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New tools make it easier to compare state constitutions

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As we know, Judge William Brennan’s Clarion asks the state court to independently interpret decisions in areas such as the state’s constitution, the rights of criminal defendants, education guarantees, and constraints on prominent territories. State courts then often turn to jurisprudence from other states to determine how to interpret similar state constitutional provisions.

But how can judges, academics and practitioners understand which clauses are common to multiple state constitutions, and how they differ and how they overlap? Until now, such research has been a slogan. The new tool aims to compare state constitutions of scholars, practitioners and judges.

stateconstitutiontool.org is a user-friendly resource for comparing state constitutions. From searches and seizures to abortions and gift clauses, you can choose ready-made topics that can be tailored to your entire range of conditions. Search results are compared side-by-side, making research and analysis easier. To make comparisons even easier, similar languages can be emphasized to allow users to instantly find similarities and differences. A search can include all 50 states or subsets.

Prominent members of the legal community provide feedback on the tools. Eugene Voke Volokh’s Conspiracy Matthew Segal, co-director of the ACLU’s state Supreme Court initiative, also said he found both helpful. Segal even called it “very cool.”

Arizona Supreme Court Judge Clint Borick asked the justice officer to find out how much of the states express, saying it took him more time to complete it, using the tools to communicate the transfer than his store clerk. Alabama Supreme Court Judge Jay Mitchell, in his consent to reject the interpretation of the state constitution in “Lockstep” with the “state constitution,” was called “a useful tool for comparing state and federal constitutional provisions.”

This tool has many uses. The judge can easily determine whether other states have a state constitutional language similar (or different) to the provisions applied in the case. Attorneys who are facing new challenges in state constitutional interpretations can quickly identify states that may have faced relevant issues. In particular, public interest lawyers can identify potential target states for litigation based on their preferred constitutional language. Legal strategists can track trends and identify gaps in the state’s constitution. A favorably applied language can provide templates for constitutional changes in other states.

For scholars, this tool offers research opportunities. This will support future litigation. For example, Anthony Sanders of the Judicial Institute recently published a book on the “Baby No. 9 Amendment” in the state constitution that protects freedom beyond those specifically listed. If the tool was available when he was writing it, the research tab dedicated to minor rights would have effectively accumulated dozens of hours of research in seconds.

In fact, given the large number of unstudied provisions in the state’s constitution, the tool’s research category itself could warn practitioners to aid in legal theories that they had not previously considered.

Try the tool. I think I’ll stay longer than I expected, discover clause patterns and trends in various states, and quickly integrate them into my practice.

Carrie Anne Donnell is an Arizona lawyer and founder of American Juris Link, a nonprofit organization that helps professional bono litigants move forward with the rule of law.

Suggested Quote: Carrie Anne Donnell, New tools allow you to compare state constitutionssᴛᴛᴇcᴏᴜʀᴛrᴇᴘᴏʀᴛ (July 30, 2025), https://statcourtreport.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/new-tool-enables-enables-comparing-stat-Constitutional Act

South Africa: White farmers go to trial after two black women are murdered and their bodies feed the pigs

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The owner of a white South African farm and two employees face the murder of two black women who prosecutors said they were shot dead in August last year and a trial that included pigs being fed.

The woman was allegedly killed by 60-year-old Zakaria Olivier, his worker, Adrian de Wett, 19, and 45-year-old foreigner William Musolo.

The man appeared at the Limpopopolokwane High Court in northern Limpopo Province on Monday, a regional spokesman for the South African National Prosecutor’s Office (NPA) told CNN.

The trio “faces two counts of murder, attempted murder, three counts that defeat the end of justice, possession of firearms and ammunition,” the NPA said in a previous statement.

Musoro, described by police as “illegal immigrants,” was further charged with “violation section of the illegal immigration law,” a police statement said.

They were not asked to enter the petition before the hearing was shifted Thursday, said Mashdu Marabi Dizungi, a spokesman for the Limpopo NPA.

On August 20, 2024, police said, “The man was arrested after the body of a pig was found decomposed among the pigs on a farm in Severen, on the outskirts of Mankwen.

“The investigation began on August 17th (2024) when a 45-year-old South African woman went missing after visiting the farm. “Both women were injured by bullets and a 47-year-old foreign man with them” fled, but “we were shot dead and hospitalized.”

Survivors told reporters that one of the murdered women was his wife. The other women were their neighbors. They were on the farm to collect expired and abandoned dairy products, he said.

Many South Africans who were furious at the murders are hoping for justice from their victims.

Similar murders have been recorded in South Africa in recent years. In Mpumalanga, four men, including a 24-year-old farm manager, face accusations of murder and temptation, allegedly killing and burning the bodies of three people accused of stealing sheep in August last year, the NPA said.

In 2019, the South African High Court served two white farmers long sentences for a 16-year-old teenager from a moving truck in Coliny, northwest state, to two white farmers for allegedly stealing sunflowers. However, the man was acquitted by the High Court two years later, and he overturned the sentence, citing his lack of evidence.

Violent crimes are spreading in South Africa’s more than 60 million South African countries, where around 20,000 murders were recorded between April and December last year, police data show.

Farm murders involving both white and black South Africans account for a small portion of about 0.2% of those killings, despite the widespread claims of genocide against white farmers by white nationalist groups.

Trump tears Jaguar ads after CEO resignation

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  • President Trump criticized Jaguar’s 2024 advertising campaign after the CEO announced his resignation.
  • The ad entitled “Copy Nothing” featured a model of bright androgynous clothing, and did not include vehicles.
  • Jaguar defended the rebranding as a “bold and imaginative reinvention” and a “dramatic leap.”

President Donald Trump has waste no time provoking British luxury car maker Jaguar after the CEO announced he was resigning after a controversial rebrand that was deemed “awakening” last year. The president wrote on his social media platform on Monday, August 4th.

Jaguar Land Rover did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

CEO Adrian Mardell, who spent 30 years at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and served as CEO for the past three years, announced in November that he would resign and take over by PB Balaji. The company announced its switch-up with its release on Thursday, July 31st.

“The last three years have been a great privilege,” Mardel said in writing. “Along with an incredible JLR workforce, we have solidified the position of JLR in the automotive industry in an age of incredible change.”

Why was the ads controversial?

In November 2024, the company released a head flying ad entitled “Copy Nothing.” The 30-second ad didn’t have a car, but instead there was a model dressed in bright androgynous clothing.

Slogans the company used as part of its ads included “frenzy”, “live vivid”, “normal removal” and “destructive type” using British spelling.

The ad quickly spread word-of-mouth on social media, generating tens of millions of views and thousands of social media comments within 24 hours.

Several Jaguar customers said they were caught off guard by the ad.

“This made me want to sell Jaguars, but I don’t own Jaguars,” tweeted Robbie Starbuck, a conservative business activist at the time.

