World News

Thousands of Migrants Remain in Spain's Ceuta After Crisis

Spain

Thousands of Migrants Remain in Spain's Ceuta After Crisis

Thousands of migrants are still in Spain’s northern African territory of Ceuta after a border crisis last week, the head of the enclave has said.

Juan Jesús Vivas told the European Parliament that between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remained in Ceuta. He said that many times that number had arrived during the initial surge, which saw about 78,000 people reach the territory by sea from neighbouring Morocco within hours.
Vivas said he felt “profound sorrow” at what he described as an “irreparable tragedy”, adding that 100 people had died during the crossings. He said the situation had left Ceuta facing continued pressure, with humanitarian needs and disturbances to public order still ongoing.
Ceuta After The mass Arrival
Vivas, a conservative, criticised the Spanish government’s response, saying he had personally told Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez that it had been “late and insufficient”.
He said Ceuta lacked key information on how many people were still in the territory, arguing that the absence of numbers showed limited resources to manage the crisis. He also said warnings from local officials about an increase in sea arrivals had been ignored.
While he said the return of nearly 75,000 migrants to Morocco had “considerably alleviated” the situation, Ceuta had not returned to normal. He said the territory was still in a humanitarian emergency and that public order had been affected.
On migrants who are minors, Vivas said it was “basically impossible” to send them back because any return required their consent.
Aid For Minors And Disputes Over Numbers
Spain’s interior minister has said the government has allocated €25m to assist minors in Ceuta.
But Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported that 4,860 migrant children had been registered by volunteer groups, saying the figure was double official estimates. El Mundo also carried comments from a volunteer warning the situation was “unsustainable”.
According to El País, no children had been moved to mainland Spain so far, citing reluctance among right-wing local authorities to take them in.
EU Schedules Emergency Talks Over Ceuta Migrant Surge

Trump's Role Questioned After Ceuta Disaster
The crisis has also fed into political disagreement between Spain’s regions. Some right-wing figures have pointed to an agreement with Morocco on cooperation to return migrant children to their families, while the conservative leader in Melilla called for a “gesture of solidarity” from colleagues on the mainland.
Social Media Calls For More Crossings
Vivas said new calls for mass crossings were circulating online, according to Moroccan media. Hespress reported that posts and messages were shared encouraging people to join closed WhatsApp groups, using hashtags linked to migrating to Spain and job opportunities there, despite warnings from Moroccan authorities that those promoting irregular migration could face prosecution.
Spain and the EU have also been dealing with the wider repercussions of the surge, which has contributed to tensions among member states in the Schengen area that share open internal borders.
EU Fallout And The Morocco Dispute
The EU Commission praised Spain’s “swift response”, which it said included deploying armed forces to Ceuta and to Melilla.
However, divisions among EU countries have grown. Italy suspended its Schengen arrangements with Spain, with support from Finland and Denmark, while the Czech Republic called for Spain’s Schengen membership to be temporarily suspended, despite Sánchez saying Ceuta is not part of Schengen.
Magnus Brunner, the EU’s Migration Commissioner, suggested criminal networks spreading disinformation may have contributed to the crossings, and Sánchez agreed with that assessment. The EU official also said the bloc should use leverage such as visa policy and trade to press Morocco to cooperate.
Brunner said the EU was “ready to do more” in Ceuta but had not received a further request for EU border guards from Spain.
Morocco has blamed the crisis on Spain’s Supreme Court ruling that migrants stopped at sea while trying to reach Ceuta or Melilla cannot be summarily returned to Morocco. A Moroccan government source briefing local outlets said the “deterrent element” collapsed and “the dam gave way” because of a judge’s decision, not because of the actions of criminal networks.
Vivas also questioned why Morocco’s border guards did not attempt to stop the attempt, describing it as an “unequivocal attack”. Spain’s interior minister said he was working “firmly” with Morocco to prevent further “violations” and that migrants still in Ceuta would be returned as soon as possible.

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7 August 2026

• Latest Update

• 10 comments
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August 7Aug 7

Starmer’s £270bn Defence Figure Ruled Misleading

UK-Politics

Starmer’s £270bn Defence Figure Ruled Misleading

Former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the Wales Office and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) used misleading figures when describing how much the UK will spend on defence, the UK Statistics Authority has said.

In March, Sir Keir told MPs that ministers were increasing defence spending by £270bn. Similar claims were repeated by other government bodies in June, including a MoD spokesman and the Wales Office on X, before the authority intervened.
MP Claim In March
Sir Keir made the statement to the House of Commons liaison committee, saying the government had already committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence in 2027 and would reach that level. He said this would mean that, within the current Parliament, the UK would spend £270bn more on defence than it would otherwise have done.
The Wales Office later used comparable wording in June, after an MoD spokesman also described the figure in the same way.
The Wales Office subsequently removed an X post that included the claim.
Authority Says Figure Covers 2025-29
The UK Statistics Authority said the figure was presented incorrectly. It said the £270bn is not an increase in defence spending over the course of the Parliament, nor an additional £270bn, as described.
Instead, the authority said the number represents the proposed overall defence spending across the period from 2025-26 to 2028-29, covering the lifetime of the current Parliament.
In a letter to Conservative shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge, the authority’s interim chair Penny Young said it is “incorrect and misleading” to describe the £270bn as an extra amount over the Parliament or as an increase.
She added that the Wales Office told the authority the wording used “was a mistake” and that it was amended as soon as it was noticed.
Steps Taken To Reduce Repeat Risk
The authority said further steps were taken by the Wales Office and the MoD to reduce the chance of the claim being repeated.
Young said the Wales Office told the authority it reviewed its press office lines on the subject and strengthened its quality assurance process for press lines. She also said the MoD had taken steps to ensure future communications use language that is “precise and consistent” when presenting defence spending figures.
A UK government spokesperson said: “We have previously acknowledged this phrasing and took immediate steps to ensure it was not replicated.”
Downing Street and Sir Keir’s office said they had nothing further to add.
BBC Wales was told the figure originated in the MoD rather than the Wales Office, which at the time was led by the then Welsh secretary Jo Stevens.
Devolution Office Role
The Wales Office is part of the UK government and oversees the devolution settlement, with the department tasked with speaking for Wales within Westminster.
Sir Keir resigned from Downing Street in July, when he was replaced by Andy Burnham.
Conservative Shadow Wales Secretary Mims Davies said the public deserved “honesty and transparency” about the defence budget, adding that Labour ministers and civil servants in the Wales Office should present figures in a way that does not risk misleading people.

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7 August 2026

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August 7Aug 7

Meta Ordered to Pay $567m in Child Safety Case

USA

Meta Ordered to Pay $567m in Child Safety Case

A US judge in New Mexico has ordered Meta to pay a further $567m (£421m) over what he said was the company’s failure to warn the public about dangers its social media platforms posed to children, in what the court described as the largest child-safety penalty yet imposed on the firm.

Judge Bryan Biedscheid said Meta must establish a fund to reduce future harms. The order on Thursday adds to a prior ruling of $375m, bringing the total fine in the case to $942m.
In his decision, Biedscheid said Meta’s business model amounted to a “public nuisance” comparable with pollution affecting the general public. He drew an analogy between the company and a factory, with advertising and content as its product and with the resulting “psychological harm and sexual exploitation of children” described as the pollution that must be addressed.
Judge Orders New Fund
The court’s latest ruling is the second phase of a trial brought by New Mexico in 2023. State attorneys argued that Meta should be held responsible for how its platforms endangered children and exposed them to sexually explicit material and contact with sexual predators.
In the first phase, Meta was found to have repeatedly violated New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act. The court said Meta’s recommendation algorithms “essentially steered” young users towards harmful content and contacts.
In the second phase, Biedscheid concluded the harms reached the level of a public nuisance. He compared the effects of the platforms to the way “noxious pollution produced by the factory can harm the common public right to reasonably clean air”, adding that the harm spreads beyond the platforms and affects the wider internet and, potentially, real-world conditions.
The judge said the impacts create a “common, societal burden” on affected children and families, as well as schools, hospitals and law enforcement.
Meta said it plans to appeal. A company spokesman said the firm disagreed with the ruling and that it worked to keep users safe, while arguing that it had been transparent about the challenges of identifying and removing harmful content and bad actors. Meta said it remained confident about its record of protecting teens online.
Measures To Curb Harms
The judge ordered Meta to fund efforts to mitigate harms already caused and to support prevention and awareness.
The court said the vast majority of the money, $420m, would be used for treatment of harms through “appropriate clinical or other behavioral health programmes and professionals”. Another portion of the fund is intended to support training aimed at awareness and prevention, including for teachers and health professionals.
The ruling also required Meta to implement operational changes, including:
Ensuring that no account for users under 18 is recommended to adults and that adults cannot message underage users
Banning underage users from sending or receiving nudity
Applying a “1-strike policy” to adult users who engage in child sexual exploitation
Removing “like” counts for users under 18
Blocking push notifications for such users daily between 10:00pm and 7:00am, and during typical school hours between 8:00am and 3:00pm, except on weekends
Imposing a mandatory usage limit of 90 cumulative hours per month across Instagram and Facebook, equivalent to about three hours a day
Appeal And Wider Legal Challenges
Meta’s case adds to a growing number of US lawsuits. The New Mexico action was described as the first time a state had successfully sued Meta over child safety issues. The company is also facing other litigation, including a landmark decision earlier this year in Los Angeles in which a court found Meta could be held liable for building addictive platforms.
Bruce Daisley, a former European vice president of Twitter (now X), said the New Mexico fine, while large, was “a drop in the ocean” for Meta. In its latest financial results, Meta reported revenue of $61bn from April to June, up 28% year on year.
The New Mexico ruling comes as the UK and EU press platforms to take similar steps to protect children online, with recent focus on repair mechanisms that prevent children from being easily viewed or contacted. At the same time, some countries are considering broader bans on children using social media, including plans in the UK to block under-16s and introduce opt-out curfews for older teens at night.
A major additional trial involving Meta is due to begin next week in California. Nearly three dozen state attorneys general are suing the company, alleging violations of child privacy laws.

