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As the report of United States President Donald Trump allegedly sending a birthday letter to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 snowballed into a controversy, tech giant Elon Musk has dismissed it, claiming that it “sounds bogus.” Responding to a number of posts on X, Musk said that the words stated in the letter does not sound like those of Trump. This comes as the US president rejected the claims that he sent a birthday card to Epstein on his 50th birthday in 2003. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Ghislaine Maxwell prepared a special gift to mark Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday: a birthday album, which included letters from his family and friends, including Donald Trump. Denying that it was he who wrote the letter, the US president claimed that the letter was a "fake thing" and threatened to sue the Wall Street Journal. However, Elon Musk continued his attack on Trump over the release of the Epstein Files.&nbsp;In his first response, the Tesla and SpaceX boss said, “The letter sounds bogus.” In another post, while responding to the notes that the alleged letter bore, Musk said, "It really doesn't sound like something Trump would say tbh!" He also said, “weird” when a journalist claimed that the alleged letter on Trump's name is “bad.” In his continued attack on the Trump administration over the release of Epstein Files, Musk said, “Wow I can't believe Epstein killed himself before realising it was all a hoax.” He also responded to several posts about Trump's press secretary, Karoline Leavitt's, press conference, where she was bombarded with questions related to the Epstein Files. “Which part is a hoax, valid question,” he said.&nbsp;<h2>What was written in the letter?</h2>A “bawdy” letter to Jeffrey Epstein, bearing President Donald&nbsp;Trump’s signature, was included in an album of letters Epstein received for his 50th birthday in 2003, The Wall Street Journal reported. The letter allegedly written by Donald Trump bore a drawing, depicting a woman’s breasts. According to the Journal, the letter “contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker.” “A pair of small arcs denotes the woman’s breasts, and the future president’s signature is a squiggly ‘Donald’ below her waist, mimicking pubic hair,” the Journal’s Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo reported. It concluded with the line: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.” It was unclear whether the birthday album was among the Epstein documents recently reviewed by the Justice Department.&nbsp;<h2>What is Trump's response?</h2>“This is not me. This is a fake thing. It’s a fake Wall Street Journal story. I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women. It’s not my language. It’s not my words,” Trump said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. On Truth Social, he wrote, "The Editor of The Wall Street Journal, Emma Tucker, was told directly by Karoline Leavitt, and by President Trump, that the letter was a FAKE, but Emma Tucker didn’t want to hear that. Instead, they are going with a false, malicious, and defamatory story anyway. President Trump will be suing The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Mr. Murdoch, shortly."&nbsp;Continuing with his tirade, Trump wrote, "The Press has to learn to be truthful, and not rely on sources that probably don’t even exist." He then called the Epstein Files a hoax once again, saying, “If there were any truth at all on the Epstein Hoax, as it pertains to President Trump, this information would have been revealed by Comey, Brennan, Crooked Hillary, and other Radical Left Lunatics years ago. It certainly would not have sat in a file waiting for “TRUMP” to have won three Elections. This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS!” Vice President JD Vance also weighed in on social media, calling the story “complete and utter bullshit” in an X post.

As the report of United States President Donald Trump allegedly sending a birthday letter to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 snowballed into a controversy, tech giant Elon Musk has dismissed it

As the report of United States President Donald Trump allegedly sending a birthday letter to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 snowballed into a controversy, tech giant Elon Musk has dismissed it, claiming that it “sounds bogus.” Responding to a number of posts on X, Musk said that the words stated in the letter does not sound like those of Trump. This comes as the US president rejected the claims that he sent a birthday card to Epstein on his 50th birthday in 2003. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Ghislaine Maxwell prepared a special gift to mark Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday: a birthday album, which included letters from his family and friends, including Donald Trump. Denying that it was he who wrote the letter, the US president claimed that the letter was a "fake thing" and threatened to sue the Wall Street Journal. However, Elon Musk continued his attack on Trump over the release of the Epstein Files. In his first response, the Tesla and SpaceX boss said, “The letter sounds bogus.” In another post, while responding to the notes that the alleged letter bore, Musk said, "It really doesn't sound like something Trump would say tbh!" He also said, “weird” when a journalist claimed that the alleged letter on Trump's name is “bad.” In his continued attack on the Trump administration over the release of Epstein Files, Musk said, “Wow I can't believe Epstein killed himself before realising it was all a hoax.” He also responded to several posts about Trump's press secretary, Karoline Leavitt's, press conference, where she was bombarded with questions related to the Epstein Files. “Which part is a hoax, valid question,” he said. What was written in the letter? A “bawdy” letter to Jeffrey Epstein, bearing President Donald Trump’s signature, was included in an album of letters Epstein received for his 50th birthday in 2003, The Wall Street Journal reported. The letter allegedly written by Donald Trump bore a drawing, depicting a woman’s breasts. According to the Journal, the letter “contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker.” “A pair of small arcs denotes the woman’s breasts, and the future president’s signature is a squiggly ‘Donald’ below her waist, mimicking pubic hair,” the Journal’s Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo reported. It concluded with the line: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.” It was unclear whether the birthday album was among the Epstein documents recently reviewed by the Justice Department. What is Trump's response? “This is not me. This is a fake thing. It’s a fake Wall Street Journal story. I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women. It’s not my language. It’s not my words,” Trump said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. On Truth Social, he wrote, "The Editor of The Wall Street Journal, Emma Tucker, was told directly by Karoline Leavitt, and by President Trump, that the letter was a FAKE, but Emma Tucker didn’t want to hear that. Instead, they are going with a false, malicious, and defamatory story anyway. President Trump will be suing The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Mr. Murdoch, shortly." Continuing with his tirade, Trump wrote, "The Press has to learn to be truthful, and not rely on sources that probably don’t even exist." He then called the Epstein Files a hoax once again, saying, “If there were any truth at all on the Epstein Hoax, as it pertains to President Trump, this information would have been revealed by Comey, Brennan, Crooked Hillary, and other Radical Left Lunatics years ago. It certainly would not have sat in a file waiting for “TRUMP” to have won three Elections. This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS!” Vice President JD Vance also weighed in on social media, calling the story “complete and utter bullshit” in an X post.

As the report of United States President Donald Trump allegedly sending a birthday letter to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 snowballed into a controversy, tech giant Elon Musk has dismissed it

Did Trump send letter with drawing of 'naked woman' to Epstein in 2003? Here's what Elon Musk thinks

United States President Donald Trump has rejected the claims that he sent a birthday card to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on his 50th birthday in 2003. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Ghislaine Maxwell prepared a special gift to mark Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday: a birthday album, which included letters from his family and friends, including Donald Trump. Denying that it was he who wrote the letter, the US president claimed that the letter was a "fake thing." He even threatened to sue the Wall Street Journal.<h2>What was written in the letter?</h2>A “bawdy” letter to Jeffrey Epstein, bearing President Donald&nbsp;Trump’s signature, was included in an album of letters Epstein received for his 50th birthday in 2003, The Wall Street Journal reported. The letter allegedly written by Donald Trump bore a drawing, depicting a woman’s breasts. According to the Journal, the letter “contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker.” “A pair of small arcs denotes the woman’s breasts, and the future president’s signature is a squiggly ‘Donald’ below her waist, mimicking pubic hair,” the Journal’s Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo reported. It concluded with the line: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.” It was unclear whether the birthday album was among the Epstein documents recently reviewed by the Justice Department.&nbsp;

<h2>What is Trump's response?</h2>“This is not me. This is a fake thing. It’s a fake Wall Street Journal story. I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women. It’s not my language. It’s not my words,” Trump said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. On Truth Social, he wrote, "The Editor of The Wall Street Journal, Emma Tucker, was told directly by Karoline Leavitt, and by President Trump, that the letter was a FAKE, but Emma Tucker didn’t want to hear that. Instead, they are going with a false, malicious, and defamatory story anyway. President Trump will be suing The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Mr. Murdoch, shortly."&nbsp;Continuing with his tirade, Trump wrote, "The Press has to learn to be truthful, and not rely on sources that probably don’t even exist." He then called the Epstein Files a hoax once again, saying, “If there were any truth at all on the Epstein Hoax, as it pertains to President Trump, this information would have been revealed by Comey, Brennan, Crooked Hillary, and other Radical Left Lunatics years ago. It certainly would not have sat in a file waiting for “TRUMP” to have won three Elections. This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS!” Vice President JD Vance also weighed in on social media, calling the story “complete and utter bullshit” in an X post.

US President Donald Trump denied sending a 2003 birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein, calling it fake and threatening to sue the Wall Street Journal, which reported the claim based on a birthday album compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell.

United States President Donald Trump has rejected the claims that he sent a birthday card to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on his 50th birthday in 2003. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Ghislaine Maxwell prepared a special gift to mark Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday: a birthday album, which included letters from his family and friends, including Donald Trump. Denying that it was he who wrote the letter, the US president claimed that the letter was a "fake thing." He even threatened to sue the Wall Street Journal. What was written in the letter? A “bawdy” letter to Jeffrey Epstein, bearing President Donald Trump’s signature, was included in an album of letters Epstein received for his 50th birthday in 2003, The Wall Street Journal reported. The letter allegedly written by Donald Trump bore a drawing, depicting a woman’s breasts. According to the Journal, the letter “contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker.” “A pair of small arcs denotes the woman’s breasts, and the future president’s signature is a squiggly ‘Donald’ below her waist, mimicking pubic hair,” the Journal’s Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo reported. It concluded with the line: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.” It was unclear whether the birthday album was among the Epstein documents recently reviewed by the Justice Department.

US President Donald Trump denied sending a 2003 birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein, calling it fake and threatening to sue the Wall Street Journal, which reported the claim based on a birthday album compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell.

'FAKE NEWS': Trump denies sending 'naked woman drawing' letter for Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday - Here's what the letter claims

In a big win for India, the US Department of State on Thursday (July 17) designated The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the banned Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and group responsible for April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, as a terrorist organisation.&nbsp;"Today, the Department of State is adding The Resistance Front (TRF) as a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). TRF, a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) front and proxy, claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack which killed 26 civilians. This was the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks conducted by LeT. TRF has also claimed responsibility for several attacks against Indian security forces, including most recently in 2024," the statement read.<h2>Who are The Resistance Front (TRF)?</h2>The Resistance Front (TRF) is an offshoot of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The group reportedly came into being after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) banned TRF, all its forms and front groups in January 2023. The MHA also declared the TRF a terrorist group under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).&nbsp;The TRF is reportedly founded by founder Sheikh Sajjad Gul also known as Sheikh Sajjad and its leaders include LeT operatives Sajid Jatt and Salim Rehmani. Sajjad Gul was designated as a terrorist by the Indian government in 2022. Gul was also involved in hatching a criminal conspiracy to eliminate journalist Shujaat Bukhari along with two of his personal security officers, at the Press Enclave area of Srinagar on June 14, 2018.&nbsp;The group came to the fore when J&amp;K Police busted a unit of over ground workers (OGWs) in Sopore and Kupwara. In the past, the group has issued threats to media houses in the Valley for “traitorous acts.” Ahead of the Pahalgam terror attack, this group claimed responsibility for the Z-Morh Tunnel attack in Ganderbal on October 20, 2024. According to 2022 data, out of 172 terrorists that were killed in Jammu and Kashmir, 108 were linked to The Resistance Front.&nbsp;&nbsp;“TRF is recruiting youth through online medium for furtherance of terrorist activities and has been also involved in carrying out propaganda on terror activities, recruitment of terrorists, infiltration of terrorists and smuggling of weapons and narcotics from Pakistan into J&amp;K. TRF is involved in psychological operations on social media platforms for inciting people of J&amp;K to join terrorist outfits against the Indian state,” the MHA notification stated about TRF.&nbsp;The MHA notification also added that “the activities of TRF are detrimental for the national security and sovereignty of India. A large number of cases have been registered against the members/associates of the TRF relating to planning of killing of security personnel and civilians of J&amp;K, co-coordinating and transporting weapons to support proscribed terrorist organisations…”

The Resistance Front (TRF) is an offshoot of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The group reportedly came into being after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019

In a big win for India, the US Department of State on Thursday (July 17) designated The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the banned Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and group responsible for April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, as a terrorist organisation. "Today, the Department of State is adding The Resistance Front (TRF) as a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). TRF, a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) front and proxy, claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack which killed 26 civilians. This was the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks conducted by LeT. TRF has also claimed responsibility for several attacks against Indian security forces, including most recently in 2024," the statement read. Who are The Resistance Front (TRF)? The Resistance Front (TRF) is an offshoot of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The group reportedly came into being after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) banned TRF, all its forms and front groups in January 2023. The MHA also declared the TRF a terrorist group under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The TRF is reportedly founded by founder Sheikh Sajjad Gul also known as Sheikh Sajjad and its leaders include LeT operatives Sajid Jatt and Salim Rehmani. Sajjad Gul was designated as a terrorist by the Indian government in 2022. Gul was also involved in hatching a criminal conspiracy to eliminate journalist Shujaat Bukhari along with two of his personal security officers, at the Press Enclave area of Srinagar on June 14, 2018. The group came to the fore when J&K Police busted a unit of over ground workers (OGWs) in Sopore and Kupwara. In the past, the group has issued threats to media houses in the Valley for “traitorous acts.” Ahead of the Pahalgam terror attack, this group claimed responsibility for the Z-Morh Tunnel attack in Ganderbal on October 20, 2024. According to 2022 data, out of 172 terrorists that were killed in Jammu and Kashmir, 108 were linked to The Resistance Front. “TRF is recruiting youth through online medium for furtherance of terrorist activities and has been also involved in carrying out propaganda on terror activities, recruitment of terrorists, infiltration of terrorists and smuggling of weapons and narcotics from Pakistan into J&K. TRF is involved in psychological operations on social media platforms for inciting people of J&K to join terrorist outfits against the Indian state,” the MHA notification stated about TRF. The MHA notification also added that “the activities of TRF are detrimental for the national security and sovereignty of India. A large number of cases have been registered against the members/associates of the TRF relating to planning of killing of security personnel and civilians of J&K, co-coordinating and transporting weapons to support proscribed terrorist organisations…”

The Resistance Front (TRF) is an offshoot of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The group reportedly came into being after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019

Who are TRF: Pakistani outfit responsible for Pahalgam terror attack, now US-designated terrorist group

The United States on Thursday officially designated The Resistance Front, a shadowy group that claimed the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which triggered Indian strikes on Pakistani territory, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation. The terrorist designation by the US will lead to the imposition of strict financial and travel sanctions on TRF and its members and will strengthen cooperation with global partners in counterterrorism efforts.&nbsp;US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a statement announcing the designations, described The Resistance Group as a “front and proxy” of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist group based in Pakistan.“Today, the Department of State is adding The Resistance Front (TRF) as a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT),” the statement said.&nbsp;TRF, a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) front and proxy, claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack which killed 26 civilians. This was the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks conducted by Lashkar-e-Taiba.&nbsp;The Resistance Front has also claimed responsibility for several attacks against Indian security forces, including most recently in 2024.&nbsp;“These actions taken by the Department of State demonstrate the Trump Administration’s commitment to protecting our national security interests, countering terrorism, and enforcing President Trump’s call for justice for the Pahalgam attack,” the statement added.  &nbsp;TRF and other associated aliases have been added to LeT’s designation as a FTO and SDGT pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, respectively. The Department of State has also reviewed and maintained the FTO designation of LeT. Amendments to FTO designations go into effect upon publication in the Federal Register, it said.&nbsp;India had launched a renewed attempt to get The Resistance Force designated as a terrorist organisation by the United Nations Security Council and placed under international sanctions in view of its role in the April 22 carnage and its links with the Lashkar-e-Taiba based in Pakistan.&nbsp;A team of counterterrorism and legal experts from New Delhi reached the United Nations headquarters in New York to renew the attempts to get the Security Council to take note of the links of The Resistance Force (TRF) with global terrorist networks of Al Qaeda and ISIL (Da’esh) through the LeT of Pakistan.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a statement announcing the designations, described The Resistance Group as a “front and proxy” of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist group based in Pakistan. 