In a statement defending the rebrand, the company said: “The Jaguar brand reboot was a bold, imaginative reinvention that, as expected, attracted attention and debate.

“As custodians who are proud of these incredible points of Jaguar history, we have been holding the iconic symbol dramatically, and what is clear about the brand is just the first step in this exciting new era.”

What did the president say?

Trump had his own opinion on the ads, but he shared it on Monday, August 4th.

“Jaguar woke up a stupid, serious awakening an ad. It’s a complete disaster! The CEO resigns in disgrace, and the company is in absolute confusion,” Trump wrote in the Truth Social Post.

The president was referring to Sweeney’s American Eagle Jeans ads. This was attacked to support eugenics for wordplay using “jeans” and “genes.”

In an ad called “Great Jeans for Sydney Sweeney,” the actress told camera:

Next comes the phrase “Sydney Sweeney has some amazing jeans.” People who disagree with the ad say the company used a blonde, blue-eyed white woman as a symbol of good genes.

Following Trump’s comments, American Eagle shares rose 23%.

Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter for USA Today. Contact her at mdelrey@usatoday.com

Trump blocks disaster aid to states boycotting Israel

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FEMA now requires that the state prove that it will not cut “commercial ties with Israeli companies, particularly in order to qualify for disaster funding.”

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  • This requirement applies to at least $1.9 billion that it relies on to cover search and rescue devices, emergency manager payroll, and backup power systems.
  • FEMA said it would need to spend a portion of the federal Prevention Fund to help the government arrest migrants.

WASHINGTON Boycott Israeli Companies — The US and cities have been denied federal aid in preparing for natural disasters, and President Donald Trump’s administration has announced that routine federal funding is tied to political stance.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said in a grant notice posted on August 1 that the state must comply with its “Terms of Use.” These terms must prove that they will not break “commercial ties with Israeli companies, particularly in order to qualify for funding.”

The requirement applies to at least $1.9 billion, according to 11 agency grant notices reviewed by Reuters.

The requirement is the latest initiative by the Trump administration to use federal funds to promote views on Israel.

The Department of Homeland Security, the agency that oversees FEMA, said boycotting Israel in April was prohibited because of the states and cities that receive the grant.

FEMA separately said in July that it would need to spend a portion of the Federal Terrorism Prevention Fund to help the government arrest migrants, a priority.

Israel’s requirements aim to be a BDS, boycott, sale and sanctions movement designed to put economic pressure on Israel to end the occupation of Palestinian territory. Supporters of the campaign grew more loudly in 2023 after Hamas attacked southern Israel and Israel invaded Gaza in response.

“DHS will implement all differentiation laws and policies, including those relating to the BDS movement that is explicitly based on anti-Semitism,” a spokesman for Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem said in a statement.

The requirements are primarily symbolic. At least 34 states already have anti-BDS laws or policies, according to the University of Pennsylvania Law Journal. The BDS movement did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The American Jewish Commission supports the Trump administration’s policies, said Holly Hafnagle, director of the group’s anti-Semitism policy. This organization is an advocacy group supporting Israel.

In one of the grants posted on August 1, FEMA will require major cities to agree to Israeli policies to receive a $553.5 million cut to prevent terrorism in densely populated areas.

New York is expected to receive $92.2 million from the program, and is almost all recipients. According to the notification, the allocation is based on an agency’s analysis of “relative risks of terrorism.”

What do you know about the murder?

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Authorities say the lonely gunman walked to a bar in Montana and bravely set off a fire, killing the bartender and killing three guests.

The square shooting reported by officials from multiple law enforcement jurisdictions took place on Friday, August 1st at Owl Bar, a rural town in Anaconda, Dear Lodge County, on a 100-mile drive west of Bozeman.

The Montana Criminal Investigation Bureau (DCI) identified four casualties as aged in the range of 59-75, including a 64-year-old woman who won the bar, at a weekend press conference in southwestern Montana.

Officials are pursuing the murder of Michael Brown, 45, whom he said he lived next to the bar in connection with the death of the victim.

The suspect in the case was a spokesman for the Anacondadia Lodge County Police Department, confirmed to USA Today on Monday, August 4th, and remained a fugitive from justice.

Here’s what you need to know about the fatal bar shooting as police continue searching for suspects:

Who is the suspect in the mass shootings in Montana?

Law enforcement has identified the suspect as 45-year-old Michael Paul Brown.

On August 3, the Granite County Sheriff’s Office was also investigating the incident, reporting that the Brown home next to the bar had been cleaned up by SWAT, but warned people to avoid the area.

“This was an unstable individual, and for no reason he killed four people in cold blood.

Who was the victim of the owl shooting?

At a press conference, Knudsen identified the victim as follows:

  • Nancy Lauretta Kelly, 64, bartender
  • Daniel Edwin Bailey, 59, Patron
  • David Allen Leach, 70, Patron
  • Tony Wayne Palm, 74, Patron

Where is the owl bar?

The bar is located in the town of Anaconda, Montana, about 100 miles southeast of Missoula.

As of August 4th, the bar had temporarily closed, an online search shows.

USA Today reached out to the bar.

What happened with the owl shooting?

At about 10:30am local time, the suspect entered an owl bar and fired fire, killing four people, officials said at a press conference.

He then escaped the scene with a white truck.

Where was the last suspect gunman seen?

According to DCI, video surveillance captured the suspect leaving the bar after the shooting.

Law enforcement later found the truck, said DCI administrator Lee Johnson.

Residents in the area were notified and continued to be asked to remain inside their homes as officials said the suspects were armed and deemed dangerous.

Description of the suspected Montana Bar Shooting

Officials explained that he was 5 feet brown, 10 inches tall, weighing about 170 pounds, and had blue eyes and brown hair.

Brown, a veteran in the US Army, is said to have escaped the scene with his white Ford F-150 truck.

Brown served as a crew member of the Army armor from January 2001 to May 2005. This included the deployment to Iraq from February 2004 to March 2005. He served in the Montana National Guard from April 2006 to March 2009.

Who is investigating the Montanabar shooting?

The case continued to be under investigation on August 4th at the Montana Highway Patrol, Dear Lodge County Attorney Morgan Smith’s office, and FBI Assist.

“We are doing everything we can to guide this assailant to justice,” Anaconda Deer Lodge Police Chief Bill Suther said at a press conference on the day of the murder.

Rewards offered in Montanabar’s mass shooting

The former US s service offers a $7,500 reward for information that leads to Brown’s arrest or capture.

Anyone who sees Brown can call 911 or 1-877-926-8332 to report tips.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter at USA Today. Contact her at nalund @usatoday.com and follow her at x @nataliealund.

Anger for Israel as a hostage “horror” video appears at the Netanyahu government’s decision

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“What I’m doing now is digging my grave,” says Eviater David as his fragile figure, shovel-suppressed hunger in the fierce gaza tunnel.