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7 August 2026

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August 7Aug 7

RWE Abandons US Wind Projects After Trump Deal

USA

RWE Abandons US Wind Projects After Trump Deal

German energy group RWE said it will abandon its planned offshore wind projects in the United States after agreeing a $1.2bn (£892m) payment settlement with President Donald Trump’s Department of the Interior (DoI).

RWE said it will use the payout to shift away from offshore wind development and reinvest in conventional gas projects. The company said $900m (£669m) of the sum would go towards a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal project in Louisiana.
No Path For Permits, RWE Says
RWE said that after reviewing its options, it concluded there was no route to secure permission for the offshore projects in the US in the foreseeable future.
The company said it has agreed to give up its offshore leases covering areas off the coasts of California and Louisiana, as well as the New York Bight.
$900m To LNG Terminal In Louisiana
RWE said it will reinvest the $1.2bn into gas-focused developments, including the Louisiana terminal. It also said the decision forms part of a broader plan to direct investment towards increasing its generation capacity in the US.
The German firm said it intends to invest about €17bn (£14.5bn; $19.6bn) in the country over the next six years as part of that growth programme.
Trump Administration Continues Offshore Wind Halt
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a post on X that Americans deserve an energy system built around “common sense”, rather than one reliant on what he described as costly subsidies. Burgum said the DoI welcomed RWE’s agreement and its decision to invest in projects intended to support US energy security.
The RWE move adds to a series of deals agreed by the Trump administration this year aimed at stopping offshore wind development.
Trump, who has backed the fossil fuel industry, has repeatedly pushed to end offshore wind projects. After returning to office, he said the administration was not going ahead with “the wind thing”, and he described offshore wind turbines as dangerous to wildlife.
Recent Agreements With Other Companies
In March 2026, the DoI reached an agreement with TotalEnergies to end the French company’s offshore wind work in the US. TotalEnergies said it would instead re-route investment towards building an LNG facility in Texas and developing “upstream conventional oil” in the Gulf of Mexico.
Last month, the administration also signed a similar large-scale deal with Duke Energy, a Charlotte-based utility. The agreement, worth $129bn (£96bn), was made in return for Duke ending its offshore wind lease covering the Carolina Long Bay area.

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7 August 2026

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August 7Aug 7

Trump Orders Limits On Birthright Citizenship

USA

Trump Orders Limits On Birthright Citizenship

President Trump signed two executive orders on Thursday aimed at tightening eligibility for automatic citizenship for children born in the United States, following a Supreme Court ruling that upheld the constitutional basis for birthright citizenship.
Supreme Court Ruling Spurs new Moves
In late June, the Supreme Court rejected Trump’s previous “Day 1” order, which sought to end citizenship by birth for children born on US soil. The court said the plan conflicted with the 14th Amendment, which protects the citizenship rights of people born in the country.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said the Supreme Court decision was “unfortunate” and described it as close, adding that he would make “adjustments” because he believed the outcome was unfair.
Expanding Who Could Be Barred From Automatic Citizenship
One of the new orders broadens the category of people said to be ineligible for automatic citizenship. According to administration officials, the order would treat certain groups as not covered by the Citizenship Clause, including “alien enemies of the United States”, members of foreign terrorist organisations, and “large categories of people who lobby and act on behalf of foreign governments”.
Officials said the move is intended to work around the framework used by courts to identify exceptions to birthright citizenship. Courts have long recognised four exceptions tied to the Citizenship Clause: children born in the US to foreign sovereigns and diplomats, now referenced in the order; children born to foreign forces during a hostile occupation; children born on foreign public ships; and children of Native American tribes.
It was unclear, however, how the administration would determine who would fall within the description of people who “lobby and act on behalf of foreign governments” or how that would apply in practice.
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said the order ensures that “large numbers” who would otherwise qualify for birthright citizenship would no longer be eligible for benefits.
Order Targets “Birth Tourism” Practice
The second executive order focuses on what the administration calls “birth tourism”. The practice involves travelling to another country with the primary purpose of giving birth there so that the child automatically becomes a citizen of that country.
US law already makes such conduct illegal when it involves visa or immigration fraud, and the practice has become a political focus for the right. Trump said birthright citizenship was originally intended for “the babies of slaves”. He argued that recent patterns were different, alleging that “wealthy people” have built businesses around the practice and that the US should not allow it.
He also claimed that “hundreds of thousands” take advantage of birth tourism, though data cited in the article suggests those estimates are inflated.
Trump said the original policy applied shortly after the Civil War ended, adding that it was not intended for families he described as arriving with multiple children.
Citing Immigration Law For Denying Visas
Miller said Trump has authority to pursue the new approach under Section 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. He described it as a provision that governs the travel of non-citizens into and out of the country and said it is rarely used.
Miller argued that if someone tells a consular officer they are coming as a tourist but intends to give birth for the purpose of securing citizenship for the child, they are committing fraud against the government. He said, based on that reasoning, the relevant visa “can and should and will be now denied”.

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7 August 2026

• 66 comments
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August 6Aug 6

Sexual Abuse Claims Rock UK Army Training College

Sex Crime

Sexual Abuse Claims Rock UK Army Training College

Four young women who attended the Army Foundation College (AFC) in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, have told the BBC they were sexually assaulted and harassed while training at the establishment for 17-year-olds.

They allege that a culture of misogyny and sexual violence existed at the college. Their accounts have prompted calls from MPs for an independent inquiry into the “culture, leadership and safeguarding practices” at AFC.
The women say they were assaulted and harassed during their time at AFC over the past five years. Their identities are protected by changes to their names.
Calls For an Independent inquiry
Sarah Atherton, the former MP for Wrexham, said public confidence in the college could only be restored through an independent inquiry. Atherton, who previously served in the Army’s Intelligence Corps, led a 2021 government review into women’s experiences in the armed forces.
Atherton said concerns at AFC Harrogate were raised years ago, and that subsequent data and complaints suggested problems continued without sufficient action.
Emma Lewell MP, who sits on the Defence Committee, said that if the alleged conduct had occurred in any other school or residential setting for children, it would likely have been shut down. She added that there has been a long-running pattern of complaints relating to sexual assault, bullying and other forms of abuse, and urged an urgent investigation led by someone with safeguarding expertise.
Two Lib Dem MPs, Tom Gordon and James MacCleary, have also written to Defence Secretary Wes Streeting. In their letter, they said it was essential that the full facts be established openly, and that any systemic barriers preventing victims from coming forward be examined, including whether reporting mechanisms work and whether safeguarding arrangements are consistently applied.
Allegations And Previous Investigations
According to the 2021 Atherton review, which took evidence from more than 4,200 women, cases included rape and the sexual exploitation of under-18s, along with findings that some women had been drugged before assaults. The review concluded that women were being “denied justice” through a “woefully inadequate” military complaints process.
Atherton told the BBC that the “best way to establish the facts” would be an independent inquiry, arguing that parents, staff and recruits deserve clear answers and accountability.
One woman, “Tilly”, told the BBC she was raped at AFC by several fellow soldiers after being invited into a room. Another woman, “Amy”, said her mother shared her account of sexual assault and near-daily harassment, adding that a malfunctioning room lock meant she slept across the doorway to stop male soldiers entering.
Another woman described how attitudes she said were encouraged or tolerated at AFC affected some male teenagers, and recalled an instructor allegedly saying the focus was on how much sexual access could be obtained.
Complaints, Police Data And Army Response
North Yorkshire Police told the BBC, in response to a Freedom of Information request, that it received 16 reports of sexual offences linked to the college in the year to June. The force said the allegations included exposure, voyeurism and sexual assault, but provided no information on whether the reports resulted in prosecutions.
Ministry of Defence (MoD) data cited by the BBC shows 176 complaints of inappropriate sexual behaviour at the college were made between January 2018 and June 2025.
The Army said “unacceptable and criminal behaviour has absolutely no place” in its Armed Forces and urged victims and witnesses to come forward. It said reforms have been introduced to support victims, including specialist help through the Defence Serious Crime Command, which operates outside the Army chain of command.
The MoD said AFC “welcomes external scrutiny and challenge”, adding that in the past year the college hosted safeguarding bodies, parliamentarians, the Children’s Commissioner’s office and the Armed Forces Commissioner, and received an “outstanding” report from Ofsted.
Wider Safeguarding Context
The BBC reports that the Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, said she would ensure the alleged attacks are investigated and that those responsible, including those who failed to safeguard the girls, are held to account. She said children living away from home have a right to contact her team for support, and that she would ensure girls at AFC can access that help.
The MoD also said a report last year found 67% of women in the armed forces experienced at least one sexualised behaviour in the previous 12 months, compared with 34% of men.
The renewed allegations come amid broader cases of sexual assault in the armed forces. Last year, an ex-army sergeant major was jailed for six months for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old soldier, who later died by suicide. An inquest said the assault and the Army’s failure to take appropriate action “more than minimally” contributed to her death.

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7 August 2026

• UK

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August 6Aug 6

Tories Pledge Ban on Social Housing for Foreign Nationals

UK

Tories Pledge Ban on Social Housing for Foreign Nationals

The Conservatives have said that, if they win the next general election, they would end access to social housing in England for foreign nationals.

