It’s Really Like Dating Him — And Some Of Her Comments Are Making Me View Them Differently Do you love all things TV and movies? Subscribe to the Screen Time newsletter to get your weekly dose of what to watch next and what everyone is flailing over from someone who watches everything! BuzzFeedMore on this People Are Concerned After Alicia Silverstone Posted A TikTok Of Herself Eating Seemingly Poisonous Fruit That She Found On The StreetStephanie Soteriou · Aug. 20, 2024 24 Inappropriate Hollywood Castings Where A Literal Child Played An Adult's Love InterestAjani Bazile-Dutes · Jan. 24, 2025 15 TV And Movie Couples Who Had Huge Age Gaps IRL, And What The Actors Involved Think About ThemNora Dominick · Nov. 29, 2023 Also in Celebrity: 34 Cringey Celeb Moments That I Feel Like Everyone Collectively Forgot Also in Celebrity: 11 Baffling Celeb Moments Where They Forgot Common Sense Also in Celebrity: 34 Cringey Celeb Moments That I Feel Like Everyone Collectively Forgot Read it on BuzzFeed.com View the full article

Esta combinación de imágenes fue creada el 17 de agosto de 2025. Los candidatos presidenciales Rodrigo Paz (izquierda) y Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga Ramírez, expresidente de Bolivia, se dirigen a sus respectivos seguidores tras los resultados de las elecciones presidenciales en La Paz el 17 de agosto de 2025. (Aizar RALDES)El próximo presidente de Bolivia se decidirá entre un senador y un expresidente, en una inédita segunda vuelta entre dos opciones de derecha tras 20 años de gobiernos de la izquierda que empoderó Evo Morales. Rodrigo Paz sorprendió al imponerse en la elección de este domingo sobre el exmandatario Jorge Quiroga, a quien enfrentará el 19 de octubre. Ambos candidatos capitalizaron el rechazo del electorado al Movimiento Al Socialismo (MAS), al que se le atribuye la severa crisis económica derivada de la falta de dólares. ¿Quiénes son los dos aspirantes que compiten por relevar a la izquierda? - El inesperado -Rodrigo Paz Pereira, economista de 57 años, es hijo del exmandatario socialdemócrata Jaime Paz Zamora (1989-1993). Su triunfo en la primera vuelta resulta inesperado, pues hasta hace una semana las encuestas lo ubicaban entre el tercer y quinto puesto. PUBLICIDADAdemás de senador por Tarija, un departamento al sur de Bolivia, ha sido diputado y alcalde de la capital de esa región fronteriza con Argentina. "Quiero felicitar al pueblo boliviano, porque ha dicho: 'Quiero cambiar'. Y esta es una señal de cambio (...), la grandeza del pueblo boliviano que quiere un otro destino", dijo frente a una multitud de sus seguidores en el centro de La Paz. Nació en Santiago de Compostela, España, mientras su familia estaba exiliada por la persecución de la dictadura militar. Ostenta la nacionalidad boliviana debido al origen de su padre. Su madre es española. Lejos de las polémicas entre Quiroga y el millonario Samuel Doria Medina, que acaparaban los telediarios como los favoritos, hizo una campaña discreta y austera al frente del Partido Demócrata Cristiano. Prometió una incorporación de las clases medias y bajas a la vida económica con créditos accesibles, libre importación de productos y una reforma tributaria para incentivar la industria nacional. PUBLICIDADUn gran activo de su campaña fue su candidato a vicepresidente Edman Lara, un capitán de la policía que durante años ha forjado una imagen de luchador contra la corrupción dentro de su institución. - Heredero de un exdictador -Jorge Quiroga es un ingeniero de 65 años, graduado en la Universidad A&M de Texas, exempleado de la multinacional estadounidense IBM y hoy candidato de la alianza política Libre. Meses atrás aún formaba parte de un bloque de oposición, junto con Doria Medina, que se comprometía a llevar un único candidato a la presidencia. Pero por diferencias sobre la selección del postulante, se retiró. Más conocido como "Tuto", apodo que agregó a su nombre oficial, fue vicepresidente del militar Hugo Banzer, un exdictador que a fines de la década