The United States on Thursday officially designated The Resistance Front, a shadowy group that claimed the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which triggered Indian strikes on Pakistani territory, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation. The terrorist designation by the US will lead to the imposition of strict financial and travel sanctions on TRF and its members and will strengthen cooperation with global partners in counterterrorism efforts. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a statement announcing the designations, described The Resistance Group as a “front and proxy” of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist group based in Pakistan. “Today, the Department of State is adding The Resistance Front (TRF) as a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT),” the statement said. TRF, a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) front and proxy, claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack which killed 26 civilians. This was the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks conducted by Lashkar-e-Taiba. The Resistance Front has also claimed responsibility for several attacks against Indian security forces, including most recently in 2024. “These actions taken by the Department of State demonstrate the Trump Administration’s commitment to protecting our national security interests, countering terrorism, and enforcing President Trump’s call for justice for the Pahalgam attack,” the statement added.   TRF and other associated aliases have been added to LeT’s designation as a FTO and SDGT pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, respectively. The Department of State has also reviewed and maintained the FTO designation of LeT. Amendments to FTO designations go into effect upon publication in the Federal Register, it said. India had launched a renewed attempt to get The Resistance Force designated as a terrorist organisation by the United Nations Security Council and placed under international sanctions in view of its role in the April 22 carnage and its links with the Lashkar-e-Taiba based in Pakistan. A team of counterterrorism and legal experts from New Delhi reached the United Nations headquarters in New York to renew the attempts to get the Security Council to take note of the links of The Resistance Force (TRF) with global terrorist networks of Al Qaeda and ISIL (Da’esh) through the LeT of Pakistan.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a statement announcing the designations, described The Resistance Group as a “front and proxy” of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist group based in Pakistan.&nbsp;

US designates TRF, involved in Pahalgam attack, as terrorist group, proxy of Pak-based LeT

President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a blood circulation issue, after “mild swelling was noticed in his lower legs,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed on Thursday. Leavitt was addressing concerns over visible swelling in President Trump’s ankles and bruising on his hand when she made the disclosure and said that it was assessed to be “minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin” as a preventative heart-health measure.&nbsp;After investigating ankle swelling, doctors determined that Trump has blood pooling in his veins, a condition Leavitt described as common among individuals over the age of 70. As for the bruising on the hand, Leavitt said it was “consistent” with irritation from “frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin”. She emphasised that the tests showed “no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease.”&nbsp;&nbsp;“I know that many in the media have been speculating about bruising on the president’s hand and also swelling in the president’s legs. In the effort of transparency, the president wanted me to share a note from his physician ... all results were within normal limits,” Leavitt said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a> on the President Trump&#39;s health: &quot;I know that many in the media have been speculating about bruising on the president&#39;s hand and also swelling in the president&#39;s legs ... All results [of a recent physical exam] were within normal limits.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/aTjaAusCxw">pic.twitter.com/aTjaAusCxw</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1945906511403766035?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“In recent weeks, President Trump noted mild swelling in his lower legs, in keeping with routine medical care, and out of an abundance of caution, this concern was thoroughly evaluated by the White House medical unit,” she read.“The president underwent a comprehensive examination, including diagnostic vascular studies, bilateral lower extremity, venous doppler ultrasounds were performed and revealed chronic venous insufficiency… a common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70.”&nbsp;She added: “Importantly, there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease… An echocardiogram was also performed and confirmed normal cardiac structure and function, no signs of heart failure, renal impairment or systemic illness were identified additionally.”It was not immediately clear how Trump, 79, would be treated for the ailment.&nbsp;‘Recent photos of the president have shown minor bruising on the back of his hand,” she also acknowledged.“This is consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen. This is a well known and benign side effect of aspirin therapy and the president remains in excellent health, which I think all of you witness on a daily basis here.”

President Trump noticed mild swelling in his lower legs in the last few weeksa, and in keeping with routine medical care, and out of an abundance of caution, this concern was thoroughly evaluated by the White House medical unit, said the White House press secretary.

President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a blood circulation issue, after “mild swelling was noticed in his lower legs,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed on Thursday. Leavitt was addressing concerns over visible swelling in President Trump’s ankles and bruising on his hand when she made the disclosure and said that it was assessed to be “minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin” as a preventative heart-health measure. After investigating ankle swelling, doctors determined that Trump has blood pooling in his veins, a condition Leavitt described as common among individuals over the age of 70. As for the bruising on the hand, Leavitt said it was “consistent” with irritation from “frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin”. She emphasised that the tests showed “no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease.” “I know that many in the media have been speculating about bruising on the president’s hand and also swelling in the president’s legs. In the effort of transparency, the president wanted me to share a note from his physician ... all results were within normal limits,” Leavitt said.

President Trump noticed mild swelling in his lower legs in the last few weeksa, and in keeping with routine medical care, and out of an abundance of caution, this concern was thoroughly evaluated by the White House medical unit, said the White House press secretary.

Trump’s ankles swollen due to chronic venous condition, hand bruises due to irritation from ‘handshakes’: White House

Following an unexpected moment during Coldplay’s concert in Boston, Astronomer CEO Andy Byron’s affair was revealed to the public. The band’s signature “kiss cam” captured Byron, who is already married, with his colleague, Kristin Cabot. She is the human resources chief at Astronomer and has held the position for just over nine months. The footage of the moment from the concert has gone viral, resulting in widespread criticism from netizens. Amid the controversy, Byron’s wife has appeared to have dropped the last name from her social media before deactivating her account.&nbsp;The video became viral after the frontman’s jovial remark, “Oh look at these two.” In the clip, the couple can be seen standing close. When the camera catches them, Byron hastily ducks, while Cabot hides her face. Chris Martin, the band’s lead singer, who was unaware of who they were, says, “Either they're having an affair, or they're very shy.”&nbsp;Megan Kerrigan Byron, the tech CEO’s wife, has maintained a low public profile since their marriage. She is an educator at the Bancroft School in Massachusetts and currently serves as the Associate Director of Lower School and the Hope Graham Program Admission. The couple has two children together.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The internet found out he’s married and she knows 🙃 Imagine being caught having an affair by Coldplay 😭😭😭 <a href="https://t.co/XtdQspLixO">pic.twitter.com/XtdQspLixO</a>&mdash; TONI TONE (@t0nit0ne) <a href="https://twitter.com/t0nit0ne/status/1945801768937333147?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;After the clip from the Coldplay concert went viral, Megan’s social media platforms were flooded with messages as netizens encouraged and supported her. But now, she has removed “Byron” from her name on various social media profiles, which was quickly noticed by social media users. The change of name suggests the couple may be experiencing marital issues after the controversy. Megan has also deactivated her Facebook account.&nbsp;In a social media post, a person shares a screenshot of her profile that no longer has her last name. “Andy Byron‘s wife has now dropped her married name on Facebook and left comments open on her Facebook!” the user wrote.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Andy Byron‘s wife has now dropped her married name on Facebook👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 and left comments open on her Facebook! What a class act! Go Megan 👏🏼 Get that divorce lawyer and get the money <a href="https://t.co/sCVVXJhKwF">pic.twitter.com/sCVVXJhKwF</a>&mdash; Mrs. SpaceX ™️ (@anuibi) <a href="https://twitter.com/anuibi/status/1945851236621734201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;The incident has taken social media by storm as netizens criticise Byron for having an extramarital affair with his colleague and share sympathetic messages for his wife.

The incident has taken social media by storm as social media users criticise Byron for having an extramarital affair with his colleague and share sympathetic messages for his wife.

Following an unexpected moment during Coldplay’s concert in Boston, Astronomer CEO Andy Byron’s affair was revealed to the public. The band’s signature “kiss cam” captured Byron, who is already married, with his colleague, Kristin Cabot. She is the human resources chief at Astronomer and has held the position for just over nine months. The footage of the moment from the concert has gone viral, resulting in widespread criticism from netizens. Amid the controversy, Byron’s wife has appeared to have dropped the last name from her social media before deactivating her account. The video became viral after the frontman’s jovial remark, “Oh look at these two.” In the clip, the couple can be seen standing close. When the camera catches them, Byron hastily ducks, while Cabot hides her face. Chris Martin, the band’s lead singer, who was unaware of who they were, says, “Either they're having an affair, or they're very shy.” Megan Kerrigan Byron, the tech CEO’s wife, has maintained a low public profile since their marriage. She is an educator at the Bancroft School in Massachusetts and currently serves as the Associate Director of Lower School and the Hope Graham Program Admission. The couple has two children together.

After Byron’s video went viral on the internet, netizens criticised him for having an extramarital affair with his colleague and shared sympathetic messages for his wife. But now, his wife seemed to have removed her last name from social media profiles and deactivated her accounts.

Astronomer CEO Andy Byron’s wife drops last name from social media profiles, deactivates account after viral ‘kiss cam’ clip

As Republicans push for Jeffrey Epstein files, US President Donald Trump called the handling of the files by his administration a "hoax". However, it did not work, as on Thursday, more Republicans came forward to attack the US president over not releasing the Epstein files. Not just that, some of his supporters also recorded videos burning their signature Make America Great Again hats.House Speaker Mike Johnson, a key official of the Trump administration, called for the release of all documents relating to the convicted sex offender Epstein. He even urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to "come forward and explain" the situation.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Just burnt my MAGA hat. Why the fuck would you go to that island? <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> <a href="https://t.co/InxuvpgtlW">pic.twitter.com/InxuvpgtlW</a>&mdash; Grim ✞ (@grimcalls) <a href="https://twitter.com/grimcalls/status/1944162157169438786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Mike Pence, Trump's former vice president, told CBS News on Wednesday that the time has come now for the US president to release all the files regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s investigation and prosecution. Meanwhile, podcast host Theo Von, who also attended Trump's inauguration in January and called the ceremony "inspiring", called for the full Epstein list to be released.Conspiracy theories. Laura Loomer, a close advisor to Trump, called for the appointment of a special counsel to handle the Epstein files. She said, "Obviously, this is not a complete hoax given the fact that [Epstein associate] Ghislaine Maxwell is currently serving 20 years in prison in Florida for her crimes and activities with Jeffrey Epstein, who we know is a convicted sexual predator."The list doesn't end here, even Trump's most loyal people in Congress said that they are not satisfied with the US president's decision not to release those files.Senator Josh Hawley questioned the FBI's judgment, saying, "I think it is maybe a little difficult to believe the idea that DoJ and the FBI … don’t have any idea who Epstein’s clients were."Following this, Trump slammed "foolish Republicans," saying that they were helping Democrats by focusing on documents related to Epstein. Calling it the "Epstein hoax", he said, “Some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans fall into the net, and so they try and do the Democrats’ work."

Mike Pence, Trump's former vice president, told CBS News on Wednesday that the time has come now for the US president to release all the files regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s investigation and prosecution.

As Republicans push for Jeffrey Epstein files, US President Donald Trump called the handling of the files by his administration a "hoax". However, it did not work, as on Thursday, more Republicans came forward to attack the US president over not releasing the Epstein files. Not just that, some of his supporters also recorded videos burning their signature Make America Great Again hats. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a key official of the Trump administration, called for the release of all documents relating to the convicted sex offender Epstein. He even urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to "come forward and explain" the situation.

Mike Pence, Trump's former vice president, told CBS News on Wednesday that the time has come now for the US president to release all the files regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s investigation and prosecution.

Epstein hoax: How Epstein files divided MAGA as Trump's supporters burn 'Make America Great Again' hats

The information of over 100 Britons, including special forces and spies, was included in a massive data leak that saw Afghans secretly resettled in the UK. Defence officials have said that information of MI6 spies, SAS and special forces members were included in the spreadsheet, following their endorsement of Afghans who had requested to be resettled in the UK following the Taliban takeover.&nbsp;The data, comprising the personal details of almost 19,000 individuals who had applied for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap), was published "in error" in February 2022 by a defence official. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) only discovered the breach over a year later, when extracts of the spreadsheet were posted anonymously in a Facebook group in August 2023. Other leaked information included the Arap applicants' names and contact information and names of their relatives.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-blatant-violation-of-sanctity-two-killed-priest-injured-after-israeli-strike-on-only-catholic-church-in-gaza-pope-leo-xiv-reacts-1752762139023">‘Blatant violation of sanctity’: Two killed, priest injured after Israeli strike on only Catholic church in Gaza; Pope Leo XIV reacts</a>&nbsp;In a statement on Tuesday (July 15), following an unprecedented superinjunction being lifted by a high court judge, the defence secretary John Healey issued a "sincere apology" on behalf of the government for the breach of data. He subsequently informed the Commons that the spreadsheet had "names and contact information of applicants and, in some cases, details related to applicants' family members, and in a few cases the names of members of parliament, senior military personnel and government ministers were recorded as endorsing the application". "This was a grave departmental mistake," he was quoted saying in an interview.&nbsp;Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge apologised on behalf of the previous Conservative government, which was ruling at the time of the leak and when it emerged over a year later. Cartlidge subsequently questioned Healey about speculation that a different individual from the original person who leaked the information had been involved in blackmail.