“Every day, my body gets weaker and weaker,” adds the 24-year-old hostage.

This is just one of the horrifying scenes recorded in the latest hostage video released by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad over the weekend, showing two Israeli hostages lured on October 7, 2023 and suddenly deteriorated in captivity.

The broadcast of disturbing images across Israel and international media was approved by the families of traumatized hostages.

“Eviyatar was a young, healthy man before he was accused. He was still a bit chubby. Now he looks like a skeleton, a human skeleton.

Rom Braslavski, only 22 years old, appears even more disastrous. In a video of a Palestinian Islamic jihad group embracing him, his weakened body is shown feeling pain on the makeshift Gaza prison floor, pleading with tears for relief.

“My legs don’t look very well and I can’t walk to the bathroom. I don’t have enough food or water. I can’t sleep. I can’t live,” he sobs.

His own mother says that her son’s weak voice sounds like an acknowledge that he is not alive.

The video doesn’t warn that “the worst-case scenario of hunger” is unfolding on the territory this week amid the worsening hunger crisis in Gaza. Gaza health officials say 13 more people have died of malnutrition over the weekend, including one child, since the conflict began in 2023 with at least 175 people.

Protesters will take part in protests calling for the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza since October 7, 2023, to end Hamas' attacks on Israel and war.

It all puts more pressure on the Israeli government, already facing increasing international isolation against Gaza’s devastating humanitarian situation, and now faces a new call to return the remaining 50 hostages home from Gaza.

The best way to do that is one of the important questions to divide Israeli opinions.

“The horror video by Hamas came from one goal: their attempts to put pressure on the state of Israel,” said Itmar Ben Gwil, a brand of fire on the right, in a statement made over the weekend during a visit to the mountains of the sacred temple.

“We need to send a message from here, to conquer the entire Gaza Strip, to declare all Gaza sovereignty, to eliminate all Hamas members, and to encourage voluntary immigration. Only in this way can we regain hostages and win the war.”

His call to double down on Israel’s already devastating military action in Gaza and essentially oust the local Palestinian population could be dismissed as the devastation of Fringe militants.

However, Ben Gwil is a senior minister of the Israeli government, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu relies on him and other Jewish nationalists hardliners.

Furthermore, Israeli media reports suggest that Netanyahu may actually be leaning towards strengthening military operations in Gaza.

In the past, many Israelis, including many hostage families, accused Netanyahu of intentionally extending the conflict in Gaza to maintain his ruling coalition, and accused him of essentially sacrificing their loved ones of power.

But frankly, the latest hostage video showing prisoners who were weakened in a state of creepy anger has sparked shock and rage throughout Israel.

The hostage family is confident that time will run out before their loved ones are rescued or returned, so there is a great deal of pressure on the Israeli government to make a deal with Hamas before it is too late.

DHS requires some foreign tourists to pay cash bonds for US visas

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DHS says it will cost more than $17,000 to detain and deport each foreign tourist who will not leave. So you need to post your bonds before you come.

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The Trump administration requires that some foreign tourists post $15,000 in bonds before coming to the US.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, less than 1.5% of foreign travelers arriving by air or sea in 2023 had overstayed their visas in 2023. This is about 565,000 people who stayed too much for over 38 million foreign tourists who departed on time.

However, some countries have a higher rate of overstaying than others.

As part of the 12-month pilot program, the Trump administration plans to apply bond rules to countries where travelers ignore visa conditions more frequently and stay beyond their expiration dates, according to a notice released in the federal register on August 4th.

The notification did not specify which countries will be targeted, but said the list will be posted on the State Department’s website later this month.

Travelers from countries including the UK, Spain and France are 40,000, 15,000 and 9,000 tourists, respectively, with the highest total total. However, they are one of the countries that belong to the Visa Waiver Program and are not included in the Bond Pilot Program.

Visa exemptions allow tourists in these countries to travel here without prior visa application.

According to US Customs and Border Protection, many countries with the highest percentage of overstays have the lowest numbers of visitors to the US. These include places like Burma, with overstay rates of 27%, or 543 individuals. Or Liberia with 19% overstays, or 214 individuals.

Others like Colombia continued their visas in fiscal year 2023, with a total number of total ranges and above average rates (40,884 travelers from Colombia).

The pilot program applies only to visas issued for air and sea travel and does not include land travel from Canada or Mexico. The US government currently has little way to track departures through entry areas.

Visa bonds range from $5,000 to $15,000 per traveler and must be paid to the US Treasury before issuing a visa. The money will be refunded to travelers who depart on time.

The DHS estimates it will cost more than $17,000 to arrest, detain and deport any remaining foreign visitors in the country beyond the required departure date.

President Trump touts “Amazing Review” about the Paved Rose Garden

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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump claims to have heard “a great review” about his controversial overhaul of the White House Rose Garden, which transformed the famous lawn in his garden into a stone patio.

Rose Garden, which has held countless presidential issues since its inception in 1913, has recently been paved in the direction of Trump, but rose bushes and other vegetation remain in the garden area.

“We got great reviews of Rose Garden and we had to do that,” Trump told reporters on August 3, adding that the well-maintained lawns presented issues when holding the event.

“When there was a press conference, you’d sink into the mud. It was grass, it was very wet, always wet, wet and wet, so if it rained it took three, four or five days to dry out and wet, and we couldn’t actually use it for the intended purpose,” Trump said.

The new Rose Garden Patio resembles the patio at Mar-a-Lago, a Trump resort and home in Florida.

“It’s a beautiful white stone, a stone of the same colour as the White House itself,” Trump said. “And it’s very white so it’s going to reflect the heat, and it won’t be too hot. Yeah, we have a great review of Rose Garden.”

The White House has not announced the cost of overhauling the Rose Garden. The project is funded by the Trust of National Mall, a nonpartisan nonprofit that has sponsored more than $75 million in restoration projects for the National Park Service since 2007.

The project was completed after Trump announced plans for a massive $200 million ballroom in the eastern part of the mansion where the president vowed to pay with his own money and private donations. Construction is scheduled to begin in September.

In other cosmetic changes at the White House this year, Trump has embroidered new gold through an oval office and installed two rising flagpole on the grass in the north and south.

Reach Joey Garrison with X @joeygarrison.

Have you got Walmart+ and Burger King Royal Parks? Get a free whohopper.

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Burger King and Walmart+ enthusiasts are right in front. Companies offer transactions that offer customers a free Whopper with a $1 purchase for six consecutive days.

The deal will only be available to shoppers who are members of both Walmart+ and the Burger King Royal Parks program, a Burger King representative told USA via email to USA Today.

The agreement runs from Tuesday, August 5th to Monday, August 11th.

The special was announced to celebrate the first anniversary of Walmart and Burger King’s first joint promotion, which began last summer.

