World News

British Student Detained After US Entry Refusal

USA

British Student Detained After US Entry Refusal

Laith Alani, a British law student, says he was profiled and unlawfully removed from the United States after being held for nearly 24 hours on arrival at Orlando international airport.

Alani, 20 and from Oxford, said he had planned a one-week trip to visit Florida theme parks and relatives, including a relative in California. He was detained by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after arriving on 3 July, before being sent back to the UK on a British Airways flight.
Detained At Orlando Airport
Alani said he was questioned for nine hours and then kept in a holding cell for a further 14 hours. He said the process left him feeling “as if he had been kidnapped”, and he described being threatened with handcuffs during the interview.
He said officers searched his electronic devices and looked through his social media accounts. Alani said he was interrogated about his relatives, neighbours, hobbies and travel history before being escorted out of the airport and placed on the outbound flight.
A CBP document he received, Alani said, showed a signature bearing his name and stated that he had withdrawn his application to enter the country.
CBP has said the handling of the case was based on an assessment during inspection, and that Alani withdrew his application for admission after inconsistencies were identified in his travel history.
Visa History And Device Searches
Alani said his case followed earlier difficulties obtaining entry clearance. He said he was previously refused a fast-track ESTA visa waiver after disclosing travel to Iraq, where he has relatives. He later received a 10-year, multi-entry B1/B2 US tourist visa, which allows entry for tourism and for visiting family.
In his account, Alani said his prior travel was examined in detail, particularly a trip to Tunisia taken in July last year, a month after he obtained the visa. He said CBP staff implied he needed permission in advance to travel there, despite the trip being arranged at short notice and without plans made before receiving the visa.
Alani also said that correspondence seen by The Guardian following a complaint included CBP’s explanation of its decision-making. In that correspondence, CBP said an officer determined that Alani, who holds a British passport, was inadmissible because he was “unable to overcome the presumption he was an intending immigrant”.
Alani, who studies law at the University of West London, said he is autistic, has a heart disorder, and is legally disabled. He said he informed the officer and believed his health and vulnerability were not considered during the interrogation.
A US CBP spokesperson told The Guardian that “inconsistencies were identified” in Alani’s travel history “during inspection” and that he “withdrew his application for admission”.
UK MP Raises Case With Foreign Office
Alani’s local MP, Anneliese Dodds, said she raised the matter with the Foreign Office. Muslim and Arab organisations have also expressed concerns about the treatment of travellers at US airports.
The Muslim Council of Britain said such outcomes were a “regular occurrence” for British Muslim families, with detainees being held for hours, questioned, and having devices confiscated and searched, it said, often on disputed grounds.
Alani said he believed his detention reflected his faith and that he was profiled because he is Muslim. He said he was only returned to the UK after being told he would be deported, and that the circumstances made him feel at risk throughout the process.

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18 August 2026

• Immigration

• 5 comments
• 164 views

webfact

August 18Aug 18

Greene: ‘I Can’t Remember’ Last Time Someone Wore MAGA Hat

USA

Greene: ‘I Can’t Remember’ Last Time Someone Wore MAGA Hat

Former Republican representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said she could not remember the last time she saw someone wearing President Donald Trump’s “MAGA” hat, after sharing a post on the social platform X showing a billboard promoting a “Trump Superstore” that was “going out of business”.
Billboard Sparks Comment On MAGA Hat
Greene posted an image of the billboard, which read “Trump Superstore”, alongside a message indicating the business was closing. She wrote that she “can’t remember the last time” she had seen someone wearing a “maga hat or Trump shirt”.
The remarks come as Greene, a former close ally of Trump in Congress, continues to criticise the president following a split that has unfolded over several months.


Facebook Rockaway Primetime Reporting
Shift Away From Trump
Greene, who married her husband, Brian Glenn, in Las Vegas last month, had previously been one of Trump’s closest supporters. Her relationship with the president deteriorated as criticism grew ahead of the release of documents and files connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein by the Trump administration.
Greene was one of four Republicans who backed a discharge petition aimed at forcing a House vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The bill was authored by Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, and Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California.
Both chambers later passed the legislation, and Trump signed it into law shortly afterwards. However, lawmakers including Massie, Khanna and Greene said they were angered by the Justice Department’s approach to releasing the documents, as well as by redactions made throughout the files.
Shutdown Fallout And Trump’s Retaliation
As the dispute over the Epstein material fed broader tensions, Greene and others increasingly criticised Trump. The friction also reflected frustration from Greene over the handling of what she described as the longest government shutdown in modern United States history by Republican congressional leadership.
Trump responded to Greene in turn, referring to her as “Marjorie Traitor Brown”.
In November, Greene announced she would resign from the House of Representatives in January, saying she refused to be a “battered wife”. Since leaving office, she has continued attacking Trump and his policies, according to the accounts in her recent statements.
Iran War, Cost Of Living
Greene has also criticised the impact she says the Iran war has had on Americans concerned about the cost of living. In an interview with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones in April, she said the public should “open their eyes” and “deal with reality” and “truth”.
She also argued that many people may have supported Trump “for 10 years” and suggested they needed to reassess what she described as current conditions, in remarks presented as part of her ongoing criticism of the president.

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18 August 2026

• 129 comments
• 280 views

webfact

August 18Aug 18

Trump Dismisses USS Lincoln Concerns as 'CNN Fake Report’

Trump

Trump Dismisses USS Lincoln Concerns as 'CNN Fake Report’

President Donald Trump has rejected reports about poor conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, calling concerns about the aircraft carrier a “CNN fake report” as questions grow over the wellbeing of sailors deployed in the Middle East.
Trump Rejects Reports
Trump made the comments on Monday during an exchange with reporters in the Oval Office. After a CNN reporter questioned him, Trump told her to be quiet and accused her of being disrespectful before another journalist asked whether sailors aboard the Lincoln had enough food.
“Yeah, it was a CNN fake report,” Trump said, arguing that the carrier had been deployed for a long time but had remained away from home for longer periods in the past.
Trump said a retired general had told him the Lincoln was “beautifully maintained and beautifully taken care of”. He added that other people had visited the carrier and reached the same conclusion, describing CNN’s coverage as “fake news reporting”.
Democrats Share Food Photo
Democratic members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee responded on social media by posting a photograph of a meal said to have been served aboard the carrier. The image showed diced carrots, a hamburger patty and what lawmakers described as “a gray slab of processed meat”.
The photograph, which did not carry a caption, was first published by USA Today.
CNN correspondent Pamela Brown reported last week on conditions aboard the Lincoln after an official said a sailor had gone overboard while wearing a vest. The Navy said the incident was considered a mental health episode.
Other recent reports have described problems aboard the aircraft carrier, including moldy showers and spoiled food. They have also reported that several sailors had attempted to jump overboard.
Navy Addresses Mental Health Concerns
Navy leaders have reportedly met with relatives of sailors serving aboard the Lincoln as concerns increased that the lengthy Middle East deployment could worsen mental health conditions and increase the risk of self-harm.
Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command, visited the Lincoln on Saturday, a day after acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao announced that the carrier was returning home.
Cooper acknowledged that life aboard an aircraft carrier can be difficult and stressful. In a statement on Sunday, he said mental health should receive attention alongside physical and spiritual health.
He also praised the Lincoln’s leadership, particularly senior enlisted leaders, for making mental health and crew resilience a priority.
Long Deployment Draws Scrutiny
The Lincoln had remained deployed in the Middle East for more than 260 days, longer than initially expected. The carrier left San Diego in November as the United States prepared for the war involving Iran.
Retired Adm. Mike Mullen, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on ABC News’s “This Week” on Sunday that he had “great concern” about conditions aboard the ship.
Mullen said the Lincoln’s commanding officer, Capt. Daniel Keeler, was working hard to address the problems. But he added that he believed “the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.”