British Intelligence compromised? Afghan data leak names MI6 spies, SAS troops

The information of over 100 Britons, including special forces and spies, was included in a massive data leak that saw Afghans secretly resettled in the UK. Defence officials have said that information of MI6 spies, SAS and special forces members were included in the spreadsheet, following their endorsement of Afghans who had requested to be resettled in the UK following the Taliban takeover. The data, comprising the personal details of almost 19,000 individuals who had applied for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap), was published "in error" in February 2022 by a defence official. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) only discovered the breach over a year later, when extracts of the spreadsheet were posted anonymously in a Facebook group in August 2023. Other leaked information included the Arap applicants' names and contact information and names of their relatives. Also Read: ‘Blatant violation of sanctity’: Two killed, priest injured after Israeli strike on only Catholic church in Gaza; Pope Leo XIV reacts In a statement on Tuesday (July 15), following an unprecedented superinjunction being lifted by a high court judge, the defence secretary John Healey issued a "sincere apology" on behalf of the government for the breach of data. He subsequently informed the Commons that the spreadsheet had "names and contact information of applicants and, in some cases, details related to applicants' family members, and in a few cases the names of members of parliament, senior military personnel and government ministers were recorded as endorsing the application". "This was a grave departmental mistake," he was quoted saying in an interview. Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge apologised on behalf of the previous Conservative government, which was ruling at the time of the leak and when it emerged over a year later. Cartlidge subsequently questioned Healey about speculation that a different individual from the original person who leaked the information had been involved in blackmail.

The Ministry of Defence became aware of the breach more than a year later, when excerpts of the spreadsheet were anonymously posted in a Facebook group in August 2023

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday (Jul 17) signed a “first of its kind ever” agreement aimed at bolstering defence exports, targeting smuggling gangs, and reinforcing UK-Germany trade relations. Merz marked his first formal visit to the UK since taking office in May on what he described as a “historic day for German-British relations.” This comes as Starmer works to improve strained relations with his European neighbours after the UK’s exit from the EU in 2020.&nbsp;“We want to work together more closely, particularly after the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union. It is overdue for us to conclude such a treaty with each other,” the German chancellor said.&nbsp;Starmer called the Kensington Treaty “the first of its kind ever”, describing it as a “statement of intent, a statement of our ambition to work ever more closely together.” The deal marks the first between the two nations since the Second World War. It includes a commitment from Berlin to make facilitating the smuggling of migrants to the UK a criminal offence.&nbsp;According to a statement from Downing Street, the law change will give German authorities more power to probe and take action against warehouses and storage facilities used by smugglers to hide small boats for Channel crossings. The law is expected to be passed by the end of the year.&nbsp;“Chancellor Merz’s commitment to make necessary changes to German law to disrupt the supply lines of the dangerous vessels which carry illegal migrants across the Channel is hugely welcome,” Starmer said.&nbsp;The treaty builds on a defence pact signed by the UK and Germany last year, which pledges closer co-operation against a growing threat from Russia. The two nations are among the biggest European supporters of Ukraine. The two leaders also discussed ways to boost European support for Ukraine.&nbsp;The two nations are expected to commit to greater cooperation on joint military and training exercises and working together to combat cyber threats and information warfare. The treaty also aims to boost economic cooperation between the UK and Germany. It also includes cooperation in science and technology initiatives and support for student exchange programmes and education schemes.

The two nations are expected to commit to greater cooperation on joint military and training exercises and working together to combat cyber threats and information warfare. 

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday (Jul 17) signed a “first of its kind ever” agreement aimed at bolstering defence exports, targeting smuggling gangs, and reinforcing UK-Germany trade relations. Merz marked his first formal visit to the UK since taking office in May on what he described as a “historic day for German-British relations.” This comes as Starmer works to improve strained relations with his European neighbours after the UK’s exit from the EU in 2020. “We want to work together more closely, particularly after the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union. It is overdue for us to conclude such a treaty with each other,” the German chancellor said. Starmer called the Kensington Treaty “the first of its kind ever”, describing it as a “statement of intent, a statement of our ambition to work ever more closely together.” The deal marks the first between the two nations since the Second World War. It includes a commitment from Berlin to make facilitating the smuggling of migrants to the UK a criminal offence. According to a statement from Downing Street, the law change will give German authorities more power to probe and take action against warehouses and storage facilities used by smugglers to hide small boats for Channel crossings. The law is expected to be passed by the end of the year. “Chancellor Merz’s commitment to make necessary changes to German law to disrupt the supply lines of the dangerous vessels which carry illegal migrants across the Channel is hugely welcome,” Starmer said. The treaty builds on a defence pact signed by the UK and Germany last year, which pledges closer co-operation against a growing threat from Russia. The two nations are among the biggest European supporters of Ukraine. The two leaders also discussed ways to boost European support for Ukraine. The two nations are expected to commit to greater cooperation on joint military and training exercises and working together to combat cyber threats and information warfare. The treaty also aims to boost economic cooperation between the UK and Germany. It also includes cooperation in science and technology initiatives and support for student exchange programmes and education schemes.

The two nations are expected to commit to greater cooperation on joint military and training exercises and working together to combat cyber threats and information warfare.&nbsp;

‘First of its kind ever’: Starmer, Merz sign ‘historic’ treaty to bolster British-German relations

By Dhruv Goyal&nbsp;Acharya Lokesh Muni is a revered Jain spiritual leader and peace advocate, recognized for integrating ancient Indian philosophy into global discussions on nonviolence and harmony. A speaker at major forums, such as the World Parliament of Religions, he seamlessly blends timeless wisdom with modern relevance. He is the recipient of the National Communal Harmony Award, one of India’s highest honours for promoting peace and unity.&nbsp;I recently had the chance to speak with Acharya Lokesh Muni during his visit to the U.S., where he addressed the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. He shared powerful insights on nonviolence, peace, and the relevance of Jain philosophy in today’s world. Drawing from Lord Mahavira’s teachings, he spoke about&nbsp;‘Anekantavad’, the dangers of intellectual intolerance, and how blending spiritual wisdom with modern science can guide us toward a more peaceful world.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This text has been translated from Hindi to English and may have been lightly edited for clarity while preserving the original meaning.&nbsp;Q. We hear the words peace and nonviolence a lot, but they can feel a bit distant from real life. From your experience, what does true peace look like in the real world, especially in difficult or divided places?A. We’re discussing peace and nonviolence at a time when many parts of the world are engulfed in war, conflict, and violence. I believe that war, weapons, and terrorism are not the solutions to any problem. Dialogue, conversation, and peaceful negotiation can resolve even the most difficult issues.I agree with your point, you mentioned that in our personal lives, there is often a big gap between what we believe and how we act. That contradiction also exists in the world at large. We all want the fruits of peace and nonviolence. Still, the reality is that governments around the world spend billions of dollars every year on building new weapons and advancing military research.At the same time, there are almost no training centres for peace. We don’t hear about institutions dedicated to teaching nonviolence. So, if we truly want to establish peace and harmony in the world, we must address it at its root level. We need to address the issue at its source.Only then can we bring this vision to life. If I had to put it in one line: before there can be world peace, there must be inner peace, peace within the mind. And for that, it’s not medicine that we need, but meditation.Through inner peace and mental calm, we can begin to cultivate peace in our communities, our nations, and ultimately, in the world.&nbsp;Q. Jain monks often wear a white cloth over their mouths. Can you share the meaning behind that practice and what it reflects about how Jainism views life and compassion?A. You must have heard that in Jainism, the concept of ahimsa (nonviolence) has been explored with great depth and subtlety. I can respond to this in two ways. One is that, yes, the Jain monk has become a symbol of nonviolence. But more importantly, we must understand the deep philosophical reasoning behind that symbolism.For example, you may have noticed that during winter, when we speak, a visible breath or vapour escapes from our mouth. In Jainism, the idea of nonviolence is so refined that even unintentionally harming invisible or microscopic life forms, or mentally hurting someone, is also considered an act of violence.In this universe, every living being, seen or unseen, has value. The goal is to live in a way that avoids harming any of them, even unintentionally.Let me give you a practical example: the use of a mask, which Jain monks have traditionally worn. This mask slows down the force of our breath, preventing it from disturbing or harming tiny organisms in the outside environment. Behind this practice is a deeply thought-out reason.Of course, over time, the world has come to see its value. For instance, before the COVID era, when I used to visit the U.S. wearing a mask, people would ask me,&nbsp;“Why are you wearing this?” And then, during the pandemic, we reached a point where not wearing a mask could result in a fine from the police.Today, what was once a spiritual practice is also being recognized as a scientifically valid one. There is both a spiritual and a scientific logic behind it.&nbsp;Q. You’ve spoken at global events and met political and spiritual leaders. How do you bring ancient Jain ideas into those modern spaces, and what makes those teachings still matter today?A. During my visit to the United States for the convention held in Chicago, more than 5,000 delegates from around 70 centres participated. On that platform, I once again shared this thought and I want to repeat it here through you, Dhruv, and through this platform, Lord Mahavira’s (Spiritual leader also known as Vardhamana) philosophy is not only deeply spiritual, but also scientific. And it is more relevant today than it was 26 centuries ago.In today’s world, where we witness war, violence, and conflict, Mahavira’s philosophy of&nbsp;‘Anekantavad’ (the doctrine of the multiplicity of views) holds profound meaning. I believe that environmental pollution is a serious problem, including climate change and global warming, but an even bigger issue is intellectual pollution. This pollution of thought, of intolerance, is more dangerous than environmental damage.&nbsp;Mahavira’s doctrine of Anekant teaches us that just as we value our existence, we must also respect the existence of others. Just as we hold our own beliefs, we must learn to respect the viewpoints of others. This idea lies at the heart of Indian culture: unity in diversity, a pluralistic society rooted in mutual respect.Sarva Dharma Sambhava: respect for all religions, is not just a phrase; it is a profound principle. As Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (Philosopher and former President of India) once said, India’s democracy itself is built on the foundation of Mahavira’s Anekant philosophy.Within Anekant and Ahimsa (nonviolence), we&nbsp;can&nbsp;find solutions to many of the world’s greatest problems. If I had to name three major challenges today: terrorism and violence, global warming and climate change, and poverty and inequality. I believe Mahavira’s philosophy offers answers to all of them.You also raised an important point, the balance between ancient wisdom and the modern world. I believe that ancient knowledge and modern science are not mutually exclusive. They are complementary. When we bring them together, we can build a more beautiful world and a better society.That is why I’ve been advocating for Peace Education at the United Nations. The core idea behind this is the integration of spirituality and science, bringing religion back to its spiritual roots, not just as ritual or identity, but as a guide for living with compassion, balance, and understanding.Only through this integration can we create a world filled with peace, harmony, and beauty.&nbsp;Q. Many people today feel overwhelmed or disconnected, especially in fast-paced environments. What simple ideas from Jainism do you think can help someone find a bit more balance or calm in everyday life?A. In this obsession with becoming number one, and in the chaos-filled world we live in, I believe that people have invited restlessness into their lives. To find a solution for this, when we consider our ancient principles, balance has always been a key concept in our tradition.Read the Upanishads. They talk about the&nbsp;“Purusharth Chatushtaya” (the four aims of life): Artha (wealth), Kama (desires), Dharma (righteousness), and Moksha (liberation). There is no conflict between Dharma, Artha, and Kama, but Dharma must guide the other two. When all four are in balance, that’s where a healthy society is built. That’s where a well-structured and peaceful community emerges.Whether you read the Upanishads or the Bhagavad Gita, you’ll find the same message. There’s a shloka in the Gita:“Yatra Yogeshwarah Krishna Yatra Partho Dhanur Dharah…”Lokmanya Tilak (Indian nationalist, teacher, social reformer, and independence activist), in his commentary, interpreted this differently. He saw Krishna, the Yogeshwar (master of yoga), as a symbol of spirituality, and Arjuna as a symbol of material life. He said that where there is balance between the spiritual and the material, that is where true victory lies. That is where prosperity, strength, and grace (Lakshmi) are found.Lord Mahavira established the five Mahavratas (great vows) for monks, including nonviolence, truth, and celibacy, among others. But for householders, for common people, he gave Anuvratas. Anu means small, and vrata means a disciplined vow. These were like a minimum moral code. Following even this basic ethical framework helps build a healthy, functioning society.So we should not reject the ancient, nor blindly chase only the modern. Instead, we should strive to draw from both. By blending the wisdom of the old with the innovation of the new, we can help make the world a more beautiful place.&nbsp;Q. You’ve worked to bring people together across different religions and cultures. What have you learned from those moments about what different belief systems have in common?A. In the context of India, we’ve seen political parties, whether 15, 20, or 25 of them, come together under alliances like the NDA or UPA and run governments for 5, 10, or even 15 years based on a Common Minimum Programme. So why can’t spiritual and religious leaders do the same?After all, we all believe in nonviolence, peace, harmony, compassion, love, and the idea of&nbsp;‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’: that the whole world is one family. If our core values align, why can’t we come together and work collectively?I would go so far as to say that even global institutions: whether it’s the United Nations, the World Bank, UNESCO, or UNICEF, have now begun to realize that if there’s to be any meaningful transformation in India, it can happen most effectively through the medium of religion and spirituality.I recall addressing the World Parliament of Religions in Salt Lake City in 2015, then again at the next World Parliament in Toronto in 2018, and most recently at the one held in Chicago, the same city where Swami Vivekananda (Indian monk and philosopher) delivered his iconic speech in 1893. On that stage, I shared this very thought: in India, every day, millions of people go to their places of worship, temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras. If religious leaders unite and guide them with clarity and purpose, they can achieve what even massive government budgets often fail to do.So yes, I strongly believe that this is the need of the hour.Take the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine or even Russia and Ukraine, for example. Why is it still happening? Should it be happening? I won’t go into all the political details, but I will say this: innocent children are dying, and common citizens who have done nothing wrong are suffering. In such times, the voice of religious leaders is essential. They need to come together, raise their voices, and work actively for peace, love, harmony, and brotherhood in this world.That’s why I call upon all global religious leaders. My organisation, Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti, has often brought various religious networks together on a common platform to solve social issues and promote spiritual upliftment.Today, through this message, I urge everyone: let’s sit together and talk. Even if we take just a few steps together, it makes a difference. Otherwise, the distances between us will only grow.And only when we come closer can we truly meet ourselves.

Before there can be world peace, there must be inner peace, peace within the mind. And for that, it’s not medicine that we need, but meditation. Through inner peace and mental calm, we can begin to cultivate peace in our communities, our nations, and ultimately, in the world.