With last year’s agreement, Walmart+ members have given Burger King Digital Orders 25% off daily and have offered free Whopper every three months since September 2024.

Here’s what you need to know to get a transaction:

How can I get a free hopper this week?

Guests can take advantage of this deal by linking their Burger King Royal Parks with their Walmart+ account.

To link an account:

  1. Make sure the Burger King app is downloaded to your device
  2. Download the Walmart app and sign in, or log in at www.plus.walmart.com
  3. Go to Account
  4. Select “Walmart+Membership”
  5. Find the benefits of Burger King’s savings and choose “Start”
  6. Burger King app should open automatically
  7. Select the (Link Account) button

Once customers link their Walmart+ and Burger King accounts, they can redeem the offer below.

  • Order in-store using a 6-digit code
  • Open the Burger King app, go to the “Offers” tab to activate the offer,
  • Log in at www.bk.com to place an order.

Are there any restrictions?

Burger King said the deal is not available during breakfast hours, except in certain locations.

Offers cannot be used with delivery orders.

More about Walmart+ and Burger King Royal Perks

Walmart+ is Walmart’s distribution program starting at $12.95 a month or $98 a year. The programme is eligible for student and government support, according to the company’s website.

Royal Parks is Burger King’s free rewards program that allows customers to earn points or crowns for every dollar spent on eligible transactions. Customers can cash in the crown for free menu items.

Saleen Martin is a reporter for the USA Today Now team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia 757. Email her to sdmartin@usatoday.com.

Israel considers expanding the Gaza War as ceasefire talk reaches a deadlock

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Negotiations for hostages and ceasefire contracts in Gaza appear to be at a dead end, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaning towards expanding military operations, and Hamas demands that they be addressed before they get exposed to the humanitarian situation.

Israeli officials said on Sunday that Netanyahu “sought the release of hostages through military defeat (Hamas).”

Officials said Netanyahu “want to combine hostage release with humanitarian entry into areas “outside the combat zone” with areas not under Hamas control.”

Asked about plans to expand the military campaign, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said it reflects “the desire to hope that all hostages will return and to see the end of this war after partial deal consultations were not successful.”

It is unclear whether the Israeli government’s approach is consistent with that of Middle Eastern envoy Steve Witkov, President Donald Trump.

Witkov spent three hours with Israeli hostage families on Saturday, and the Hostage and Missing Family Forum said the plan was “not to expand the war, but to end it. Negotiations will not change everything or anything.

White House envoy Steve Witkov, Centre arrives on August 2, 2025 to meet hostage families in Tel Aviv, Israel.

“We have plans to end the war and bring everyone home,” Witkov added. According to the forum, if the remaining living hostages do not return to Israel, where they are still alive, “someone will take responsibility.”

When asked, Witkov’s team did not provide further information regarding the special envoy’s comments.

Trump said Sunday that Witkov is likely to travel to Moscow later in the week.

Fifty hostages remain in Gaza, of which at least 20 are believed to be alive. In Israel, two hostages, Eviyata David and Rom Braslavsky, were widely shocked by Hamas’ release of images over the weekend.

Netanyahu said that Hamas “doesn’t want a deal. The images that showed them wanting to break us with these horror videos are in the false horror propaganda that’s spreading all over the world.”

However, the Family Forum warned the government against the expansion of the military campaign in Gaza.

“Netanyahu is preparing all the biggest deceptions. The repeated claims to free hostages through military victory are lies and fraud,” the forum said on Sunday.

The forum called on Israel and Hamas to “come to bring 50 hostages into their homes, end the war, rebuild and revive Israel.

The video released by Hamas of Horstage Evyatar David is on display on August 2, 2025 in protest in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Hamas is committed to working on negotiations, according to Basmem Naim, a senior Hamas political employee, but has only argued that if a “devastating humanitarian situation” was addressed.

Another Hamas official, Mahmoud Maldawi, said last week that continued consultations “doesn’t make sense” as long as Gaza’s starvation crisis continues.

The World Health Organization said last week that hunger-related deaths in Gaza spiked in July had spiked. The malnutrition rate reached “amazing levels,” he said, with fewer than five children admitting that they had been seen in outpatient treatment for malnutrition in the first two weeks of July.

The Hamas-controlled government media office in Gaza said Monday that 600 trucks of assistance are needed every day to alleviate the hunger crisis, claiming that an average of 84 trucks entered the territory last week.

Cogat, an Israeli agency that oversees the delivery of aid to Gaza, said more than 200 trucks have been collected and distributed by the UN and international organisations on Monday.

But many of the trucks that come in are plundered by desperate civilians or organized gangs.

The United Nations said Friday that nearly 1,400 people have died since the end of May while seeking food. 859 Near a site run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) Following the route of the 514 Food Convoy.

Palestinians will leave the food distribution point run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) with US-Israel support near the Netzarim Corridor in the central Gaza Strip on August 3, 2025.

The United Nations said “most of the killings were committed by Israeli forces.”

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, 30 people tried to get food on Sunday while they were trying to get food.

CNN contacted the Israeli military for comment.

The Israeli opinion polls have consistently shown the majority in favour of ending the conflict in Gaza and securing hostage release. A new survey by the National Security Institute found that 38% of Israeli Jews think it is impossible to disarm Hamas. 57% thought that was possible.

On Monday, hundreds of retired Israeli security officials urged Trump to pressure Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza.

“It is our expert judgment that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel,” the former official wrote in an open letter shared with the media on Monday.

“In the beginning, this war was a fair war, a defensive war, but when all the military goals were achieved, this war became a fair war,” said Ami Ayalon, former director of Sing Bet Security Services.

However, far-right members of the government are calling for many occupations of Gaza and measures to encourage its population to leave its territory completely.

Trump calls it “Diddy.” What celebrities did he forgive?

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  • President Trump spoke about the possibility of forgiveness of Sean’s “diddy” comb.
  • Combs was found guilty of two transportation options to engage in prostitution and was acquitted of more serious charges.
  • When Trump spoke about his decision to forgive, he quoted negative past comments about him.
  • Trump previously forgives other celebrities, including Todd and Julie Chrisley, NBA Young Boy and Lil Wayne.

President Donald Trump has given him more insight into what he places importance on his decision on whether he is forgiven Sean’s “Diddy” Combs.

In an interview aired on Newsmax with host Rob Finnerty on August 1, Trump discussed the possible presidential pardon for sex trafficker Gisleine Maxwell and former lawmaker George Santos.

“Shawn “Diddy” Combs. Do you think you’re forgive him? ” asked Finnerty. Trump did not respond directly, but the negative comments Comb made about him said it would “make it even more difficult.”

“Well, I think he’s essentially, I’m kind of half indifferent. I don’t know what they’re doing. He’s still in prison or something.” “He was celebrating the victory, but I don’t think the victory was that good.”