de 1990 alcanzó la presidencia por la vía democrática. Lo reemplazó luego de su renuncia por cáncer en 2001 y 2002. PUBLICIDADBuscó también la presidencia en 2005 y 2015, pero nunca tuvo tantas posibilidades como ahora. Se denomina liberal, pero también atrae los votos más conservadores. "Me voy a dedicar a salvar la economía de Bolivia, a traer inversiones, a abrir mercados. Voy a hacer acuerdos de libre comercio con China, con Corea, con Japón, con Europa", dijo a la AFP. Promete un "cambio sísmico": bajar el déficit fiscal, reducir el Estado, privatizar todas las empresas públicas deficitarias e impulsar una nueva Constitución con giros "radicales". "La crisis no va a amainar (...). Es el desafío institucional, económico, moral más grande de nuestra historia. Y lo vamos a enfrentar todos juntos", dijo el domingo, luego de conocer su pase a la segunda vuelta. gta/vel/atm Síguenos en nuestro canal de WhatsAppTAMBIÉN TE PUEDE INTERESAR | EN VIDEO Cuatro claves de la sorpresiva elección presidencial en Bolivia View the full article

Hay algo irresistible en un secreto bien guardado, sobre todo si incluye cócteles de primera, un ambiente impecable y la dosis justa de misterio. Y dejemos algo en claro: la nueva palabra de moda es bares secretos, no bares clandestinos. (Después de escribir sobre cócteles durante dos décadas, puedo decir que estamos en plena fatiga de los bares clandestinos). ¿Bares secretos como frase clave? Por supuesto. Escondidos detrás de cortinas de terciopelo, ocultos tras estanterías, en habitaciones de hotel al azar o accesibles solo en barco, estos bares en hoteles le dan una vuelta al concepto de tomar algo con estilo exclusivo. Acá te contamos dónde encontrarlos, cómo entrar y qué esperar una vez adentro. Epilogue - Four Seasons Resort Orlando, dentro de Walt Disney World, FloridaCómo llegar: Está en la zona solo para adultos del resort. Pueden acceder tanto quienes se hospedan ahí como algunos visitantes seleccionados. Se reserva online a través de la web del hotel. Qué esperar: Un ambiente sofisticado que mezcla el estilo de una biblioteca con detalles art déco y una fuerte impronta literaria. La carta de cócteles toma inspiración de historias locales de Florida y está en manos de Jaclyn Keogh, que se encarga de una barra de primer nivel. NAVI en el Hotel Post Oak - El Hotel Post Oak.NAVI - Hotel Post Oak, Houston, TexasCómo acceder: Solo con reserva previa, gestionada a través del conserje del hotel. Detrás de una cortina de terciopelo y una estantería escondida, los huéspedes acceden al salón NAVI, dentro del Hotel Post Oak, el único con cinco estrellas Forbes en todo Texas. Precio: US$ 125 por persona. Incluye cinco cócteles clarificados a medida, cinco aperitivos pensados para acompañarlos y un regalo para llevar. Disponible solo hasta agosto. ¡La Isla Secreta puede ser el único bar secreto del mundo al que te llevarán en barco! - Palo de rosa Mayakoba.La Isla Secreta - Rosewood Mayakoba, Riviera Maya, MéxicoCómo acceder: Es exclusivo para quienes se hospedan en el resort. La Isla Secreta está en una isla privada, en medio de las aguas selváticas de Rosewood Mayakoba. Solo se puede llegar en barco desde el Zapote Bar, el premiado espacio de cócteles del hotel. Es obligatorio reservar con anticipación a través del conserje. La capacidad es muy limitada y la ubicación exacta sigue siendo un misterio. Precio: No se cobra entrada, pero los cócteles tienen precios premium. Qué esperar: Un rincón bohemio y tropical que pone el foco en licores mexicanos de primer nivel. El ambiente es discreto y cálido, ideal para quienes buscan un trago bien hecho con una cuota de misterio. Las Ventanas al Paraiso, un Rosewood Resort.La Botica - Las Ventanas al Paraíso, un Rosewood Resort, Los Cabos, MéxicoCómo acceder: Solo para huéspedes del resort, que deben reservar con anticipación a través del conserje. El lugar tiene capacidad limitada y casi nunca recibe sin turno previo. Precio: 1.600 pesos mexicanos, unos US$ 85. Qué esperar: Un bar