By Dhruv Goyal Acharya Lokesh Muni is a revered Jain spiritual leader and peace advocate, recognized for integrating ancient Indian philosophy into global discussions on nonviolence and harmony. A speaker at major forums, such as the World Parliament of Religions, he seamlessly blends timeless wisdom with modern relevance. He is the recipient of the National Communal Harmony Award, one of India’s highest honours for promoting peace and unity. I recently had the chance to speak with Acharya Lokesh Muni during his visit to the U.S., where he addressed the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. He shared powerful insights on nonviolence, peace, and the relevance of Jain philosophy in today’s world. Drawing from Lord Mahavira’s teachings, he spoke about ‘Anekantavad’, the dangers of intellectual intolerance, and how blending spiritual wisdom with modern science can guide us toward a more peaceful world. Disclaimer: This text has been translated from Hindi to English and may have been lightly edited for clarity while preserving the original meaning. Q. We hear the words peace and nonviolence a lot, but they can feel a bit distant from real life. From your experience, what does true peace look like in the real world, especially in difficult or divided places? A. We’re discussing peace and nonviolence at a time when many parts of the world are engulfed in war, conflict, and violence. I believe that war, weapons, and terrorism are not the solutions to any problem. Dialogue, conversation, and peaceful negotiation can resolve even the most difficult issues. I agree with your point, you mentioned that in our personal lives, there is often a big gap between what we believe and how we act. That contradiction also exists in the world at large. We all want the fruits of peace and nonviolence. Still, the reality is that governments around the world spend billions of dollars every year on building new weapons and advancing military research. At the same time, there are almost no training centres for peace. We don’t hear about institutions dedicated to teaching nonviolence. So, if we truly want to establish peace and harmony in the world, we must address it at its root level. We need to address the issue at its source. Only then can we bring this vision to life. If I had to put it in one line: before there can be world peace, there must be inner peace, peace within the mind. And for that, it’s not medicine that we need, but meditation. Through inner peace and mental calm, we can begin to cultivate peace in our communities, our nations, and ultimately, in the world. Q. Jain monks often wear a white cloth over their mouths. Can you share the meaning behind that practice and what it reflects about how Jainism views life and compassion? A. You must have heard that in Jainism, the concept of ahimsa (nonviolence) has been explored with great depth and subtlety. I can respond to this in two ways. One is that, yes, the Jain monk has become a symbol of nonviolence. But more importantly, we must understand the deep philosophical reasoning behind that symbolism. For example, you may have noticed that during winter, when we speak, a visible breath or vapour escapes from our mouth. In Jainism, the idea of nonviolence is so refined that even unintentionally harming invisible or microscopic life forms, or mentally hurting someone, is also considered an act of violence. In this universe, every living being, seen or unseen, has value. The goal is to live in a way that avoids harming any of them, even unintentionally. Let me give you a practical example: the use of a mask, which Jain monks have traditionally worn. This mask slows down the force of our breath, preventing it from disturbing or harming tiny organisms in the outside environment. Behind this practice is a deeply thought-out reason. Of course, over time, the world has come to see its value. For instance, before the COVID era, when I used to visit the U.S. wearing a mask, people would ask me, “Why are you wearing this?” And then, during the pandemic, we reached a point where not wearing a mask could result in a fine from the police. Today, what was once a spiritual practice is also being recognized as a scientifically valid one. There is both a spiritual and a scientific logic behind it. Q. You’ve spoken at global events and met political and spiritual leaders. How do you bring ancient Jain ideas into those modern spaces, and what makes those teachings still matter today? A. During my visit to the United States for the convention held in Chicago, more than 5,000 delegates from around 70 centres participated. On that platform, I once again shared this thought and I want to repeat it here through you, Dhruv, and through this platform, Lord Mahavira’s (Spiritual leader also known as Vardhamana) philosophy is not only deeply spiritual, but also scientific. And it is more relevant today than it was 26 centuries ago. In today’s world, where we witness war, violence, and conflict, Mahavira’s philosophy of ‘Anekantavad’ (the doctrine of the multiplicity of views) holds profound meaning. I believe that environmental pollution is a serious problem, including climate change and global warming, but an even bigger issue is intellectual pollution. This pollution of thought, of intolerance, is more dangerous than environmental damage. Mahavira’s doctrine of Anekant teaches us that just as we value our existence, we must also respect the existence of others. Just as we hold our own beliefs, we must learn to respect the viewpoints of others. This idea lies at the heart of Indian culture: unity in diversity, a pluralistic society rooted in mutual respect. Sarva Dharma Sambhava: respect for all religions, is not just a phrase; it is a profound principle. As Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (Philosopher and former President of India) once said, India’s democracy itself is built on the foundation of Mahavira’s Anekant philosophy. Within Anekant and Ahimsa (nonviolence), we can find solutions to many of the world’s greatest problems. If I had to name three major challenges today: terrorism and violence, global warming and climate change, and poverty and inequality. I believe Mahavira’s philosophy offers answers to all of them. You also raised an important point, the balance between ancient wisdom and the modern world. I believe that ancient knowledge and modern science are not mutually exclusive. They are complementary. When we bring them together, we can build a more beautiful world and a better society. That is why I’ve been advocating for Peace Education at the United Nations. The core idea behind this is the integration of spirituality and science, bringing religion back to its spiritual roots, not just as ritual or identity, but as a guide for living with compassion, balance, and understanding. Only through this integration can we create a world filled with peace, harmony, and beauty. Q. Many people today feel overwhelmed or disconnected, especially in fast-paced environments. What simple ideas from Jainism do you think can help someone find a bit more balance or calm in everyday life? A. In this obsession with becoming number one, and in the chaos-filled world we live in, I believe that people have invited restlessness into their lives. To find a solution for this, when we consider our ancient principles, balance has always been a key concept in our tradition. Read the Upanishads. They talk about the “Purusharth Chatushtaya” (the four aims of life): Artha (wealth), Kama (desires), Dharma (righteousness), and Moksha (liberation). There is no conflict between Dharma, Artha, and Kama, but Dharma must guide the other two. When all four are in balance, that’s where a healthy society is built. That’s where a well-structured and peaceful community emerges. Whether you read the Upanishads or the Bhagavad Gita, you’ll find the same message. There’s a shloka in the Gita: “Yatra Yogeshwarah Krishna Yatra Partho Dhanur Dharah…” Lokmanya Tilak (Indian nationalist, teacher, social reformer, and independence activist), in his commentary, interpreted this differently. He saw Krishna, the Yogeshwar (master of yoga), as a symbol of spirituality, and Arjuna as a symbol of material life. He said that where there is balance between the spiritual and the material, that is where true victory lies. That is where prosperity, strength, and grace (Lakshmi) are found. Lord Mahavira established the five Mahavratas (great vows) for monks, including nonviolence, truth, and celibacy, among others. But for householders, for common people, he gave Anuvratas. Anu means small, and vrata means a disciplined vow. These were like a minimum moral code. Following even this basic ethical framework helps build a healthy, functioning society. So we should not reject the ancient, nor blindly chase only the modern. Instead, we should strive to draw from both. By blending the wisdom of the old with the innovation of the new, we can help make the world a more beautiful place. Q. You’ve worked to bring people together across different religions and cultures. What have you learned from those moments about what different belief systems have in common? A. In the context of India, we’ve seen political parties, whether 15, 20, or 25 of them, come together under alliances like the NDA or UPA and run governments for 5, 10, or even 15 years based on a Common Minimum Programme. So why can’t spiritual and religious leaders do the same? After all, we all believe in nonviolence, peace, harmony, compassion, love, and the idea of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’: that the whole world is one family. If our core values align, why can’t we come together and work collectively? I would go so far as to say that even global institutions: whether it’s the United Nations, the World Bank, UNESCO, or UNICEF, have now begun to realize that if there’s to be any meaningful transformation in India, it can happen most effectively through the medium of religion and spirituality. I recall addressing the World Parliament of Religions in Salt Lake City in 2015, then again at the next World Parliament in Toronto in 2018, and most recently at the one held in Chicago, the same city where Swami Vivekananda (Indian monk and philosopher) delivered his iconic speech in 1893. On that stage, I shared this very thought: in India, every day, millions of people go to their places of worship, temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras. If religious leaders unite and guide them with clarity and purpose, they can achieve what even massive government budgets often fail to do. So yes, I strongly believe that this is the need of the hour. Take the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine or even Russia and Ukraine, for example. Why is it still happening? Should it be happening? I won’t go into all the political details, but I will say this: innocent children are dying, and common citizens who have done nothing wrong are suffering. In such times, the voice of religious leaders is essential. They need to come together, raise their voices, and work actively for peace, love, harmony, and brotherhood in this world. That’s why I call upon all global religious leaders. My organisation, Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti, has often brought various religious networks together on a common platform to solve social issues and promote spiritual upliftment. Today, through this message, I urge everyone: let’s sit together and talk. Even if we take just a few steps together, it makes a difference. Otherwise, the distances between us will only grow. And only when we come closer can we truly meet ourselves.

Before there can be world peace, there must be inner peace, peace within the mind. And for that, it’s not medicine that we need, but meditation. Through inner peace and mental calm, we can begin to cultivate peace in our communities, our nations, and ultimately, in the world.

‘War, weapons, and terrorism are not solutions to any problem’: Peace advocate Acharya Lokesh Muni

US strikes on Iran nuclear sites new assessment: Out of the three Iranian nuclear sites hit by the US B2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles in June, only one - Fordow- was ‘mostly destroyed’ while the other two - Natanz and Isfahan - were less damaged. The latter two might still have the capability to resume nuclear enrichment within months if Iran chooses to do so. This is as per a new US assessment, as reported by NBC News on Thursday (July 17).<h2>How much were the Iranian nuclear sites damaged in US strikes?</h2>As per the US assessment, the Fordow uranium enrichment site was set back by as much as two years in the air strikes. The site, deeply buried in mountainous terrain, was hit with 30,000-pound bunker buster bombs or GBU-57s.But both Natanz and Isfahan have tunnels and facilities likely beyond the reach of GBU-57s, NBC report noted citing US officials.While surface targets at Isfahan were hit with Tomahawk missiles, GBU-57s were used at Natanz.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fordow-was-just-the-beginning-new-iranian-site-twice-as-deep-as-fordow-1751042742463/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/fordow-was-just-the-beginning-new-iranian-site-twice-as-deep-as-fordow-1751042742463/embed</a>&nbsp;In the June strike that ended the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, Fordow site's work was significantly set back, said the assessment which was given to US lawmakers, defence department officials, and allied countries, reported NBC.The US strikes reportedly 'buried most enriched uranium' at Isfahan and Fordow, making extraction and enrichment difficult, as per the NBC report.&nbsp; Israel, which believes that some highly enriched uranium remains buried but is effectively unreachable, has threatened new strikes if Iran tries to recover it.Iran’s air defences were largely destroyed, making future strikes easier, as per the assessment.&nbsp;“It was made clear that Iran no longer has any more [air defences], so the idea that they can easily rebuild anything is ludicrous,” the NBC report quoted one official as saying.<h2>The plan was to strike six sites</h2>According to the report, the US Central Command had a plan as early as 2023 to strike Iranian nuclear sites. That plan was more extensive than what finally came about this June. It was to strike six sites over several weeks, deploying air defences and missile capabilities. But President Donald Trump rejected the plan. “We were willing to go all the way in our options, but the president did not want to,” the NBC report quoted an official as saying, as Trump preferred to avoid prolonged conflicts and high casualties on both sides.<h2>Iran nuclear site attacks: Official messaging and reality continue to differ</h2>The extent of damage to Iranian sites following the US strikes has been a major issue of debate inside and outside the US.&nbsp;Soon after the strikes, Trump called the operation 'a spectacular military success' and claimed that Iran’s key enrichment facilities were "completely and totally obliterated.”&nbsp; CIA Director John Ratcliffe claimed that the metal conversion facility at Natanz was “destroyed to the point that it would take years to rebuild.”&nbsp; But soon, various intelligence assessments gave more qualified descriptions, with the latest pointing towards significant damage to Fordow but less to Natanz and Isfahan.<h2>More strikes on Iran nuclear sites can't be ruled out</h2>The report said that the US and Israeli governments are still discussing more strikes in future on the less-damaged sites if Iran rebuilds them. If Iran rebuilds its nuclear programme or refuses to restart negotiations on it, the US could again enter the conflict.

Israel, which believes that some highly enriched uranium remains buried but is effectively unreachable, has threatened new strikes if Iran tries to recover it.

US strikes on Iran nuclear sites new assessment: Out of the three Iranian nuclear sites hit by the US B2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles in June, only one - Fordow- was ‘mostly destroyed’ while the other two - Natanz and Isfahan - were less damaged. The latter two might still have the capability to resume nuclear enrichment within months if Iran chooses to do so. This is as per a new US assessment, as reported by NBC News on Thursday (July 17). How much were the Iranian nuclear sites damaged in US strikes? As per the US assessment, the Fordow uranium enrichment site was set back by as much as two years in the air strikes. The site, deeply buried in mountainous terrain, was hit with 30,000-pound bunker buster bombs or GBU-57s. But both Natanz and Isfahan have tunnels and facilities likely beyond the reach of GBU-57s, NBC report noted citing US officials. While surface targets at Isfahan were hit with Tomahawk missiles, GBU-57s were used at Natanz. https://www.wionews.com/videos/fordow-was-just-the-beginning-new-iranian-site-twice-as-deep-as-fordow-1751042742463/embed In the June strike that ended the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, Fordow site's work was significantly set back, said the assessment which was given to US lawmakers, defence department officials, and allied countries, reported NBC. The US strikes reportedly 'buried most enriched uranium' at Isfahan and Fordow, making extraction and enrichment difficult, as per the NBC report. Israel, which believes that some highly enriched uranium remains buried but is effectively unreachable, has threatened new strikes if Iran tries to recover it. Iran’s air defences were largely destroyed, making future strikes easier, as per the assessment. “It was made clear that Iran no longer has any more [air defences], so the idea that they can easily rebuild anything is ludicrous,” the NBC report quoted one official as saying. The plan was to strike six sites According to the report, the US Central Command had a plan as early as 2023 to strike Iranian nuclear sites. That plan was more extensive than what finally came about this June. It was to strike six sites over several weeks, deploying air defences and missile capabilities. But President Donald Trump rejected the plan. “We were willing to go all the way in our options, but the president did not want to,” the NBC report quoted an official as saying, as Trump preferred to avoid prolonged conflicts and high casualties on both sides. Iran nuclear site attacks: Official messaging and reality continue to differ The extent of damage to Iranian sites following the US strikes has been a major issue of debate inside and outside the US. Soon after the strikes, Trump called the operation 'a spectacular military success' and claimed that Iran’s key enrichment facilities were "completely and totally obliterated.” CIA Director John Ratcliffe claimed that the metal conversion facility at Natanz was “destroyed to the point that it would take years to rebuild.” But soon, various intelligence assessments gave more qualified descriptions, with the latest pointing towards significant damage to Fordow but less to Natanz and Isfahan. More strikes on Iran nuclear sites can't be ruled out The report said that the US and Israeli governments are still discussing more strikes in future on the less-damaged sites if Iran rebuilds them. If Iran rebuilds its nuclear programme or refuses to restart negotiations on it, the US could again enter the conflict.

