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World News

Fresh news brought to you daily from around the world. Hot news, breaking stories as they happen.
The White House has launched Arcade.gov, a website featuring five versions of classic computer games designed to promote the president’s agenda, according to the announcement.

The games highlighted on the site are named Flappy Bill, Build the Wall, Rio Run, Supply Line and Trump Savings Tycoon. The White House said the project is intended to present the administration’s message in an accessible format.
Arcade.gov And Game Line-Up
Arcade.gov is presented as an online arcade with multiple playable games. Each title is linked to a theme associated with the president’s policy priorities, with the site encouraging users to play through the games’ objectives.
The White House did not provide further details about how the platform was developed when asked about the project beyond its stated purpose.
When questioned about the launch, a White House official said: “This administration is laser focused on ways to innovate and tell the story of the President's many accomplishments in a way that resonates with every American.”
A second official, asked about Arcade.gov, tied the initiative to political messaging, saying: “The President continues to rack up victory after victory on behalf of the American public, while opponents of his agenda are defending their record of raising taxes and empowering criminal illegal aliens. This is an effort to further contrast between a culture of fun and winning and the dark socialist vision Democrats have for America.”
Border Theme In Rio Run
One of the games, Rio Run, is described as a variation on the popular Snake game. In Rio Run, players are instructed to “deport” migrants along the Rio Grande in the area of the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the description of the gameplay objectives on the site.
The framing is focused on the border area and makes deportation part of the game’s challenge.
Zombies In Build The Wall
Build the Wall is presented as a Tetris-like game. In it, players are encouraged to “protect the border from the coming horde” of zombies, with the game using the zombie scenario to frame the objective as border protection.
The site’s descriptions present the zombie “horde” as a threat to be managed by the player’s actions as the game progresses.
Industry Response And Political Criticism
The White House did not respond to multiple questions about whether contractors were hired for the project, or whether taxpayer funds were used.
Outside the administration, the Tetris Company said it was not involved in creating the White House game and, in a post on Instagram, added: “we take copyright infringement very seriously.”
Texas Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett criticised the project in a statement on social media, writing: “Instead of creating policies that actually help people, the White House just rolled out arcade games. They need to spend less time playing and more time governing. Folks need affordable groceries, not games.”

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5 September 2026
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Vietnam War veterans suing over President Trump’s proposed triumphal arch are asking a US court for an emergency order to stop the administration from moving ahead with plans to begin work in the Washington, D.C. area.

Veterans Michael Lemmon, Shaun Byrnes and Jon Gundersen, along with architectural historian Calder Loth, filed an application for a temporary restraining order shortly after Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said excavation would start within the next two weeks.
Veterans Challenge project without Congress’s approval
The group said the Trump administration was proceeding without the approval it considers legally required, arguing that Congress must authorise the design and siting of commemorative works and other structures on federal land in the national capital.
They are continuing a months-long legal campaign against the administration, which they say is pushing the arch forward before a judge can decide whether the project is lawful.
Earlier lawsuit targets 250-foot monument
Lemmon, Byrnes, Gundersen and Loth first challenged the scheme in a February lawsuit seeking to halt efforts to build a 250-foot arch, which Trump has said would be the largest in the world. The National Park Service has supported a proposed location at Memorial Circle across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial.
The claimants also argue that the size of the arch would block or alter important historical sightlines linking the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and Arlington House. In early August, the National Park Service concluded that the monument would have “adverse effects” on multiple historic sites and on the skyline of the nation’s capital.
In their latest filing on Friday, the veterans’ lawyers accused the administration of trying to ensure the project becomes irreversible—before the matter reaches a decision by US District Judge Tanya Chutkan—by moving quickly ahead of that ruling.
Administration says upcoming work is archaeological
The administration said work scheduled for the next two weeks would not involve construction. Instead, it said the plans call for an archaeological survey using four test pits, intended to help the National Park Service meet preservation obligations, rather than any actual building activity.
“This activity is not construction, or demolition in preparation for construction, of an arch,” the administration said in a legal submission filed on Friday.
Chutkan has previously ordered the administration to provide 14 days’ notice before starting construction. The arch has also received preliminary approval, but not final approval, from the National Capital Planning Commission, and a historic preservation review is under way.

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5 September 2026
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Volkswagen’s supervisory board has approved a further plan to cut 50,000 jobs as part of what the German carmaker describes as its largest restructuring in almost nine decades.

The decision raises the total number of roles the group plans to remove by 2030 to 100,000, after Volkswagen said in March that it would eliminate 50,000 positions.
Restructuring Board Approval
The group, which includes Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and Skoda, also said it is reviewing how its workforce and production capacity should change as markets shift and technology evolves.
In a statement on Thursday, chief executive Oliver Blume called the job cuts a “strong signal” for the company’s future, saying Volkswagen was “taking responsibility for our entire workforce”. Blume had previously said in July that the company was looking to make additional cuts.
Further Cuts Through 2030
Volkswagen said it would require a group-wide workforce adjustment of approximately 50,000 positions, including management roles. It said the changes are intended to safeguard competitiveness as demand shifts and the industry moves towards new technologies.
Shares in the company rose by about 7% in Frankfurt on Friday morning.
Model and Cost Changes
Alongside the staffing plan, Volkswagen said it intends by 2035 to cut the number of models it produces by 50% and reduce the complexity of its vehicle offering by 75%.
The company said it will prioritise the “most compelling vehicles” and produce more of each model, moves it expects will help lower costs.
Volkswagen added that a “fundamental adjustment” of global workforce capability is necessary to protect competitiveness.
German Plants Under Review
The carmaker is also considering the future of four German plants: Emden, Zwickau, Hanover and Neckarsulm. Volkswagen said in those locations production capacity exceeds demand.
“Alternative uses for these plants are being assessed,” the company said.
Profit Pressure and Competitive Threats
Volkswagen has been under pressure from falling profits after sales weakened and competition intensified, particularly from Chinese carmakers.
The firm has seen demand slide in China, where Volkswagen had previously sold large volumes. In the United States, sales have also fallen, partly because of tariffs on car imports introduced under Donald Trump’s administration.
Chinese manufacturers have expanded aggressively by rolling out new technologies and benefiting from lower production costs than competitors. In recent years, firms such as BYD have reported sharp sales growth in markets including the UK, the European Union and parts of South East Asia.
Workforce and Union Response
As of 2025, Volkswagen employed more than 660,000 people worldwide. Its brands also include Seat, Bentley and Lamborghini.
Christianne Benner, president of Europe’s largest industrial union IG Metall and deputy chair of Volkswagen’s Supervisory Board, said the company had “fought hard for good solutions” to tackle what she described as a “crisis situation”.

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5 September 2026
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A Massachusetts judge has declared a mistrial in the murder case of Lindsay Clancy after jurors, following about a week of deliberations, told the court they could not reach a unanimous decision on whether she should be held criminally liable for killing her three young children.