Questions about pardon began to swirl even before the ju judges discovered that in a drastic trial that lasted nearly two months, combs had not committed the crime of assault and sex trafficking. However, the former music magistrate was found guilty of two counts of lesser charges of transport to engage in prostitution.

Plus, Trump has a history of pardon celebrity. Here’s what you need to know:

What celebrities did Trump forgive?

Trump has a history of pardon celebrity, including:

  • Todd and Julie Chrisley – sentenced to bank fraud charges that were pardoned in May 2025.
  • Rapper NBA Young Boy (Law name: Kentrell Gelden) – sentenced in May 2025 on federal gun charges pardoned.
  • Actor Jay Johnston was sentenced on January 6, 2021 for his involvement in a riot at the U.S. Capitol. Trump gave more than 1,500 people charged with riots when he returned to his office.
  • Lil Wayne (Legal name: Dwayne Michael Carter) – He was sentenced to possess a gun that was pardoned in January 2021.
  • Kodak Black (Law name: Bill Kapri) – was declared for making a false statement regarding attempting to obtain a firearm. His ruling was reduced to commute in January 2021.

Trump hints at history, with Diddy taking heavy on his pardon decision

In an interview with Newsmax, Finnerty asked if he would consider relenting Jeffrey Epstein Associate Ghislaine Maxwell, then asked if Trump would consider compensating for the comb.

Trump meditated on the outcome of Combs’ trial, then said, “Maybe…” and before pausing to Finnati to reveal, “I was very friendly with him, I got along with him and looked like a nice guy. I didn’t know him very well.

The Newsmax host said, “He said something not that good about you, sir.”

“Yeah, that’s difficult. You know, like you, we are human and we don’t want to cloud our judgment, right?” Trump said. “But when you know who you are, you are fine, then you run for the office and he makes some terrible statements… I don’t know…it’s going to be more difficult.”

He then agreed that the host was likely “no.”

In the interview, it seemed like Trump was basically saying his expletive 2017 comments on the Daily Beast.

“Tom Fourley, which is happening in DC, is a normal business of everyday life for black people,” Combs told Part of the left-leaning outlet, adding that later in the interview, “We need to keep focusing on the self-love that we need to give a race.”

Kinsey Crowley is a Trump Connect reporter for the USA Today Network. Contact her at kcrowley@gannett.com. Follow her on X and Tiktok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky @kinseycrowley.bsky.social.

Is it okay to cancel summer vacation? This is what experts say

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  • Economic concerns and rising prices have led many Americans to rethink their summer travel plans.
  • There are good reasons to cancel your vacation, such as costs, crowds, and safety concerns, but there are also invalid reasons, such as not wanting to leave your pet.
  • Cancellation can lead to disappointment from family and travel companions, as well as potential financial penalties for prepaid bookings.

Is the idea of going for summer vacation too much for you? Too much money, too much effort, too much all?

Well, you have a company.

Americans are rethinking summer holidays, according to Stephen Day, director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Center for Economic Education.

“People think their holiday dollars won’t take them that far,” he said.

Check out Elliott Confidentiala newsletter the travel industry doesn’t want you to read. Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights and exclusive strategies to become a better traveler. But don’t tell anyone!

A new survey found that over half of Americans have cut their summer travel plans, spurring economic worries and price increases.

Should they? The answer is yes – and no. There’s no need to take summer vacation. But there are some good things – and do not have Very good – Why cancel this summer vacation.

You don’t need to take a vacation this summer

You may feel pressured to go somewhere this summer, but experts say it’s nonsense.

“There’s nothing wrong with being at home,” said Susan Schellen, a couture traveler. “I admire our clients who say, “I can’t afford to buy a trip this year.” I appreciate such honesty.

The best reason to postpone or cancel your summer vacation is your personal situation: health issues, unemployment, or personal crisis. Friends and family can put a lot of pressure on you to go somewhere. Maybe there’s that moment next to the water cooler after Labor Day. You are comparing your vacation stories to your colleagues, so it may fill you with fear.

So I’ll make you hook off. If someone gives you an eye roll when you admit you were at home this summer, show them this column. Read Shellen’s quote. My friend, hold your head high.

It’s summer vacation do not have Required.

Here are the reasons why you should cancel your summer vacation

There is a good reason to cancel summer vacation.

  • It’s too expensive:Face-to-face, this summer trip is not affordable. Airfares and hotel rates are high in many popular places. “It’s very expensive,” said Sarah Davis, who works for a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C. “Is that a wise use of our finances?” she wonders. (Usually, if you have to ask that question, you already know the answer. That’s to cancel.)
  • It’s too crowded: Crowds will likely be a serious problem this summer. Maria Sandrach has already cancelled her summer vacation in Portugal. “I was planning everything. I wandered through the historic streets of Lisbon, exploring the stunning cliffs of the Algarve, and enjoying too many Pastis de Natas,” said Sandrach, who runs a technology company in San Francisco. “But after reading how crowded things get, I decided to cancel,” she said she didn’t want to spend the entire holiday “stuffed like sardines on all major sites.” And that’s a legitimate concern.
  • It’s too dangerous: Sebastian Garido, a marketing manager for a tour operator based in Mexico City, said he canceled his summer vacation to visit families in northern Mexico due to concerns about security. “Northern Mexico is not the safest place,” he said. That might be an understatement. The US State Department warns about gun fights, murders, armed robberies, carjacking, tricks, forced disappearances, forced extortions, and sexual assaults along parts of the US border. It’s better to choose a safer summer destination.

Bad reasons to cancel summer vacation

But there is also a reason why people are actually suspending summer holidays that they can’t stand. They include:

  • “I can’t leave my pets alone.”:Ah, for heaven! Stop by your location to feed your dog, walk your dog, sit while you’re away, or take a little rest. If you can’t say goodbye to your furry friend, find a pet-friendly summer vacation.
  • “I’m too busy on vacation.”:What nonsense! If you don’t rest for a while, you’ll burn out. Everyone needs to stay a little away from their phones and laptops and spend time with friends and family. You have to do make time.
  • “I’m not a good traveler.”: guess what? no one A good traveler. Traveling is uncomfortable, expensive and inconvenient, but once you reach your destination it is usually worth it. So don’t make excuses about being a bad traveler.

Warning: If you cancel your vacation, you need to deal with this

If you decide to cancel your summer vacation plans, then make sure you have a few things in place. Firstly, there are fallouts from your family and travel companions who were really looking forward to seeing Rome or Lisbon this summer. You may have to promise them to start over in the fall when travel is cheap and busy. It’s a real victory.

But secondly and equally important, you could face some sudden cancellation penalties. If you have already paid airfares or hotel advances, you may lose money. (That’s one of the reasons why I sometimes recommend travel insurance, especially “cancelling for some reason” travel insurance.