Israel, which believes that some highly enriched uranium remains buried but is effectively unreachable, has threatened new strikes if Iran tries to recover it.

B2 bombers failed? Only 1 out of 3 Iranian nuclear sites hit by US suffered. Fordow ‘mostly destroyed,’ Natanz and Isfahan were…

Europe's largest missile maker company has been selling key components for bombs, which have been shipped to Israel, as they used them in airstrikes on Gaza, killing thousands of Palestinians, according to a Guardian report. Concerns have been raised about the extent to which European companies have been benefiting from the killings in Gaza.&nbsp;A Guardian investigation with the independent newsrooms Disclose and Follow the Money detailed how the GBU-39 bomb generated by the US arm MBDA flew through the United Kingdom.<h2>Here's how they are doing it&nbsp; &nbsp;</h2>There's a factory in Alabama, US, owned by MBDA, which produces "wings", that are fitted to the Boeing-made GBU-39. After being launched, these wings allow the bomb to be guided to its target.&nbsp;The revenues from the MBDA sailed through MBDA UK, which is based in Hertfordshire, England, and then shared the profits with the MBDA group at its France headquarters. According to the report, the European largest missile maker company distributed almost £350 million in dividends in 2024 to its three shareholders, including Britain’s biggest defence firm BAE Systems, France’s Airbus, and Italy’s Leonardo.&nbsp;This came to light as UK Foreign Minister David Lammy suspended some weapons export licenses to Israel in September, citing the risk of "serious violations" of international humanitarian law.&nbsp;He stressed that the suspension is aimed at targeting “items which could be used in the current conflict in Gaza”.However, as the outlet investigated, it was verified that there have been 24 cases in which the GBU-39 was deployed in attacks that have killed several civilians. Moreover, each one included children among those killed.&nbsp;Later, the company MBDA confirmed that they had a contract with Boeing for the wings. It said that they "comply with all relevant national and international laws applicable to the arms trade in the countries in which it operates...all of whom have export policies and operate robust export control regimes”.

European largest missile maker firm MBDA have been selling bomb parts to Israel as it uses it for airstrikes in Gaza, which has killed thousands of people. The company has distributed almost £350 million in dividends in 2024 to its three shareholders. 

Europe's largest missile maker company has been selling key components for bombs, which have been shipped to Israel, as they used them in airstrikes on Gaza, killing thousands of Palestinians, according to a Guardian report. Concerns have been raised about the extent to which European companies have been benefiting from the killings in Gaza. A Guardian investigation with the independent newsrooms Disclose and Follow the Money detailed how the GBU-39 bomb generated by the US arm MBDA flew through the United Kingdom. Here's how they are doing it There's a factory in Alabama, US, owned by MBDA, which produces "wings", that are fitted to the Boeing-made GBU-39. After being launched, these wings allow the bomb to be guided to its target. The revenues from the MBDA sailed through MBDA UK, which is based in Hertfordshire, England, and then shared the profits with the MBDA group at its France headquarters. According to the report, the European largest missile maker company distributed almost £350 million in dividends in 2024 to its three shareholders, including Britain’s biggest defence firm BAE Systems, France’s Airbus, and Italy’s Leonardo. This came to light as UK Foreign Minister David Lammy suspended some weapons export licenses to Israel in September, citing the risk of "serious violations" of international humanitarian law. He stressed that the suspension is aimed at targeting “items which could be used in the current conflict in Gaza”. However, as the outlet investigated, it was verified that there have been 24 cases in which the GBU-39 was deployed in attacks that have killed several civilians. Moreover, each one included children among those killed. Later, the company MBDA confirmed that they had a contract with Boeing for the wings. It said that they "comply with all relevant national and international laws applicable to the arms trade in the countries in which it operates...all of whom have export policies and operate robust export control regimes”.

European's largest missile maker firm MBDA have been selling bomb parts to Israel as it uses it for airstrikes in Gaza, which has killed thousands of people. The company has distributed almost £350 million in dividends in 2024 to its three shareholders.&nbsp;

EU arming Israel in Gaza war? How Europe's largest missile firm sold GBU-39 bomb parts to Tel Aviv that killed Gaza children

Two people were killed after an Israeli strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church on Thursday (Jul 17), said the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The late Pope Francis maintained regular contact with the church that was hit by the strike and daily called the parish priest, who was also injured in the attack. Regretting any harm to civilians, Israel said that it “never targets” religious sites. Following the attack, Pope Leo XIV said that he was “deeply saddened” by the strike. This comes as Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that at least 20 people were killed after Israeli strikes across the war-torn territory.&nbsp;“With deep sorrow the Latin Patriarchate can now confirm that two persons were killed as a result of an apparent strike by the Israeli army that hit the Holy Family Compound this morning,” it said in a statement. “We pray for the rest of their souls and for the end of this barbaric war. Nothing can justify the targeting of innocent civilians.”&nbsp;“Targeting a holy site currently sheltering approximately 600 displaced persons, the majority of whom are children and 54 with special needs, is a flagrant violation of human dignity and a blatant violation of the sanctity of life and the sanctity of religious sites, which are supposed to provide a safe haven in times of war,” it said.In a telegram for the victims, Pope Leo XIV also expressed his “profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace in the region.”&nbsp;<h2>‘Incident under review’</h2>&nbsp;Israel expressed “deep sorrow” over the incident, adding that the military was investigating the strike. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in a statement said that they were “aware of reports regarding damage caused to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and casualties at the scene. The circumstances of the incident are under review.”&nbsp;“Israel never targets churches or religious sites and regrets any harm to a religious site or to uninvolved civilians,” Israel’s foreign ministry said in a statement.&nbsp;<h2>‘Totally unacceptable’</h2>&nbsp;The recent strikes on the church were condemned by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the attack “unacceptable”. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called the church incident “a serious act against a Christian place of worship.”&nbsp;Monsignor Pascal Gollnisch, the head of Catholic charity l’Oeuvre d’Orient said, “There was no strategic objective, there were no jihadists in this church. There were families, there were civilians. This is totally unacceptable and we condemn in the strongest possible terms this attitude on the part of Israel.”&nbsp;Watch | Israel-Syria War: Israel Launches Air Attacks in Damascus; Locals Run for Cover&nbsp;https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-syria-war-israel-launches-air-attacks-in-damascus-locals-run-for-cover-wion-newspoint-1752742778265/embed

Israel expressed “deep sorrow” over the strike. The IDF in a statement said that they were “aware of reports regarding damage caused to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and casualties at the scene. The circumstances of the incident are under review.”

Two people were killed after an Israeli strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church on Thursday (Jul 17), said the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The late Pope Francis maintained regular contact with the church that was hit by the strike and daily called the parish priest, who was also injured in the attack. Regretting any harm to civilians, Israel said that it “never targets” religious sites. Following the attack, Pope Leo XIV said that he was “deeply saddened” by the strike. This comes as Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that at least 20 people were killed after Israeli strikes across the war-torn territory. “With deep sorrow the Latin Patriarchate can now confirm that two persons were killed as a result of an apparent strike by the Israeli army that hit the Holy Family Compound this morning,” it said in a statement. “We pray for the rest of their souls and for the end of this barbaric war. Nothing can justify the targeting of innocent civilians.” “Targeting a holy site currently sheltering approximately 600 displaced persons, the majority of whom are children and 54 with special needs, is a flagrant violation of human dignity and a blatant violation of the sanctity of life and the sanctity of religious sites, which are supposed to provide a safe haven in times of war,” it said. In a telegram for the victims, Pope Leo XIV also expressed his “profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace in the region.” ‘Incident under review’ Israel expressed “deep sorrow” over the incident, adding that the military was investigating the strike. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in a statement said that they were “aware of reports regarding damage caused to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and casualties at the scene. The circumstances of the incident are under review.” “Israel never targets churches or religious sites and regrets any harm to a religious site or to uninvolved civilians,” Israel’s foreign ministry said in a statement. ‘Totally unacceptable’ The recent strikes on the church were condemned by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the attack “unacceptable”. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called the church incident “a serious act against a Christian place of worship.” Monsignor Pascal Gollnisch, the head of Catholic charity l’Oeuvre d’Orient said, “There was no strategic objective, there were no jihadists in this church. There were families, there were civilians. This is totally unacceptable and we condemn in the strongest possible terms this attitude on the part of Israel.” Watch | Israel-Syria War: Israel Launches Air Attacks in Damascus; Locals Run for Cover https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-syria-war-israel-launches-air-attacks-in-damascus-locals-run-for-cover-wion-newspoint-1752742778265/embed

Israel expressed “deep sorrow” over the strike. The IDF in a statement said that they were “aware of reports regarding damage caused to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and casualties at the scene. The circumstances of the incident are under review.”

‘Blatant violation of sanctity’: Two killed, priest injured after Israeli strike on only Catholic church in Gaza; Pope Leo XIV reacts

As US President Donald Trump ordered the National Guard deployment to Los Angeles during anti-immigration protests last month, the soldiers shared their ordeal as they questioned their mission in Los Angeles, calling it a "fake mission".The commuters have been cursing the convoys clogging the pathways as they continue to fight the protesters demonstrating at the LA protests. All this has taken a toll on the deployment.&nbsp;In an interview to the New York Times, one of the soldiers said, "They gave Disneyland tickets to the people who worked in the wildfires. Nobody’s handing out Disneyland tickets now.”&nbsp;The outlet interviewed around two dozen people, including soldiers, officers and civilians who worked closely with the troops.&nbsp;Meanwhile, six members of the Guard, including officers, infantrymen and two officials who were serving in the leadership roles, talked about low morale and were concerned that the deployment may affect recruitment for the state-based military force in the upcoming years.&nbsp;The soldiers talked on the condition of anonymity since they are barred from discussing the federal deployment publicly.<h2>'Fake mission'</h2>&nbsp;Some of these people said that they themselves raised objections on this, or know someone who objected, that is, either because they did not want to be involved in Trump's immigration crackdowns. While some felt the Trump administration had made them stand on the streets on a "fake mission".&nbsp;As they were low on morale, at least 105 member guards took counseling from behavioural health officers, the Guard officer said.&nbsp;Notably, the California National Guard had 72 soldiers, and their enlistment was set to expire during the deployment. Out of those 72, at least two have left the guard and the other 55 have hinted that they will also not extend their work, the office of Governor Gavin Newsom said. Newsom is currently fighting against Trump's deployment in court.&nbsp;“The moral injuries of this operation, I think, will be enduring,” one of the two Guard officials said. “This is not what the military of our country was designed to do, at all.”&nbsp;However, these six soldiers are just a small fraction of the thousands of troops deployed by the Trump administration to Los Angeles. The other members have had no issue participating in the operation.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Six members of the National Guard Troops, shared they had low morale after Trump put them on Los Angeles streets during anti-immigration protests. They were concerned that the deployment in Los Angeles might affect recruitment for the state-based military force in the future. 

As US President Donald Trump ordered the National Guard deployment to Los Angeles during anti-immigration protests last month, the soldiers shared their ordeal as they questioned their mission in Los Angeles, calling it a "fake mission". The commuters have been cursing the convoys clogging the pathways as they continue to fight the protesters demonstrating at the LA protests. All this has taken a toll on the deployment. In an interview to the New York Times, one of the soldiers said, "They gave Disneyland tickets to the people who worked in the wildfires. Nobody’s handing out Disneyland tickets now.” The outlet interviewed around two dozen people, including soldiers, officers and civilians who worked closely with the troops. Meanwhile, six members of the Guard, including officers, infantrymen and two officials who were serving in the leadership roles, talked about low morale and were concerned that the deployment may affect recruitment for the state-based military force in the upcoming years. The soldiers talked on the condition of anonymity since they are barred from discussing the federal deployment publicly. 'Fake mission' Some of these people said that they themselves raised objections on this, or know someone who objected, that is, either because they did not want to be involved in Trump's immigration crackdowns. While some felt the Trump administration had made them stand on the streets on a "fake mission". As they were low on morale, at least 105 member guards took counseling from behavioural health officers, the Guard officer said. Notably, the California National Guard had 72 soldiers, and their enlistment was set to expire during the deployment. Out of those 72, at least two have left the guard and the other 55 have hinted that they will also not extend their work, the office of Governor Gavin Newsom said. Newsom is currently fighting against Trump's deployment in court. “The moral injuries of this operation, I think, will be enduring,” one of the two Guard officials said. “This is not what the military of our country was designed to do, at all.” However, these six soldiers are just a small fraction of the thousands of troops deployed by the Trump administration to Los Angeles. The other members have had no issue participating in the operation.

Six members of the National Guard Troops, shared they had low morale after Trump put them on Los Angeles streets during anti-immigration protests. They were concerned that the deployment in Los Angeles might affect recruitment for the state-based military force in the future.&nbsp;

Trump's fake mission? National Guard Troops speak out on Los Angeles deployment during anti-ICE protests - Here's what soldiers revealed

South Korea starts retrial of Kim Jae-gyu, assassin of president Park Chung-hee: In 1980, Kim Jae-gyu, the high-profile spy chief of South Korea, was executed for assassinating the Asian nation's president Park Chung-hee. Park's assassination was a pivotal moment in South Korea’s modern history, abruptly ending his authoritarian rule and triggering a military coup. Now, after 45 years, Kim's case is being re-examined, with the retrial having started on Wednesday (July 16). What really happened in the tumultuous democratic history of South Korea? Why is the retrial of a case, whose main accused had died four decades ago, taking place now?<h2>What happened in South Korea in 1979?</h2>On 26 October 1979, South Korean President Park Chung-hee was assassinated by his longtime associate and friend Kim Jae-gyu, who at the time was heading the notorious Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA). Park was killed during a private dinner attended by senior officials. Kim was also accused of ordering the killing of members of the president's security team. Kim was arrested, tried in a military court under martial law, convicted of insurrection, and executed in 1980.<h2>Did Kim kill South Korean president for a good reason?</h2>Kim's defence team argued that he was trying to prevent further bloodshed and chaos under Park's authoritarian rule, and acted to force a democratic transition. But prosecutors argued he was attempting a coup. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/south-koreas-president-yoon-suk-yeol-removed-from-office-after-impeachment-upheld-8926579/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/south-koreas-president-yoon-suk-yeol-removed-from-office-after-impeachment-upheld-8926579/embed</a><h2>Why is presidential assassination case of South Korea reopened 46 years later?</h2>The case reopened in the Seoul High Court following arguments that the military trial under martial law was flawed. The defence was not allowed to record proceedings, and there is evidence that Kim and others were tortured, argued his supporters.&nbsp;In February 2024, the court accepted this argument, granting the retrial. The new trial will also re-examine the legal definition of 'insurrection', as Kim’s defence argued that he did not seize constitutional institutions or attempt to do so. This, in essence, made the original conviction invalid.&nbsp; Kim’s family, particularly his sister, has campaigned for decades to clear his name. After the fall from power of Park Chung-hee’s daughter and former president Park Geun-hye in 2017, the slow clamour began for reevaluating both Park’s legacy and Kim’s motives.<h2>Kim, a criminal or a revolutionary?</h2>The retrial is part of a broader historical reassessment of South Korea’s authoritarian era. In essence, it will examine whether economic success justified political repression, and whether what Kim did was a criminal or revolutionary act.The retrial coincides with the impeachment and upcoming trial of former President Yoon Suk Yeol for allegedly ordering martial law, conditions similar to the times when Kim was tried and executed.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The retrial coincides with the impeachment and upcoming trial of former President Yoon Suk Yeol for allegedly ordering martial law, conditions similar to the times when Kim was tried and executed. 