The decision leaves the case in limbo as the court weighs what happens next, with Clancy continuing to face the same murder charges. The trial, which attracted sustained national attention in the United States, has also been the subject of public comments by the US president.
Hung Jury Forces Mistrial
Judge Sullivan told jurors on Friday that they were deadlocked and dismissed them after weeks of testimony and nearly a week of deliberations. The jury had signalled on three separate occasions that it was unable to reach agreement.
A hung jury does not indicate that prosecutors failed to prove their case, nor does it mean the defendant is not guilty.
Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, made a final attempt to prevent the mistrial by seeking action over an alleged holdout juror. Judge Sullivan denied the request and ordered the jury to continue deliberating. About an hour later, jurors returned again saying they still could not reach a verdict.
Next Steps Set for 29 September
A hearing has been scheduled for 29 September, when prosecutors are expected to outline their next steps.
Options available to the prosecution include seeking a new trial or pursuing a plea agreement, including in relation to the strangulation of Clancy’s children: Cora, aged five, Dawson, aged three, and Callan, aged eight months, in their home in Massachusetts.
Meanwhile, the 36-year-old former nurse will remain detained on the same murder charges and continue to be held in the mental health facility where she is currently housed.
Defence Says Postpartum Psychosis
Clancy does not deny killing the children in 2023, but she pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder.
Her lawyers argued that she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and should not be held criminally responsible. After the killings, Clancy cut herself with a knife and jumped from a second-story window in an attempt to take her own life, an injury that has left her paralysed.
As the jury deliberated, Reddington argued that a juror was not following instructions on the reasonable-doubt standard. Under US law, jurors must unanimously conclude that the prosecution has proved guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt” before returning a guilty verdict.
Judge Sullivan rejected the bid to remove the juror and sent the panel back to deliberate.
Reddington then sought an emergency appeal to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, asking the state’s highest court to order further deliberations and to require questioning of the jury over the alleged holdout. The high court denied the request.
High-Profile Case Draws National Attention
Prosecutors said the case would proceed subject to the court’s next steps. Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz said there would be no decisions made on Friday and that he would meet with his legal team to determine whether to pursue another trial.
He told the court that prosecutors believed the evidence showed Clancy was in control of her actions when the homicides took place.
The trial was closely watched in the United States, with supporters and extensive media coverage outside court and livestreams of the proceedings. The case also prompted wider discussion around postpartum psychosis as family members and experts gave evidence over multiple days.
On Friday, US President Donald Trump referred to the case as a “horrible tragedy” and said he assumed there would be another trial.


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5 September 2026
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President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States’ conflict with Iran was “small potatoes”, defending Vice President JD Vance after Vance said months of sporadic attacks in the Middle East did not amount to a “war”.

Asked during an Oval Office exchange about Vance’s comments from the previous day, Trump said US strikes on Iran were now “intermittent” and added that “a lot of people don’t call it a war”. The fighting has been ongoing since Feb. 28 and has cost US taxpayers more than $37.5 billion, while 18 members of the US armed forces have been killed.
“I can understand what he’s saying,” Trump told reporters. He said the United States was carrying out a “military conflict” that was “small potatoes for us” and “not a big thing”.
Trump Defends Vance’s “Not A War” Line
Vance, speaking at a White House press briefing on Thursday, pushed back on the use of the word “war” to describe US action against Iran. He also avoided predicting that the conflict, which has lasted about six months, would be over before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, when Republicans are trying to hold their narrow majorities in Congress.
“I wouldn’t call it a war,” Vance said, when asked whether the fighting could end before voters cast ballots. He added that “right now, there is no active shooting.”
His comments came even as Iran fired at US Gulf ally Kuwait on Thursday, in retaliation for US strikes on Iran earlier in the week.
Only Air Strikes, No US Troops
Trump said on Friday that the US death toll in the Iran conflict was lower than in some other recent wars, arguing that the campaign has been limited. He said that the US and Israel have carried out air strikes only, and that no troops have been deployed into Iran.
He compared the outcome with previous US operations, saying the US had “lost nobody” in Venezuela when it carried out a January mission to seize former President Nicolás Maduro and move him to New York for federal drug trafficking charges. Trump said the Iran campaign had instead resulted in 18 US deaths.
Trump also referenced the Vietnam War, saying the conflict there had caused far more casualties, and cited 100,000 deaths. The US National Archives records that 58,220 members of the US armed forces died in Vietnam.
Nuclear Programme, Trump’s “Weeks” Argument
A reporter challenged Trump over calling the Iran conflict “small potatoes” despite the deaths of 18 US service members. Trump responded by reiterating his argument that the fighting would last only weeks at the start and that it has helped curb Iran’s nuclear programme.
“Iran will not have a nuclear weapon because if they did you probably wouldn’t be standing here,” Trump said.

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5 September 2026
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President Donald Trump said he does not expect anyone to continue building monuments to him after he leaves office, confirming in a recent interview that he is behind a number of high-profile construction plans in Washington, DC.

Asked by New York Magazine about projects described as monuments, including a “triumphal arch”, Trump said the idea was straightforward: he is building them for himself and believes successors will not maintain the effort.
“That’s true,” Trump said. “Nobody will do it once I’m gone. When I leave here, nobody will.”
White House Projects Draw Internal Warnings
Trump’s second-term focus has been heavily centred on construction at the White House, including a new ballroom and other related work. Some congressional Republicans and advisers have expressed concern that the attention on the ballroom could make it harder for the party to stay on message for the midterm elections, and could undermine election prospects, New York Magazine reported.
Trump, however, portrayed the work differently when speaking to the magazine.
“The people should be thankful,” he said, adding that he had considered opposition to doing the interview but said he was “proud of the work” he was carrying out.
Security Claims Used To Justify The Ballroom
Trump has argued that the White House ballroom is needed for national security, pointing to proposed changes intended to strengthen protection. In his account to the magazine, the plan includes a drone port on the roof, an underground bunker and bulletproof windows.
The administration is also preparing a separate, larger construction project. According to the report, ground is expected to be broken on a 250-foot arch near Arlington National Cemetery within the next two weeks.
While Trump did not dispute that the projects were personal in nature, the administration and Trump have repeatedly linked the work to security needs, including the upgrades described for the White House.
Legacy And What Will Remain
In an earlier report from CNN, sources described Trump’s motivation as being closely tied to his legacy. They said the president’s priorities ultimately rest on what he believes will endure beyond his term.
One source close to Trump told CNN in May that the key point was that Trump’s buildings would not be torn down. The source said that even if successors reversed policies, the ballroom would likely remain, while highlighting the East Wing as a lasting physical mark associated with Trump.
“The one thing they can’t tear down will be the East Wing. That is his lasting impact. That’s why he cares so deeply,” the source said, according to CNN, using the phrase “legacy sh*t”.
Trump’s latest comments reinforced that view of durability, while also indicating that he expects no further monument-building once he has left the White House.

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5 September 2026
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US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will travel to Russia and Ukraine this weekend to support President Donald Trump’s push for a peace agreement, as both sides prepare for talks that could shape the next steps in the war.
Zelensky Confirms Meeting on Sunday
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that he will meet the envoys on Sunday. He said the pair will first go to Moscow on Saturday to hold discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Witkoff and Kushner have already led US efforts to broker a deal on behalf of Trump, but the planned meetings in Ukraine are their first there.
Trump said the envoys were bringing a proposal intended to end the war when asked by reporters about their travel.
Moscow Visit, Then Kyiv
Russia’s state news agency Tass said Witkoff and Kushner were expected to arrive in Moscow and then in Kyiv on 5-6 September, citing a source.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later told reporters that he would not announce details, adding that Russia would inform them when the contacts take place.
Zelensky said Ukraine would guarantee the safety of Russian airspace during the envoys’ visit, and called on Russia to provide the same assurance for Ukraine.
Drone Attack in Kyiv
Earlier on Friday, Zelensky said a Russian drone struck the office of Oleksandr Poklad, Ukraine’s security chief, in Kyiv. Zelensky said Poklad appeared to be unharmed.
In a social media post, Zelensky said he had instructed Poklad, who heads Ukraine’s SBU security service, to respond “adequately” to the attack.
Putin Says a Deal Is Possible, But Demands Remain
Putin told an international economic forum on Thursday that there are “chances” of reaching a peace deal. He said Moscow and Kyiv must agree between themselves first.
However, Putin made clear he was not retreating from demands he has previously set out, which include further territorial concessions from Ukraine. Kyiv and European allies have repeatedly rejected those terms, saying they amount to surrender.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

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5 September 2026
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The United Nations General Assembly has backed a resolution to formally phase out the traditional Mercator world map projection and replace it with an equal-area design that shows Africa in more accurate proportions.