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18 August 2026

• Military

• 42 comments
• 441 views

webfact

August 18Aug 18

Virgin Trains Gains ORR Track Access For Europe Services

UK

Virgin Trains Gains ORR Track Access For Europe Services

Virgin Trains has been granted access to UK rail infrastructure that would allow it to run services from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam from 2030, in another step towards challenging Eurostar’s cross-Channel dominance.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said it has approved track access for Richard Branson’s company to use the High Speed 1 (HS1) route between London St Pancras and the Channel tunnel. Under the arrangement, Virgin would be able to operate up to 20 daily return services for the period from 1 October 2030 to 31 December 2040.
HS1 runs from St Pancras to the tunnel terminals, but the approval covers only that UK section of the journey. Virgin still needs to obtain access to the tunnel and rail networks in mainland Europe before it can begin running the planned international services.
Access Covers HS1 Only
The ORR said the decision represents an important move forward, allowing Virgin to progress through the regulatory process required to launch international operations. The track access agreement is limited to the HS1 line, meaning further permissions will still be required for the parts of the route beyond the UK.
Virgin previously cleared another hurdle last October, when it was granted permission to share Eurostar’s Temple Mills depot in east London. The depot is the only one that can be accessed from HS1 for maintenance and storage.
More Approvals Needed For 2030 Launch
Alongside securing access to continental infrastructure, Virgin must also obtain safety approvals from the ORR and the relevant EU regulators ahead of the start date in 2030.
The ORR said its approval was an “important next step” but added that additional work remains before services can run. Martin Jones, the ORR’s deputy director of access and international, said the regulator was supporting Virgin and the wider industry as international rail services grow, while noting further steps are required to complete the process.
Virgin plans to operate from St Pancras to the same destination stations in Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam that are currently served by Eurostar.
The ORR’s decision comes as competition pressures remain focused on the Channel tunnel passenger market. Eurostar has held a monopoly on cross-Channel passenger services since the tunnel opened in 1994, and Eurotunnel operates the LeShuttle service for vehicles.
Pressure Builds As UK-To-Europe Demand Rises
Eurostar, which is controlled by the French rail operator SNCF, has faced scrutiny over ticket prices and has reduced its network over the past decade, withdrawing services from Ashford and Ebbsfleet in Kent.
Virgin has said it is aiming to break that 30-year monopoly and has previously described its plans as a way to bring more competition to the route.
More broadly, demand for international rail travel from the UK has been increasing. Eurostar announced last year that it would introduce double-decker trains through the tunnel, while a joint UK-German taskforce is considering proposals for direct services from London to Berlin.
Virgin has said it intends to invest £700m in its cross-Channel project and create about 400 jobs in the UK.
A Virgin Group spokesperson said the track access pre-approval is moving the plans “at pace”, adding that it would allow the company to bring competition and its approach to customer service to the Channel tunnel route.
Eurostar said the ORR decision confirms the “huge potential for growth” in international rail and that it would continue to pursue its own plans, including investing in its fleet and carrying 30 million passengers a year.

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18 August 2026

• Transport

• 0 comments
• 138 views

webfact

August 18Aug 18

South Korea's Lee Pushes To Regain Wartime Control

Korea

South Korea's Lee Pushes To Regain Wartime Control

South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung has renewed calls for wartime military command to be controlled in Seoul, after Donald Trump ordered the reduction of this week’s joint drills with the United States.

Speaking on Tuesday, Lee said Seoul should continue efforts to take over wartime operational control, known as Opcon, from the US during his term. He also urged faster progress on South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine programme and on training officers for integrated operations.
US Cuts Joint exercises This Week
On Sunday night, Trump directed the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” the joint exercises running this week. He said North Korea, which possesses nuclear weapons, had been “unthreatening and respectful”, and he pointed to what he described as a strong personal relationship with Kim Jong-un.
The drills, which began on Monday, were due to last 10 days under the name Ulchi Freedom Shield. They are one of two main annual exercise series between the US and South Korea.
They were expected to involve about 18,000 South Korean troops, working alongside US personnel and contingents from 11 of the 18 member states of the United Nations Command (UNC). The UNC is the multinational body overseeing the 1953 armistice that stopped the Korean War.
US and South Korean military officials have said the exercises were designed to evolve in response to changing threats, including lessons North Korea has drawn from its recent battlefield involvement abroad.
Why Opcon Control Is Central
Lee said Seoul should proceed without disruption with the planned Opcon transfer. Wartime Opcon is the authority to direct South Korean forces if fighting resumes.
The issue traces back to the Korean War, which ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty in 1953. As a result, the two Koreas remain technically at war, and US troops have stayed in South Korea since the conflict. The country hosts Camp Humphreys, the largest American base outside the United States. The two militaries train and operate together closely, including during large-scale annual exercises.
Since the war began, wartime Opcon has been held by the US, exercised through the Combined Forces Command. The head of that command has always been an American four-star general.
South Korea regained peacetime control of its military in 1994, but wartime authority has remained a long-running symbol of sovereignty. Reclaiming it has been a top security goal for more than two decades, repeatedly delayed under successive governments.
This week’s exercise schedule was intended to support certification for South Korea’s eventual assumption of wartime command, a process Lee has pushed to accelerate since taking office.
Lee also called for quicker advancement of the nuclear-powered submarine programme and efforts to develop officers able to coordinate across units for future conflicts.
North’s Tactics And South’s Denials
The renewed focus on command and capability comes after Trump’s decision to curtail the drills at a time when he has sought diplomacy with Kim.
During questioning in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said Kim had responded to his order to the Pentagon, but he did not provide details. When asked about the stage of discussions, Trump described them as “very positive” without elaboration. He repeated praise for Kim, saying he believed their relationship had reduced tensions.
Trump previously halted major exercises after summits with Kim. Following his first summit in 2018, the Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise was cancelled, while other drills were suspended or scaled back. Exercises were later redesigned and resumed under modified formats and changed names.
The US decision also came despite warnings from US and South Korean military officials that Kim’s government could apply new battlefield tactics learned from sending troops to Ukraine. Last week, officials said Ulchi Freedom Shield would include aspects reflecting North Korea’s experience with drones.
North Korea has also deepened military links with Russia since they signed a strategic partnership pact in June 2024, with Pyongyang providing troops, artillery ammunition and ballistic missiles for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Col Ryan Donald, public affairs director for the US-led commands in South Korea, said the training accounts for those changes and that exercises have evolved over the past five years.
On Tuesday, South Korea’s presidential office said the drills did not signal any intention to attack North Korea or to escalate tensions on the peninsula. It added that the fundamental purpose was not to treat any side as an adversary, but to safeguard the safe and peaceful daily lives of people.

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18 August 2026

• 0 comments
• 144 views

webfact

August 18Aug 18

Student Shot Dead in Philippine School Shooting

Crime

Student Shot Dead in Philippine School Shooting

A student at a Catholic junior high school in the southern Philippines was killed after he was shot by a fellow pupil, a local official said on Tuesday. The suspected attacker later took his own life, the official added.
Attack Inside Classroom
The alleged shooter brought a .45-calibre pistol into a classroom at the school in Zamboanga City, Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso told local radio.
Olaso said the suspect fired at a teacher who was seated at a table, but missed. The attacker then moved to another classroom and shot a student, who later died.
The mayor said the suspect subsequently died by suicide.
Livestream Footage Reported
Local media reported that footage circulating online appeared to show the shooting from a first-person perspective, AFP reported.
Authorities said the incident was brought under control and there were no further active shooters.
Link To Other Recent Violence
The Zamboanga incident comes two months after a high school shooting in Tacloban City, in the central region, that killed three students and left 20 others wounded.
In that earlier case, the suspects were two teenage boys. One was found to have been regularly playing an explicitly violent online game.
The game, Gorebox, has been banned in the Philippines. The country’s Senate is investigating the effects of violent computer games on young people.
Wider Focus On Online Content
Across South East Asia, officials have been examining ways to restrict social media use for minors, citing potential harms.
Earlier this month, a Thai teenager killed eight people, and then himself, at his school. Thai authorities said he consumed violent content on social media.