I’m also thinking about summer trips. I am currently in Germany and headed to Greece next week. I try to avoid popular places, but I remain flexible in case things get worse.

You never know.

Christopher Elliott Author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He established Elliot’s defense, A non-profit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidentialtravel newsletter, Elliot Reporta news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer issue, Contact him here Or email him at chris@elliott.org.

Israeli government votes to fire the country’s attorney general

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The Israeli government voted unanimously on Monday to fire Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara.

“The government unanimously approved Justice Minister Yalib Levin’s proposal to immediately end the terms of office of Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Yalib Levin,” according to a Levin spokesperson.

Baharav Miara has been frequently criticized by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, accusing her of abusing her powers to undermine government policies and destabilize Israel’s rule of law.

Right-wing Israeli politicians have long been asking for her to be fired.

The Israeli Supreme Court issued an injunction on Monday to stop Baharav Miara’s firing. Levin’s move in March to begin procedures to dismiss her fierce criticism and legal challenges.

The role of the Attorney General in Israel holds its own authority to serve both as a government legal counsel and a public watchdog. This position is not a political appointment tied to the ruling coalition. It’s something the government has been trying to change as part of a controversial judicial overhaul.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Trump’s Russia deadline is looming as tensions and threats rise

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Moscow downplayed President Trump’s announcement that he ordered two nuclear submarines to “appropriate regions” after rhetoric of Russia’s end of the country.

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  • President Donald Trump ordered two nuclear submarines to private locations after comments from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
  • Russia downplayed the deployment of submarines and said it knew about the activities of US submarines.
  • Trump sets an August 8 deadline to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, threatening sanctions if they are met.

Moscow has broken the silence in President Donald Trump’s comments about ordering two nuclear submarines in “appropriate areas” in response to “provocative” comments by the former Russian president.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state media on August 4 that the country was “very careful” to the topic of nuclear non-proliferation, believing that “everyone should be very cautious about nuclear rhetoric.”

Peskov also downplayed the importance of Trump’s comments, saying it is clear to Russia that US submarines already have combat obligations. He said Russia has no desire to enter into a long-term debate with Trump.

Still, it appears that Trump’s nuclear submarine deployment is the first time that social media rhetoric has clearly repositioned some of the US nuclear weapons on the US president. (Trump did not specify whether he refers to nuclear-driven or nuclear-armed submarines.)

Trump said the move responded to a statement from Dmitry Medvedev, the president of Russia from 2008 to 2012 and prime minister from 2012 to 2020. He is currently the vice-chairman of the Russian Security Council. Medvedev, who has been on social media in recent years posting incredibly nasty comments targeting the US, said in X (previously on Twitter) that Trump’s recent threat to sanction Russia, including the tariff ultimate, is a “step towards war.”

I’m seeking a ceasefire

Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Putin himself has frequently resorted to nuclear threats. The Kremlin has repeatedly suggested that Moscow can use nuclear weapons under certain circumstances.

The latest Spatt follows Trump’s trip to Scotland, where he says he is reducing his 50-day deadline to reach a new 10- or 12-day deadline in order to help Russia try to end the war with Ukraine. The deadline is August 8th. Trump warned of “very harsh” sanctions on Russia if they do not commit to a ceasefire.

Prior to the deadline, Steve Witkov, the special envoy of Trump’s real estate mogul and cryptocurrency trader, who became Trump’s de facto roaming mass, is scheduled to visit Russia on August 6th.

Peskov said Russia considers Witkov’s visit “significant, substantial and beneficial,” raising the possibility that Witkov could see President Vladimir Putin for consultation. Witkov made multiple trips to Moscow at Trump’s request.

After one of his trips he returned with a portrait of Trump, given to him by Putin. During another visit, Witkov, who does not speak Russian, arrived without a translator and relied on what was provided by the Kremlin. His last trip was in April.

Trump added to reporters if the August 8 deadline arrives and Russia does not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, “There will be sanctions, but they seem pretty good at avoiding sanctions.”

“You know, they’re wi characters. …Let’s see what happens.”

Your body will begin to change after the age of 50. This is what happens.

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When does aging really move to overdrive? New research suggests that it may be faster than you think.

Scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences studied tissue proteins from around 70 people aged 14 to 68, according to a study published July 25 in Journal Cell.

These proteins give scientists a window into when the aging process can begin at the cellular level, said Dr. Thomas Blackwell, PhD, Associate Dean of Graduate Medical Education and Professor of Medicine at the University of Texas Department of Medicine.

The protein is created “factory” using instructions from messenger RNA, he said. The signs of aging are when the cells’ ability to properly and efficiently create proteins begins to collapse.

Looking at tissues taken from organs throughout the body, including the heart, liver, pancreas, spleen, lungs, skin and muscles, researchers determined that aging would begin to accelerate from 45 to 55.

They also discovered that organs were aging at different rates. For example, the spleen, aorta (the main artery of the body), and the adrenal glands (the cause of hormone production) showed signs of aging at about 30.

“We’ve seen a lot of experience in biology,” said Neville Sanjana, an associate professor of biology, neuroscience and physiology at New York University and an associate professor of biology, neuroscience and physiology at New York Genome Center.

The findings of this study, he said, could have many implications for future research into the treatment of chronic conditions associated with aging, which not only adds decades to a patient’s lifespan, but also adds to the health range, which is the duration of the life of a person spent in health.

“For me, it’s exciting,” Sanjana said. “This type of data generation is extremely powerful for those who want to create a new kind of treatment to help restore bioengineering and healthy aging.”

For Blackwell, the study also shows that patients still have opportunities to change the aging trajectories of their later lives. “But the windows are short,” he said.

The best way to add healthy years to your life is to maintain healthy levels of blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol, and “never smoke and drink,” Blackwell said.

Research has shown that diet, exercise, genetics, and sometimes luck can shock your lifespan. However, new research suggests that people may still see benefits from later life changes.

“From 45 to 50, you can get 10 years of healthy life, and this study shows the truth about it at the mobile phone level,” he said.

Adrianna Rodriguez can visit adrodriguez@usatoday.com.

Americans spend nearly four hours a day thinking about money

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  • Americans spend nearly four hours a day thinking about their finances, and many have increased financial stress compared to last year.
  • The best financial concerns include bills, inflation, housing costs and debt, which vary from generation to generation.
  • Younger generations, especially Gen Z and millennials, are worried about money and experience more sleep disruptions due to financial concerns.

Between bills paying, tariff news, and inflation mental worries, money lives a rent-free life in the minds of Americans.

They spend an average of nearly four hours a day on that, according to a new study from financial services firm Empower.

“It’s part-time work,” said Rebecca Rickert, Empower’s Director of Communications and Consumer Insights.

In 54%, more than half of the 2,206 adults surveyed said they were thinking about it more than last year. In fact, a June survey found that 53% of Americans were suffering from financial stress “more than ever” including 62% of Gen Xers and 41% of baby boomers.