Under the party’s proposal, new social housing tenancies would stop for foreign nationals. It would also end existing tenancies for couples where neither partner is a UK, Irish or EU citizen. The Conservatives said the changes would free up an estimated 228,144 homes for British families.
The party said Labour had “lost control of immigration”, leaving families on housing waiting lists. Labour disputed that characterisation, describing the policy as an “unserious, unworkable proposal” copied from Reform UK and arguing it would not address the housing shortage.
Planned Changes In England
The Conservatives said foreign nationals would be expected to leave social homes within six months if they were found to be ineligible under the new rules. The policy would cover single people as well as couples in specific circumstances.
The party’s comments came after Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, said in June that foreign national tenants would be required to secure private accommodation within three months, or face potential deportation if Reform won power.
Eligibility Rules And Existing Tenants
Under the Conservatives’ plan, any single person currently living in social housing who is not a UK, Irish or EU citizen would lose their home, regardless of whether they have children. Couples where neither partner is a UK or EU citizen and who do not have EU settled status would also lose entitlement.
People with EU settled status would not be evicted under the proposals. For future tenancies, the party said UK nationals and those with EU settled status would remain eligible, while new EU citizens without settled status would not.
Foreign nationals with settled status, refugee status or specific humanitarian protections would continue to qualify for social housing under the existing framework. Asylum seekers would not be eligible unless in exceptional cases, including where someone is experiencing domestic abuse.
The Conservatives also previously floated a different approach when in government in 2024, considering a 10-year UK residence requirement before foreign nationals could qualify for social housing.
Housing Waiting List And Lettings Data
The latest government figures show 1.34 million households were on social housing waiting lists as of March 2025.
Data from 2024-25 indicates that most new social lettings go to single people. For the lead tenant of new social lettings, the person in whose name the tenancy is held, 89% were UK nationals, totalling 233,000 tenants. In the same period, 2.3% of new lettings were granted to refugees: 800 of those were UK nationals, while 3,900 were non-UK nationals. The most common refugee nationality in new lettings was Afghanistan, with Ukraine second.
Criticism From Labour, Shelter And Reform
Helen Whately, the Conservative shadow work and pensions secretary, said: “Making Britain your home should be earned by working, paying tax and integrating.” She added that Labour had lost control of immigration and the welfare bill, and that British families were “sitting on waiting lists”.
Labour said the policy would mainly affect refugees and long-term residents who had contributed, while putting more families at risk of homelessness. A Labour spokesperson said: “No amount of headline-chasing, or following Reform to the extremes, can hide the damage the Tories did to our housing system,” adding that the Conservatives should acknowledge their failures.
Housing and homelessness charity Shelter said eligibility rules for social housing were already strict and that accommodation was not provided immediately to people on arrival. Sarah Elliott, Shelter’s chief executive, said the “divisive plans” would “brutally kick people out of their homes”, including thousands of families and pensioners who have lived there for decades, and argued the housing emergency is linked to governments failing to build enough affordable social homes.
Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, accused the Conservatives of trying to copy Reform’s position but argued they had not gone far enough because their ban would not include people with EU settled status. He said Reform would make social housing “strictly for British citizens”.

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7 August 2026

• 20 comments
• 342 views

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August 6Aug 6

Trump Gaza Board Issues First Military Base Contract

Gaza

Trump Gaza Board Issues First Military Base Contract

Donald Trump's Gaza Board of Peace has issued its first construction contract in Gaza, awarding a tender for a small military outpost intended to house Moroccan troops, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The project is for a rudimentary base sized at about 100 metres by 120 metres and designed to accommodate roughly 150 personnel. The contract has not been finalised, the source said.
First Contract Yet To Be Finalised
The deal was awarded to Arkel International, a Louisiana-based firm that has previously carried out work for the US government in countries including Iraq. The contract terms are still being completed, and no final award has been published.
In an email, a Board of Peace official said the board and a separate Palestinian team tasked with overseeing Gaza were nearing the end of preparations for a series of contract awards. The official added: “None have been finalised.”
Role Of The Board
The Board of Peace, established in January to oversee reconstruction in Gaza, is chaired by the US president. It is led by a team that includes Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, and friend Steve Witkoff.
The Board of Peace’s Palestinian group counterpart is the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, according to the email.
Facilities For an international Stabilisation Force
The official said one prospective contract concerned facilities to support the international stabilisation force (ISF), which the board said would help implement security and governance arrangements set out in the roadmap.
The official wrote that the contract would be among multiple measures needed for the future of Gaza.
The UN resolution that authorised the Board of Peace also approved establishing an ISF for Gaza, but reports have differed on which country would provide troops. Morocco has promised a small contingent, but the legal framework for the ISF has not yet been finalised and it is unclear when any deployment would start.
Earlier contract planning reviewed by The Guardian described the planned 150-person outpost as the first phase of a larger ISF base for up to 5,000 troops. That earlier plan included vehicle fighting positions and a perimeter berm, along with basic facilities suitable for short-term deployment, such as tents and cots, chemical toilets and handwashing stations.
New Contract Comes After Hamas Disarm Claims
The award comes days after Trump announced that Hamas had agreed to disarm, though there were significant questions about how the group would surrender weapons. Israel has opposed the plan and increased airstrikes in Gaza following Trump’s announcement.
The Guardian reported in July that the board’s initial reconstruction concept had shrunk substantially, down from an ambitious plan to rebuild the entire territory to a smaller pilot project in the south of the strip.
The planned base would be located within around 60% of Gaza’s territory that the Israeli army directly controls, where Israel has also created a buffer zone beyond that area. The source said it would be about a mile from the Israeli border and include a “quick extraction route” for the small contingent if it faced attack.
In February 2025, Trump said the US would “take over” and “own” Gaza, though the agreement setting up the Board of Peace did not go that far.
At the board’s first meeting in January, Kushner unveiled what he called a “master plan” for “New Gaza”, featuring an expansive waterfront city with mixed-use towers.
Meanwhile, at least 80% of Gaza’s buildings were damaged or destroyed in the war. Ten months after the ceasefire, most of the territory’s roughly 2 million people remain living in makeshift and unsanitary camps.

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7 August 2026

• 1 comment
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August 6Aug 6

Fauci Held in Contempt After Covid Hearing

USA

Fauci Held in Contempt After Covid Hearing

A US Senate committee voted to hold former top public health official Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he refused to answer questions during a hearing on his role in the Covid-19 pandemic response.

The vote, which split along party lines, clears the way for the committee to refer the matter to the justice department for possible prosecution. It remains unclear whether prosecutors will take action.
Fauci, who testified last week, repeatedly invoked the constitutional right against self-incrimination, doing so more than 100 times during the session, according to the hearing accounts described by US media.
Contempt Referral and Legal Uncertainty
Under the committee’s contempt procedures, the panel can pass a resolution and forward the case to the justice department if it believes a witness failed to comply with a congressional subpoena.
In this case, the committee action does not itself determine whether charges will be brought. A referral would instead allow prosecutors to decide whether to pursue the contempt allegation.
If the matter were to proceed, it could raise questions about the scope of prior legal protection for Fauci, including whether any potential charges would relate to actions after a recent presidential pardon.
Fifth Amendment Claims and Defence Response
Following the committee vote, Fauci’s lawyer criticised the decision, saying it was a “crude political stunt” aimed at punishing Fauci for exercising his constitutional right.
Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul, the committee’s chairman, had argued before the vote that the committee was deciding whether Fauci could be ordered to answer questions and then defy that order without consequences.
Ahead of the decision, Paul said the chair had directed Fauci to respond and that Fauci refused. He also said the vote was not about Fauci’s past views or policy record.
Fauci himself denied wrongdoing during the hearing. He accused Paul of an “obvious obsession” with pursuing prosecution and said Paul was trying to get him to make statements that could support repeated claims that Fauci would end up “behind bars”.
The top Democrat on the committee, Michigan Senator Gary Peters, defended Fauci, accusing Paul of launching what he described as a rushed investigation and a long-running campaign to bring a case.
Pandemic Origins Dispute and the Pardon
The committee hearing took place against ongoing public debate in the US over the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The origins have been disputed between political figures and public health officials, including differences raised during Donald Trump’s presidency, when the pandemic began in 2020. Many scientists have said exposure to an infected animal is a more likely origin than a laboratory escape.
Paul has for years accused Fauci of seeking to conceal information about the outbreak’s origins and of supporting research funding connected to a lab in Wuhan, where some people believe the pandemic started with a lab leak. Fauci has denied any wrongdoing.
In his final day in office in 2025, then-President Joe Biden granted Fauci a pre-emptive pardon protecting him from federal prosecution for actions between 2014 and 2025.
However, the pardon does not necessarily prevent other proceedings. Fauci could still face charges for conduct after the date covered by the pardon, and he could also be exposed to state or local charges not covered by the federal protection.
Committee Procedure and Past Contempt Cases
Paul, who led the Republican side of the committee, bypassed a full Senate vote on the contempt resolution, saying he did not want to “waste time” running through the wider procedure.
Normally, contempt resolutions advanced by a committee go to the full Senate, where they require a 60-vote majority to move forward. Republicans hold 53 seats in the 100-member Senate.
Fauci’s lawyer, David Schertler, previously told CBS, the BBC’s US partner, that Fauci was on “solid legal ground” in asserting his Fifth Amendment privilege, and he said taking the step does not amount to an admission of guilt. Contempt prosecutions, and resulting convictions, are rare.
In 2024, former Trump allies Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro were convicted of contempt and sentenced to jail terms, the first such convictions since the 1980s.