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18 August 2026

• 5 comments
• 237 views

webfact

August 18Aug 18

Russia Warns UK Over Drones Used in Attacks on Russia

UK

Russia Warns UK Over Drones Used in Attacks on Russia

Russia has warned the United Kingdom of “consequences” after confirming that British-made drones were used in strikes on targets in Russia, accusing London of escalating the war.
Russian Embassy Accuses UK Of Escalation
The Russian Embassy in London said Britain had “deliberately opted for an escalation” following reports that the drones were employed in attacks inside Russian territory. In a statement, it said the UK was acting as an “accomplice and co-perpetrator” of what it described as “crimes and terrorist attacks”.
The embassy added that the UK would have to respond for its actions, warning that the more it became involved in the conflict, the higher the “price” it would face.
UK Says It Stands With Ukraine
Responding to the allegations, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) told BBC News that Britain would stand “shoulder to shoulder” with Ukraine. The spokesperson said Russia should have no doubt about the UK government’s determination to oppose Russian aggression both in Ukraine and against the UK and its allies.
The spokesperson also said the UK was committed to supplying Ukraine with the equipment it needs to defend itself against Vladimir Putin’s “illegal invasion”.
Drones Used Against Military And Industrial Targets
The drones cited by Russia were built by two separate British companies. They have been used inside Russia in what the text describes as widespread targeting of military and industrial sites, including refineries and warehouses linked to Wildberries, an online retailer.
Ukraine has said it repeatedly targeted the company, known as Russia’s version of Amazon. It claims that seven out of 10 of the largest Wildberries logistics centres have been “disabled”. A military source told the BBC that UK drones were used in the attacks, which are said to have caused more than £35bn in economic damage.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said drones using UK components and configurations were used to strike Russian territory, including a fuel depot in the Kamensky District of the Rostov Region.
Wave Of Strikes Follow Previous Attacks
The warning comes amid a period of Ukrainian strikes on Russia. In the latest overnight attacks, Russian officials said about 620 drones were launched towards the area around Moscow. They reported that air defences destroyed more than 180 of the devices, while some people were wounded.
Officials said an attack the previous night killed nine people and injured 23, including a child. On Saturday night, Ukraine fired about 822 drones towards Russia, according to a regional governor, who said around 600 were aimed at Moscow and that the capital suffered “one of the most massive drone attacks in recent memory”. Seven deaths were reported across Russia.
On the same night, Russian strikes on Ukraine killed at least seven people and injured more than 39.
MoD Announces Large Drone Supply To Ukraine
In April, the UK MoD said it would provide Ukraine with tens of thousands of drones, including long-range strike systems, as its biggest package to date.

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18 August 2026

• Ukraine Conflict

• 141 comments
• 532 views

webfact

August 18Aug 18

Belgium battles its biggest wildfire on record

Belgium battles its biggest wildfire on record

Belgium is battling its largest recorded wildfire after flames swept through thousands of hectares of the High Fens nature reserve near the German border. Rainfall on Monday offered firefighters fresh hope of bringing the blaze under control.
The fire has burned around 3,000 hectares of heathland and peat bogs in eastern Belgium, according to authorities cited by Reuters.
Around 500 firefighters have been involved in the operation, supported by soldiers, farmers and firefighting aircraft provided through the European Union.
Rain brings relief to firefighters
Rain began falling in the affected area on Monday, August 17, helping crews tackling the fire after days of difficult conditions.
Firefighters have faced particular challenges because flames have penetrated deep into peat deposits. Officials warned that underground fires could continue smouldering for weeks or even months, despite the situation improving above ground.
The blaze has also threatened areas close to Belgium's border with Germany.
Local authorities have urged people to stay away from the High Fens while emergency operations continue.
Wildfires hit countries across Europe
Belgium's fire comes during another damaging wildfire season across Europe.
Reuters reported that around 576,000 hectares had been burned across the continent this year, while more than 20 people have died and hundreds of thousands have been forced from their homes.
Greece, Spain, Portugal, France and Croatia are among the countries that have faced serious fires.
European countries have been sharing firefighting resources as national services struggle with multiple outbreaks during periods of hot and dry weather.
Aircraft, helicopters and specialist firefighting teams have been deployed across borders through the EU's emergency assistance arrangements.
Peat fires could continue for months
Belgium's High Fens is an environmentally important area containing extensive peat bogs, heathland and forests.
The nature of the terrain has complicated firefighting efforts, with peat capable of continuing to burn beneath the surface even after visible flames have been extinguished.
Authorities will therefore need to continue monitoring the affected area after the immediate wildfire threat has passed.
For travellers in affected parts of Europe, wildfire conditions can lead to road closures, evacuations and disruption to access to national parks and rural areas.


18 August 2026

• 0 comments
• 262 views

CharlieH

August 17Aug 17

Netanyahu's Party Targets Mamdani In Tel Aviv Billboard

Israel

Netanyahu's Party Targets Mamdani In Tel Aviv Billboard

Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party has put Zohran Mamdani, the New York City mayor, on a campaign billboard in central Tel Aviv, drawing comparisons with leaders of Iran and Hezbollah.

The poster shows Mamdani alongside Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and Naim Qassem, described as Hezbollah’s chief. Beneath the images, a message says: “They want Netanyahu to lose … Don’t let them win,” alongside Likud’s logo.
Campaign Spur After Knesset Dissolution
Netanyahu has stepped up his election campaigning as Israel prepares to vote in October after the Knesset, parliament, was dissolved in July. The elections will be the first since the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023.
The billboard is the latest move in a growing dispute between Netanyahu and Mamdani, who has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s war in Gaza since launching his mayoral campaign.
Dispute Over Gaza Comments And Arrest Call
The verbal fight between the two intensified last month after Mamdani accused Netanyahu of being a “war criminal” and said he “belonged in The Hague”.
Mamdani also urged US authorities to ensure the International Criminal Court warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest is carried out if he attends the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.
Netanyahu responded by accusing Mamdani of “fomenting hate” and of encouraging divisions between different religious communities in New York. He also said he was concerned that progressive Democrats aligned with Mamdani could put at risk the once-bipartisan level of political support for Israel in the United States.
Recent polling in the US cited in the report indicates that Mamdani is more popular among American Jews than Netanyahu.
UK Remarks And Ongoing Gaza Talks
The latest attack on Mamdani comes after Netanyahu described the UK as “the Islamic republic of Britain” during a podcast interview earlier this week. In the same conversation, he also referred to Britain as the “first Islamic republic to get a nuclear weapon”.
Netanyahu posted the billboard image on his social media accounts on Sunday and shared a video featuring Mamdani’s remarks about him being a war criminal.
The feud is unfolding as US-Israeli talks on a Gaza ceasefire agreement are said to be stalling. Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law and an envoy, met Netanyahu on Monday for about three hours, but no breakthrough was reported. Israel, the report says, is refusing to withdraw troops from the strip unless Hamas agrees to disarm first.
Mamdani has not publicly responded to being included in Netanyahu’s election campaign materials.


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18 August 2026

• 42 comments
• 363 views

webfact

August 17Aug 17

SCOTUS Rejects Trump’s Final $5m E. Jean Carroll Appeal

USA

SCOTUS Rejects Trump’s Final $5m E. Jean Carroll Appeal

The Supreme Court on Monday refused President Donald Trump’s request to reconsider its rejection of his appeal in the 2023 case brought by E. Jean Carroll.

The court’s action leaves Trump unable to pursue further review of a $5 million jury award to Carroll, which her representatives said was paid in July. Trump had asked the justices to revisit the earlier decision that turned down his challenge to that verdict. The Monday ruling represents the last step available to him in the 2023 matter.
Court Ends $5m Challenge
The Supreme Court provided no explanation for its decision and there were no recorded dissenting opinions. It also has not granted a request for rehearing since the 1960s.
In the 2023 trial, a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll, a former Elle magazine columnist, in the dressing room of a Manhattan department store in the 1990s. The jury also determined that Trump defamed her in a 2022 social media post by calling her allegations “a Hoax and a lie” and saying “This woman is not my type!” As a result, the $5 million damages stand from that verdict. The jury had therefore made both the abuse and the defamation findings, with the damages reflecting those determinations.
2023 Ruling Made Final
With the latest refusal, the $5 million award stands as the end result of the 2023 litigation. Carroll’s legal team said the payment had already been made.
The case forms part of a broader set of proceedings involving Carroll’s allegations of abuse and defamation. The Supreme Court’s Monday order affects only the $5 million award tied to the 2023 jury decision.
Trump’s Wider Damages Battle Continues
A separate trial in 2024 produced another verdict for Carroll. It arose from a separate claim and a separate trial, distinct from the 2023 proceedings. Trump was ordered to pay $83.3 million in damages after a jury found he defamed her in 2019 when he denied her allegations of sexual abuse.
Trump, who denies any wrongdoing, is still appealing that judgment. His petition to the justices is currently pending, and they are expected later this year to decide whether to take up the case.
Immunity Argument on Presidential Comments
In his appeal, Trump argues that his 2019 comments about Carroll—later found to be defamatory—were “official” statements made as president. He contends that the remarks are therefore immune from being used in a legal case against him. In making that argument, he asks the justices to consider whether presidential immunity blocks the lawsuit based on the 2019 remarks. The justices’ Monday action did not address that separate immunity appeal.
No further action was taken in the 2023 matter after the court declined reconsideration.