When banks and investment apps tap on their phones, 17% of Americans check their financial accounts multiple times a day, and 24% check their bank accounts daily.

High levels of surveillance are more common among younger generations. 24% of GenZers and 21% of millennials consider their accounts several times a day, compared to 10% of baby boomers.

“People check their accounts to check the weather,” Likert said.

What exactly do Americans think?

Of course, the best mind for most Americans is future payments and due dates. 57% of Americans report thinking about the bill.

Inflation and price rises also account for 51% of Americans’ headspace. Of those surveyed, 34% were considering housing expenses, 30% were thinking about debt, 28% were thinking about tariffs, and 24% were thinking about retirement savings.

“Throughout external factors beyond control, such as market uncertainty, people are under more financial pressure, but they manage multiple priorities such as debt, daily expenses, and savings.

The main concerns of younger generations are housing costs, employment security and debt, Likert said. Meanwhile, older generations are thinking about retirement savings and preparations like emergency cash.

Young Americans spend more time worrying

The amount of time spent thinking about money varies from generation to generation, and appears to decrease as Americans age.

Gen Z spends the most time thinking about money, with an average of 4.82 hours a day. Millennials average close to 4.73 hours a day. The money is still heavy in the minds of Gen Xers and Baby Boomers, but they don’t think much about it. They average 3.74 and 2.4 hours per day, respectively.

Jack Howard, head of Financial Wellness at Ally Financial, said Gen Zers is unique because they have more information at their fingertips thanks to the internet and “compare themselves” thanks to social media.

“This is good because you want you to get information and use it. But I think that’s creating an overload of anxiety,” Howard said. “Social media creates some degree of competition.”

When do Americans think about money?

This topic is so stressful that 36% of Americans report losing sleep more than financial concerns. Millennials may have the least rest. 44% report that money concerns keep them. Baby boomers get better at night. Only 24% report that it affects sleep.

Money concerns will not be cancelled in the day. The survey found that 38% of respondents said that financial concerns hinder their ability to focus on their relationship and place a burden.

Gen Zers are most likely to think about money between 2pm and 5pm, while millennials and Gen Xers often worry about their finances before going to bed between 8pm and 11pm

Is the stress of money motivated?

Nearly half of Americans report thinking about money helps them take action to achieve their long-term goals, with 47% saying they are sure they will reach them.

Another 30% reported feeling neutral or fenced about whether they would reach their long-term goals. In the meantime, many Americans are looking for financial advice and information.

As we generally look into topics like inflation, budgeting, savings and more, more than half reported following financial news. The third said talking to a financial advisor would help clarify their financial goals.

Still, Frison warns people against anti-mining about finances and thinking too much about past mistakes and missed opportunities.

“Thinking about money is useless when it comes to an endless loop, so the key is to move from stress to structure, even one small move,” Frison told USA Today.

Helps to alleviate financial pressures

When asked what eases their financial worries, nearly half of survey respondents stated higher incomes, and 45% said lower costs of living.

However, 29% wanted “a wider economic improvement,” while 28% pointed to debt elimination. Almost a quarter said larger emergency funds would help, while 18% said they would have a positive impact on detailed financial plans.

Suppose your money takes up more mental headspace than you would like. In that case, Frison recommends doing a personal financial audit, developing small habits over time and seeking help from friends, family, or professionals.

“When people are in the silo about these things, that makes it difficult to take action,” Howard said. “That’s where shame comes from.”

She and Liquort highlighted the importance of people improving their financial situation and reducing stress, whether it is beginning to pay off their debts or contribute to the 401(k) from taking action from passive concern.

Reach Rachel Barber at rbarber@usatoday.com Follow her with x @Rachelbarber_

US Rep. Nancy Mace opens bid for the governor of South Carolina

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WASHINGTON – Republican Rep. Nancy Mace has joined the busy field of GOP primary candidates running to make Governor Henry McMaster successful, launching a campaign for the South Carolina governor race on August 4th.

Mace announced her candidacy in a speech at Citadel, a military college in Charleston, becoming the first woman to graduate from the legion of cadets nearly 26 years ago.

“South Carolina is tired of politicians who smile for the camera, lie to your face and disappear when it’s time to leave. I’m not one of them,” she said in her speech.

She said, “South Carolina needs a governor and if that’s what you need, you need to drag the truth into the sun and flip the table. South Carolina doesn’t need another politician to fold when things get tough.”

Mace, 47, has represented South Carolina’s first legislative district since 2021, covering parts of Charleston. She became the first Republican woman to be elected to Congress from the state. Mace has previously criticized Trump in the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, but has since become one of his most solid allies.

South Carolina Republican Rep. Ralph Norman, state Attorney General Alan Wilson, Lt. Col. Pamela Evett, and state Sen. Josh Kimbrell also announced their candidacy for governor of South Carolina.

Open source AI to hone your reasoning skills

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Deep Cogito has released Cogito V2, a new family of open source AI models that hone their own reasoning skills.

The new Cogito V2 lineup, released under the open source license, includes four hybrid inference AI models. Two medium sizes, 70B and 109B parameters, two large versions in 405B and 671B.

The largest 671B Mixed Mixture (MOE) model is already touted as one of the most powerful open source AIs in the world. The company reports that it is competing with DeepSeek’s latest news, filling gaps in its own systems, such as the O3 and Claude 4 Opus.

But the real story isn’t merely about size or power. It is about fundamental changes in AI learning methods. Cogito V2 is designed to internalize your own inference process, not only “think” over time to find answers.

This internalized inference is achieved by a technique called iterative distillation and amplification (IDA) that distills discoveries from search to the core parameters of the model. The goal is to build a stronger “intuition” so that the model can predict the outcome of its own inference without performing the entire search.

The open source AI model has a better “gut feeling” to a good approach, so its inference chain is 60% shorter than its rival chains like DeepSeek R1.

This efficiency extends to budget. Deep Cogito says it has developed all models, totaling under $3.5 million, from experiments to final training. There are still a lot of money for you or me, but only a small amount compared to many major AI lab spending.

The flagship 671B model attracted special attention and was trained to not only improve the final answer, but also to improve the thought process itself. This approach discourages the model from being “wrenched” and rewards a more direct path to the solution. Performance data suggests that Deep Cogito’s open source AI model matches or exceeds the latest DeepSeek version on key benchmarks.

Flagship Open Source Deep Cogito V2 671B Benchmark comparison of inference models for AI DeepSeek and Openai O3 and the Claude model of humanity.

Perhaps one of the most surprising results is the ability of models to infer about images. A skill they never explicitly trained.

The team shared an example of this reasoning in which a deep cogget open source AI model compares two images of ducks and lions, showing a deep thought process about habitat, color and composition purely through transfer learning. Deep Cogito believes this emergency property could become a powerful way to bootstrap training data for future multimodal inference systems.