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7 August 2026

• 73 comments
• 1,192 views

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August 6Aug 6

Trump Denies US Weapons Shortage, Hunts Leakers

Military

Trump Denies US Weapons Shortage, Hunts Leakers

President Donald Trump has rejected reports that the United States is facing a shortage of munitions, and said alleged information “leakers” would be pursued, after fresh questions were raised about the condition of the military’s arsenal.

Posting on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said the US had “massive amounts” of munitions, particularly certain types, and that additional quantities were being manufactured and sent as required. He also vowed to seek “long term jail sentences” for people suspected of leaking information, adding that “leakers” were being “hunted down”.
The comments came as the war entered its sixth month and a peace deal remained out of reach, with the administration under pressure to reassure Americans about the resilience of its missile and ammunition stocks.
Trump Rejects Reports of Munitions Shortage
The latest concerns were sparked by reporting from US broadcasters and newspapers citing unnamed sources. CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, said the US had drawn down much of its global stockpile of long-range precision missiles during the conflict, citing two sources with direct knowledge. The BBC has not independently verified the report.
Separately, The Washington Post said on Wednesday evening that Trump had confronted Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth last week about a possible shortfall, also citing unnamed sources. The BBC has not confirmed the claim.
Trump later responded directly to the Washington Post story in a subsequent post, saying he believed its “fake” reporting was treasonous. He also said he was “extremely happy” with Hegseth’s performance.
Iran Says It Can Respond to Any Threat
Iran responded to the reports of shrinking US supplies by saying its domestically produced weapons allow it to respond to any threat. Defence Minister Majid Ibn-e-Reza wrote on X that “each day” signs of the enemy’s reduced capabilities were becoming clearer, adding that Iran’s armed forces, backed by the country’s defence industry, were “fully equipped” to respond.
He also argued that buyers seeking security and military superiority through imported systems would find Iran’s indigenous technology superior to any regional alternative.
Missile Stockpile Questions and Ukraine Demand
Some uncertainty about US missile stocks reflects broader limits on what can be verified publicly, as detailed information remains classified and reporting from the Pentagon is tightly controlled. Since taking office as defence secretary, Hegseth has moved to restrict what journalists can obtain from the department.
Still, analysis using public data has suggested pressure on certain systems. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington think tank, estimated that by the end of July the US had between 759 and 827 Patriot missiles left, compared with 2,330 available before the conflict began. CSIS senior adviser Mark Cancian said on Wednesday that the US had used around 60% of its terminal high altitude area defence (THAAD) missiles.
Cancian noted that demand for weapons is not limited to the conflict with Iran, with the wider requirement for support also affecting supply. The US has provided Ukraine with significant numbers of Patriot missiles since Russia’s invasion in 2022, and CSIS expects the Pentagon to retain remaining stocks as supplies tighten.
At a cabinet meeting on Friday, Trump told reporters that granting Ukraine’s request for additional Patriot missiles would be a “big step”, but he said the two countries were “still talking about” the matter.
Administration Says Production Is Under Way
Because many modern weapons rely on long funding, ordering, production and delivery timelines, replacing munitions quickly can be difficult once used. The administration has repeatedly asserted that the US has sufficient weapons in its stockpile.
Trump said to the Wall Street Journal last month that the US had “far more munitions” than any country, and “far more than we need”. Hegseth, meanwhile, described reports of shortages as a “manufactured story” in a 14 June appearance on CBS’ Face the Nation.
At the same time, the administration has indicated it is accelerating production. Hegseth asked the US Senate last month for emergency funding of $87bn to pay service members and “rapidly replenish equipment and munitions”.


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7 August 2026

• USA

• 14 comments
• 172 views

webfact

August 6Aug 6

Duckworth Targets Pentagon's Iran Casualty Count

Iranian Conflict

Duckworth Targets Pentagon's Iran Casualty Count

Senate Democrats led by Senator Tammy Duckworth will introduce legislation on Thursday aimed at stopping the Pentagon from effectively resetting the casualty count for the Iran war by reclassifying the dead and wounded under new labels.

The proposal follows a change in how the Defence Department now reports US casualties for the conflict. ABC News reported last month that the Pentagon began shifting deaths and injuries from a single cumulative tally into a broader new category called “Overseas Operations”, rather than maintaining a continuous, trackable total tied to the war itself.
Pentagon Reclassified Deaths and Injuries
Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, said she has lost confidence in Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s transparency about the human cost of the campaign.
Duckworth served as an Army helicopter pilot in the Iraq War and was severely wounded, losing both legs and damaging her right arm. In an interview with ABC News, she said she does not have confidence that the Pentagon, and Hegseth in particular, are being honest with the public about the war’s toll.
She argued that, historically, the number of US troops killed and wounded has provided the clearest public indication of a conflict’s cost.
The Pentagon’s shift breaks the reporting into separate “accounting buckets”. Under the new category, which a US official said covers the area of responsibility of US Central Command since July 7, all US military deaths and injuries are included across a wider region—covering the Middle East, Egypt and parts of Central and South Asia—rather than isolating casualties specifically from the Iran conflict.
Defence Casualty System and Unusual Split
The Pentagon change follows a period when casualties were recorded earlier in the campaign under a different accounting approach. Acting Pentagon Press Secretary Joel Valdez at the time said the change was due to technical issues.
The Defense Casualty Analysis System is the federal government’s authoritative public record of war dead and wounded in major conflicts. The database is maintained using casualty reports submitted by the military services.
Separating a war into distinct phases for casualty accounting is described as unprecedented and could make it harder to produce a clear, cumulative picture of the conflict’s human toll. As of Thursday morning, 18 US troops had been killed and at least 689 wounded since the war began in February.
If passed, Duckworth’s bill would require the Pentagon to combine all casualty records for the Iran war into a single count and to notify next of kin of any corrections.
War Powers Row Over “New Phase” Claim
The accounting change is linked to the Trump administration’s position that Operation Epic Fury, the Iran war’s original namesake, ended in May and that fighting resumed daily on July 7 as a new phase.
Trump has argued that the resumption restarts the 60-day limit on waging war without congressional approval, an interpretation of the War Powers Resolution that has drawn concern from national security experts and lawmakers.
Katherine Yon Ebright, a war powers expert at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, said the division between “Operation Epic Fury” and “Overseas Operations” reflects a legal attempt to get around constraints in the War Powers Resolution.
Scott Anderson, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said that since late February, US troops have remained in areas where hostilities were ongoing or imminent, adding that the War Powers Resolution focuses on such conditions.
Yon Ebright cautioned that even the public-facing database is inherently imperfect, noting that conflicts have become more ambiguous than wars in the 20th century.
Oversight Investigates Database Changes
Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the main investigative arm in that chamber, are investigating changes to the Defence Department’s casualty database. The committee asked for a complete record of every modification made to the database, with a deadline of August 18 for the Pentagon to respond.
In a letter to Hegseth, the ranking Democrats on related House panels—Representative Robert Garcia of California and Representative Suhas Subramanyam—said the timing raises “grave possibility” that the department created the new category to support an illegal attempt to defy the War Powers Act in order to continue the war.
The Pentagon has released limited information about US troops killed or wounded in the conflict, offering few details about where casualties occurred or the circumstances surrounding them. The department has also largely limited public scrutiny by declining to hold regular press briefings or to answer sustained questions from reporters; it has not held a formal press briefing on the war since early May.

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6 August 2026

• 8 comments
• 175 views

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August 6Aug 6

Trump's Role Questioned After Ceuta Disaster

Spain

Trump's Role Questioned After Ceuta Disaster

Spain has said more than 70,000 people entered Ceuta during a sudden surge across the Spanish enclave in north Africa, before many returned quickly. The incident, which prompted intense international headlines, has also reignited debate over what set off the crossing and whether outside influence was involved.

Riccardo Fabiani of the International Crisis Group said there is enough information to consider Morocco as a possible actor, but he added that investigators had not identified a clear, single trigger. He said the lack of an obvious starting point is what has puzzled analysts and officials as the situation continues to be scrutinised.
Ceuta Influx Spurs Fresh Questions
Some observers pointed to Spain’s recent moves to improve relations with Algeria, a long-standing rival of Morocco, as a potential catalyst. Fabiani said there is no way to prove any direct link, but he argued it is plausible that Rabat could have sought to improve its standing with allies in Washington, given the closeness of ties between Morocco and the Trump administration.
Trump Comments Add Political Pressure
As images of thousands swimming and wading across one of the EU’s two land borders with Africa spread, responses in Europe and the United States hardened along partisan lines.
In the US, Vice-President JD Vance and the state department blamed Spain’s Socialist-led government for the influx. Trump also warned that electing Democrats would make what happened in Spain “look small-time”. During the US remarks cited in the article, Morocco was not mentioned, and no US official referred to any potential role by Rabat.
Fabiani said the episode also appeared to align with Morocco’s broader aim of keeping Western Sahara and related issues prominent in Washington. He suggested Morocco may have monitored online chatter about the border opening and, rather than acting as organisers of a planned assault, could have made a calculation about whether events would develop.
Morocco-Ties Rise Through Western Sahara Deal
The deepening focus on Washington-Rabat links comes as the relationship between the two countries has been highlighted through several recent developments, including Morocco’s announcement that it would be the first African state to join Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace”. The article also says Trump sent a congratulatory message to King Mohammed VI marking his 27 years in power.
It further reports that the king confirmed he had been named for a $1bn highway project that would run along Western Sahara, a territory whose status remains disputed. The article links this announcement to Trump’s influence over the timing and messaging surrounding Western Sahara.
Fabiani argued that Morocco has spent effort cultivating senior decision-makers in the administration, including the president, to secure continued support for an autonomy plan for Western Sahara. The background, he said, reflects a wider bargain dating to Trump’s first term, when Morocco normalised relations with Israel after receiving US recognition of its sovereignty claim over Western Sahara, described in the article as part of an autonomy approach.
The text also points to a US congressional report that referred to Ceuta as “Spanish-administered” rather than part of Spain, despite Spain’s control of the territory since 1580.
Morocco Rejects Accusations as EU Fallout Continues
Alongside questions over what happened in Ceuta, the article says EU responses have largely turned into disputes rather than coordinated efforts to deter further movement. Amirah-Fernández of the Centre for Contemporary Arab Studies said the pattern echoed the May 2021 episode, when Morocco loosened border controls and more than 8,000 people crossed into Ceuta amid anger over Spain allowing a Western Sahara pro-independence figure to travel for Covid-19 treatment.
At the Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis, senior officials reject any suggestion of complicity. Said Saddiki said relations with Washington are in a “golden era”, while adding that Morocco works pragmatically to preserve strategic autonomy and maintain ties with other partners including the European Union, China and Gulf states. He said support from the Trump administration has strengthened Morocco’s international position without coming at the expense of relations with Spain or the EU.
Fabiani said the Ceuta episode underscores how dependence on North African states to manage migration flows can leave Europe vulnerable. He warned that if Morocco believes Ceuta remains unsettled and sees Washington as willing to back its position, the situation could become more complicated over time.