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18 August 2026

• 2 comments
• 109 views

webfact

August 17Aug 17

Trump Contradicts Vance on Iran War Priorities

Iranian Conflict

Trump Contradicts Vance on Iran War Priorities

President Donald Trump contradicted Vice President JD Vance on Monday, after Vance had argued that keeping oil and gas affordable for Americans was the administration’s top priority amid the war involving Iran.

In a post on social media on Monday morning, Trump said the “number one Goal is, and always will be” preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. The message differed from Vance’s remarks made on Fox News last Thursday, when he outlined a different order of priorities for the administration.
Vance: Keep Oil And Gas Cheap
On the programme, Vance said that “goal No. 1” was “keep oil and gas cheap for Americans all over our country”. He then added that “goal No. 2” was to ensure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon, saying he was confident both aims were being met.
The vice president’s focus on fuel prices diverged from Trump’s stated mission of stopping Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. Trump has also previously dismissed the idea that the domestic US economy should influence decisions tied to Iran.
Trump Rejects Economic Trade-Off
In May, when asked how much pressure on Americans’ finances was motivating him to pursue a deal, Trump said the issue did not factor into his thinking. He said his focus was solely that Iran could not have a nuclear weapon, adding that he did not take account of Americans’ financial situation when considering action related to Iran.
Some Republicans have acknowledged that gas prices are high. Trump, however, said he would not apologise for the cost faced by drivers.
Speaking at the New York police academy last Friday, Trump told the audience he would not apologise for gas prices. He said Iran is the “No. 1 state sponsor of terror in the world” and that the US does not want it to obtain nuclear weapons. He added that paying somewhat more for fuel was acceptable.
White House: Both Goals Matter
After Vance’s comments aboard Air Force One on Friday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration regarded both aims as equally important to Trump. She said the administration wanted to keep gas prices low and had taken steps to support market stability, while also ensuring Iran never obtained a nuclear weapon.
Leavitt said the nuclear objective was the president’s priority in relation to the ongoing conflict, and that he intended to pursue it “one way or another”.
Trump’s post arrived shortly after Fox News host Lawrence Jones reacted to Vance’s remarks on Monday morning and called for clearer alignment on the US objectives. About eight minutes later, Trump published his message. Roughly an hour into the broadcast, Jones said it appeared the president had clarified what “priority No. 1” was for the United States.
Strait Of Hormuz In The Spotlight
The status of the Strait of Hormuz has become a central focus of the conflict, contributing volatility to global energy markets even as the fighting between Iran and the other side has fluctuated. Trump has argued that the cost of not intervening would exceed the higher gas prices Americans are facing.
GasBuddy put the average price of a gallon of regular at $4.02, up seven cents from the previous week and more than a dollar per gallon since the start of the war.

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18 August 2026

• 38 comments
• 738 views

webfact

August 17Aug 17

Trump Says Kim Responded After South Korea Drill Cuts

Korea

Trump Says Kim Responded After South Korea Drill Cuts

President Donald Trump said on Monday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had replied to his outreach, after Trump ordered the United States to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump was asked why Kim had not responded to his overtures. “He has,” Trump said, adding no further details.
Trump Links Response To US Exercise Plan
Trump’s comments came after he directed changes to US military drills involving South Korea, a move that was immediately tied to his push for engagement with Pyongyang.
The president said Kim had always treated him with respect and that the two had met on several occasions, describing what he said were two main times in which they spoke and spent time together. Trump added: “I understand him. He understands me.”
During Trump’s first term, relations with North Korea were a major focus, including a series of letters exchanged between him and Kim. In his second term, the issue has received less emphasis.
Summits In 2018 And 2019
Trump and Kim held summits in 2018 and 2019. Negotiations later stalled and ultimately broke down, with the failure linked to North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme based in Pyongyang.
North Korea remains subject to heavy international sanctions relating to its nuclear weapons and its ballistic missile capabilities.
The latest remarks by Trump mark another attempt to link any shift in engagement to changes in the US military posture in the region, although Trump did not describe what form Kim’s response took.
Pentagon Ordered “Substantially Reduce” Drills
On Sunday, Trump instructed the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” joint military exercises with South Korea, which he described as a long-term Asian ally.
In giving the order, Trump said the decision reflected the cost of the drills. He also cited Seoul’s refusal to take part in actions against Iran.
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Trump to Scale Back US Military Drills With South Korea
The United States has repeatedly framed its military activities with South Korea as part of deterrence, while North Korea has often criticised joint drills and linked them to broader security concerns.
Trump’s comments on Monday did not provide specific information about when or how Kim responded, or whether the outreach was connected to any channel beyond his earlier public statements.


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18 August 2026

• 10 comments
• 145 views

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August 17Aug 17

Trump Threatens To Bomb US Ally Oman Over Iran Deal

Iranian Conflict

Trump Threatens To Bomb US Ally Oman Over Iran Deal

President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Oman, a US ally, if it “gets in the way” of American negotiations with Iran, according to Fox News.

The United States and Oman have been holding separate discussions with Tehran about reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for global oil and liquefied natural gas. The strait has been largely closed for nearly six months amid conflict between the US and Iran.
Threat Made During a Phone Interview
Fox News reported that Trump made the threat during a phone interview. A Fox correspondent said the US president also used an expletive during the call when responding to questions about Oman’s role.
In the same period, Iranian officials said they were close to finalising a deal with Oman for shipping to pass through the strait. At the same time, the future of US-Iran talks remained uncertain as a 60-day Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Washington and Tehran is due to expire.
Trump was asked by BBC News in the Oval Office on Monday whether he was seeking an extension to the MoU. He replied: “No.”
Strait Of Hormuz Reopening Talks Continue
The Strait of Hormuz borders Iran and Oman and carries about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas under normal conditions. Iranian actions that followed earlier attacks between the two sides have largely halted transit, with reopening described by both Washington and Tehran as a central issue.
Oman has described itself as neutral in the conflict, while it has also suffered strikes from Iran. The sultanate is nevertheless seeking to mediate between Iran and others in efforts to restart shipping through the waterway.
Earlier in the week, the Iranian foreign ministry said it had reached an understanding with Oman on a transit route. Esmaeil Baghaei, a foreign ministry spokesman, told reporters that both sides would finalise details before issuing a joint statement. Oman has previously described its talks with Iran as positive.
For Washington, Reuters reported earlier, citing an Iranian official, that Tehran was seeking fees from vessels transiting the strait, at between 5% and 7% of cargo prices. Separately, earlier this month, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said a full reopening would depend on Iran receiving compensation from the US for what Tehran described as violations of the MoU.
IRGC Backchannel Claim Denied
Fox reported that Trump also said he had a direct backchannel with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which plays a major military, economic and political role in Iran. An IRGC spokesman denied the claim.
The spokesman told semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim that there were no talks between IRGC officials and Americans. He said Trump’s allegation was a product of “fantasies” driven by defeat and desperation, according to the report.
MoU Expires As Trump Says He’s Not Rushed
The MoU between the US and Iran, signed on 18 June, was intended to bring about a ceasefire and at least partially reopen the Strait of Hormuz. It broke down soon after, when both sides resumed strikes.
On 8 July, Trump said the ceasefire was over and criticised Iran’s leadership after further exchanges of fire. As the MoU approached formal expiry on Monday, he posted on his Truth Social platform that the “number one goal” was to ensure Iran could not obtain a nuclear weapon.
During the Fox interview, Trump also suggested he was not planning an immediate push for an end to the conflict, saying of Iranian leaders: “They’re good poker players, but they’re dying,” and adding that he had “no time schedule” and was “not in a hurry”.


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18 August 2026

• 74 comments
• 780 views

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August 17Aug 17

Dementia-hit British man faces deportation from Sweden

EU

Dementia-hit British man faces deportation from Sweden

George Mason, a 74-year-old man who has lived in Sweden for more than 20 years and receives round-the-clock care, has been given days to leave the country or face deportation, his family said.