The vote took place at UN headquarters in New York. The assembly adopted the measure with support from 164 countries. The United States was the only country to vote against it, according to the UN tally, while six countries abstained.
The resolution is non-binding, meaning it does not compel governments or organisations to use the new projection or to stop using the Mercator map. However, its adoption is expected to influence updates to classroom materials and wider use of mapping tools, given how widely Mercator is embedded in education, technology and government systems.
UN Resolution Retires The Mercator projection
The UN General Assembly formally retired the 16th-century Mercator projection in favour of an approach based on the 2018 Equal Earth design.
The Mercator layout was created in 1569 by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator, originally to help sailors navigate the seas. It remains widely used as a global standard.
But the projection stretches areas in higher latitudes and compresses regions near the equator, so Africa appears much smaller than it is in reality. The reporting cited an example in which Africa is shown as roughly the same size as Greenland, despite Africa being about 14 times larger than Denmark’s territory.
Togo Leads Campaign After African Union Endorsement
Togo sponsored the resolution, doing so on behalf of the African Union. The aim, Togo said, was to address what it described as longstanding harms from maps that misrepresent the size of regions.
Togo’s government said the resolution “recognises and affirms that disproportionate cartographic representations” linked to the Mercator projection have had lasting effects across education, culture and geopolitics, including by shrinking Africa’s perceived size in global understanding.
Robert Dussey, Togo’s foreign affairs minister, told the assembly before the vote that the change was driven by scientific evidence and reflected a need to accept “the reality” of Africa’s actual scale.
The campaign linked to the resolution was connected to a petition on Change.org for the #CorrectTheMap initiative, which has more than 11,000 signatures. The African Union endorsed the campaign in August 2025 and asked Togo to spearhead adoption at the UN.
Support, Criticism And Plans For Implementation
France’s foreign minister backed the resolution ahead of the vote, saying in remarks at the Sorbonne in Paris that France would move away from Mercator towards representations tailored to specific purposes, which he said better reflect actual surface areas and align with cartographers’ and scientists’ recommendations. France said it would use the Eckert IV projection, described as close to the Equal Earth approach.



Graphic courtesy of The Guardian

Debates about the Mercator map have continued for years among historians, geographers and campaign groups. Some have argued that the projection reflects Western stereotypes and have criticised it as contributing to what activists call “cartographic colonialism”. Others have linked the way the map visually frames regions to perceived effects on international power dynamics, including by making the northern hemisphere appear larger and equatorial areas smaller.
One prominent alternative discussed in the campaign is the Peters world map, created by German historian Arno Peters in 1973 using the Gall–Peters projection.
A senior associate at the London-based geopolitical risk advisory firm JS Held, JJ Enoch, said the Mercator projection visually diminished Africa’s true scale. He connected the push to a desire by African states for “greater influence” in global institutions and for more control over how the continent is represented.
Togo said it is planning an event in Lomé, the Togolese capital, in the first quarter of next year, with Unesco, the African Union and technology firms including Google Maps, to outline how the resolution will be put into practice.

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5 September 2026
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A Russian drone strike hit the headquarters of Ukraine’s Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in central Kyiv, sending plumes of black smoke into the air near St Sophia Cathedral, a Unesco World Heritage site.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had instructed the SBU to deliver an “appropriate, tangible response” to the attack. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the strike as a “major escalation”.
Soon after the attack on Friday, roads around the SBU building on Volodymyrska Street were cordoned off and armed officers were deployed in the area. Emergency services and ambulances were also stationed nearby.
Zelenskyy said the drone struck the central building of the SBU, opposite the cathedral. He added that the drone was aimed at the office of the head of the Security Service located in that structure, and said the explosion could be heard from several blocks away. He said the attack was carried out during the day.
Kyiv Raises Defence Concerns
Kyiv has faced daily drone and missile attacks from Russia for more than a week. Zelenskyy earlier on Friday called for Russia to halt its strikes during a visit to Kyiv by US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner scheduled for Sunday, during which they are expected to travel to Moscow. He said Ukraine would guarantee the safety of Russian airspace while they are in the US-led talks.
Ukraine is also dealing with a critical shortage of US-made Patriot interceptors capable of shooting down incoming threats. Some of Russia’s recent strikes have used new-model, jet-powered drones that can reach speeds of 250mph, which Ukraine says makes them harder to intercept.
Analysts say strikes on government sites in the centre of Kyiv remain relatively rare, particularly during daylight, and the SBU hit is expected to add to a pattern of escalating exchanges between Moscow and Kyiv in recent weeks. Ukraine’s ability to defend key infrastructure has been a central concern amid the continuing attacks.
Injuries And Damage Reported
Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said at least nine people were injured in the strike. Local residents and businesses nearby reported disruptions and damage after the blast.
Stanislav Zavertailo, co-owner of the nearby Zavertailo cafe, said one customer was hurt and that the explosion shattered windows across the premises. He said the customer was eating a poppy seed roll when the attack occurred.
After the strike, staff and customers moved into an underground shelter, fearing a “double-tap” tactic in which a second drone is sent soon after the first, targeting emergency workers. An hour later, there had been no second attack, but Zavertailo said he still did not feel at ease, adding that people were waiting for another strike.
Sybiha said the attack “demands resolute responses” and urged international partners to “unequivocally condemn” the action and increase pressure on the Putin regime.
Diplomatic Timeline And Prior Operations
The SBU is responsible for coordinating complex operations against Russia, including last year’s Operation Spiderweb, which destroyed aircraft worth billions of pounds inside Russia.
The strike also comes as international diplomatic efforts are set to resume. It was reported to be two days before Witkoff and Kushner were expected to visit Kyiv for the first time.
US-led efforts to end Russia’s invasion, now in its fourth and a half year, have stalled in recent months as the United States has shifted focus towards the war in the Middle East involving Iran.


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5 September 2026
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For much of the war, Russian drone and missile strikes on Kyiv tended to follow a pattern: they were usually launched at night. Warnings would reach residents late in the evening through monitoring channels on Telegram, describing drones heading south, missiles being launched and air defences operating. People then decided whether to remain at home or go to shelters in the metro depending on how serious the threat appeared.