secreto de inspiración cubana, con una botica de época, música en vivo y una propuesta de cócteles con mucho carácter y estilo. Canes & Tales está inspirado en la era del jazz y los bares clandestinos de la época. Waldorf Astoria Osaka.Bastones y cuentos - Waldorf Astoria Osaka, JapónCómo llegar: El bar Canes & Tales está dentro del Waldorf Astoria Osaka. Pueden ir tanto quienes se alojan como quienes lo visitan, aunque se recomienda reservar, sobre todo si hay eventos. Qué esperar: Un espacio con espíritu de club de jazz, donde los menús se inspiran en cuentos literarios. No hace falta contraseña: alcanza con llegar con ganas de tomar algo con calma y dejarse llevar por la historia. Habitación Nine01 - Hyatt Centric Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale, FloridaCómo acceder: Se reserva a través del sistema del Hyatt. Una vez confirmada, se recibe una contraseña por SMS, que hay que dar al hacer el check-in. Después, entregan una llave de una habitación sin identificar. Qué esperar: Una esquina del hotel transformada en un bar secreto elegante, con estética de los años 20: lámparas retro, arte vintage y espacios íntimos para no más de una docena de personas. Es chico, exclusivo y perfecto para charlar tranquilos, sin el ruido típico de un bar. Ambiente: Tiene el glamour de la época de la Ley Seca, pero con la calidez de un bar casero. Es acogedor, nostálgico y sorprendentemente silencioso para estar dentro de un hotel. Mile High Cocktail Club - Four Seasons Chicago, IllinoisCómo llegar: La noche empieza en el Adorn Bar, en la planta baja del hotel. Ahí ofrecen una copa de champán antes de acompañarte en un ascensor privado hasta una suite esquinera en el piso 46: el Mile High Cocktail Club (sin relación con el famoso club de aviones). Se recomienda reservar, aunque a veces aceptan sin turno si hay lugar. Qué esperar: Vistas impactantes de la ciudad, muebles de lujo y una experiencia de coctelería bien cuidada. Es un salón escondido a la vista de todos, ideal para quienes buscan algo exclusivo sin necesidad de mostrarlo. Ambiente: Está elevado en todo sentido. Combina el impacto visual del skyline de Chicaholgo con la precisión de una buena barra. Puerta de Hierro - Hotel Holbrooke, Grass Valley, CaliforniaCómo acceder: Está en el sótano del histórico Hotel Holbrooke. Abierto al público, sin necesidad de contraseña. Qué esperar: Paredes de piedra, luz ámbar tenue, música en vivo con artistas locales y una carta de cócteles que incluye versiones audaces del clásico boilermaker. Lo ideal es ir con reserva los fines de semana o llamar antes. So & So's - Hotel Romer, Hell's Kitchen, Nueva YorkCómo acceder: Hay que ubicar la discreta puerta azul dentro del lobby del Hotel Romer. Está abierto al público y no hace falta contraseña. Qué esperar: Un lugar relajado, con comida y tragos que mezclan lo sofisticado y lo simple. Además, hay música en vivo con frecuencia, bajo el lema "Somebody at So & So's". No se toman reservas: se atiende por orden de llegada, así que conviene ir temprano si hay show. Nota publicada por Forbes US Síguenos en nuestro canal de WhatsApp TAMBIÉN TE PUEDE INTERESAR | EN VIDEO: Los mejores bares para visitar en 2025 según Time Out View the full article

By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House has dispatched social media teams alongside FBI agents executing arrest warrants in the nation's capital to generate videos that promote U.S. President Donald Trump's crackdown on crime in the District of Columbia, according to two people briefed on the matter. The highly unusual arrangement runs afoul of longstanding Justice Department norms which seek to insulate criminal investigations from political influence. It could hamstring prosecutors' ability to try their cases by generating pre-trial publicity and raise constitutional questions about suspects' rights to privacy in cases involving arrests carried out in non-public areas, legal experts say. The White House has been playing an outsized role in the FBI's