Mason, who was born in Hinckley in Leicestershire, has vascular dementia and vascular parkinsonism and lives in a specialist care facility. His daughter, Michelle Torossian, said the British Embassy told the family on 7 August that Swedish authorities had set a deadline of Thursday for him to leave Sweden, or be deported.
The Migration Court of Appeal rejected the family’s appeal, according to court documents, after considering the state’s interest in regulated immigration alongside Mason’s private life. The court found that expulsion was “proportionate”.
Days to Depart
Torossian said the decision has left the family in distress. She said she was concerned about the impact on Mason if police were sent to take him from the care setting.
“We just want him to have some dignity,” Torossian said. She also described the situation as “awful” and “traumatic” for the family, adding that she believed Mason was being treated “ruthlessly and harshly” given his vulnerability.
Residency Applications Rejected
The case follows a withdrawal from the UK’s previous EU status. When the UK left the European Union on 31 January 2020, British citizens no longer held EU citizen rights, which removed their right to remain in Sweden under residence rules.
During the transitional period, British citizens could apply for residence status under a UK-EU withdrawal agreement. That process ended on 31 December 2021. Torossian said that because of Mason’s health conditions, a “god man” had been given legal authority to manage his affairs.
Swedish Migration Agency documents seen by the BBC state that Mason applied for permanent residency on 21 December 2021. The application was refused because the agency said supporting documents showing that he met the grounds for residency had not been submitted.
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A further application was made in February 2024, citing Mason’s connection to his son, Carl Mason, who has Swedish residency. That application was rejected in November 2025, with the agency concluding there was no “special relationship of dependence” between them.
Torossian said another appeal was lodged after the agency’s latest decision. The Migration Court of Appeal rejected an appeal in June 2026, before a further legal challenge was filed with “extensive medical evidence”.
Medical Risks Cited
The latest appeal argued that Mason was not capable of international travel. It also said moving him from his current care environment would likely lead to a significant deterioration in his physical and mental health.
The court documents reported that medical assessments described the move as “not medically justifiable” and said it would pose “significant risks”.
However, the court rejected the appeal in July, finding Mason’s medical condition was not “life-threatening”. The documents also stated that he would be able to access care in the UK.
Torossian said doctors had advised the Swedish authorities that moving Mason to the UK would pose a “danger to his life”. She said the family’s concern was the journey itself, describing it as potentially harmful.
The family has launched a fundraiser to help pay for a legal challenge and said its initial aim is to halt proceedings.
UK Government Support
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We are supporting Mr Mason and his family and are in contact with the Swedish authorities about his case.”

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17 August 2026

• 15 comments
• 507 views

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August 17Aug 17

Navy Considers Carrier Revamp to Suit Trump’s Aesthetic

Military

Navy Considers Carrier Revamp to Suit Trump’s Aesthetic

The US Navy is considering a significant redesign of its new Ford-class aircraft carriers, including the possible relocation of the command tower, as it seeks to align the ships more closely with concerns about their appearance raised by President Donald Trump.

The service is conducting an internal review on whether the multi-storey control structure, known as the “island”, should be moved closer to the middle of the vessel. A former senior US official familiar with the deliberations said the change would be intended to better match the look of older warships. The official, speaking to The Hill on condition of anonymity, said the review was due to be completed in “several” weeks.
The Hill said it had contacted the Pentagon and Navy for comment.
Review Under Way On Ford-Class Layout
The island typically sits above the rest of the carrier and is most often positioned on the starboard side. On an aircraft carrier, it serves as the nerve centre for running flight-deck operations, directing tactical command and managing navigation.
According to the internal review, any move would involve shifting the island from its current position towards the mid-point of the ship. The official said the effort was prompted, in part, by Trump’s concerns about the aesthetics of Ford-class carriers.
Island Role And Rationale
Hunter Stires, a former Maritime Strategist to the Navy Secretary, said warships are designed to perform in combat rather than to meet aesthetic preferences. In comments to The Hill, he argued that the placement of the island on Ford-class carriers was selected to support the carrier’s design goal of maximising the number of aircraft sorties, which he said translates into combat capability.
Stires also said that redesigning the Navy’s “premier capital ship” to accommodate the president’s preferences would involve substantial engineering effort and taxpayer spending, and he criticised the process in strongly worded terms, describing it as wasteful.
The Navy’s approach to the island’s position has previously been defended by senior officers. In 2022, Capt. Paul Lanzilotta, then captain of the USS Gerald R. Ford, said the extra space forward of the island on the ship gives aircraft on the deck more room to line up before launch. He also said that, compared with older carriers, the Ford-class arrangement avoids the need for interruptions during rapid operations on take-off and recovery.
Trump Catapult Order Adds Pressure
The potential island move would be the second major Ford-class design change directed by Trump. On Thursday, he ordered the Navy to remove the electromagnetic catapult system used to launch aircraft and return to steam catapults, according to officials and experts cited in the article.
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Trump’s national security memo instructed the service to ensure Ford-class carriers, including the USS Doris Miller, currently being built, use steam-powered catapult and hydraulic systems rather than the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Weapons Elevators.
Officials and experts said the shift would cost billions of dollars and reduce operational efficiency.
The internal Navy review was first reported by The Washington Post on Saturday.
Carrier Programme And Costs
Apart from the USS Doris Miller, two other Ford-class aircraft carriers are under construction. The Navy also operates 11 Nimitz-class aircraft carriers.
The USS Enterprise, a third Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is under construction by Huntington Ingalls Industries at Newport News Shipbuilding.
The construction cost for the Ford-class carriers is expected to be around $22 billion per ship, based on an August estimate by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

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17 August 2026

• USA

• 10 comments
• 148 views

webfact

August 17Aug 17

Ukrainian Missile Strikes Kill 6 in Russia

Ukraine Conflict

Ukrainian Missile Strikes Kill 6 in Russia

Ukrainian missile strikes killed six people and wounded four others, including a child, in Russia’s Belgorod region, the acting governor said on Monday.

The attack occurred as fighting along the front line remained close to a standstill and peace talks were frozen. Both sides have stepped up missile assaults, with the civilian death toll reaching its highest levels since the early months of the war in 2022.
Attack On Koloskovo Village
Acting Belgorod governor Alexander Shuvaev said that Ukrainian forces attacked the village of Koloskovo in the Valuysky district with missiles. Koloskovo is about 15 kilometres from the Ukraine border.
Shuvaev said the strike burned a structure and damaged a vehicle. He made the comments on the state-backed MAX platform.
Strikes Follow Prior Cross-Border Attacks
The Belgorod attack came a day after Russia and Ukraine carried out missile and drone strikes deep inside each other’s territory, which killed 19 people on both sides.
Moscow has conducted near-daily missile and drone strikes across Ukraine since launching its full-scale invasion in early 2022.
Ballistic Missiles And Air-Defence Pressure
Russia has recently increased its use of ballistic missiles that are difficult to intercept. The Kremlin’s move is linked to what the article describes as Ukraine’s air-defence shortages, following the diversion of supplies after a US-Israeli war against Iran.
Ukraine, for its part, has repeatedly targeted facilities tied to Russia’s largest online retailer, Wildberries, according to its claims that the company supplies components for Russian drones.
July Death Toll Reaches New Highs
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said such strikes, along with attacks on oil refineries, are intended to undermine Russia’s war economy.
In July, 437 civilians were killed in Ukraine, according to a United Nations tally. The UN figure was the highest monthly toll since May 2022.
Russian authorities reported 79 civilians killed on their side in July, which was higher than in the previous month.

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17 August 2026

• 1 comment
• 120 views

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August 17Aug 17

UK PM Duped by Imposter Posing as Trump's Chief of Staff

UK-Politics

UK PM Duped by Imposter Posing as Trump's Chief of Staff

Prime Minister Andy Burnham exchanged messages with a person posing as Susie Wiles, the chief of staff to US President Donald Trump, Downing Street said it would not comment on the security breach.