Since last week, that rhythm has broken. Attacks have arrived day and night, driven by the introduction of fast-flying, jet-powered drones. The change has extended disruption beyond overnight hours, intensifying the exhaustion that comes with repeated alerts during daylight.
Air-Raid Sirens Fold Into the Day
In Kyiv, the recurring sound of air-raid sirens has become part of daily routine. It has interrupted commutes, shopping trips and children’s school days, and intruded on major personal events including weddings and funerals. As in previous strikes, some attacks have resulted in deaths.
When an alert sounds, residents check their phones or look to the sky. Moments later, the distant sound of air defence intercepting drones can be heard. After that, smoke is often visible in the distance, and photos showing damage spread quickly across Telegram channels. Additional sirens can follow an hour or two later.
Disruption in Schools, Shops and Banks
Business routines are also repeatedly interrupted. In malls, banks and other public places, air-raid procedures require customers and staff to leave when an alert is issued. Transactions can be cut short in the middle of conversations, and shopping trips can turn into repeated cycles of entering a store, evacuating and returning—sometimes more than once in the same day.
Volodymyr Bovsunovskyi described how the pattern has changed in the past week. He said a family trip to a mall to buy clothes for his nearly four-year-old daughter was already under way when an alert began. They exited immediately and saw smoke rising nearby, but were unable to complete the purchase. Bovsunovskyi said his hope is that the attacks will ease, but that Ukraine has not yet found an effective way to counter the new approach.
Travel around Kyiv has also become more unpredictable. Train journeys that normally take only a few hours have stretched much longer, and in some cases passengers have been forced to walk for hours through grassy areas after trains stopped on tracks. With one alert following another, people have carried their belongings as they moved.
For drivers and passengers using app-based taxis, the process can be chaotic when GPS is disrupted to jam drones. A car that appears close can show up as if it is far away. Pickup tracking can also become unreliable, including sudden changes to arrival times.
Weddings, Meditation and Shelter Fatigue
Despite the sirens, one couple went ahead with their wedding. Iryna Baranova, 38, said that on Wednesday morning, after returning from hair and makeup to finish preparations, explosions were heard across the city. After two blasts, the alarm ended and they moved to the registration ceremony. Later, she and Evhen Mytsyk walked hand in hand in a botanical garden.
Mytsyk said the attacks did not reduce the day. He described an adjustment in how people approach time, saying that when there is a morning it needs to be used because another day may not come, and that people tend to show and value family love more openly.
Tetyana Shevchenko, who meditates in a small gazebo at the same garden, said the sound of air raids initially felt unbearable. She described how, over time, the body adapts, including to nights spent in corridors and insomnia. Meditation, she said, helps her remain calm as she deals with bureaucratic hurdles made harder by the raids.
Shevchenko said she is trying to obtain documents to recover state funds owed after her mother died last year. On a recent day, while waiting in a long line for an appointment, an air-raid alert sounded, causing her to miss her slot. She was sent to the back of the line and told to start the process again.
In Kyiv’s Podil district, an IT worker, Ivan Datsiv, said a Russian drone tore through the floor of his apartment on Tuesday, charring the ceilings and walls and destroying the unit next door. He said he had been planning to repaint anyway. With alerts arriving so often, he no longer sees much point in repeatedly going to a shelter, arguing that the only alternative would be to stay in a basement.
Datsiv said he is considering leaving Kyiv. Bovsunovskyi is also weighing a temporary departure for his family, including his pregnant wife, to rest. He said the kindergarten his daughter attends has to move children to a shelter whenever alerts occur, and that he now picks her up halfway through the day because of the frequency of alarms.


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4 September 2026
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Dan Jukes, a senior aide to Nigel Farage, suggested in undercover footage a method to secure a foreign donation for Reform UK while avoiding requirements in UK electoral law, according to Channel 4 News.

The footage, filmed as part of a sting operation and broadcast on Thursday, shows Jukes meeting a man posing as the British-based son of a wealthy American businessman. Jukes, who is described as a Reform senior aide, raises the prospect of structuring the payment so that it appears to come from the UK-based son rather than from the American father.
Electoral Law on permissible donors
Electoral law says political parties can only accept “permissible” donations from those who are UK registered voters, or from companies registered in the UK. Channel 4 said the apparent concern in the film was that the father would not meet that definition, but the son would.
In one exchange filmed outside a pub in Westminster, Jukes tells the undercover reporter, “you do realise that you can do it?”, adding that it would involve the donation being made in the son’s name. Channel 4 said Jukes suggested that while the money would be provided by the American father, the transfer could be routed through the UK-based son to keep it within the legal framework.
The footage includes bleeped-out passages that appear, Channel 4 said, to refer to other instances in which such a mechanism had been used.
Reform Launches Internal Investigations
Reform UK has launched internal investigations into Jukes, Channel 4 reported. It did not confirm whether he remained a party spokesperson. The leader Nigel Farage is also shown in later footage, alongside the man posing as the UK-based son and an actor portraying the supposed American father, with Jukes and Reform’s head of policy, James Orr.
In the later recording, Farage says “it’s all above board” after the son tells him he has been discussing the arrangements with both Jukes and Orr “for some time”. The son is then heard saying: “I’ll be the registered donor. But then dad will send the money to me, and then as soon as that’s done and all those conversations are had the money is available.” Farage replies “Thank you”, addressing both men.
Orr is also the subject of an internal Reform investigation, Channel 4 said.
Polling Payments Also Raised Concerns
Earlier in Channel 4’s film, Orr is recorded telling the undercover reporter that the father could pay for polling to support Reform’s campaigning. Channel 4 said the cost discussed was £18,000 plus VAT, and Orr suggested the polling company could send the bill to the undercover reporter.
Channel 4 said Reform commissioned three polls costing £32,500 in total and that the public was not told who commissioned or funded them. The broadcaster said failing to disclose such funding would be illegal, and accepting foreign funding in that way would also breach the rules.
Reform Denies Wrongdoing
Reform UK denies wrongdoing. A spokesperson said the party had been targeted by a “hoax” involving foreign-funded climate change activists posing as prospective donors. The spokesperson said Reform has a “robust vetting process” for donations approved by the Electoral Commission.
Reform also said the hoaxers behind the operation were “Verbatim Investigations”, described by the party as a new company incorporated in July 2026 in an attempt to obscure its true links to the Centre for Climate Reporting. Reform claimed that videos by the founder, Lawrence Carter, had previously been criticised by members of the US Congress for being substantially edited.
Channel 4 said the undercover material was provided by Verbatim Investigations, a group founded by journalists from the Centre for Climate Reporting, and that it had verified the footage before broadcasting.
Regulators and Police Response
An Electoral Commission spokesperson said political parties must report permissible donations above £11,180 and impermissible donations above £500, and that information about any potential attempt to evade donation controls is for police to consider.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told the BBC it was aware of media reporting on Thursday, 3 September, covering political party donations and an alleged breach of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 relating to polling. The force said it would assess the matter and any information provided to it, and it is understood it had not begun an investigation.

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4 September 2026
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Hundreds of protesters in Santiago clashed with police on Thursday over President Jose Antonio Kast’s security agenda, with many drawing direct comparisons to former dictator Augusto Pinochet.

Police deployed tear gas and water cannon to disperse the crowd as demonstrators moved through the central Plaza Italia. Protesters chanted that Kast was “just like Pinochet”, according to on-the-ground accounts.
Kast, who took office in March, has pledged a tougher approach to organised crime and illegal immigration. Rights advocates and critics say his proposals would narrow civil liberties, while supporters argue they are needed to tackle escalating violence.
Protest In Santiago
The demonstration gathered large numbers of people who said the proposed measures echoed practices associated with Pinochet’s 1973-1990 military rule. Chile’s most right-wing leader since the end of the dictatorship, Kast has repeatedly linked his programme to the growing threat posed by criminal groups.
The police response came as protesters advanced through the square, leading to repeated confrontations before the crowd was pushed back.
Constitutional Changes Under Review
To combat crime, Kast’s government has put forward eight constitutional amendments. One proposal would let the president declare a state of emergency for up to eight months in the event of a serious threat to public security, without needing congressional approval.
Under the plan, authorities could restrict basic freedoms, including freedom of movement and freedom of assembly. The proposal also includes the power to intercept communications in specific geographic areas, a point that opponents say could enable intrusive surveillance.
The amendments have not yet been debated in Congress. They have already faced criticism from rights organisations, opposition figures and even some members of the ruling coalition.
Camila Aramena, a 22-year-old public administration student who took part in Thursday’s protest, told AFP that the proposals would give the president powers “that a president in a democracy should not have”.
Crime Spike Sets Context
Chile is regarded as one of the safest countries in Latin America, but the country has seen rising numbers of murders and kidnappings in recent years. Critics and officials have linked the increase to the arrival and expansion of foreign criminal groups, including Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua.
Official figures cited in the debate show the homicide rate stood at 5.4 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2025. That is double the level recorded a decade earlier, according to the same data.

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4 September 2026
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Donald Trump has indicated that the United States might not step in to support the UK in a future conflict with Argentina over the Falkland Islands.