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6 August 2026

• Morocco

• 0 comments
• 200 views

webfact

August 6Aug 6

Iran-Linked Hackers Hit US Water Systems, FBI Says

USA

Iran-Linked Hackers Hit US Water Systems, FBI Says

A wave of cyberattacks has disrupted monitoring and control systems at water and wastewater utilities across parts of the United States, prompting warnings from federal agencies and renewed concern about threats to critical infrastructure. The FBI has reported that authorities suspect Iran-linked hackers were behind the activity, although they have not yet confirmed the source of the disruptions.
FBI Reports Loss Of Monitoring And Control
The FBI said on Thursday that “malicious cyber actors” targeted water and wastewater utility companies in at least seven states over the previous four days. Officials said the attacks led to a “loss of monitoring and control functionality”, according to the Bureau.
Attacks have been reported by state officials in Michigan, Minnesota and New Jersey, adding to growing worries about the security posture of public utilities.
Iran-Affiliated Activity Suspected But Not Confirmed
Federal officials suspect that hackers connected to Iran carried out the intrusions, The New York Times reported. However, US authorities have not definitively determined who was responsible for the outages affecting monitoring and control.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the FBI and other agencies also issued a warning on July 22 about “ongoing Iranian-affiliated” cyber activity targeting water facilities, days before the latest incidents.
The assessment comes amid broader debate about how prepared utilities are for state-sponsored cyber operations. Roughly 150,000 public water systems operate in the country, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Limited Security At Treatment Sites
Experts interviewed by The Hill said many water treatment facilities have comparatively modest security measures, making them susceptible to intrusion. They said the attackers’ approach appeared consistent with patterns linked to Tehran, though they could not confirm Iran’s involvement.
Lennart Maschmeyer, an assistant professor at Georgia Tech who studies how emerging technologies affect international security, said the activity appeared aimed at “low-hanging fruit” systems or organisations that lack basic protections. He noted that programmable controllers used in facilities targeted in the attacks can be both specialised and old, and that the systems may be exposed if they are connected to Wi-Fi.
“These are not equipped for dealing with … state-sponsored cyberattacks,” Maschmeyer said, arguing that local water utilities cannot realistically be expected to prepare for all forms of hostile activity at the scale seen in national campaigns.
Alex Jones, chair of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department at Syracuse University, said the specific systems used at different infrastructure sites vary substantially, which reduces the risk of a single, widespread cyberattack. He said attackers may have found commonalities among some targeted systems, but that differences between sites provide some protection.
Jeff Greene, a principal at Civira Partners who previously worked at CISA during the Biden administration, said staffing constraints can also limit a facility’s security capabilities. He added that many systems were not designed with cybersecurity as a priority, while still being relatively resilient. Greene said that if necessary, operators can switch to manual operation, including disconnecting components, to keep services running.
Wider Cyber Threat And Retaliation Concerns
Cyberattacks against infrastructure are increasingly viewed as a growing risk, though experts say there have been few clearly demonstrated cases of sustained effectiveness during major wars.
Maschmeyer pointed to 2015, when a Russian group carried out cyberattacks on the Ukrainian power grid during Russia’s initial offensive in eastern Ukraine. The attacks led to power cuts lasting roughly six hours, he said, noting that high-profile cyber incidents have been less evident since Russia began its full-scale invasion more than four years ago.
The article also referenced earlier operations involving cyber tools. Under the Trump administration, US forces used cyber capabilities to turn off power in Caracas, Venezuela, during a January raid intended to capture former President Nicolás Maduro. US forces have also carried out aerial strikes against Iranian infrastructure during the war that passed the six-month mark last week.
Caitlin Durkovich, a former White House National Security Council official, said the Trump administration has “normalizing” cyber and other attacks on infrastructure, which she said could make retaliation more likely. She argued that earlier behaviour was often treated as “off limits”, but that infrastructure is increasingly being placed on the front lines during geopolitical tension.


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6 August 2026

• 14 comments
• 351 views

webfact

August 6Aug 6

Nato Urges Faster Patriot Air Defences For Ukraine

Ukraine Conflict

Nato Urges Faster Patriot Air Defences For Ukraine

Nato is working to supply Ukraine with the air defence systems it “urgently needs”, the alliance’s secretary general said, after Kyiv reported that none of the Russian ballistic missiles fired during an overnight attack were intercepted.

The push comes after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged allies to increase deliveries of Patriot interceptors, warning that Moscow is trying to expand ballistic missile production ahead of winter.
Nato Steps Up Urgent Air Defence Push
Speaking at a meeting of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council on winter resilience, Zelenskyy said he had pressed for faster action following discussions with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Zelenskyy said allies should remove obstacles to decision-making and stressed that each day without the necessary support affects lives in Ukraine. He also said Ukraine would not rule out the possibility that delays to missile supplies from western partners were intended to make Kyiv more willing to compromise in any peace process.
Russia launched 24 ballistic missiles during the overnight attack on Wednesday, according to Ukrainian and Reuters reporting. At least 17 people were killed, with preliminary data from the Ukrainian air force indicating that 98 of 115 drones were intercepted, but that no ballistic missiles were shot down.
Zelenskyy Warns Of Missile Production Drive
Zelenskyy also said that in the first half of 2026, air defence missile supplies from Ukraine’s allies had fallen to about one third of the level recorded in 2025.
He warned that Russia intends to significantly increase ballistic missile output as winter approaches, when it is expected to intensify strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Ukraine’s defence technology adviser Serhii Beskrestnov estimated that Russia could fire up to 100 ballistic missiles each month at targets including logistics hubs, industrial sites, food stocks and warehouses. He said on Telegram that the conflict’s “war of attrition” was entering a further phase.
Patriot Shortage And Existing Coverage
Ukraine has been short of US-made Patriot interceptors capable of countering Russian ballistic missiles since the start of the war. The shortage has intensified in recent weeks, as Russian strikes have struck Kyiv, on average, every three days in July.
According to the Ukrainian air force, Patriot systems are the only platform currently in service that can intercept Russian Iskander-M, S-400 and Zircon missiles. Ukraine says Russia often combines ballistic missiles with cruise missiles, drones and decoys, forcing defenders to track a larger number of threats while rationing limited interceptor stocks. Ukraine says it lacks enough batteries and interceptors to protect itself properly.
The shortfall has been linked to increased demand after the US-Israel war on Iran, which has consumed large numbers of Patriot and other interceptor systems. An Associated Press analysis estimated the US Patriot inventory had fallen by at least 65% compared with before the war, while the Pentagon said it still holds a large stockpile.
Production Plans And US Licensing Talks
Lockheed Martin delivered more than 600 Patriot interceptors of the newest model in 2025, and is working towards annual capacity of 2,000 by the end of 2030. However, some estimates say Gulf states fired more than 1,100 interceptors during the first three months of the Iran conflict, underscoring the scale of demand.
Nato said Europe’s first Patriot production facility is expected to open in September in Germany. Separately, political signals from Washington have shifted. At a Nato summit last month, Donald Trump said the US would grant Ukraine a licence to produce Patriots, but about three weeks later he said he had not taken a final decision.
Despite the doubts raised by Trump, Reuters reported that the US is continuing talks on allowing Ukraine to manufacture Patriot interceptors. The discussions include an option for Ukraine to produce some components for final assembly elsewhere in Europe.

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6 August 2026

• 2 comments
• 148 views

webfact

August 6Aug 6

Trump Aboard During Marine One Traffic Incident

Aviation

Trump Aboard During Marine One Traffic Incident

Federal aviation officials and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating an air traffic incident involving the Marine One presidential helicopter this week, which occurred while President Donald Trump was on board, authorities said on Wednesday.