South Korea starts retrial of Kim Jae-gyu, assassin of president Park Chung-hee: In 1980, Kim Jae-gyu, the high-profile spy chief of South Korea, was executed for assassinating the Asian nation's president Park Chung-hee. Park's assassination was a pivotal moment in South Korea’s modern history, abruptly ending his authoritarian rule and triggering a military coup. Now, after 45 years, Kim's case is being re-examined, with the retrial having started on Wednesday (July 16). What really happened in the tumultuous democratic history of South Korea? Why is the retrial of a case, whose main accused had died four decades ago, taking place now? What happened in South Korea in 1979? On 26 October 1979, South Korean President Park Chung-hee was assassinated by his longtime associate and friend Kim Jae-gyu, who at the time was heading the notorious Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA). Park was killed during a private dinner attended by senior officials. Kim was also accused of ordering the killing of members of the president's security team. Kim was arrested, tried in a military court under martial law, convicted of insurrection, and executed in 1980. Did Kim kill South Korean president for a good reason? Kim's defence team argued that he was trying to prevent further bloodshed and chaos under Park's authoritarian rule, and acted to force a democratic transition. But prosecutors argued he was attempting a coup. https://www.wionews.com/videos/south-koreas-president-yoon-suk-yeol-removed-from-office-after-impeachment-upheld-8926579/embed Why is presidential assassination case of South Korea reopened 46 years later? The case reopened in the Seoul High Court following arguments that the military trial under martial law was flawed. The defence was not allowed to record proceedings, and there is evidence that Kim and others were tortured, argued his supporters. In February 2024, the court accepted this argument, granting the retrial. The new trial will also re-examine the legal definition of 'insurrection', as Kim’s defence argued that he did not seize constitutional institutions or attempt to do so. This, in essence, made the original conviction invalid. Kim’s family, particularly his sister, has campaigned for decades to clear his name. After the fall from power of Park Chung-hee’s daughter and former president Park Geun-hye in 2017, the slow clamour began for reevaluating both Park’s legacy and Kim’s motives. Kim, a criminal or a revolutionary? The retrial is part of a broader historical reassessment of South Korea’s authoritarian era. In essence, it will examine whether economic success justified political repression, and whether what Kim did was a criminal or revolutionary act. The retrial coincides with the impeachment and upcoming trial of former President Yoon Suk Yeol for allegedly ordering martial law, conditions similar to the times when Kim was tried and executed.

The retrial of Kim Jae-gyu coincides with the impeachment and upcoming trial of former President Yoon Suk Yeol for allegedly ordering martial law, conditions similar to the times when Kim was tried and executed.&nbsp; &nbsp;

He was executed for killing the nation's president. 45 years later, his case is being tried again. Why now?

A Chinese restaurant, Wanhui Tower in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, is drawing serious criticism for offering a luxury afternoon tea experience including cuddling with lioncubs, along with alpacas, deer, turtles, and more. All for around 1,078 yuan (~$150/£124) per person. The restaurant profile on Dazhong Dianping, a popular restaurant listing app, shows a picture of lion cubs alongside other animals, such as deer and alligators. Several picture shows customers snuggling with baby lions.&nbsp;The restaurant sells limited tickets, only 20 per day. It also holds a license to breed and display two African lions, but close human-animal contact is prohibited under local regulations. An investigation has been launched by authorities following criticism by animal welfare groups like PETA and Humane World for Animals. They called the practice unethical, exploitative and dangerous for both the baby animal and their patrons.&nbsp;There were mixed reviews in the Dazhong Dianping application. One woman's review reads, “I can pet a cute little lion in a small shop! 🦁 It’s called Simba and looks so good. There are staff to guide you, so you don’t have to worry about safety issues!”While another one posted a negative review,“They’re putting profit above consumer safety – it’s way too dangerous,”Peter Li, a China Policy expert for animals, told Reuters,"Exploiting wild animals for selfies and marketing gimmicks is not only appallingly bad animal welfare, it’s also potentially risky for customers.” According to Reuters, the restaurant authorities said that the lion cubs are cared for well by special staff.&nbsp;

A Chinese restaurant, Wanhui Tower, is being accused of exploitation and unethical practices for offering snuggles with animals like lions, deer and alligators for 1,078 yuan per person. 

A Chinese restaurant, Wanhui Tower in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, is drawing serious criticism for offering a luxury afternoon tea experience including cuddling with lioncubs, along with alpacas, deer, turtles, and more. All for around 1,078 yuan (~$150/£124) per person. The restaurant profile on Dazhong Dianping, a popular restaurant listing app, shows a picture of lion cubs alongside other animals, such as deer and alligators. Several picture shows customers snuggling with baby lions. The restaurant sells limited tickets, only 20 per day. It also holds a license to breed and display two African lions, but close human-animal contact is prohibited under local regulations. An investigation has been launched by authorities following criticism by animal welfare groups like PETA and Humane World for Animals. They called the practice unethical, exploitative and dangerous for both the baby animal and their patrons. There were mixed reviews in the Dazhong Dianping application. One woman's review reads, “I can pet a cute little lion in a small shop! 🦁 It’s called Simba and looks so good. There are staff to guide you, so you don’t have to worry about safety issues!” While another one posted a negative review,“They’re putting profit above consumer safety – it’s way too dangerous,” Peter Li, a China Policy expert for animals, told Reuters,"Exploiting wild animals for selfies and marketing gimmicks is not only appallingly bad animal welfare, it’s also potentially risky for customers.” According to Reuters, the restaurant authorities said that the lion cubs are cared for well by special staff.

A Chinese restaurant, Wanhui Tower, is being accused of exploitation and unethical practices for offering snuggles with animals like lions, deer and alligators for 1,078 yuan per person.&nbsp;

This restaurant in China lets you cuddle with baby lion, accused of exploitation

The British government said on Thursday it plans to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in general elections, a landmark change giving the UK one of the lowest voting ages worldwide. It follows a pledge from the ruling Labour Party to make the shift ahead of winning power last year, and is among several planned changes to the democratic system, which some argue is "in crisis" due to low turnout among other issues.&nbsp;The voting age change is likely to prove contentious, with critics previously arguing it is self-serving as newly-enfranchised teenagers are seen as more likely to support the centre-left Labour party. "I think it's really important that 16- and 17-year-olds have the vote, because they are old enough to go out to work, they are old enough to pay taxes, so (they) pay in," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.&nbsp;"And I think if you pay in, you should have the opportunity to say what you want your money spent on, which way the government should go," Starmer added. The government will have to bring legislation before parliament, where it has a comfortable majority, to make the changes. Only a small number of countries allow 16-year-olds to vote in national elections, according to online databases.&nbsp;They include Austria -- the first EU country to lower the voting age to 16 when it made the shift in 2007 -- as well as Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and Cuba. Labour ministers in the United Kingdom insist the change is intended to "modernise our democracy" and boost turnout, while aligning general elections with the existing voting age for elections for the devolved regional parliaments in Scotland and Wales.&nbsp;Other planned changes include introducing automated voter registration -- which is already used in Australia and Canada -- and making UK-issued bank cards an accepted form of ID at polling stations.It follows changes to the electoral law introduced by the previous Conservative government which required voters to show a photo ID, which the Electoral Commission found led to around 750,000 people not voting in last year's election.&nbsp;Harry Quilter-Pinner, executive director of the Institute For Public Policy Research think tank, said the changes were "the biggest reform to our electoral system since 1969", when the voting age was lowered to 18. He noted lowering the voting age and introducing automated voter registration could add 9.5 million more people to the voter rolls. "Our democracy is in crisis, and we risk reaching a tipping point where politics loses its legitimacy," he added, backing the changes.

UK to lower voting age to 16 ahead of 2029 general elections

The British government said on Thursday it plans to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in general elections, a landmark change giving the UK one of the lowest voting ages worldwide. It follows a pledge from the ruling Labour Party to make the shift ahead of winning power last year, and is among several planned changes to the democratic system, which some argue is "in crisis" due to low turnout among other issues. The voting age change is likely to prove contentious, with critics previously arguing it is self-serving as newly-enfranchised teenagers are seen as more likely to support the centre-left Labour party. "I think it's really important that 16- and 17-year-olds have the vote, because they are old enough to go out to work, they are old enough to pay taxes, so (they) pay in," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said. "And I think if you pay in, you should have the opportunity to say what you want your money spent on, which way the government should go," Starmer added. The government will have to bring legislation before parliament, where it has a comfortable majority, to make the changes. Only a small number of countries allow 16-year-olds to vote in national elections, according to online databases. They include Austria -- the first EU country to lower the voting age to 16 when it made the shift in 2007 -- as well as Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and Cuba. Labour ministers in the United Kingdom insist the change is intended to "modernise our democracy" and boost turnout, while aligning general elections with the existing voting age for elections for the devolved regional parliaments in Scotland and Wales. Other planned changes include introducing automated voter registration -- which is already used in Australia and Canada -- and making UK-issued bank cards an accepted form of ID at polling stations. It follows changes to the electoral law introduced by the previous Conservative government which required voters to show a photo ID, which the Electoral Commission found led to around 750,000 people not voting in last year's election. Harry Quilter-Pinner, executive director of the Institute For Public Policy Research think tank, said the changes were "the biggest reform to our electoral system since 1969", when the voting age was lowered to 18. He noted lowering the voting age and introducing automated voter registration could add 9.5 million more people to the voter rolls. "Our democracy is in crisis, and we risk reaching a tipping point where politics loses its legitimacy," he added, backing the changes.

It follows a pledge from the ruling Labour Party to make the shift ahead of winning power last year, and is among several planned changes to the democratic system, which some argue is "in crisis" due to low turnout among other issues

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has warned against “double standards” while rebuffing the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) chief Mark Rutte’s threat of secondary sanctions on India for for continuing its trade relationship with Russia. “We have seen reports on the subject and are closely following the developments. Let me reiterate that securing the energy needs of our people is understandably an overriding priority for us,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during the weekly media briefing in Delhi on Thursday.&nbsp;Warning against “double standards”, Jaiswal further said, “In this endeavour, we are guided by what is available in the markets and also by prevailing global circumstances. We would particularly caution against any double standards on the matter.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi | On Nato chief Mark Rutte&#39;s comment that countries buying Russian oil could face secondary sanctions, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, &quot;We have seen reports on the subject and are closely following the developments. Let me reiterate that securing the energy… <a href="https://t.co/SdhmWRQYLL">pic.twitter.com/SdhmWRQYLL</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1945796607280124263?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The external affairs ministry made the stern remarks after Nato chief Mark Rutte urged India, China, and Brazil to reconsider their economic ties with Moscow or face “100 per cent secondary sanctions” if Russia does not commit to peace talks.&nbsp;Rutte was addressing a press conference in Washington along with US Senators Thom Tillis and Jeanne Shaheen when he echoed the position taken by US President Donald Trump, who earlier this week threatened severe tariffs on countries continuing trade with Russia.&nbsp;&nbsp;“My encouragement to these three countries, particularly, is that if you live now in Beijing or in Delhi, or you are the President of Brazil, you might want to take a look at this because this might hit you very hard,” Rutte had said.He further appealed to these nations to pressure Russia into talks. “Please make the phone call to Vladimir Putin and tell him that he has to get serious about peace talks, because otherwise this will slam back on Brazil, on India and on China in a massive way,” he warned.&nbsp;&nbsp;The statement followed Trump’s announcement on supplying additional military aid, including air defence systems, missiles, and ammunition, largely funded by European allies, to Ukraine.&nbsp;Trump also set a 50-day deadline for Russia to enter serious peace negotiations or face full secondary sanctions after days of speculation about his promised “surprise” on Russia and Ukraine following his harsh remarks about Vladimir Putin’s “bullshit” last week.

US President Donald Trump set a 50-day deadline for Russia to start peace negotiations or face full secondary sanctions after his harsh remarks about Vladimir Putin’s “bullshit” and speculation over his promise of “surprise” on Russia and Ukraine.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has warned against “double standards” while rebuffing the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) chief Mark Rutte’s threat of secondary sanctions on India for for continuing its trade relationship with Russia. “We have seen reports on the subject and are closely following the developments. Let me reiterate that securing the energy needs of our people is understandably an overriding priority for us,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during the weekly media briefing in Delhi on Thursday. Warning against “double standards”, Jaiswal further said, “In this endeavour, we are guided by what is available in the markets and also by prevailing global circumstances. We would particularly caution against any double standards on the matter.”

US President Donald Trump set a 50-day deadline for Russia to start peace negotiations or face full secondary sanctions after his harsh remarks about Vladimir Putin’s “bullshit” and speculation over his promise of “surprise” on Russia and Ukraine.