operations since Trump announced on August 11 that he was initiating a federal takeover of the District of Columbia's police department and calling in the National Guard to help patrol the streets. Critics have decried his actions as an authoritarian-like abuse of power. The White House posted a highly produced promotional video on its X account on Thursday documenting the arrest of Sean Charles Dunn, a now-former Department of Justice employee who is facing an assault charge after he hurled a Subway sandwich at a federal agent. In the video, armed agents can be seen storming Dunn's apartment and putting him in handcuffs. The video was taken by a social media team sent by the White House, one of the sources said, speaking anonymously to discuss personnel matters. According to X, it has received 2.4 million views. The social media team that filmed Dunn's arrest remained embedded with the same FBI squad throughout the evening, the source said. Reuters could not determine whether the people who produced the video are White House employees, nor could it determine on how many occasions the White House has sent people to film arrests since the operation began. The White House declined to answer those questions. "This is not a standard law enforcement posture because this is action directed by the president deeming what is necessary and appropriate under the law. Of course the White House is involved in highlighting our hugely successful efforts to stop violent crime in Washington, DC," a White House official said. "As the most transparent administration in history, we will continue sharing these efforts with the press and the American people," the official added. Spokespeople for the FBI declined to comment. Dunn's attorney Sabrina Shroff declined comment about the White House's role in filming the arrest, which took place just outside the doorway of Dunn's residence inside what appears to be an apartment-style building. "These are political media influencers who are there for a sole purpose, which is to document things in a light most favorable to a political agenda," said defense attorney Bradley Moss. "It has nothing to do with law and order." CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS The White House has also stationed employees inside the FBI's command post overseeing the federal operation who are tasked with reporting back with arrest numbers, the two sources said. A social media post from the Drug Enforcement Administration on Saturday featured Stephen Miller and White House Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Tony Salisbury appearing at the command post alongside Justice Department officials. In recent days, the FBI and the Metropolitan Police Department have referred media inquiries about arrests involving federal agents to the White House. Legal experts said embedding social media teams who are not employed by law enforcement agencies to film arrests could in some instances run afoul of people's Fourth Amendment right to privacy during the execution of a criminal warrant. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1999 that deputy federal marshals and local sheriffs seeking publicity for their actions violated a suspect's constitutional rights when they invited members of the media to witness an arrest inside the person's home. "It's just kind of an outrageous tactic for promotional purposes, but it does cross the line in terms of constitutional and ethical conduct by police," said Bennett Gershman, a former New York state prosecutor who teaches at Pace University School of Law. The FBI has sometimes allowed the media to do ride-alongs, generally for recruitment purposes, said James Davidson, a former FBI agent who has since formed the nonprofit The FBI Integrity Project, which aims to safeguard the bureau from undue political influence. Both Davidson and Stacey Young, a former Justice Department lawyer who founded the group Justice Connection to advocate for current and former DOJ employees, expressed concerns that filming arrests could undermine confidence in the FBI. “It erodes the FBI’s integrity and the perception of impartiality, which are required for the bureau to maintain any credibility," Young said. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch in Washington; Additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Mark Porter) View the full article