The incident was first reported by Politico. The report said officials were told Burnham had contacted an account claiming to be Wiles before he became suspicious that the contact was not legitimate. Politico said only “a few messages” were sent.
A government spokesperson said: “We do not comment on national security matters.”
Messages Sent, later Flagged as Suspicious
It is understood the communication between Burnham and the person pretending to be Wiles took place via text messages, with no call between the two.
Sources said the messages did not include information of significance. They added that once the contact was believed to be suspicious, the texts were quickly passed to the appropriate authorities.
Downing Street declined to comment further on the breach.
FBI Probe and Wiles Phone Hacking Claim
The development comes after the BBC previously reported that the FBI was investigating an alleged hack of Wiles’ phone, following an incident in May last year.
Wiles said her phone had been hacked after an impersonator, or impersonators, used her contacts file to send messages to other senior US figures. She said the targeting focused on her personal phone rather than a government device.
The BBC report noted that recipients of the messages included US senators, governors and top business executives.
In addition, Wiles—described as a close ally of Trump—had been among those targeted by a cyber espionage unit linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in 2024, according to earlier reporting.
UK Impersonation Incidents Including Cameron
A similar pattern has appeared in the UK’s own diplomatic communications. In 2024, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed that then-foreign secretary David Cameron had been the subject of a hoax call involving a person pretending to be former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
At the time, the FCDO said Cameron also exchanged some text messages with the impersonator. Poroshenko was president of Ukraine from 2014 to 2019.
The FCDO said it released details of the exchange publicly because it feared the information could be “manipulated” if it were not addressed directly. It also noted that, during Cameron’s period as prime minister, he had held multiple dealings with Poroshenko, including meetings at international summits.
The latest report about Burnham follows those earlier cases of impersonation involving senior political and diplomatic figures.

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17 August 2026

• 14 comments
• 389 views

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August 17Aug 17

Singapore probes assault on man who patted child's head

Report

Singapore probes assault on man who patted child's head

Singapore police are investigating an assault on a 73-year-old man after he patted a young girl on the head at a food court in a shopping centre.

Police said a video of the incident, which took place on Saturday, circulated widely over the weekend. They identified a 40-year-old man involved in the case in a statement on Sunday night, and urged the public not to speculate while investigations are carried out.
Incident Captured On CCTV
The footage shows the elderly man walking past the child’s table and patting her head. A woman seated at the table, believed to be the girl’s mother, immediately intervened.
The elderly man continued a short distance before a second man, believed to be the girl’s father, returned to the table and confronted him. After what appeared to be a heated exchange, the younger man was seen grabbing the elderly man’s arm and throwing him to the ground.
The clip was shared after it was posted on the social media pages of Bei-Ing Wanton Noodle, a stall at the food court.
Police Urge No Speculation
In their statement, police said they had identified the 40-year-old man and were investigating the incident. They also asked members of the public “not to speculate on the incident or its circumstances” and to allow investigators to establish the facts.
The assault drew criticism online, with many commenters condemning the physical reaction. Some responses also debated whether the elderly man should have touched the child without the parents’ consent, but the majority centred on the altercation as an overreaction to the head pat.
Son Says Father Suffered Back Pain
A post on the stall’s social media pages was made by someone who identified himself as the elderly man’s son. He asked for help identifying the alleged assailant.
The post said the elderly man, who is in his 70s, has previous leg and hip injuries, and that he did not want to pursue the matter further. It added that after the incident, the younger man later sat with the family, apologised, and offered him a drink.
The son said, however, that the elderly man is now suffering severe back pain following the fall. He wrote that an apology and a drink could not remove the physical injuries.
The elderly man told Channel News Asia that he patted the girl because she “was very adorable”. He said he believes older people often pat young children’s heads. He added that he began feeling pain hours after the incident and was taking Panadol.
In a separate post, the son thanked police for responding quickly and said they “sincerely hope that justice will be served” for his father.

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17 August 2026

• 34 comments
• 181 views

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August 17Aug 17

Meta Faces $1tn Suit That Could Reshape Facebook, Instagram

USA

Meta Faces $1tn Suit That Could Reshape Facebook, Instagram

Meta faces a jury trial starting on Tuesday after a fresh wave of court defeats tied to claims that its platforms have harmed and targeted young users, with the dispute now threatening major changes to how Instagram and Facebook operate for children and teenagers.

The case follows a lawsuit filed in 2023 by 30 US states, including California and New York. The states argue Meta violated federal and state privacy laws involving children, and they are seeking more than $1tn in damages.
Beyond financial penalties, the states are asking the court to order Meta to alter key features on Instagram and Facebook. If the claims succeed, the remedies sought could significantly reshape what young people see and how they interact with the platforms.
Requested Changes For Instagram And Facebook Users
In its filing, the group of states asks Meta to make several adjustments aimed at teen and child users, including introducing a parental verification process for teenage accounts.
The states also want Meta to change elements they describe as manipulation of users’ incentives, including recommendation systems designed to influence engagement. They are seeking the removal of many image filters that alter a person’s appearance, and an end to the autoplay of video content.
The remedies sought also include restrictions on account behaviour, such as prohibiting the creation of multiple accounts. The states further want Meta to stop disappearing, or “ephemeral”, posts—such as Instagram Stories—from being available in their current form.
These features are central to the platforms’ current design, the states say, and they are intended to keep users—including teenagers and children—on the services for longer periods.
They add that Meta uses frequent notifications that they say are meant to bring young users back to the apps. In the states’ view, those tactics make it harder for minors to reduce or stop using the platforms.
Court Action In A Wider Legal Push
The states argue that by targeting child users, Meta “chose to exploit” young people in order to build its user base and expand its business. Meta’s market value is about $1.5tn, according to figures cited in the case.
Meta denies the allegations. A company spokeswoman said it strongly disagreed with the claims and was confident the evidence would show its commitment to supporting young people.
The trial will be heard by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, a federal judge in California. She previously presided over the high-profile court case involving Elon Musk and Sam Altman and has developed a reputation for being direct from the bench over nearly 20 years.
The current trial comes after a prior ruling in New Mexico in which a federal judge fined Meta a combined $942m and ordered changes on similar themes.
Earlier Ruling Points To A Potential Model
In that case, Judge Bryan Biedscheid ordered Meta to eliminate like counts on Instagram and Facebook for users under 18. He also required a ban on teenagers sending or receiving nudity through the platforms, and limited push notifications to certain hours of the day.
Biedscheid also declared Meta a “public nuisance”, comparing the harm to that caused by a factory polluting air people breathe, with effects that extend beyond individuals.
While the New Mexico order applies only there, the 30-state lawsuit would likely have broader impact if it results in comparable findings. The states involved represent nearly two-thirds of the US population.
Supporters and critics have focused particular attention on engagement tools such as “like” counts. Likes have been part of Meta’s platforms since the early days of Facebook and remain a common way users react to posts.
However, researchers and some claim-making in court has linked like-based engagement to negative outcomes for young people, including feelings of rejection and depression.
In testimony earlier this year, Kaley, who won a separate lawsuit against Meta, described creating dozens of accounts on YouTube and Instagram to generate likes on her own posts. She said she was nine at the time and later remembered feeling depressed, which she was diagnosed with at 10.
The states’ case points to Meta’s own internal research. It cites findings that like counts can drive “social comparison”—measuring one’s self-worth against others’ images—linked to increased loneliness, worse body image and negative mood, according to the company’s documents.
If Judge Gonzalez Rogers rules for the plaintiffs, the court could reinforce a growing legal argument that the platforms’ design choices contribute to a youth mental health crisis.