India slams Nato chief’s threat of sanctions over trade with Russia; warns against ‘double standards’

UK online pornography age verification rules: By July 25, all major porn sites in the UK are expected to introduce age verification to block those under 18 from accessing their platforms. The move is in compliance with the UK's Online Safety Act, and will mark a shift in how Brits access adult content online. The move is coming with fears of mass surveillance, potential online blackmail, naming and shaming and privacy breaches. Here is a breakdown:&nbsp;<h2>Millions of online users of adult content will be affected by UK age verification</h2>According to British media regulator Ofcom, 14 million Britons access online porn. The goal of age verification is to protect children from accessing adult content, but now, experts and privacy advocates are asking: what is the cost to personal data security?<h2>Porn age verification is possible, but privacy risks are high</h2>Each of the seven verification methods approved by Ofcom has potential data privacy risks: from invasive information collection to data exposure. Users may be able to choose their preferred method for age verification, but it might be impossible not to leave any digital footprints. Let us look at each:&nbsp;<h2>UK porn age verification method 1: Credit card age checks</h2>In this method, users can enter their credit card details. A small 'test' transaction verifies age. Adult sites claim that personal data is not passed on to the platforms. But critics warn of credit card data mishandling and potential exposure through hacking.<h2>UK porn age verification method 2: Digital Identity Wallets</h2>Users can verify age through apps such as Yoti store with documents like passports. Providers of such services claim that the data is encrypted and controlled by the users, but this amounts to mass digital ID use. Documents being used, if exposed, can have privacy consequences.<h2>UK porn age verification method 3: Email-based age estimation</h2>Artificial Intelligence can be used for checking where the user's email has been used, such as banks and utilities, and be used to guess the age of the users.&nbsp; Though encrypted and not shared with the porn sites, some of it may be stored for up to 28 days. Operators like Verifymy claim it’s the most user-friendly and low-friction option, but doubts persist.<h2>UK porn age verification method 4: Facial age estimation</h2>AI is used for age verification via scanning of faces through photos or videos. This is essentially the use of biometric data, and many people may be uncomfortable about getting scanned by AI. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ukraine-eyes-porn-legalisation-for-funds-to-fuel-its-war-machine-1752210016661/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/ukraine-eyes-porn-legalisation-for-funds-to-fuel-its-war-machine-1752210016661/embed</a><h2>UK porn age verification method 5: Mobile network checks</h2>The age verification is done by checking the registration details of phone numbers. It is possible that family plans on mobile networks might misidentify minors as adults or vice versa. It is unlikely to work for pay-as-you-go users and will depend on cooperation from mobile networks.<h2>UK porn age verification method 6: Open banking</h2>Age confirmation is done through verifying information from the user's banks. Sharing of bank account numbers is raising red flags, even though no transaction data is viewed by the porn sites and is for protecting kids according to providers like OneID.<h2>UK porn age verification method 7: Photo ID matching</h2>The users can click a selfie, and upload their passport or driver’s licence and the system will check if they match. This is a privacy minefield, as highly sensitive personal documents are involved, along with real photos of users. Experts are calling it intrusive and outdated.<h2>So, what's the problem?</h2>Protecting children from pornographic content is a universal priority. But experts are warning that it could lead to 'normalised mass surveillance'. With so many personal data points in play — bank details, biometric scans, ID uploads — critics ask if age verification might trade off privacy in the name of safety, with one analyst insisting that the only database that cannot be hacked is 'no database'. The tech might work but come at a cost that may be too personal for many.

Protecting children from pornographic content is a universal priority. But experts are warning that it could lead to 'normalised mass surveillance'. 

UK online pornography age verification rules: By July 25, all major porn sites in the UK are expected to introduce age verification to block those under 18 from accessing their platforms. The move is in compliance with the UK's Online Safety Act, and will mark a shift in how Brits access adult content online. The move is coming with fears of mass surveillance, potential online blackmail, naming and shaming and privacy breaches. Here is a breakdown: Millions of online users of adult content will be affected by UK age verification According to British media regulator Ofcom, 14 million Britons access online porn. The goal of age verification is to protect children from accessing adult content, but now, experts and privacy advocates are asking: what is the cost to personal data security? Porn age verification is possible, but privacy risks are high Each of the seven verification methods approved by Ofcom has potential data privacy risks: from invasive information collection to data exposure. Users may be able to choose their preferred method for age verification, but it might be impossible not to leave any digital footprints. Let us look at each: UK porn age verification method 1: Credit card age checks In this method, users can enter their credit card details. A small 'test' transaction verifies age. Adult sites claim that personal data is not passed on to the platforms. But critics warn of credit card data mishandling and potential exposure through hacking. UK porn age verification method 2: Digital Identity Wallets Users can verify age through apps such as Yoti store with documents like passports. Providers of such services claim that the data is encrypted and controlled by the users, but this amounts to mass digital ID use. Documents being used, if exposed, can have privacy consequences. UK porn age verification method 3: Email-based age estimation Artificial Intelligence can be used for checking where the user's email has been used, such as banks and utilities, and be used to guess the age of the users. Though encrypted and not shared with the porn sites, some of it may be stored for up to 28 days. Operators like Verifymy claim it’s the most user-friendly and low-friction option, but doubts persist. UK porn age verification method 4: Facial age estimation AI is used for age verification via scanning of faces through photos or videos. This is essentially the use of biometric data, and many people may be uncomfortable about getting scanned by AI. https://www.wionews.com/videos/ukraine-eyes-porn-legalisation-for-funds-to-fuel-its-war-machine-1752210016661/embed UK porn age verification method 5: Mobile network checks The age verification is done by checking the registration details of phone numbers. It is possible that family plans on mobile networks might misidentify minors as adults or vice versa. It is unlikely to work for pay-as-you-go users and will depend on cooperation from mobile networks. UK porn age verification method 6: Open banking Age confirmation is done through verifying information from the user's banks. Sharing of bank account numbers is raising red flags, even though no transaction data is viewed by the porn sites and is for protecting kids according to providers like OneID. UK porn age verification method 7: Photo ID matching The users can click a selfie, and upload their passport or driver’s licence and the system will check if they match. This is a privacy minefield, as highly sensitive personal documents are involved, along with real photos of users. Experts are calling it intrusive and outdated. So, what's the problem? Protecting children from pornographic content is a universal priority. But experts are warning that it could lead to 'normalised mass surveillance'. With so many personal data points in play — bank details, biometric scans, ID uploads — critics ask if age verification might trade off privacy in the name of safety, with one analyst insisting that the only database that cannot be hacked is 'no database'. The tech might work but come at a cost that may be too personal for many.

Protecting children from pornographic content is a universal priority. But experts are warning that it could lead to 'normalised mass surveillance'.&nbsp;

Age verification for porn site access is coming to 14 million UK users next week. But there is a problem...

The WWII Japanese destroyer Teruzuki, lost for over 83 years, has been discovered in stunning condition beneath the Pacific. Explore its history, dramatic sinking, and why this underwater find matters today.

Lost for decades, wreck of WWII era Japanese Destroyer Teruzuki unearthed after 83 years

The US President Donald Trump administration is set to destroy nearly 500 metric tons of emergency food, which was kept for starving people around the world. The high-nutrient food has remained untouched since Trump ceased United States Agency for International Development (USAID) operations.&nbsp;The food, worth $800,000,000, has been getting ruined for months in a warehouse in Dubai, according to a former USAID official.&nbsp;The food, which will now be obliterated, could have sustained about 1.5 million children for a week. However, according to an Atlantic report, the disposal process will start soon, involving incineration, and is expected to cost an additional $130,000.&nbsp;Earlier, the agency was supposed to distribute the food to underprivileged children in regions of Africa and the Middle East.&nbsp;This comes as the US State Department is planning to lay off 1300 employees this week, as it accused the department of excessive spending and fraudulent conduct.<h2>'Government abuse'</h2>Democratic Representative Adam Smith slammed Trump for "waste and government abuse". He stressed that in the coming weeks, the food enough for a million children, will be torched at a cost of $130,000.“The Trump administration is destroying 500 metric tons of emergency food—and making US taxpayers foot the bill,” Smith said.&nbsp;“In the coming weeks, high-energy biscuits, enough to feed 1.5 million children, will be torched at a cost of $130,000. This comes after $800,000 in taxpayer funds were already spent to purchase the food. This is the very definition of waste and government abuse."&nbsp;He stressed the need to restore critical foreign aid programs that save lives, "rather than let vulnerable children starve while we burn the food that could have fed them.”<h2>'Could have been given to Gaza'</h2>A former USAID official, who spoke anonymously, said that before the Trump administration dismantles USAID, the agency's personnel would have kept a record of expiration dates of food. As the dates of expiration came nearer, they could have asked colleagues to send the food aid to those regions where it was needed.&nbsp;The food could have been sent to places that desperately needed it, like Gaza.&nbsp;The former official explained that two rations of biscuits a day is enough to stop people from dying. They made “perfect sense” in the catastrophic situation of Gaza, “because there is no clean water, there’s no way to cook, no oil, no fires,” the official told CNN.&nbsp;“It’s just heartbreaking to see with these biscuits, because they’re the perfect emergency food aid, it’s hard to see them go to waste,” the official added.&nbsp;Meanwhile, a state department spokesperson has confirmed the obliteration of food aid, since they are unable to use it before it expires. “USAID has had to destroy commodities under previous administrations with similar circumstances – this is not unique,” the spokesperson said.

The US will be destroying 500 tons of food aid, which would have been distributed to millions of starving children across Africa and Middle East, as the Trump administration has ceased USAID operations. The disposal process is expected to begin soon, which will cost another $130,000. 

The US President Donald Trump administration is set to destroy nearly 500 metric tons of emergency food, which was kept for starving people around the world. The high-nutrient food has remained untouched since Trump ceased United States Agency for International Development (USAID) operations. The food, worth $800,000,000, has been getting ruined for months in a warehouse in Dubai, according to a former USAID official. The food, which will now be obliterated, could have sustained about 1.5 million children for a week. However, according to an Atlantic report, the disposal process will start soon, involving incineration, and is expected to cost an additional $130,000. Earlier, the agency was supposed to distribute the food to underprivileged children in regions of Africa and the Middle East. This comes as the US State Department is planning to lay off 1300 employees this week, as it accused the department of excessive spending and fraudulent conduct. 'Government abuse' Democratic Representative Adam Smith slammed Trump for "waste and government abuse". He stressed that in the coming weeks, the food enough for a million children, will be torched at a cost of $130,000. “The Trump administration is destroying 500 metric tons of emergency food—and making US taxpayers foot the bill,” Smith said. “In the coming weeks, high-energy biscuits, enough to feed 1.5 million children, will be torched at a cost of $130,000. This comes after $800,000 in taxpayer funds were already spent to purchase the food. This is the very definition of waste and government abuse." He stressed the need to restore critical foreign aid programs that save lives, "rather than let vulnerable children starve while we burn the food that could have fed them.” 'Could have been given to Gaza' A former USAID official, who spoke anonymously, said that before the Trump administration dismantles USAID, the agency's personnel would have kept a record of expiration dates of food. As the dates of expiration came nearer, they could have asked colleagues to send the food aid to those regions where it was needed. The food could have been sent to places that desperately needed it, like Gaza. The former official explained that two rations of biscuits a day is enough to stop people from dying. They made “perfect sense” in the catastrophic situation of Gaza, “because there is no clean water, there’s no way to cook, no oil, no fires,” the official told CNN. “It’s just heartbreaking to see with these biscuits, because they’re the perfect emergency food aid, it’s hard to see them go to waste,” the official added. Meanwhile, a state department spokesperson has confirmed the obliteration of food aid, since they are unable to use it before it expires. “USAID has had to destroy commodities under previous administrations with similar circumstances – this is not unique,” the spokesperson said.

The US will be destroying 500 tons of food aid, which would have been distributed to millions of starving children across Africa and Middle East, as the Trump administration has ceased USAID operations. The disposal process is expected to begin soon, which will cost another $130,000.&nbsp;

US to burn food meant for 1.5mn starving children? Trump admin set to destroy 500 tons of emergency food - Here's what we know

NATO’s top military commander on Thursday (Jul 17) confirmed that preparations were underway for the delivery of Patriot missile systems to Ukraine. He also warned that Russia is and will remain a threat to the European alliance, even if a peaceful solution is reached over the war in Ukraine. Alexus Grynkewich said that they are closely working with the Germans for the transfer of the US-made defence systems, following the guidance he has been given “to move out as quickly as possible.”&nbsp;This comes after US President Donald Trump’s announcement earlier this week that Washington would send Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine to help the war-torn nation fight off Russian invasion.&nbsp;“I’m not going to reveal to the Russians or anyone else the exact numbers of weapons that we’re transferring or when those will happen, but what I will say is that preparations are underway,” Grynkewich said. “We’re working very closely with the Germans on the Patriot transfer, and the guidance that I’ve been given has been to move out as quickly as possible. So we’re doing that. And then we’re also looking at other capabilities and what those needs are, and working on proposals for our political leadership.”&nbsp;He further added, “We’re going to move as quickly as we can on this.” The top military commander said that the defence systems already in Europe can be moved to Ukraine quickly, and later, the production line in the US can backfill them.“Air defence is important on the modern battlefield, and we’ve seen the scale of recent Russian attacks against Ukraine, so it is a key focus area,” he said.&nbsp;Grynkewich, who took the most senior allied post in Europe earlier this month, also warned that even if a peaceful solution is reached in Ukraine, Russia will remain a threat. “War persists on our doorstep in Ukraine,” he said. “While we seek a peaceful resolution, even if that resolution comes, the Russian capabilities that are there will reconstitute and just by their very existence will be something that we’ll have to think of from the military perspective, and understand how it threatens the Alliance and the freedoms that we hold dear. Russia will undoubtedly, in my mind, remain an enduring threat.”&nbsp;Watch | Russia-Ukraine War: Russia Warns of Increased Tensions With NATO&nbsp;https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-russia-warns-of-increased-tensions-with-nato-global-stability-at-risk-wion-1752743667634/embed

Grynkewich, who took the most senior allied post in Europe earlier this month, also warned that even if a peaceful solution is reached in Ukraine, Russia will remain a threat.

NATO’s top military commander on Thursday (Jul 17) confirmed that preparations were underway for the delivery of Patriot missile systems to Ukraine. He also warned that Russia is and will remain a threat to the European alliance, even if a peaceful solution is reached over the war in Ukraine. Alexus Grynkewich said that they are closely working with the Germans for the transfer of the US-made defence systems, following the guidance he has been given “to move out as quickly as possible.” This comes after US President Donald Trump’s announcement earlier this week that Washington would send Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine to help the war-torn nation fight off Russian invasion. “I’m not going to reveal to the Russians or anyone else the exact numbers of weapons that we’re transferring or when those will happen, but what I will say is that preparations are underway,” Grynkewich said. “We’re working very closely with the Germans on the Patriot transfer, and the guidance that I’ve been given has been to move out as quickly as possible. So we’re doing that. And then we’re also looking at other capabilities and what those needs are, and working on proposals for our political leadership.” He further added, “We’re going to move as quickly as we can on this.” The top military commander said that the defence systems already in Europe can be moved to Ukraine quickly, and later, the production line in the US can backfill them. “Air defence is important on the modern battlefield, and we’ve seen the scale of recent Russian attacks against Ukraine, so it is a key focus area,” he said. Grynkewich, who took the most senior allied post in Europe earlier this month, also warned that even if a peaceful solution is reached in Ukraine, Russia will remain a threat. “War persists on our doorstep in Ukraine,” he said. “While we seek a peaceful resolution, even if that resolution comes, the Russian capabilities that are there will reconstitute and just by their very existence will be something that we’ll have to think of from the military perspective, and understand how it threatens the Alliance and the freedoms that we hold dear. Russia will undoubtedly, in my mind, remain an enduring threat.” Watch | Russia-Ukraine War: Russia Warns of Increased Tensions With NATO https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-russia-warns-of-increased-tensions-with-nato-global-stability-at-risk-wion-1752743667634/embed

Grynkewich, who took the most senior allied post in Europe earlier this month, also warned that even if a peaceful solution is reached in Ukraine, Russia will remain a threat.