In an interview with GB News, the US president said Britain had not helped him during America’s war with Iran. He suggested that context would shape whether Washington came to London’s aid in the event of another dispute with Buenos Aires.
Trump Remarks on Potential Falklands Row
Trump’s comments build on earlier remarks in which he said the US could review its neutral position on the islands’ sovereignty if the UK did not raise defence spending.
Iran War Context and Requests for Ships
Trump told GB News that when the first war took place “a long time ago”, he had watched developments closely and said Britain “comported yourselves very well”.
He then turned to the current conflict with Iran, saying the UK had not been there to support him, despite later adding that US military efforts did not require help.
He said he asked Nato and also raised the issue with then-UK leader Keir Starmer, asking why additional vessels were not sent. Trump said Starmer told him that no ships were available, which he described as “pretty sad”.
Trump also argued that Nato had not been involved even though, he said, many Nato countries rely on a large share of their oil imports moving through the Strait of Hormuz. He added that the US was handling the situation itself.
Sovereignty Dispute, UK Response and Referendum
The Falklands remain at the centre of a sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina, more than 40 years after fighting between the two countries in 1982.
A British task force forced Argentine forces out after they landed on the islands to back a territorial claim. The war lasted 74 days and resulted in the deaths of 255 British military personnel, three islanders and 649 Argentine military personnel.
Argentina and the UK both continue to dispute sovereignty, with previous US administrations having formally recognised Britain’s de facto administration of the islands while not taking a formal position on sovereignty.
The latest US remarks come as Argentinian President Javier Milei is scheduled to make a televised address on Thursday night about what he calls his country’s “historic” claim.
In separate comments, the UK government said Falkland islanders “are British with a right to determine their own future”. A spokesperson added that islanders have repeatedly said they want to remain a British overseas territory and that the UK’s commitment is “unwavering”.
In a 2013 referendum, residents voted overwhelmingly to remain a British overseas territory, with 99.8% voting in favour and three against.

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4 September 2026
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Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has outlined a plan to expel all Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and send them abroad, as campaigning ramps up ahead of elections in Israel.
Ben-Gvir’s Gaza Emigration Proposal
Ben-Gvir said the proposal, developed through his party, Jewish Power, would start by removing 250,000 Palestinians from Gaza in its first year. He added that the remaining population of about 2 million would be sent away over the following six years.
Speaking in the run-up to the tightly fought vote, Ben-Gvir described the idea as “realistic”, saying there were countries that were ready to take in Palestinians from Gaza, without identifying them.
His plan is set out in a 20-page document titled “National Work Plan for Voluntary Emigration from the Gaza Strip”. Despite the wording, Ben-Gvir’s stated objective is to remove Gaza’s Palestinian population, and the coercive nature of any such plan would be a key concern for the international community given the conditions in the territory and the minister’s explicit intent.
Under international law, the forced displacement of civilians in occupied territory is considered a war crime under the Geneva Conventions.
Reactions And Us Administration Ceasefire Talks
Ben-Gvir’s comments came as Israel’s political debate over Gaza has grown more aggressive, with Israeli leaders rejecting a ceasefire initiative sought by US President Donald Trump amid continued Israeli attacks.
Ben-Gvir said Jewish Power would press for a “ministry in charge of emigration” if it enters government, calling the plan “concrete”.
Earlier this year, an independent UN inquiry said Israel was committing genocide by deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza.
The minister’s remarks also followed comments by Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, who said Israel was seeking US approval to displace Palestinians from Gaza. Katz said any such step was still under discussion after Trump had “frozen” it.
At the start of his second term, Trump faced widespread international condemnation after suggesting that all 2 million Palestinians leave Gaza and that the US redevelop the territory. Trump later walked back the proposal.
Netanyahu Says Israel Will Not Withdraw
With elections scheduled for October, Ben-Gvir has made a series of inflammatory interventions aimed at his far-right base. These have included posting footage showing Palestinians convicted of lethal attacks by Israeli military courts being due to be executed, while also drawing attention to the absence of comparable actions for Jewish extremists accused of similar crimes. He has also shared videos about mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners held by Israeli authorities.
Polling has suggested Jewish Power would win about seven seats.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited a military outpost in Gaza to say Israel would not withdraw from areas it occupies. He said Israel would remain on its current line, adding that it was “eliminating the terrorists” and doing so “day in and day out”.
Israel’s deputy chief of general staff, Maj Gen Tamir Yadai, said Israel now controls 65% of Gaza. The figure is higher than 53% agreed under a ceasefire brokered last year by Trump.
Separately, Ben-Gvir has called for the deportation of two Members of Knesset and others, describing them as “disloyal to the state of Israel”, including Jews, and said he would push for such a policy if he is included in the next government.

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4 September 2026
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The British Army has been told to pause “non-essential” training activities in order to reduce costs, according to a defence source.

Under the guidance, troops preparing to be deployed, and units already on deployments, will continue to train. That includes forces scheduled for missions such as those sent to Estonia, the Falklands and Cyprus.
Units based in the UK that are not preparing for a specific deployment have been directed to scale back collective training exercises, with the changes linked to financial pressures.
The move comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces growing pressure to increase defence spending. The government has said it will raise defence spending to 2.5% of national income by next year, while also facing calls to reach a 3% target by the end of the decade.
UK-Based exercises reduced
A defence source said the plan is intended to stop “nice to have training”, including large live-fire exercises and drills that rehearse platoon attacks on UK training areas such as Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire and Sennybridge in Wales.
It is understood that some exercises scheduled for cancellation include one involving the Royal Tank Regiment conducting live-fire drills in Wales, along with a separate exercise involving tanks and Apache helicopters.
The source said the pause is expected to last for most of this year, affecting training that is not tied to an imminent deployment.
Deployment and modernisation training continues
The Army said training aimed at preparing troops for operations will continue, as will activity designed to develop new capabilities.
It is understood that specific training focused on modernising the force, including practice in drone and counter-drone warfare, is expected to carry on.
The Army said it is prioritising training based on lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, and that each request for training is being reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
An Army spokesperson said: “Our training continues and we are prioritising activity that contributes most directly to readiness, deployability and operational effectiveness.”
The spokesperson added that the Army is investing £2bn to transform training for the British Army over the next 15 years.
Spending targets remain under debate
While the government plans to increase defence funding, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is still struggling to meet all its investment plans, the source said.
Much of the additional money is earmarked for capital projects, including new weapons programmes, leaving training budgets under continued pressure.
During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Labour MP Tan Singh Dhesi, chairman of the Commons Defence Select Committee, said it was “imperative” that investment in the armed forces continues. He urged Burnham to commit to reaching 3% of GDP spending on defence by 2030.
Burnham said in response that he had made his commitment “very clear” and had done so for “a considerable period of time”.
Questions over defence spending were also raised during the previous period when Labour ministers were reshuffled. Defence Secretary John Healey resigned after Sir Keir Starmer’s predecessor set out funding plans for the armed forces.
Under the Defence Investment Plan (Dip), defence spending is set to rise to 2.7% of GDP by 2027/28, but there are no firm details on how further increases would be delivered after that point.
The Treasury has said the government will provide plans for reaching both 3% and 3.5% at the spending review scheduled for next year.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has urged Burnham to cut welfare spending and invest the money in defence. The party says it would spend 3% of GDP on defence by 2030.
Helen Whately, the Tory shadow secretary of state for work and pensions, said: “Faced with a choice between spending on military training and spending on benefits... Labour chooses more benefits.”

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4 September 2026
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Andy Burnham and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed how to “scale up” efforts to tackle illegal migration and bring the UK closer to Europe during Macron’s first visit to Downing Street since Burnham became prime minister in July.