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17 August 2026

• Law

• 9 comments
• 146 views

webfact

August 17Aug 17

Trump to Scale Back US Military Drills With South Korea

Military

Trump to Scale Back US Military Drills With South Korea

President Donald Trump said the United States will “substantially reduce” joint military exercises with South Korea, arguing the drills are costly and send an “inappropriate and hostile” signal.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the decision reflected his “very good relationship” with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un. He also pointed to South Korea’s recent decision not to join the United States in the denuclearisation of Iran.
Trump said the exercises are expensive, with much of the cost paid by the United States, and added that the planned training is “too late to cancel” as the two countries are due to begin their annual manoeuvres on Monday.
Neither Seoul nor Pyongyang issued a response to the comments.
Cost, Costliness And A Different Signal
Trump said the exercises were not only costly but also that they would communicate hostility. He said South Korea had declined an invitation for involvement in US-led denuclearisation efforts regarding Iran, adding that he had asked South Korean President if Seoul would like to join and that South Korea replied “No thanks”.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula following North Korea’s recent ballistic missile tests, which are banned under United Nations resolutions.
Ulchi Freedom Shield Planned Next Week
The reduction is taking place around the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, which was announced last week at a joint press conference by US and South Korean military leaders.
They said the 11-day drills would be similar in scale to previous years and would involve about 18,000 South Korean soldiers. US and South Korean officials also referenced North Korea’s deployment of troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine.
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US military spokesperson Ryan Donald said the exercises are intended to account for that threat, referring to North Korean soldiers returning from the battlefield. He said about 28,500 American military personnel are stationed in South Korea.
On Friday, North Korea’s foreign ministry condemned the joint drills as “a rehearsal for an aggressive war”.
Triggered By Recent Missile Tests
The joint exercises are scheduled only days after South Korea, the United States and Japan detected a second North Korean missile test within a short period.
Pyongyang has expanded its nuclear and missile programmes since the collapse in 2019 of Kim’s high-profile diplomacy with Trump during the president’s first term in office. Kim became the first sitting US president to visit North Korea, when Trump travelled there seven years ago.
Trump’s remarks about South Korea also appeared to reflect frustration that Seoul has not made direct military or logistical contributions to US efforts related to the conflict in Iran. He has previously expressed dissatisfaction with other allies, including Japan, France and the United Kingdom, over what he described as reluctance to become involved.
Previous Changes To Exercises
Trump’s decision to cut back training is not unprecedented. The United States suspended the exercises entirely in 2018 during denuclearisation negotiations with Kim. The drills were scaled back again in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last week, South Korea’s president proposed talks with the northern neighbour on formally ending the war between the two countries, which remains technically active since an armistice signed in 1953.

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17 August 2026

• USA

• 42 comments
• 267 views

webfact

August 16Aug 16

Lincoln Fiasco Shows Trump Admin's 'True Lack of Leadership'

Military

Lincoln Fiasco Shows Trump Admin's 'True Lack of Leadership'

Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego on Sunday criticised the leadership of the Trump administration after fresh reports raised concerns about conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, arguing that the extended deployment left sailors dealing with ongoing problems.

Speaking to ABC News’s “This Week”, Gallego said he had discussed the situation with a service member’s spouse days earlier and described the issues as part of a wider failure to prepare for the operational tempo and length of the Middle East mission.
Extended Middle East Deployment
The USS Lincoln, a US Navy aircraft carrier deployed to the Middle East, has been at sea for nearly nine months. It has gone more than 200 days without a port call, a fact Democrats cited as part of their growing concern about morale aboard the ship.
Gallego, a former Marine, said the administration did not plan effectively for the conflict’s trajectory. He argued that officials had “did not plan for this war” and had not anticipated how it would escalate or how the US would withdraw from it.
His remarks were made as calls for action increased, with Democrats pressing for an investigation into reported conditions and their impact on the crew.
Democrats Demand Probe
The concerns surfaced amid reports of low morale among sailors during the ship’s continued time away from port. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed the reports as “completely misrepresented”, according to ABC News. President Donald Trump, when asked about the length of the deployment, said it was “not nearly long enough”.
Gallego said the public exchange between the White House and the Pentagon could discourage service members from staying in the military. He warned that when personnel return home and discuss the experience with their families, they may conclude that the leadership they faced was not worth the commitment to rejoin.
He said that the criticism of the deployment length and the reported handling of conditions amounted to “a true lack of leadership” from both the defence secretary and the president, as described by Gallego.
Mullen Says Crew Morale Has Lifted
Retired Admiral Mike Mullen, a former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told “This Week” that long carrier deployments are not unusual and may run beyond the time originally stated. However, he said deployments of the length now experienced by the Lincoln still take a toll on sailors and their families.
“These ships, these people, these families need to basically come back,” Mullen said, pointing to lessons learned during the Vietnam era when carriers were deployed for about a year at a time and crews “wear yourself out”.
Mullen also said he had spoken with the commander of US Central Command, Brad Cooper, on Saturday evening. He reported that Cooper told him that any poor conditions on the Lincoln had already been addressed and that morale had improved after the crew learned it would be returning home.
“One of the positives of Cooper's visit yesterday is he announced to the crew that they're going home … and so the morale is up significantly from where it was just a few days ago,” Mullen said.
Carrier Replacement Under Way
A US official told ABC News that the USS George Washington departed its station in the Pacific Ocean last week and is expected to replace the Lincoln once the transition is complete.

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17 August 2026

• USA

• 45 comments
• 457 views

webfact

August 16Aug 16

Trump Envoy Kushner Meets Hamas Leader Over Gaza Plan

Gaza

Trump Envoy Kushner Meets Hamas Leader Over Gaza Plan

US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Jared Kushner met Hamas officials in Egypt to discuss the next steps in the US-backed plan for peace in Gaza, according to a Palestinian source.

A Palestinian official told the BBC that Kushner met a delegation led by Hamas’s new leader Khalil al-Hayya on Sunday in Egypt.
Talks in Egypt
Trump’s son-in-law travelled to Egypt as part of efforts to advance the proposal backed by the US administration. The discussions were held with a Hamas delegation led by al-Hayya, and included envoys from Trump’s Board of Peace.
Reports said the meeting also involved Nickolai Mladenov and former UK prime minister Tony Blair, alongside representatives from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, which have played roles in mediation around the conflict.
No official statement has been issued describing the talks. Media reports said the focus included practical steps to decommission Hamas weapons. They also referred to issues including the withdrawal of Israeli forces and humanitarian measures.
Kushner’s meeting with Hayya was described as the first of this level since a ceasefire agreement for the Gaza Strip was reached last year.
Disarmament And Wider Plan Disputed
Trump’s Board of Peace said last month it had agreed with what it described as the “complete disarmament” of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza.
Israel has not accepted the plan. Last week, it rejected a 15-point proposal that also calls for Israeli troops to withdraw and for Gaza to be rebuilt under a new civilian Palestinian administration.
Eight Muslim countries issued a statement on Sunday condemning Israel’s rejection.
Trump chairs the Board of Peace, an international organisation that was originally intended to help bring peace to Gaza before being broadened to cover other conflicts worldwide.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last week that Israel would not withdraw troops until Hamas is genuinely disarmed, adding that it rejected the Board of Peace’s 15-point document. He spoke despite the US administration’s backing of the plan.
Netanyahu Meeting Planned
While in Egypt, Kushner also met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, according to Israeli media reports. Those reports also said Kushner, Mladenov and Blair would meet Netanyahu on Monday to try to advance the proposal.
In a joint statement on Sunday, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia said Israel’s rejection of the US plan could undermine Trump’s efforts to secure peace.
The ceasefire that came into effect on 10 October last year remains in place. However, Israel’s military has carried out strikes in Gaza since then, including attacks in the Khan Yunis and Nuseirat areas. Israel said the strikes targeted “terrorists” and accused Hamas of breaking the truce.
War Background
The war began after a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage. Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response.
More than 73,000 people have died in Gaza since the war began, according to the territory’s health ministry. The UN considers the ministry’s figures reliable.
The UN estimates that about 1.9 million people, or 90% of Gaza’s population, have been displaced since the conflict started.

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17 August 2026

• 16 comments
• 304 views

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August 16Aug 16

Overnight Strikes Kill 12 as Russia-Ukraine War Escalates

Ukraine Conflict

Overnight Strikes Kill 12 as Russia-Ukraine War Escalates

Overnight strikes killed 12 people across Russia and Ukraine, authorities said on Sunday, as waves of drones and missiles hit civilian areas and infrastructure on both sides.