‘Moving out as quickly as possible’: NATO top commander says preparations underway to deliver Patriots to Ukraine

Immigrants in the US, many of whom are facing deportation, are turning to innovative and unusual sources for money to cover the expenses for bail and legal battles to survive and stay in the country. A Colombian woman with the profile name ‘The Blonde that should not get deported’ (@Blondeblond) has resorted to posting nude pictures online to raise money for her legal expenses.&nbsp;According to a report by USA Today, she had been detained by ICE and is locked up in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centre in Louisiana. The cost of deportation defence can run up to thousands of dollars. The OnlyFans model spoke on condition of anonymity in the fear that her fundraising effort would be affected if her identity were disclosed.The Department of Homeland Security detained her in the Enforcement Detention Centre in June. Her husband or other relatives are allowed to visit her twice a week. She is raising funds for her upcoming bond hearing.Her OnlyFans handle features photos of her in scantily clad, bold clothing. She met her husband, who is a US citizen, in Colombia. When he visited her country, both were in their respective relationships. They kept in touch for years, fell in love and decided to get married after a divorce.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This is what freedom looked like before I was detained and locked up. Flowing river, silent nature, peace....freedom🌿🌳☀️💧 <a href="https://t.co/OtBaCrlslX">pic.twitter.com/OtBaCrlslX</a>&mdash; Blonde on Bond (@BlondeOnBond) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlondeOnBond/status/1941857799018803528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe have raised nearly $2 million for deportation defence efforts in June and July. USA Today has verified 15 such campaigns with internal sources of the largest crowdfunding platform in the US.&nbsp;A California mother of two whose youngest is still in high school has raised $6,721 in a week. A married Vermont homebuilder who co-owns a business has collected $36,975 since June 18. This trend highlights growing desperation and creativity among immigrant communities to avoid deportation amid increasingly aggressive immigration enforcement. However, while using a platform like OnlyFans, these individuals are vulnerable to personal safety and dignity. These income streams are unpredictable and unreliable, and sometimes come with stigma.

With the ongoing ICE crackdown, immigrants have turned to the largest crowdfunding platform in the US, GoFundMe and adult content platform OnlyFans to escape the crackdown from the ICE and to raise money to cover the legal expenses.

Immigrants in the US, many of whom are facing deportation, are turning to innovative and unusual sources for money to cover the expenses for bail and legal battles to survive and stay in the country. A Colombian woman with the profile name ‘The Blonde that should not get deported’ (@Blondeblond) has resorted to posting nude pictures online to raise money for her legal expenses. According to a report by USA Today, she had been detained by ICE and is locked up in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centre in Louisiana. The cost of deportation defence can run up to thousands of dollars. The OnlyFans model spoke on condition of anonymity in the fear that her fundraising effort would be affected if her identity were disclosed. The Department of Homeland Security detained her in the Enforcement Detention Centre in June. Her husband or other relatives are allowed to visit her twice a week. She is raising funds for her upcoming bond hearing. Her OnlyFans handle features photos of her in scantily clad, bold clothing. She met her husband, who is a US citizen, in Colombia. When he visited her country, both were in their respective relationships. They kept in touch for years, fell in love and decided to get married after a divorce.

With the ongoing ICE crackdown, immigrants have turned to the largest crowdfunding platform in the US, GoFundMe and adult content platform OnlyFans to escape the crackdown from the ICE and to raise money to cover the legal expenses.

GoFundMe, OnlyFans… or goodbye? How immigrants are fighting to stay in America

A disturbing video showed a massive fireball completely engulfing a shopping hypermarket in the city of Kut in eastern Iraq. The fire in the five-storey building started last night. The market also had a restaurant, and many families were inside at the time of the accident. At least 60 people are reported killed in the blaze.&nbsp;The Wasjit province governor, Mohammed al-Mayahi, said the fire broke out as the families were having dinner or were shopping. The firefighters were still toiling to put out the fire.&nbsp;The local government has launched a probe into the incident. The probe report will be filed within 48 hours.&nbsp;&nbsp;The governor described the fire as a tragedy and a calamity. He said the government has filed lawsuits against the owner of the building and the hypermarket.&nbsp;"The number of victims has reached about 60 people, martyrs and injured, in the tragic fire at a major shopping center,” Mohammed al-Miyahi told the official INA news agency.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">The glowing flames in the darkness of the night are telling the scene of death!🔥 So far more than 50 people have died and many are burnt in the massive fire in the shopping mall in Kut city of Iraq🇮🇶.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iraq?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iraq</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iraqi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iraqi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kut?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kut</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FireAccident?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FireAccident</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Global?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Global</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Disaster?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Disaster</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/World?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#World</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#العراق</a> <a href="https://t.co/5QYEOytXOQ">pic.twitter.com/5QYEOytXOQ</a>&mdash; Sanjeev (@wing4destiny) <a href="https://twitter.com/wing4destiny/status/1945731926796669334?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;The causes of the blaze are not yet identified. Kut is located 160 kilometers southeast of Baghdad.&nbsp;The mall had opened just five days ago. The local government has declared a three-day mourning period in the province.&nbsp;Ambulances were still transporting casualties as late as 4:00 am, filling beds of a hospital in Kut.&nbsp;Initial reports suggested the fire started on the first floor. This is a developing story. More information will be added shortly.

A disturbing video showed a massive fireball completely engulfing a shopping hypermarket in the city of Kut in eastern Iraq. The fire in the five-storey building started last night. The market also had a restaurant, and many families were inside at the time of the accident. 

A disturbing video showed a massive fireball completely engulfing a shopping hypermarket in the city of Kut in eastern Iraq. The fire in the five-storey building started last night. The market also had a restaurant, and many families were inside at the time of the accident. At least 60 people are reported killed in the blaze. The Wasjit province governor, Mohammed al-Mayahi, said the fire broke out as the families were having dinner or were shopping. The firefighters were still toiling to put out the fire. The local government has launched a probe into the incident. The probe report will be filed within 48 hours. The governor described the fire as a tragedy and a calamity. He said the government has filed lawsuits against the owner of the building and the hypermarket. "The number of victims has reached about 60 people, martyrs and injured, in the tragic fire at a major shopping center,” Mohammed al-Miyahi told the official INA news agency.

Iraq mall fire video: The Wasjit province governor, Mohammed al-Mayahi, said the fire broke out as the families were having dinner or were shopping.

Shocking drone video shows Iraq mall engulfed in gigantic fireball; over 60 killed

As India and the US will soon be finalising the trade deal, one of the biggest barriers they are facing is related to agriculture and dairy. Reportedly, India has been hesitating to allow American dairy products into the country since it includes "non-veg milk", citing cultural concerns. This comes just ahead of US President Donald Trump's August 1 deadline to reach a deal with America or face higher tariffs.&nbsp;The two sides are facing difficulty in finding a common ground to agree on the deal terms ahead of the deadline.<h2>What is non-veg milk?</h2>India has been stressing one key issue, which is the import of dairy products from the US, including "non-veg milk". Cows in the US are fed animal-based products like meat or blood. The milk produced from these cows is referred to as "non-veg milk". &nbsp;&nbsp;Hence, India is pushing the US for a strict verification to ensure that the imported milk from cows that have not been fed animal-based products. India has made it a "non-negotiable red line".&nbsp;According to a 2023 World Atlas report, approximately 38 percent of India's population is vegetarian. Hindus in India use milk and ghee in religious rituals on an everyday basis.&nbsp;As the concerns were raised, Ajay Srivastava of Global Trade Research Institute (GTRI) told news agency PTI, "Imagine eating butter made from the milk of a cow that was fed meat and blood from another cow. India may never allow that."&nbsp;India's Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying mandates veterinary certification for food imports. It means that the source animals have not been fed meat or blood.&nbsp;"The source animals have never been fed with feeds produced from meat or bone meal, including internal organs, blood meal, and tissues of ruminant origin and porcine origin materials, except milk and milk products," the certificate reads.<h2>How will it impact Indian dairy farmers?</h2>The Indian farmers could face annual losses up to Rs 1.03 lakh crore if India imports daily products from the US, according to a report by the State Bank of India (SBI).&nbsp;“If the dairy sector is opened up, the price of milk in India is likely to drop by at least 15 per cent, which could cause a potential annual loss of Rs 1.03 lakh crore to dairy farmers,” the report stated.&nbsp;Despite pressure from US President Trump, India remains hesitant to open its dairy and agricultural markets to the US.

Ahead of Trump's trade deadline, India and the US have been moving further with the deal, making progress. However, one key concern has become a barrier in their trade deal, "non-veg milk". India has been hesitating to allow American dairy products into the country citing cultural concerns.

As India and the US will soon be finalising the trade deal, one of the biggest barriers they are facing is related to agriculture and dairy. Reportedly, India has been hesitating to allow American dairy products into the country since it includes "non-veg milk", citing cultural concerns. This comes just ahead of US President Donald Trump's August 1 deadline to reach a deal with America or face higher tariffs. The two sides are facing difficulty in finding a common ground to agree on the deal terms ahead of the deadline. What is non-veg milk? India has been stressing one key issue, which is the import of dairy products from the US, including "non-veg milk". Cows in the US are fed animal-based products like meat or blood. The milk produced from these cows is referred to as "non-veg milk". Hence, India is pushing the US for a strict verification to ensure that the imported milk from cows that have not been fed animal-based products. India has made it a "non-negotiable red line". According to a 2023 World Atlas report, approximately 38 percent of India's population is vegetarian. Hindus in India use milk and ghee in religious rituals on an everyday basis. As the concerns were raised, Ajay Srivastava of Global Trade Research Institute (GTRI) told news agency PTI, "Imagine eating butter made from the milk of a cow that was fed meat and blood from another cow. India may never allow that." India's Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying mandates veterinary certification for food imports. It means that the source animals have not been fed meat or blood. "The source animals have never been fed with feeds produced from meat or bone meal, including internal organs, blood meal, and tissues of ruminant origin and porcine origin materials, except milk and milk products," the certificate reads. How will it impact Indian dairy farmers? The Indian farmers could face annual losses up to Rs 1.03 lakh crore if India imports daily products from the US, according to a report by the State Bank of India (SBI). “If the dairy sector is opened up, the price of milk in India is likely to drop by at least 15 per cent, which could cause a potential annual loss of Rs 1.03 lakh crore to dairy farmers,” the report stated. Despite pressure from US President Trump, India remains hesitant to open its dairy and agricultural markets to the US.

Ahead of Trump's trade deadline, India and the US have been moving further with the deal, making progress. However, one key concern has become a barrier in their trade deal, "non-veg milk". India has been hesitating to allow American dairy products into the country citing cultural concerns.

What is non-veg milk? Here's why it has become a 'non-negotiable red line' for India-US trade deal

A woman in Cornwall, a small county in England, was slapped with a double fine after she tore up her first ticket. A civil enforcement officer first gave her a parking ticket for leaving her car in a no-loading zone in Falmouth, Cornwall. She later came, removed the ticket, tore it up and threw it on the floor. She was then charged an additional £250 ($335 or Rs 28,000) for littering. The local council shared the videos captured by the officer's body camera. The woman can be seen taking off the first ticket and throwing it on the ground. Her actions led to two fines - one for the parking and another for littering. The amount was later reduced to £150 as it was paid earlier than due time. Since she had destroyed the first ticket, another notice for the parking offence was sent to her. The video also shows her yelling at the officer.&nbsp;Cornwall has come down pretty heavily on people who litter. Besides this woman, two others were earlier fined for scattering garbage. This includes a man who threw an egg custard carton from his vehicle on a country lane in the St Austell area. Another woman was caught dropping a bottle in Falmouth and was slapped with a £250 penalty. The culprits were identified through CCTV footage. The local council saw the videos, after which probes were launched to search for the two offenders. They admitted to their actions and paid an early fine of £150.&nbsp;Cornwall officials are pretty serious about keeping their town clean and are clear that any offenders will be caught and punished. County councillor Thalia Marrington, portfolio holder for community safety and public health, said, “Cornwall is beautiful, and we want to keep it that way. There is no excuse for dropping litter, and when we have evidence of these offences, we will always try to trace those responsible." She added that CCTV videos are being used to capture offenders. Thailia also urged the community to report anyone who they see littering. "More and more people now have doorbell and home security cameras that capture this type of offence," she said, requesting anyone who sees something to report it. &nbsp;

A woman in Cornwall was fined twice after she threw away her parking ticket. Bodycam footage shows her tearing up the first ticket. She then yells at the officer, after which he hands her another fine for littering. Cornwall has become very strict about cleanliness.

A woman in Cornwall, a small county in England, was slapped with a double fine after she tore up her first ticket. A civil enforcement officer first gave her a parking ticket for leaving her car in a no-loading zone in Falmouth, Cornwall. She later came, removed the ticket, tore it up and threw it on the floor. She was then charged an additional £250 ($335 or Rs 28,000) for littering. The local council shared the videos captured by the officer's body camera. The woman can be seen taking off the first ticket and throwing it on the ground. Her actions led to two fines - one for the parking and another for littering. The amount was later reduced to £150 as it was paid earlier than due time. Since she had destroyed the first ticket, another notice for the parking offence was sent to her. The video also shows her yelling at the officer. Cornwall has come down pretty heavily on people who litter. Besides this woman, two others were earlier fined for scattering garbage. This includes a man who threw an egg custard carton from his vehicle on a country lane in the St Austell area. Another woman was caught dropping a bottle in Falmouth and was slapped with a £250 penalty. The culprits were identified through CCTV footage. The local council saw the videos, after which probes were launched to search for the two offenders. They admitted to their actions and paid an early fine of £150. Cornwall officials are pretty serious about keeping their town clean and are clear that any offenders will be caught and punished. County councillor Thalia Marrington, portfolio holder for community safety and public health, said, “Cornwall is beautiful, and we want to keep it that way. There is no excuse for dropping litter, and when we have evidence of these offences, we will always try to trace those responsible." She added that CCTV videos are being used to capture offenders. Thailia also urged the community to report anyone who they see littering. "More and more people now have doorbell and home security cameras that capture this type of offence," she said, requesting anyone who sees something to report it.

A woman in Cornwall was fined twice after she threw away her parking ticket. Bodycam footage shows her tearing up the first ticket. She then yells at the officer, after which he hands her another fine for littering. Cornwall has become very strict about cleanliness.

Woman tears her parking ticket, is slapped with Rs 28,000 fine for littering

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Woman tears her parking ticket, is slapped with Rs 28,000 fine for littering