In an official readout of their meeting, No 10 said the leaders also discussed plans to increase production of long-range missiles in Ukraine. Burnham and Macron said they had made progress on reducing small boat crossings in the English Channel, but that additional action was needed.
Ukraine, Missile Production And Defence Industry Co-operation
No 10 said the talks covered military co-operation connected to the conflict in Ukraine, including steps to establish local assembly lines there for the Scalp long-range missile.
The Scalp missile is the French version of the UK’s Storm Shadow cruise missile, according to No 10.
Bayeux Tapestry Visit And First Foreign Engagement
Macron’s visit was also used to mark the loan of the Bayeux Tapestry to the British Museum. He met King Charles at the museum on Wednesday before the medieval textile goes on public display next week.
Burnham said it was “so fitting” that Macron was his first overseas visitor since taking office, describing him as “our nearest neighbour and close friend Emmanuel”. He added that the exchange showed what co-operation could achieve, citing Ukraine, small boats and strengthening the UK-EU relationship.
Macron said the relationship with the UK was “very strong” and that he was in Britain with “willingness” and a “commitment to get closer”.
Small Boats, Police Surge And Procurement Concerns
In bilateral talks on Thursday, No 10 said the two leaders agreed to go further than current measures to cut Channel crossings. The readout said they also discussed the UK’s plan to move closer to Europe.
Burnham raised concerns about the effect that the “Made in Europe” procurement approach being developed in Brussels could have on British sectors. The plan is intended to protect EU industries, No 10 said.
Downing Street also described renewed activity to tackle larger dinghies. It said 45 extra police officers would be deployed to French beaches as part of a “surge team” to deal with boats carrying more people.
Home Office Minister Anna Turley said earlier on Tuesday that the officers formed part of a wider operation involving more than 1,000 staff at northern French beaches. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said videos in recent weeks showed officers going to boats in the water, “slashing them” and pushing people back, while facing stones and bricks.
Burnham also posted updated figures on small boat returns and asylum hotel numbers on X, saying smuggling gangs were a “shared European challenge”.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch welcomed European collaboration but said it had not stopped the crossings. She told the BBC that the boats were still arriving, and added that the UK had spent hundreds of millions, possibly billions, paying France to man the borders.
Middle East De-Escalation And West Bank Settlement Plans
The leaders also discussed the situation in the Middle East and the need to ensure de-escalation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Burnham raised Israeli plans to open up tenders for settlement homes in a strategically important area of the occupied West Bank known as E1. He said the development was “unacceptable” and would undermine the prospect of a two-state solution.
No 10 said the E1 area would, in effect, divide the West Bank and isolate East Jerusalem. It said settlements in the area have been condemned internationally and are illegal under international law.

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4 September 2026
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Vice President J.D. Vance said on Thursday that he would not describe the military operation between the United States and Iran as “a war”, even as fighting between the two sides flared this week.
Vance Rejects a “War” Description
Speaking during a press briefing, Vance said there was “no active shooting” at the time, adding that he recognised hostilities had “flared up” in other places and moments.
The exchanges of force this week marked the largest burst of fighting in weeks after about a month of relative calm, according to the accounts cited by Vance.
On Tuesday, the US military carried out roughly 100 strikes against Iranian targets.
Strikes Follow Threats In Strait Of Hormuz
The Pentagon described the action as retaliation for threats in the Strait of Hormuz.
Vance said the timing for a complete end to the fighting ultimately rested with Iran.
When asked when Iran would stop attacking ships, he said he did not know the answer and that it would be for Iran to determine. He also said the US would not depend on Iran behaving “responsibly” or negotiating in “good faith”.
Purpose Of US Action
Instead, Vance said the US would use the available “tools” to address two objectives: preventing the United States from facing the threat of an Iranian nuclear programme, and ensuring world energy markets remained adequately supplied.
Civilian Death Reports Under Review
Vance also addressed Iranian officials’ claims that a US missile strike killed at least four civilians at a home in southern Iran where people were celebrating a wedding.
He said he was “extremely skeptical” of the reports, arguing that Iranian state media had not “been a very good scribe” about developments in the conflict. Vance said he was not presenting a finding on the specific incident, but said he had been briefed and that an investigation into what happened was under way.
He added that the US “never” targets civilians in combat. Vance said he did not think the US had enough information “one way or the other” regarding the specific claim.
Skepticism Over Cyberattack Claims
Vance further responded to a report by NBC News that Iranian cyberattacks had targeted US infrastructure.
He said the administration felt “quite confident” that the homeland was safe, while also saying he believed Iran would try to carry out actions it lacked the capability to perform. He said the US government was focused on anticipating potential cyber threats and responding appropriately to them.
Vance said he would be “much more worried about cyberattacks from other actors”.
NBC News reported on Wednesday that Iranian hackers had targeted US water systems, telecommunications, energy and other infrastructure. The outlet said sources indicated the attempted attacks had not been successful and that they focused on automated systems connected to the internet.

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4 September 2026
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Former US pardon attorney Liz Oyer is suing the Department of Justice after being dismissed last year, alleging she was fired for refusing to recommend that actor Mel Gibson have his gun rights restored.

Oyer, who worked in the DOJ’s pardon office, was removed in March 2025 during the early phase of dismissals and reassignments carried out after Donald Trump took office. She filed the claim through the nonprofit Democracy Forward and said her termination followed pressure to take part in what she described as a politically driven request linked to Gibson’s relationship with the new president.
DOJ Asked Her to Facilitate a Gun-Rights Request
According to the lawsuit, Oyer was told to disregard her responsibilities shortly after Trump entered the White House. The suit says she was asked to produce the appearance of an independent review supporting restoration of firearm rights for Gibson.
It adds that Gibson was convicted of a domestic violence offence, and that Oyer had concerns about public safety consequences from granting such a request given that history.
The complaint states that Oyer received a brief notice of termination indicating she was being dismissed under the president’s authority under Article 2 of the US Constitution. It argues that the process did not follow protections owed to civil servants, including a 30-day notice period and the chance to respond in writing, as well as a requirement for a written decision setting out the reasons for removal.
Alleged Breach of Constitutional and Statutory Rights
Oyer said in a statement that the case was about more than her own situation. She argued that US public servants depend on non-partisan officials to uphold the law without fear or favour, and that she was dismissed because she declined to place politics above her duties.
She added that she believed her firing violated her constitutional and statutory rights and also raised risks for public safety. She said the DOJ should not operate by bending rules to satisfy a president’s associates, and that career officials could face consequences for refusing to do so.
The suit also argues that her termination infringed her First Amendment rights. It says the removal was linked to Oyer’s perceived political affiliation, pointing to the fact that she was hired during Joe Biden’s administration.
Replacement Named; Appeal to MSPB Delayed
After Oyer’s dismissal, Trump installed Ed Martin as pardon attorney. Martin is described in the filing as a conservative activist who had represented a number of people accused in connection with the 6 January 2021 Capitol attack. The complaint says he had previously been nominated to serve as a US attorney but did not progress in the Senate amid concerns about his work for such clients.
The lawsuit says Oyer turned to the courts after an earlier effort to challenge the decision through the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). It alleges that the MSPB appeal has stalled, stating that more than 16 months had passed without a substantive review of her termination.
It further claims the case was recently deferred again, leaving her in prolonged “limbo”. The filing cites a decision in March 2026 in which the MSPB said it lacked jurisdiction in many cases involving removals carried out under what the government described as presidential Article II authority, rather than under the Civil Service Reform Act.

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4 September 2026
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Donald Trump has placed himself above all other US presidents in a ranking he shared on social media, declaring himself the only leader in the “greatest” category despite presidential scholars consistently giving him some of the lowest historical ratings.