The incident took place at about 2.30pm Eastern Time on Tuesday as Marine One departed from the Ellipse near the White House, with the president travelling to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland as part of the first leg of a trip to the West Coast, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.
Departure Near Reagan National Airport
As Marine One lifted off, commercial traffic at nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) was not stopped as required by safety procedures, officials said.
Standard protocol calls for air traffic controllers to suspend all other aircraft operations three minutes before Marine One is scheduled to depart. According to officials, that coordination did not happen at the time of take-off.
An air traffic communications recording provided to ATC.com indicated that Marine One issued a notice about three minutes before departure. However, a controller did not hear the message because another transmission was being made on the same frequency.
FAA Says Separation Lapse Was Brief
The FAA said that initial review suggested the event involved a brief disruption in separation between Marine One and an American Airlines regional service aircraft taking off from DCA.
Under FAA regulations, commercial aircraft must maintain at least 1.5 miles of horizontal separation and 500 feet of vertical separation from a helicopter operating in the vicinity of DCA. The FAA said the American Airlines regional flight did not come dangerously close to Marine One at any point.
In its statement, the FAA said the aircraft continued to diverge after the loss of required spacing. It added that during the period in question, the controller remained in contact with both the commercial pilot and the Marine One pilot.
White House Says President Was Not At Risk
The White House said on Wednesday that the president was never at risk. “At no point was the President in harm’s way,” it said in a statement.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the incident late on Tuesday.
Review Under Way, Corrective Actions Planned
The FAA said it was continuing its examination of the incident and would introduce any suitable corrective measures based on its findings.

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6 August 2026

• 7 comments
• 551 views

webfact

August 6Aug 6

Reform UK Vows Jail for Bosses Hiring Illegal Migrants

UK-Politics

Reform UK Vows Jail for Bosses Hiring Illegal Migrants

Reform UK has vowed to jail bosses behind companies that employ illegal migrants, and said it would impose fines on larger firms equivalent to 10% of their global revenues.

The party said the measures are intended to stop delivery and gig economy businesses benefiting from illegal working “without consequences”.
Personal Liability for Corporate Leaders
Reform’s plans, unveiled ahead of the next general election, would introduce a law making chief executives and directors of large companies personally and criminally liable if they profited from employing illegal workers.
The party said liability would apply regardless of whether company leaders knew their staff did not have the right to work in the UK.
Reform said the approach would mirror the personal responsibility of senior managers for financial misconduct under Financial Conduct Authority rules.
The party also proposed a dedicated phone line for the public to report suspected illegal working or organised criminal activity. It said police and other authorities, including trading standards teams, would be required to investigate reports.
Reform said it would reward reports that lead to successful prosecutions with a share of any fines generated.
Fines and Tougher Penalties
Reform said it would fine larger firms 10% of their global revenues where they employ illegal workers. Party home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf said young people were being “shut out” of entry-level jobs, and that illegal working undermined the wider economy.
Yusuf added that Reform would introduce the “toughest penalties anywhere in the world” for illegal working.
The pledge comes as existing enforcement already results in penalties for breaches of immigration rules. In June, a council was fined £45,000 after employing one illegal worker.
Home Office Says Measures Are Already Being Done
The Home Office said it was already increasing penalties for employers who hire illegal workers. A source within the department described parts of Reform’s proposals as “empty posturing”.
A Home Office spokesperson said the government is extending right-to-work checks to the gig economy and delivery sector, aimed at closing loopholes that allow illegal migrants to work.
The department said employers that break the law face consequences including fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker, as well as business closures, licence revocations and prison sentences of up to five years.
It also said Immigration Enforcement action has risen since Labour came to power, describing it as the highest level in British history, with illegal working arrests up by 83% and raids up by 77%.

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6 August 2026

• 8 comments
• 166 views

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August 6Aug 6

Judge Reports Death Threats After Ruling Against Trump

USA

Judge Reports Death Threats After Ruling Against Trump

A federal judge who ruled against the Trump administration has described a rapid escalation in threats and intimidation directed at him and other judges, including a pizza order made in the name of a colleague’s dead son.

U.S. District Judge John McConnell, the chief federal judge in Rhode Island, said he received a pizza delivery at his home bearing the name of Esther Salas’s son, who was killed in 2020 in a shooting by a disgruntled lawyer targeting Salas. McConnell contacted Salas to tell her, and both said they were shaken by the use of a family tragedy to send a message.
McConnell said such deliveries were made to federal judges in at least seven states, but he was the first to inform Salas. He later described the episode as part of a shift in the environment facing federal jurists who issue rulings affecting the executive branch.
Wider Backlash Against Federal Rulings
McConnell’s account reflects concerns raised by judges appointed by both Democrats and Republicans about rising pressure when they make high-profile decisions that find actions by the Trump administration unlawful.
He said President Donald Trump and allies have repeatedly criticised individual federal judges as illegitimate or politically motivated, including through rhetoric that frames court decisions as a challenge to government authority. McConnell described the impact as moving beyond normal political disagreement, saying that what is unusual is the “personalisation” of judges’ work and the dehumanising tone of threats.
McConnell, appointed by Barack Obama, has been on the bench for 15 years. For much of that time, he said he gave little thought to personal security. He recalled being told, early in his career, that he should inform U.S. marshals about his plans for an outdoor naturalisation ceremony, but said he had believed it was simply part of daily life.
Death Threats Follow Funding Ruling
That approach changed sharply in early 2025. McConnell said he began receiving credible death threats after a case assigned to him in late January, in which he challenged the administration’s freeze on trillions of dollars in federal funding. He issued a temporary restraining order and, ten days later, told the government it had to comply or face criminal contempt.
That night, McConnell said he saw a post on X by Laura Loomer accusing him of abusing judicial power in the funding freeze case. He said Elon Musk, then running the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, amplified the post to a large audience. McConnell said the situation worsened once his daughter became a target, describing it as feeling emotionally devastating.
He said threatening calls and emails started arriving at the courthouse in increasing volumes, eventually totalling about 400. He added that U.S. marshals identified at least six credible death threats, including one aimed at his wife. He also said one threat appeared on the dark web, where someone sought McConnell’s home address and suggested using a firearm to “pay him a visit”.
McConnell said he would not detail changes to his daily routine, but described cooperation with the marshals as “exemplary”. He said he also faced further pressure beyond threats, including a MAGA-linked effort that doxed his daughter and later impeachment proceedings launched by two Republicans in Congress. He said an insurance company cancelled his homeowner’s policy, describing him as too risky due to the impeachment efforts.
DHS Criticism And Security Stats
McConnell said other judges have also been targeted. He pointed to DHS actions that, he said, have increased personal risk. He cited an April news release that referred to U.S. District Judge Melissa DuBose as an “activist Biden judge” after she released an immigrant from custody in the Dominican Republic, describing a “wanted for murder” warrant.
McConnell said a later investigative report by a special counsel found that the information about the homicide warrant had not been provided to DuBose at the time and that it had been withheld by the U.S. attorney on instructions from Immigration and Customs Enforcement not to disclose it. The court, he said, argued the sequence raised questions about whether ICE “deliberately manipulated” information, warning that false statements by government officials can have real-world consequences.
He also referenced a post by DHS general counsel James Percival on X listing federal judges, using language the agency employs to describe alleged criminals. McConnell said he contacted one judge named in the post to urge them to take security seriously.
The judiciary has also warned Congress about security levels. The judiciary told lawmakers that in the 2025 fiscal year, security incidents classed as “significant concern” rose by 57% and were expected to increase further. The U.S. Marshals Service reported 564 threats to federal judges in 2025, up from 509 the year before, with the highest number recorded in 2023. The Marshals Service has asked for additional funding for its judicial security division, saying the threat environment was expected to intensify.
Rulings Continue Despite Pressure
McConnell said the fear that has lingered for him is what the threats mean for the future of the courts. He described intimidation directed at judges as undermining the constitutional role of courts.
He said Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. has warned against criticising judges as individuals rather than focusing on rulings, and said impeachment was not the appropriate response to disagreement with a judicial decision. McConnell said he found those remarks reassuring.
McConnell’s own rulings have also drawn support. Last November, he issued a preliminary injunction blocking the administration from dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services. In June, he said the administration’s freeze on immigration-related applications affecting citizens of 39 countries was unlawful, writing that the agency violated both the immigration laws Congress had set and administrative rules governing its actions. He said that same month a Republican lawmaker again sought his impeachment for placing the interests of non-citizens above national security. McConnell said he declined to pursue an offer of assistance from the administrative office of the judiciary and instead wanted to return to his work.



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6 August 2026

• 34 comments
• 919 views

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August 5Aug 5

Iran Says Route Through Hormuz Agreed With Oman

Iranian Conflict

Iran Says Route Through Hormuz Agreed With Oman

Iran has said it has reached an agreement with Oman on a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.

Esmaeil Baqaei, a spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry, said the understanding was in its “final stages” but did not provide further details. He said in a statement carried by Iran’s state news agency, Irna, that the “geographical coordinates of the route” had been agreed with Oman.
Security Concerns Remain
Baqaei said that an arrangement with Oman would not, on its own, guarantee safe navigation through the strait. He argued that insecurity in the waterway continued to be affected by the United States’ blockade of Iran’s ports and what he described as other aggressive and threatening actions against Iran and its interests.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi later told Irna that the new route would be temporary, potentially remaining open for two to four months, without giving additional specifics.
Iran has previously said the reopening of the strait depends on ships meeting prior clearance requirements. Since the start of the war, traffic through the route has dwindled, and Iran has said it has attacked vessels that ignored its order to clear passage beforehand.
US Warnings And Ongoing Talks
The Strait of Hormuz is a key shipping lane for global oil and liquefied natural gas, typically accounting for about a fifth of supply passing through it. Since the US and Israel attacked Iran in late February, Tehran has largely blocked the strait, and global oil prices have fluctuated sharply.
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump warned that Iran would be “hit very hard” if the strait did not open “very soon”. His comments followed remarks by senior US officials that talks had progressed to allow shipments to potentially resume later this week.
Iran has maintained that it is not negotiating with the United States and has no plans to do so. Reopening the strait has been a central issue in discussions between Tehran and Washington, as well as in talks involving mediators.
Fee Dispute And Earlier MoU Collapse
One issue said to remain contentious between Iran and the US is Iran’s threat to impose a fee on vessels seeking to cross the strait. On Wednesday, Iranian officials did not say whether that question was included in the discussions with Oman.
In June, Iran and the US signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at stopping fighting, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and reaching an agreement to end the war within 60 days. The arrangement quickly broke down, and diplomatic talks stalled, with tit-for-tat attacks resuming within days of the MoU.
The US has also maintained a naval blockade of Iranian ports in the region. A separate blockade is in place on Saudi Arabia’s ports in the Red Sea, imposed by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis since 20 July.