Fighting along parts of the front has been largely at a standstill and peace talks have stalled, while both countries have stepped up long-range attacks deep behind enemy lines, pushing the civilian death toll to its highest level since the early months of the war in 2022.
Dead In Russia
In Russia’s southern Rostov region, Ukrainian drones killed five people in a residential area, regional governor Yuri Slusar said. Two other people were reported killed in strikes in the Belgorod and Moscow regions.
Moscow said it countered the assault with large-scale air defences. The Russian defence ministry stated that 822 drones were intercepted across the country overnight.
Russian officials also described the attacks as among the largest drone strikes in recent memory.
Strike Hits Kryvyi Rih
In Ukraine, a barrage of Russian drones and missiles struck ArcelorMittal’s steel plant in Kryvyi Rih, Zelensky’s hometown, killing two people and wounding 14, according to Ukrainian officials.
The company said the strike forced it to partially halt operations after damage to core production facilities. Further attacks were reported elsewhere: two people were killed in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, and one person was reported dead in the border region of Sumy.
In Kyiv, an outdoor book market at Pochaina was hit. Bookseller Dmytro Semenukha said all four of his stalls burned down during the raid.
Kyiv Warns Of Civilian Infrastructure Attacks
In an overnight statement, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian ballistic missiles were used to target civilian infrastructure wherever they could be reached.
He renewed an appeal to allies for more air defences, saying that over the previous week Ukrainian cities were hit by more than 1,550 attack drones, nearly 1,560 guided aerial bombs, and 62 missiles.
Zelensky also said European countries should not allow interceptors to remain unused in storage, arguing that Russia’s use of harder-to-intercept ballistic missiles risks further damage to civilian targets across Europe. Kyiv has recently renewed claims that Moscow is receiving missiles and troops from North Korea.
Ukraine’s attacks have increasingly focused on facilities it says support Russia’s war effort, including warehouses linked to Wildberries, Russia’s biggest online retailer. Zelensky said such strikes, along with attacks on oil refineries, aim to undermine Russia’s war economy.
Ukraine said another Wildberries warehouse near Moscow was set ablaze overnight. Since mid-July, it has claimed strikes on about 20 warehouses and related buildings connected to the company.
Spillover Into Europe
The drone war has also affected countries bordering the conflict. Romania’s defence ministry said a Spanish F-18 fighter jet shot down a drone that entered Romanian airspace near borders with Ukraine and Moldova after the overnight raid.
NATO said on Friday that fighter jets shot down a drone that entered Latvian airspace, the second such incident in a week, according to Latvia’s defence ministry.
Civilian Toll
The United Nations reported that 437 civilians were killed in Ukraine in July, the highest monthly toll since May 2022. Russian authorities separately reported that 79 civilians were killed on their side in July, an increase from the previous month.


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16 August 2026

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webfact

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Trump Family Crypto Firm Gets Conditional Bank Approval

Trump

Trump Family Crypto Firm Gets Conditional Bank Approval

A Trump-appointed US banking regulator has granted conditional approval for World Liberty Trust, a unit linked to Donald Trump’s family crypto business, to apply for a bank charter—an unprecedented step that Democratic lawmakers say risks conflicts of interest.

In a letter published on Friday, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) said it had authorised World Liberty Trust Co. to issue a stablecoin cryptocurrency linked to the US dollar, subject to conditions. The trust’s website says the organisation is 38% owned by “an entity affiliated with Donald J. Trump and certain of his family members”.
The OCC action is the first time in US history that a company owned by the sitting president’s family has been granted bank status, Democrats said.
OCC Grants Conditional Charter
Under the OCC letter, World Liberty Trust would be able to operate as a bank and provide stablecoin services to clients. The regulator said its staff reviewed the application under established policies and procedures, and that full approval would not be granted until further requirements are met, including increasing the company’s capital.
World Liberty Financial is listed as the sponsor of the trust and the stablecoin plan. The company previously relied on BitGo, a third-party crypto firm, to help provide a stable digital currency.
Stablecoin Would Enable Bank-Style Payments
The new approval would allow the Trump-linked business to supply the stablecoin service directly rather than using an intermediary. The stablecoin is designed to track the value of the US dollar, which regulators and other oversight bodies have said can make it more suitable for large transactions than cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, which are historically volatile.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has previously described digital assets tied to steadier values, such as the US dollar or gold, as potentially marketable for use in payments, transmitting money or storing value.
As set out in the OCC-related description of the plan, clients would exchange US dollars for the stablecoin for transactions, with profits expected to flow to the Trump family’s crypto business.
Trump family affiliates have previously profited from World Liberty Financial, with the token’s value cited at the time of its public launch showing about $5 billion earned in the first days, and the company continuing to attract major investment from individuals and foreign nations. Trump himself has reported more than $1.4 billion in business revenue from the family’s crypto ventures in published financial disclosures.
White House Rejects Conflict Claims
The White House has denied that the arrangement poses a conflict. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said the president “only acts in the best interests of the American public”, and argued that no conflict exists because Trump’s assets are held in a blind trust managed by his children. Kelly said, “President Trump’s assets are in a trust managed by his children. There are no conflicts of interest.”
In May 2025, an Abu Dhabi state-backed investment firm, MGX, invested $2 billion in the company. MGX said it would use the Trump family’s USD 1 stablecoin for large transactions with Binance. The MGX and Binance deal later drew scrutiny after the Trump administration agreed to supply the UAE with American-made AI chips, despite concerns previously raised that such technology could end up in China.
At a crypto convention in Dubai, World Liberty Financial co-founder Zach Witkoff said of the MGX and Binance agreement: “We thank MGX and Binance for their trust in us, and I think it’s only the beginning.” Witkoff is the son of Steve Witkoff, the president’s special envoy to the Middle East.
Lawmakers Warn Of Self-Dealing
Senator Elizabeth Warren, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, urged the OCC to halt the approval process in a January letter to the comptroller. Warren wrote that, because the president has ultimate authority over the OCC even though the office considers itself independent, the move could amount to the president overseeing his own financial company.
Warren said the decision after the OCC’s preliminary approval was the “most brazen act of self-dealing our financial system has ever seen” and she said she planned to introduce legislation to stop what she called unprecedented corruption.
The OCC said on Friday that the charter application would be completed only after specified conditions are met, including capital increases.

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16 August 2026

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Iranian Billboards Intensify Anti-U.S. War Propaganda

Iran

Iranian Billboards Intensify Anti-U.S. War Propaganda

State-sponsored billboards across Tehran have become more overt and violent as Iran’s conflict with the United States and Israel has dragged on, with some of the images apparently produced using artificial intelligence.

The large roadside posters, alongside adverts for everyday products, have long carried anti-American messages. But images captured by Iranian photojournalists over almost six months show a marked shift in tone since the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in an airstrike on the first day of the war launched by the United States and Israel.
Violent Changes Around Tehran
One billboard was photographed last month near the capital’s Enghelab Square. It featured non-threatening imagery of Khamenei before being replaced with a graphic showing President Donald Trump lying in a casket, with his hands together over his belly.
In mock handwritten writing, the billboard referred to sailors killed in a torpedo attack on the Iranian warship Iris Dena by the USS Charlotte attack submarine. It also included a death threat directed at Trump.
Less than two weeks later, the same billboard location showed another graphic, depicting Trump being strangled by several pairs of hands. In English, the billboard carried the message: “Revenge is inevitable.”
Other billboards documented by the photojournalists included a parody of the American flag, with skulls replacing the stars and bombs dropping from the stripes. Another showed the White House engulfed in flames.
Anti-U.S. Messaging Builds On Old Themes
Anti-American rhetoric has been a feature of Iran’s messaging since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and imagery in Tehran has previously included a hand-painted mural that parodies the Stars and Stripes. In that mural, the stars are replaced with skulls and bombs are shown falling from the stripes, alongside text reading “Down With The U.S.A.” across the middle.


Picture courtesy of NBC

While that mural is clearly painted, the newer billboards appear more modern and, according to the reporting, have been generated with the help of artificial intelligence. The image of the White House on fire, for example, is accompanied by Persian wording stating “blood for blood” above the flames.
Photographs also show residents passing by or standing near the billboards as they go about their daily routines.
AI Used To Expand Propaganda Online
The use of artificial intelligence is not limited to outdoor displays. During the war, Iran has also relied on AI to support online propaganda efforts.
One company, Explosive Media, has published dozens of Lego-inspired videos ranging from short clips to three-minute music videos mocking Trump and his administration. Some people have described the output as “slopaganda”. Explosive Media told NBC News that it does not work for the Iranian government and that the government has no role in determining the content of the videos.
Separate developments have also featured AI-generated material shared by Trump himself, including images showing Iran’s ships and energy infrastructure being blown up and taken over by the U.S. military.
The escalation in messaging comes amid continued wartime casualty claims. U.S. Central Command said on July 18 that 17 U.S. service members have died since the start of the war with Iran. On April 20, Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency cited Abbas Masjedi, head of Iran’s Forensic Medicine Organization, as saying that 3,375 people had been killed.


Picture courtesy of NBC


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16 August 2026

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