Trump posted the ranking on Truth Social last Thursday, dividing presidents into six groups ranging from “greatest” to “failures”. Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D Roosevelt and George Washington were placed one level below Trump in the “great” category.
Scholars rank Trump near the bottom
The president’s assessment differs sharply from surveys of presidential historians and political scientists.
Justin Vaughn, a political science professor at Coastal Carolina University and co-creator of the Presidential Greatness Project, said Trump’s ranking was inconsistent with the findings of expert surveys.
“It’s not consistent with the findings of the surveys we’ve conducted,” Vaughn said. “It’s also not consistent with other surveys that have been conducted over the last several years.”
The most recent Presidential Greatness Project survey questioned 154 academics and ranked Trump last among the 45 presidents assessed. He received an average score of 10.92 on a scale from zero, representing failure, to 100, representing greatness.
Lincoln topped the survey with an average score of 93.87. Former presidents such as James Buchanan, who is often criticised for failing to prevent the US civil war, also ranked above Trump.
A separate survey by Siena College in 2022 produced a slightly better result for Trump, but still placed him third from the bottom. Only Buchanan and Andrew Johnson ranked lower.
Questions over Trump’s record
The Siena survey also assessed presidents on areas including executive ability, leadership, integrity and intelligence. Trump ranked 45th out of 45 in both integrity and intelligence.
Barbara Perry, a presidential studies professor at the University of Virginia, said presidential reputations can change over time as historians reassess their records. Americans, she said, tend to develop “a kind of a golden glow about most ex-presidents”.
Trump’s ranking also offered a glimpse into the presidents he admires. Theodore Roosevelt and Grover Cleveland, who like Trump served nonconsecutive terms, were placed in the “near great” category.
Perry rejected the idea that Trump belongs among the highest-rated presidents.
“In no universe of scholars, I believe, would Donald Trump be in the ‘great’ category, the ‘greatest’ category, ‘near great’ category,” she said.
She pointed to Trump’s role in promoting the January 6 insurrection and his continued claims that Joe Biden stole the 2020 election as factors that she believes will weigh heavily on his historical reputation.
Perry said those actions undermined the US constitutional system and the rule of law. She also cited what she described as racism and bias against people who are not white Anglo-Saxon Protestants.
White House defends Trump’s legacy
Davis Ingle, a White House spokesperson, said Trump was focused on delivering what he described as a strong, safe and prosperous country.
“The only legacy President Trump is concerned with is making America greater than ever before,” Ingle said.
He added that Trump would ultimately be remembered as “the most successful and consequential president in modern American history”.
Whether that prediction is borne out will depend on how historians judge Trump’s presidency over time. For now, however, academic surveys place him far from the top of the presidential rankings.



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3 September 2026
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US vice-president JD Vance said he is carrying out what he described as God’s work and added that he would be comfortable if that work coincided with the end times, which he said he believes are coming.

Vance made the remarks during a Monday podcast interview with Bryce Crawford, an evangelical host aged 22 who has more than a million YouTube subscribers and whose channel includes videos framed with sensationalist headlines.
Focus on Faith, Not Prophecy
Discussing a Christian belief that the world as people know it will end, Vance said he does not claim certainty about how close such events may be. While he said he is interested in the idea, he warned that concentrating too heavily on apocalyptic timelines can be harmful.
He said that if his actions “lead to” the end times, that would be acceptable to him. He also argued that his efforts could instead help build a better world that lasts long after he is gone, which he described as a positive outcome.
Vance, who published a spiritual memoir earlier this summer after converting to Catholicism, suggested that end-times thinking may still be relevant regardless of whether it arrives months or thousands of years away.
“I think there are things about the world that make me feel” he said he would not be surprised if the antichrist were present among people.
Remarks on AI and Religion
Vance also linked his faith to concerns about technology. He cited an acquaintance who uses artificial intelligence as a marriage counsellor and described that approach as “kind of satanic”.
He argued that separating human relationships from the social context God intended is wrong, saying that developments that remove people from that human element can be “very bad”.
When asked whether he had been in an environment he considered “spiritually dark”, Vance said he has attended meetings with world leaders where political or strategic issues were discussed, and where he felt a sense of darkness after someone made an observation.
He said the feeling triggered what he described as immediate spiritual concern.
Defence of Trump’s Deleted Jesus-Style Image
The interview also touched on Donald Trump’s earlier use of an AI-generated photo that appeared to depict the president as Jesus. Crawford said the image upset him.
Vance defended Trump, saying the president did not mean to offend Christians. He said he believed Trump’s intention was not to mock God, adding that he thought Trump was using humour rather than trying to imitate or replicate divinity.
Vance described Trump in informal terms, calling him a “backslapper” and “a bit of a ball buster”.
Following criticism from Christian supporters, Trump deleted the image and said it was intended to be him as a doctor making people feel better, according to his explanation at the time.

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3 September 2026
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Two people were killed and several others were injured after multiple people were shot in a high-rise apartment building in downtown Minneapolis on Wednesday, police said.

Minneapolis interim police chief Bill Peterson said the suspected shooter was dead. The chief told reporters at a press briefing that he was “truly sickened” by the level of violence.
Police Respond After Reports of Shooting
Officers were dispatched to the building at 15 E. Grand St. shortly after 4.30pm after reports of gunfire, authorities said. Police said officers encountered victims in the lobby and then heard additional shots coming from an upper floor.
Minneapolis Police Department spokesperson Garrett Parten said officers followed the sound of gunfire to higher floors. He said the visibility was significantly limited by a haze encountered on that floor.
At a later briefing, Peterson said police were not yet sure what caused the haze.
Seven People Shot, Including Injured Officers
Authorities said seven people were shot in total. One victim was found dead at the scene, while a second later died at a hospital, police said. Three other shooting victims were taken to hospital, according to police.
Two Minneapolis police officers were among those injured by gunfire. Mayor Jacob Frey said one officer was shot in the leg and another was shot twice in the abdomen. Authorities said the officer with abdominal injuries was undergoing surgery, while a third officer was being assessed for what police described as an apparent non-life-threatening injury.
In addition, four officers experienced adverse effects after they were “being exposed to an unknown airborne substance”, police said in a news release. Two other officers were hurt when their squad car was involved in a crash while responding to the scene.
Peterson said officers were expected to make a full recovery, based on information available at the time.
Suspect Known to Police, Motive Not Established
Police said it was unclear how the suspect died. Peterson said officers were familiar with the man but that they did not yet have a motive.
Some of the victims lived in the building, Peterson said, adding that police were still working to determine the details of who was affected.
Officials Praise Response; Governor Offers Support
Frey praised the actions of officers, saying they rescued victims and brought people to safety “all while getting shot at themselves”.
Minnesota governor Tim Walz said in a statement on social media that he was relieved to hear the officers involved in the shooting were expected to make a full recovery, and that he was keeping the victims in his thoughts as the investigation continued.

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3 September 2026
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A federal judge in Maryland has blocked an executive order from President Donald Trump that seeks again to limit automatic citizenship for children born in the United States, granting a preliminary injunction while litigation continues.