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6 August 2026

• 1 comment
• 150 views

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August 5Aug 5

Former Neo-Nazi Withdraws as Tory Council Candidate

UK-Politics

Former Neo-Nazi Withdraws as Tory Council Candidate

Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a former neo-Nazi activist selected by the Conservatives to stand in next year’s council election, has withdrawn his candidacy after widespread backlash over his record.

Bonehill-Paine was convicted in 2016 of racially harassing Jewish former Labour MP Luciana Berger, while he was serving a separate jail sentence for sharing antisemitic posts.
The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, had defended his selection as the party’s candidate for the new Somerset Council seat of Crewkerne South, saying he had been rehabilitated and that the Conservatives “believe in second chances”.
Bonehill-Paine Steps Back From Election Bid
Bonehill-Paine said he had now pulled out of the race. In a social media post, he added that he had been offered a role as an anti-extremism adviser with the Conservative Party’s Culture and Integration Commission.
He said the job would involve advising on how to prevent young men from being radicalised.
The role is unpaid, the BBC understands.
Bonehill-Paine said the position would allow him to support Badenoch’s efforts to combat antisemitism and extremism, rather than standing for the council seat. He also said opposition parties would focus on his past rather than what he claimed to be doing in the present.
UK Ministers And Jewish Peers Criticise The Selection
Berger, who now sits as Baroness Berger in the House of Lords, described the advisory appointment as an “insult”. She said making him a party adviser was “no better than allowing him to stand as a council candidate”.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said Bonehill-Paine “should never have been a candidate ... given the harassment that he visited on Luciana Berger”, adding that the Conservative Party should explain why he was chosen and clarify any future activities he might carry out on the party’s behalf.
The criticism from Jewish groups, which had declined an offer from Bonehill-Paine for a meeting, became a central driver of his decision to step down, according to the account of events.
Berger, who gave evidence at Bonehill-Paine’s trial at the Old Bailey, said his conduct fell “very, very short” of the standard required for public office. She described the impact of the material she received as extensive and said she found it difficult to give evidence while she was pregnant.
In sentencing, the judge said it was “difficult to envisage a worse case than this of racially aggravated harassment of this kind”, adding that Bonehill-Paine had “sat in the dock smirking throughout the trial” and had “plainly enjoyed” Berger’s discomfort.
Badenoch Defends Second Chances As Reform And Lib Dems React
Badenoch said she was sad that Bonehill-Paine felt he would not be given space to explain his views, but said she welcomed the move to work with her and the party on tackling radicalisation. She added that stopping extremism and antisemitism would require help from people who had previously been part of the problem but had since changed.
Reform UK criticised the adviser role, with a spokesman saying it “beggars belief” and was “alarming news for the Jewish community in Britain”.
Liberal Democrat MP Adam Dance, the MP for Yeovil, said the withdrawal was “the right outcome”, but said Badenoch’s response after the backlash was concerning. He criticised the way the party framed concerns about antisemitism as “piling on”.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews welcomed Bonehill-Paine’s decision not to stand, and urged parties to use vetting to ensure a robust approach to racism and discrimination, including antisemitism.

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6 August 2026

• 1 comment
• 120 views

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August 5Aug 5

Gary Glitter Denies Historical Sex Offence Charges

Sex Crime

Gary Glitter Denies Historical Sex Offence Charges

Gary Glitter, the former pop singer whose real name is Paul Gadd, appeared at court charged with four historical sex offences dating back to the late 1970s.
Appearance At Westminster Magistrates’ Court
Gadd, 82, was brought before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday via video link from prison, where he denied the allegations. He was remanded in custody and ordered to return on 2 September at the Old Bailey in London, either by video link or in person.
Wearing a blue shirt and sunglasses, Glitter appeared from His Majesty’s Prison Channings Wood for an 11-minute hearing.
Under his legal name, Gadd was told of the charges and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.
Charges Alleged Between 1978 And 1981
The prosecutor, Jonathan Polnay KC, said the case centres on one alleged victim. The charges comprise one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13, and three counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14.
The alleged offences are said to have taken place between 1978 and 1981 at a residential address in Kensington.
Polnay told the court that Gadd said in a police interview that he did not know the complainant and that the allegations were false.
He said the alleged offences involved a single person and took place when the complainant was aged between eight and 11.
Allegations Of Contact And Invitation
The prosecutor stated that the complainant lived near where Gadd did, and that it was through that proximity that he came to know her.
According to the allegations, she says he gave her chocolate and invited her into his house, where the offences were committed.
Polnay also told the court that the allegations were first reported to the Metropolitan Police on 9 January 2025 and that an investigation into the circumstances began.
He said Gadd was first interviewed on 22 July last year in relation to the investigation.
Singer’s Background And Prison Location
Glitter, who is currently held at HMP Channings Wood in Devon, was one of the best-known pop stars of the 1970s and had multiple chart-topping hits.
In July, the Met said the alleged victim was being supported by specialist officers and that she had been made aware that Glitter had been charged.

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6 August 2026

• UK

• 5 comments
• 183 views

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August 5Aug 5

Woman Arrested After Four Men Stabbed in Central London

UK

Woman Arrested After Four Men Stabbed in Central London

A 47-year-old woman has been arrested after four men were stabbed in Covent Garden in central London, the Metropolitan Police said.

The men, aged 34, 39, 42 and 52, were taken to hospital after emergency services were called to reports of a stabbing on Endell Street at about 12:30 BST.
Arrest And Current Condition
The Met said two men remain in hospital with injuries that are not thought to be life threatening or life changing. The other two have been discharged.
The woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and assault. The force said it was believed to have been a mental health-related incident.
Assistant Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart said officers responded within minutes after receiving multiple reports and that, at an early stage of the investigation, police believed it to be an isolated incident.
He said a visible police presence would continue in the area while evidence is gathered.
Police Response In The Area
Crowds gathered as London Air Ambulance landed in nearby Trafalgar Square as part of the emergency response. All four victims were transported to hospital by road.
A cordon that ran from High Holborn and covered the St Mungo’s homeless centre on Endell Street has since been removed.
St Mungo’s said a spokesperson could not confirm whether anyone associated with the organisation was involved at this stage. The charity said it was working closely with emergency services and added that officers had been seen speaking to people before they entered the centre.
Witness Accounts
Arjan Gjorga, who manages a fish and chip shop on Endell Street, said he saw a woman who appeared to be attacking people at random. He said he noticed her being arrested a few minutes later and that police responded quickly.
Another witness, who did not want to be identified, said they saw the stabbings outside the Shaftesbury Theatre before the woman moved down Endell Street.
The witness added that they noticed the woman stab three people with scissors near the theatre, before the police arrived.
A staff member at a nearby barber shop said they helped one of the victims call police. The worker said the victim ran into the shop to make the call, was traumatised and panicked, but that officers arrived very quickly.

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6 August 2026

• Crime

• 87 comments
• 744 views

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August 5Aug 5

US Repays $100bn in Unlawful Trump Tariffs

USA

US Repays $100bn in Unlawful Trump Tariffs

Donald Trump’s administration has repaid about $100bn (£78bn) in “Liberation Day” tariff refunds to businesses through US customs officials, according to a recent court filing.

The repayments account for roughly 60% of all tariff revenue collected by the government under the policy, according to the filing from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
More money is still outstanding. Nearly $29bn in potential refunds remains under review by trade authorities, while a further $1.6bn is being held up because some importers have not yet provided their banking details.
Court Ruling Clears The Way For Refunds
The CBP repayments follow a Supreme Court decision in February that found broad import tariffs introduced under economic powers were unlawful.
In that ruling, judges said the tariff measures could not be justified under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a 1977 law cited by the White House. The act allows the president to “regulate” trade in response to an emergency.
Firms and trade partners had raised concerns that the tariffs imposed abrupt tax rises on shipments entering the US, and that the levies could push up consumer prices.
How Tariffs Move Money And Who Can Claim
Tariffs are taxes applied to goods when they enter a country. They are not paid by foreign governments or overseas exporters, but by domestic businesses and importers at the point of customs clearance.
Because higher tariffs increase costs up front, companies typically seek to recover the extra expense through higher retail prices.
Under US customs law, refunds are available only to importers that directly paid the tariffs. That means any relief for consumers depends on whether and how businesses choose to pass the payments on.
Amazon Repayments And Planned Consumer Relief
Since the Supreme Court decision, several major US corporations have begun claiming refunds.
Amazon received about $600m in refunds during the second quarter, the company’s finance chief Brian Olsavsky said. Speaking on an earnings call, Olsavsky said some of the money would be returned to customers where specific charges were applied. He added that the remaining funds would be used to support lower prices for items sold in Amazon stores.
CBP’s filing said the overall amount expected to be refunded is likely to increase as officials continue reviewing pending claims and importers provide missing banking information.
New Tariffs After The 10% Levy Expired
After the February ruling, Trump introduced a 10% universal tariff as a temporary measure. That tariff expired late last month.
It was replaced by new tariffs covering 60 trading partners, based on claims that key economic partners had failed to properly tackle forced labour. The tariff changes followed a separate move in which Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Canada a few days earlier.