亞視前高層盛品儒（James）昨日（18日）驚傳離世消息，太太蔡一鳳（Michelle）在社交平台發文公布盛品儒於凌晨在養和醫院病逝，終年48歲。盛品儒於今年六月時發現患上肝癌，病情急轉直下，並且需入住ICU。蔡一鳳表示丈夫的離去，正好是下雨天，她指「這個時刻除了眼淚和文字，我似乎找不到更好的出口。」 盛品儒、蔡一鳳。（Instagram/@Michelle Chua 蔡一鳳）在盛品儒人生最後階段，太太蔡一鳳陪伴在側，原本還盼望老公身體能好起來。（VCG）蔡一鳯公布了盛品儒的死訊後發文懷念亡夫「神隊友James」，更好好向他道別。她指二人的仔女才7歲，他們還不懂什麼是永別，所以告訴他們：「爸爸去了天堂保佑我們。」她把傷痛化作文字，懷念她的「神隊友James」，那個會笑著叫她「少奶」兼有著水桶腰和Baby Fat臉頰的男人。 蔡一鳯公布了盛品儒的死訊後發文懷念亡夫「神隊友James」。(facebook@Michelle Chua )蔡一鳯懷念亡夫盛品儒全文如下：《致我的神隊友James》 你走了，我才知道什麼叫痛。今天黃色暴雨，連個天都在為你哀悼。這個時刻除了眼淚和文字，我似乎找不到更好的出口。 8月18日凌晨00:37分，養和醫院的ICU病房裡，你帶著微笑離開了我們。48年的人生，近11年的婚姻，就這樣畫上了句點。你走得很安詳，沒有太多痛苦，可我的心卻被撕開了一道永遠無法愈合的傷口。 少爺、豬腿，謝謝你永遠不分青紅皂白的支持和寵愛 這11年來，你不僅是我的丈夫，還是我最親的兄弟、最好的朋友。我們一年吵架不超過五次，只要我要求的你就會盡力支持，就算你已經身體很不舒服，你還是硬撐著出席我的慈善活動，陪著我東奔西跑找兄弟支持我。你總是護著我，自己生病了，我幫你按摩，你還擔心我累，催我去休息，明明最該被照顧的人是你…… 現在，我再也聽不到你叫我「少奶」了。 我好想再抱抱你的水桶腰，捏捏你那帶著Baby Fat嘅面珠，好想再聽你絮絮叨叨地說「少奶，我啲contact lens係邊啊」。可房間里只剩下你的拖鞋、你的刮胡刀、你最愛的床墊……它們都在，唯獨你不見了。 我們的兒女才7歲，他們還不懂什麼叫永別。我告訴他們「爸爸去了天堂保佑我們」 但我知道，你會一直活在他們記憶里——你每天給他們拍的照片、你推著嬰兒車的背影、你每天陪他們上學的時光……這些都會成為他們生命中最溫暖的碎片。我會告訴他們，爸爸是個多麼溫柔的人，他最愛笑，最愛這個家。 可是James，沒有你的家，再也不完整了。 睡房空了一間，飯桌上少了一副碗筷，再也沒有人一早吵醒我……原來「失去」不是一瞬間的事，而是往後餘生的每一分鐘，都在重復體會你不在的事實。 你說過，下輩子會再來找我。 那我等你。 等來世某個街角，一個有著水桶腰和Baby Fat臉頰的男人，笑著叫我一聲—— 「少奶，我返來啦。」 永遠愛你的妻子 2025年8月18日 View the full article

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday he was open to holding an election in safe circumstances if the war with Russia comes to an end. During a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Zelenskiy said, "We need to work in parliament because during the war you can't have elections," adding that it needed to be possible for people to have a democratic, open, legal election. Elections in Ukraine are currently suspended under martial law. (Reporting by Maiya Keidan; Edited by Jasper Ward) View the full article

By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, the accused co-founder of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, is expected to plead guilty to U.S. drug trafficking charges, court records showed on Monday. Zambada, who is in his 70s, is scheduled to appear in federal court in Brooklyn on August 25 for a change of plea hearing before U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan. He had previously pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from his decades allegedly leading the Sinaloa cartel alongside imprisoned kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. The notice that Zambada was expected to change his plea came after the Justice Department last week said it would not seek the death penalty for Zambada or Rafael Caro Quintero, another septuagenarian alleged Mexican drug lord facing U.S. charges. Guzman is serving a life sentence in a maximum security prison in Colorado. Zambada's lawyer Frank Perez did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Zambada was arrested in July 2024 alongside Joaquin Guzman Lopez, one of Guzman's sons, after the plane in which they were traveling landed at a small airstrip in New Mexico. Perez has said Guzman Lopez kidnapped Zambada, which the Guzman family lawyer has denied. Guzman Lopez has pleaded not guilty to U.S. drug trafficking charges. U.S. prosecutors have said they would not seek the death penalty for him if convicted. Mexico last week sent more than two dozen suspected cartel members to the U.S., amid rising pressure from President Donald Trump on Mexico to dismantle the country's powerful drug organizations. Mexico has said it received assurances from the Justice Department that it would not seek the death penalty for them. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York;Editing by Noeleen Walder and Leslie Adler) View the full article