U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman issued the order on Wednesday in a case brought by two immigration advocacy groups that challenged the administration’s earlier attempt last year to restrict who qualifies for citizenship at birth.
Injunction Against Enforcement
Boardman, appointed by President Joe Biden, said the new directive was “almost certainly” unconstitutional as it applies to the group of children identified in the lawsuit.
Her ruling bars the government from enforcing the restriction against children born after 19 February 2025 to one or both parents who were not lawfully in the country at the time of birth.
“The Court must, once again, preliminarily enjoin enforcement of the President’s most recent attempt to strip the right to citizenship from them,” Boardman wrote in a 35-page opinion.
The Hill has contacted the White House for comment.
Ruling Hinges on Supreme Court Decision
The judge’s decision drew directly on a June Supreme Court ruling that blocked Trump’s earlier “Day 1” executive order and reaffirmed the scope of the 14th Amendment.
Five of the Supreme Court’s justices said the amendment guarantees automatic citizenship to nearly all children born on U.S. soil, including those whose parents are in the country without lawful status. Justice Brett Kavanaugh also backed blocking the order, but said he would do so on statutory rather than constitutional grounds.
Boardman said the administration’s position relied on an interpretation she found inconsistent with the Supreme Court’s conclusion that children in the class met the two requirements of the Citizenship Clause, including citizenship by virtue of birth in the United States.
New Orders Target Birth Tourism
About a month after the June ruling, Trump issued a pair of executive orders aimed at curbing what the administration calls “birth tourism”, describing the practice as travelling to the United States primarily to give birth on U.S. soil.
The orders also sought to widen the categories of people whose children would not be eligible for automatic citizenship, including children born to a parent described in the orders as an “alien enemy” or a member of a foreign terrorist organisation, along with other specified categories.
CASA, Inc., and the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project, Inc., which had previously secured a nationwide injunction from the same court, returned to ask Boardman to intervene again.
Government Argues The Case Is Premature
The Justice Department defended the new restrictions, saying they were narrower than what the Supreme Court had already rejected. It also argued that the lawsuit was premature because the president’s order had not yet been implemented.
Boardman rejected those points, saying the government’s arguments were unpersuasive and that it was relying on a distorted reading of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
In her opinion, the judge found that, in light of the June decision, the plaintiffs had established grounds for a preliminary injunction.

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3 September 2026
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Former President Joe Biden will attend the memorial ceremony at Ground Zero in New York City marking the 25th anniversary of the 11 September 2001 attacks, NewsNation reported on Wednesday.

A spokesperson confirmed Biden’s plans to the network. The announcement comes just under a week after White House officials said President Donald Trump would commemorate the anniversary at the Pentagon rather than at the World Trade Center site.
Biden And Other Former Leaders Expected
NewsNation said that, alongside Biden, former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are expected to take part in the Ground Zero ceremony.
The New York Times previously reported that Biden’s wife, Jill Biden, and former first lady Laura Bush are also expected to attend, along with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The anniversary next Friday marks the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back. A total of 2,977 people were killed.
Trump To Mark Anniversary At Pentagon
Unlike the other living presidents expected at Ground Zero, Trump is scheduled to attend a ceremony at the Pentagon on 11 September.
White House spokesperson Olivia Wales told Fox News Digital that the president also plans to honour 9/11 first responders and New York Fire Department officials at the White House on 8 September, ahead of the anniversary.
The New York Times reported last week that Trump decided not to attend the Manhattan ceremony after an allegation that he had been barred from delivering a speech. Trump has denied the claim.
The National September 11 Memorial and Museum has prohibited speeches by politicians at the ceremony since 2012.
The Times reported that Trump pushed back on the report, singling out White House correspondent Maggie Haberman as a “Fake Reporter”.
Events In Dallas And Ireland, With Vance In New York
Trump is scheduled to speak at the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention in Dallas on 9 and 10 September. After the Pentagon event on 11 September, he will travel to Ireland on 12 and 13 September to attend the Irish Open at his golf course in Doonbeg.
One person briefed on the matter told the Times that travelling overseas would be easier for Trump if he left from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland rather than a commercial airport in New York or New Jersey.
Vice President Vance is expected to attend the Ground Zero ceremony in New York on the administration’s behalf, NewsNation said. Other White House officials will be at the site of the Flight 93 crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

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3 September 2026
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President Trump floated the idea of changing the name of the Strait of Hormuz to the “Trump Strait” on Wednesday, despite the international waterway not being owned by a single country.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the proposal should be considered now that the strait is under U.S. control, adding that he believed the renamed strait would be “hotter” than before. He did not provide further details about how the change would be carried out.
The Strait of Hormuz is an international shipping lane with water that lies in and around the territories of Oman and Iran. Its legal status is not determined by any one state.
Proposal Follows Trump’s Territory Suggestion
Trump’s naming idea came after he suggested last month that he would declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory.
During remarks last month, he said he would be “declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States”. He has not explained how the U.S. would rename the waterway or what legal steps it would take to establish the strait as U.S. territory.
Importance for Global Energy
Roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas is transported through the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict involving Iran has reduced shipping activity, and energy prices have risen globally, according to the account provided.
The U.S. also maintains a naval blockade on the route.
War With Iran Continues
The war between the U.S. and Iran has passed six months, with no deals reached to end the fighting or to stop Iran’s nuclear programme.
On Tuesday, the U.S. launched a new wave of strikes on Tehran. Trump said at the time that he was not seeking to push Iran into negotiations.
He said he preferred the current situation, describing the U.S. as having almost total control of the Hormuz Strait and claiming that Iran’s economy was collapsing. He also urged Iranian people to oppose the situation, saying they would need to rise up and fight.

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3 September 2026
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US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing criticism in Canada after a social media post appeared to mock members of the Canadian cadet youth programme, drawing fresh attention to strained relations between the two countries.
Defence Minister Calls Post “Below The Dignity”
Hegseth shared an image taken from a local training branch’s social media account. It shows a young cadet receiving an award from her instructor. He accompanied the picture with a Canadian flag emoji and the caption “this is real”, which critics said was intended to ridicule the pair’s appearance.
Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty said on Tuesday that Hegseth’s post was “below the dignity of the office”. The US Pentagon said the post “speaks for itself”.
Carney Says Talks Resume When Memes Stop
The comments come as the US and Canada remain locked in a trade dispute marked by repeated verbal exchanges.
Asked in the House of Commons about Hegseth’s post and other jibes from Trump administration officials, Prime Minister Mark Carney said trade discussions would resume “when the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade, stop trying to be tough and start being serious about having those discussions”.
Carney’s remarks echoed the wider escalation between the two countries after talks broke down last month over what each side described as last-minute demands that derailed a tentative agreement.
The US then imposed 50% tariffs on some C$28bn ($20bn) of Canadian imports, and Canada said it would introduce matching countermeasures next week. Officials on both sides have also traded insults, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford calling Donald Trump a “loser”, Trump seeking to change the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America”, and US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy accusing Canada of being a country that “doesn’t have a military”.


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Cadet Groups And Military Leaders React
The national cadet programme is overseen by the military and provides leadership and skills training for young people aged 12 to 18. In a statement, the Army Cadet League of Canada, a civilian organisation that supports the programme, said it strongly condemns “any online harassment, or mockery of cadets’ achievements”.
It said directing derogatory commentary at youth “actively working to better themselves and serve their communities” is unacceptable.
General Jennie Carignan, Canada’s top military commander, said the defence leadership was in contact with the cadets involved and would consult them on how they want to respond. “We are consulting with them on how they want to go about doing this,” she told CBC.
Other Canadian officials criticised Hegseth as well. Conservative MP Scott Anderson, a former military reservist, said in a post that Hegseth had not shown the “responsibility and decorum” expected of his role. He accused Hegseth of insulting two female Canadian non-combatants and attempting to shame them publicly.
Some pundits and Canadians also accused the defence secretary of “body-shaming” after the post.
Canada and the US are defence partners and allies, including during the war in Afghanistan. In recent months, Canada has also increased defence spending after years of missing Nato targets.
Pressure On Hegseth At Home
Hegseth, a veteran, is under pressure in the US as well, following the departure of several high-profile military leaders from the Pentagon and questions about the US handling of the Iran war. He has also focused on the appearance and physical fitness of US troops and on what he calls the “warrior ethos”.

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3 September 2026
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