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6 August 2026

• 39 comments
• 584 views

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August 5Aug 5

Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Democratic Senate Primary

USA

Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Democratic Senate Primary

Abdul El-Sayed has won the Democratic primary for the US Senate seat in Michigan, securing the party’s nomination ahead of November’s midterm election and setting up a general election against Republican Mike Rogers.

The Associated Press called the race on Wednesday morning shortly after Haley Stevens’s campaign said she had phoned El-Sayed to concede. The result follows a pattern of contests in which progressives have captured Democratic nominations in races across the country.
Progressive Challenger Over Moderate Incumbent-Style Opponent
El-Sayed, a progressive former public health official, defeated Stevens, a moderate US representative backed by senior figures in the party. The margin was relatively close, reflecting ongoing uncertainty among voters in the battleground state about the direction of Democrats.
El-Sayed, 41, campaigned on Medicare for All, proposing a universal healthcare model. His campaign also confronted what he described as unusually heavy outside spending aimed at undermining him.
Stevens, who served as chief of staff to work on the US auto rescue taskforce, leaned on her record from the rescue effort as she sought to position herself as an experienced lawmaker within the Democratic mainstream.
Next Fight Against Mike Rogers
Rogers, a former congressman from Michigan, will be the Republican nominee. He previously ran for the Senate seat in 2024 and lost to Democrat Elissa Slotkin.
If El-Sayed wins in November, he would be the first Muslim member of the US Senate. While he has said he is not a democratic socialist, his nomination came amid broader wins by democratic socialist candidates elsewhere. He has described himself as “a capitalist who understands how capitalism works” and said he wants to regulate monopolies.
Democrats are aiming to retain Michigan’s seat as part of their effort to win back control of the Senate this year. Michigan has voted for different presidential candidates in recent elections: Donald Trump won the state in 2016 and 2024, while Joe Biden won it in 2020. Both of Michigan’s current senators are Democrats.
Outside Spending, Obama Ad Attention, And Black Voters
El-Sayed’s campaign highlighted the scale of spending against him. At a press conference on Wednesday, he said tens of millions of dollars were spent in the primary and criticised the advertising campaign, claiming the race showed “the power of our many”.
More than $40m also flowed into the contest from outside groups supporting Stevens or attacking El-Sayed, including groups linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), a pro-Israel lobby. Some advertisements promoted Stevens’s connection to Barack Obama on the auto rescue, a link voters treated as a quasi-endorsement even though Obama did not formally back either candidate.
In the final weeks, the role of Black voters featured prominently, with both campaigns seeking to boost turnout in Black communities, which make up about one-fifth of the Democratic primary electorate, through events at churches and festivals.
Party Unity Effort After Stevens Concedes
Stevens had support from establishment Democrats, including Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader. El-Sayed received endorsements from prominent progressives such as Bernie Sanders.
Earlier in the summer, the race had also included Mallory McMorrow, a state senator, before she dropped out. In early Wednesday updates, McMorrow threw her backing behind El-Sayed, issuing an endorsement ahead of November.
Stevens, in a statement after conceding, said: “I spoke with Abdul a few moments ago to offer him my full support as we work to defeat Mike Rogers this November.”
After the contest remained too close to call for much of Wednesday morning, El-Sayed took the stage at Detroit’s Majestic Theater shortly after 1am, telling supporters to stay patient as votes were counted. He later framed his win as evidence that a grassroots campaign could compete against large outside expenditures, and called on Democrats to unite behind the eventual nominee.
“Tomorrow we begin to mend fences,” El-Sayed said, adding that more unites Democrats than divides them.
Elsewhere in the Michigan Democratic ballot, progressive candidates also secured nominations for the House. These included climate activist William Lawrence and Donavan McKinney, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, both backed by Bernie Sanders.

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6 August 2026

• 23 comments
• 140 views

webfact

August 5Aug 5

Suspicious Flying Objects Disrupt German Airport Flights

Germany

Suspicious Flying Objects Disrupt German Airport Flights

Several flights, including a passenger aircraft, were diverted after two objects were reported near Germany’s Leipzig/Halle Airport during the night, police said on Wednesday.

The disruption began shortly before midnight, when a flying object was sighted close to the airfield. At the same time, police said, another object was found in the area of the airport’s southern runway, which was examined by the federal police.
Diversions After Reports Near The Airfield
A police spokesperson, Olaf Hoppe, told Euronews that flights were redirected to other airports following the sighting near the airport shortly before midnight. He said officers would not confirm whether the reported object was a drone.
The airport is a major cargo hub, and the incident affected multiple routes during the night.
Anti-Explosives Robot Used On Southern Runway
Police said an anti-explosives robot was deployed to check the other object near the southern runway. Officers did not provide further details about the item or the process.
Flights using the other runway resumed shortly before 2am, according to a police statement. However, the southern runway remained closed on Wednesday morning while checks continued.
Hoppe said the work by the federal police was almost complete.
Cargo Operator Antonov Airlines In Area
Police said the incident occurred near the cargo aircraft of Ukrainian cargo carrier Antonov Airlines. Leipziger Volkszeitung reported that the firm has increased part of its operations at Leipzig/Halle.
The airline has based An-124 cargo aircraft at the airport and is building a new maintenance hangar, with completion scheduled for 2027. Antonov’s original home base at Hostomel was destroyed during the war in Ukraine, after Russian attacks.
Other Drone-Related Disruptions In Germany
The Leipzig/Halle episode follows a series of recent incidents that have disrupted air travel at German airports.
In October last year, local media reported that a laser installation was deployed near Munich Airport after suspicious drone sightings led to the airport closing for two consecutive days. In November, flight operations at Berlin Brandenburg Airport were interrupted for about two hours following a drone sighting in its airspace.
Germany’s air navigation service DFS said unidentified drones are becoming more frequent in the country’s airspace. It recorded 144 drone overflights last year, with 35 incidents clustered around Frankfurt Airport.

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5 August 2026

• Latest Update

• 3 comments
• 524 views

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August 5Aug 5

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Stage Set to Hit Moon

Report

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Stage Set to Hit Moon

A four-tonne section of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is due to hit the Moon on Wednesday in an unintentional collision, NASA said, creating a new crater and generating an opportunity for follow-up scientific observations.

The object, described as “school-bus-size”, is the second stage of a Falcon 9 launch that carried a lunar lander for Firefly Aerospace toward the Moon in January 2025. The stage has been travelling through space since last year, drifting among other tracked pieces of orbital debris.
Impact Details
NASA said the rocket body is expected to strike at about 06.35am GMT, crashing into the lunar surface at an estimated speed of 5,400 mph (8,690 km/h). The impact is expected to kick up a plume of lunar dust, likely illuminated by sunlight, though NASA said it would be difficult to observe from Earth with the naked eye.
The agency expects the collision to produce a crater about 60 ft (18 metres) wide and 12 ft (four metres) deep. It said dust and rock would be thrown outward as ejecta.
The stage is forecast to hit Einstein crater on the Moon’s western limb, a region that is often challenging to view from Earth.
Why The Stage Reached the Moon
Ordinarily, the stages of launch vehicles either re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and burn up or fall into the ocean after delivering a payload to a specific orbit. In this case, NASA said the January mission required more thrust than missions aimed at orbits closer to Earth, leaving the Falcon 9 second stage in space.
The stage had dumped its remaining fuel and cannot be controlled. NASA said it remained on an orbital path among thousands of pieces of debris, with active satellites needing to avoid such objects.
Julianna Scheiman, SpaceX director of NASA science and Dragon programmes, said on Monday that solar activity and gravity forces had combined to place the stage on a trajectory ending at the Moon.
What NASA Will Do
NASA said there is no danger to Earth from the planned impact. The agency and its partners plan to look for chances to image the site before and after the collision, with any collected data helping scientists “better understand artificial impacts and their exploration implications”.
Jimi Russell, speaking for NASA, said on Tuesday that researchers were planning to gather lunar data from the event and refine techniques for tracking objects in space.
Independent astronomer Bill Gray, whose widely used astronomy software was cited in connection with the report published in April, said the incident could have minor scientific interest and that it did not pose a danger to anyone.
Gray also said the episode highlights shortcomings in the way leftover hardware is disposed of after launches.
Past Moon Impacts And Recent SpaceX Results
Impacts with rocket stages on the Moon are rare. A Chinese rocket stage crashed into the lunar surface in March 2022 after completing a lunar test mission. In 2009, NASA intentionally sent a rocket stage into the Moon to study the plume of material kicked up by the impact.
Other spacecraft that aimed to land softly on the Moon in recent years have also crashed. Russia’s Luna-25 mission failed in 2023, while India’s Chandrayaan-2 lander crashed in 2019. Israel’s Beresheet lander also crashed that year; its payload included tardigrades, microscopic animals known for surviving radiation and other harsh conditions, which may still be present on the surface.
Scheiman said NASA and SpaceX are discussing ways to prevent similar lunar impacts in future.
The announcement comes after SpaceX reported on Tuesday a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss alongside a revenue increase in its first report as a public company. Even so, the company’s shares fell after investors expressed continued scepticism about its ability to deliver on long-term targets.


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5 August 2026

• Science

• 18 comments
• 317 views

webfact

August 5Aug 5