Looking ahead, the Deep Cogito team plans to “hill climb the benefits of repetitive self-improvement” in their quest to build super intelligence. They revised their commitment to making every AI model they create open source.

reference: The leak suggests that Openai’s open source AI model release is imminent

Want to learn more about AI and big data from industry leaders? Check out the AI & Big Data Expo in Amsterdam, California and London. The comprehensive event will be held in collaboration with other major events, including the Intelligent Automation Conference, Blockx, Digital Transformation Week, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo.

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Dream Paria Partments for sale at bargain prices. catch? Someone has to die

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Korian Les Amarantes staff was just after 7pm on Monday A tour nursing home located southwest of Paris. It was discovered that 92-year-old Yvette Brissett died in bed. She apparently choked on Madeleine, one of France’s famous scalloped lemon-flavored cakes.

Cake was brought to her that night by a man named Alan Jauserin.

Jousselin, 60, was not a family or friend. He was a former firefighter who purchased Brissett’s house 25 years ago through a lesser-known French property plan known as life – And his lawyer, Benjador, who has been waiting ever since, told CNN.

In Baija Sale, senior homeowners (often in the 70s, 80s, 90s) sell real estate at a sudden discount, sometimes half the market value. In return, they receive monthly payments from the buyer. Most of the time, they retain the right to live in the house for the rest of their lives – Life pension. In other instances, vendors have already moved at the time of sale, allowing buyers to own the property instantly while continuing their monthly payments. Free life.

It’s part of the real estate, part of roulette. Real estate listings usually include the seller’s age and the asking price. The older the seller, the more likely the buyer will be to charge the house potentially.

“In France, a 70-year-old man has an average lifespan of around 16 years, so the discount is often 50%,” said Fréderic Coubronne, who runs a Byger agency in Paris. “Women live about five years longer, so women at 75 will receive the same discount. For couples, the discount is even higher because they tend to live longer together.”

Jousselin bought the Brissett family home in Montbazon in 1995, just south of the tour. Since then, he had paid Brissett a monthly scholarship of 500 euros. When she passed away, on May 13, 2019, the suspicions quickly headed towards him, his lawyer said.

No one in the family knew Joss Serin before Brissett’s death, her granddaughter, Emilyn Dupoy, wrote in a letter published by a French newspaper. The new republic Prior to Jousselin’s trial. “The only link between them was Viager.”

“It was a big scandal,” Benjador told CNN. “The nursing home staff claimed that Joss Selin locked up the door behind him when he entered the room. After he left, they said they found Madeleine’s crumbs all over her body.”

The French media called this incident Madeleine Incident. “At the heart of the trial is the Baija property, purchased in the 1990s,” reported French outlet RTL.

Jousselin spent three years in advance detention in May 2022 before the suit was first brought to trial. He was acquitted by the Indre-Et-Loire Court of Appeals, but the prosecutor challenged the verdict. Attorney General Dennis Chauceti Lapre sought a 20-year prison sentence, claiming that the murder of an elderly woman was “deliberate.”

However, during a December 2023 retrial, when it was held at Loiret Court of Appeals, important testimony from nursing staff began to unravel, raising questions about the original story.

“I don’t know if the client intentionally killed her,” Benjador said. “But I know that the procedures were flawed and much more complicated than the press. The Baijah issue has overshadowed everything.”

On December 9, 2023, the murder charge against Jousselin was downgraded to involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors were unable to prove he was planning to kill the victim, but the Roylett Court of Appeals admitted that Joss Serine gave Brischett the Madeleine.

Josserin was sentenced to three years in prison and fined 30,000 euros, the court confirmed with CNN. “I feel a bit relieved, but I’m not completely happy. I was still facing more serious charges, but I was still convicted,” he said as he left the court.

Exams like Jousselin, which includes the sale of Viager, are intrusive, but remain extremely rare. And they have not undermine their enthusiasm for housing arrangements. Especially among foreign buyers keen to pick up French property at prices below the market.

“For the past two years I have around 12 international buyers, about half of which are American,” said Reza Nakhai, who owns a Paris-based agency called Viva Viager. “A lot of people don’t hesitate to invest. It’s a safe, long-term bargain.”

Viager properties make up a small portion of the French housing market.

For Americans dreaming of Peade-a-Tayle in Paris, Viager could be a golden ticket if they are willing to play long games.

At Saint-Germain Despress, a 100-square-metre apartment is sold for an average of $1.7 million in a chic left bank enclave, formerly home to Ernest Hemingway and Simone des Beauvoir. At Le Malay – both Paris favourites that Crowds and American Buyers – According to the International of Real Estate Agency Talban International, prices in 2025 range from $15,500 to $22,000 per square meter. However, Viager allows buyers to snap up Prime Real Estate for less than half that price.

Homa Rebel, an American and Iranian investor and mother of five, purchased four Buyer properties in Paris. She initially looked for creative ways to discover concepts and invest while living between Europe and the United States.

“At first, it felt a little pathological,” Raevel told CNN. “I kept thinking, ‘I don’t want to be happy when someone dies.’ But I made it a point to meet all the sellers and listen to them. At Baijar you are helping the elderly stay in their homes while giving them financial security – it’s a victory. ”

When scouting a property, the first thing she is looking for is location and layout. “In France, especially in Paris, you often find a kitchen on one end of a flat connected by a narrow corridor and a dining room on the other,” she said. “I am often looking for apartments with high ceilings and open floor plans in high-end areas..

But Raevel said the most important factor wasn’t the space itself, it was the seller. “I only buy if the seller appears to be living a happy life,” she said. “If someone is dealing with family conflicts or selling under stressful circumstances, I pass. They need to have good energy.”

Viager’s own practice dates back to Roman times. “At the time, older people would hand over their wealth to their children and nephews in exchange for their small amounts and their ability to continue living at home,” Agent Cubron told CNN.

In the early 19th century, Napoleon formalized the system not only in France, but also in the territories he conquered. “That’s why you can also find Baijar-style arrangements in countries like Spain, Italy and parts of Belgium,” said Cubronne.

Viager sales are not only popular among the public. They also attracted some of France’s most prominent figures. Former Presidents Charles de Gaulle, Valerie Giscard Darning and François Hollande all acquired the properties through a Baiger arrangement. And it’s not just the French who accept practice. When Hugh Hefner sold his Playboy Mansion to his neighbors for $100 million (a listing price of half that $200 million) on one condition, he found out he would live there until the day he died.

In France, the centuries-old system is particularly popular among homeowners without heirs.

“If I have kids, I want them to inherit,” said André Herman, a 74-year-old psychoanalyst who recently sold a Paris apartment as a Buyer. “But I am not, so this is the perfect solution. It will stay in my home and live comfortably with a stable income.”

Hermann’s one-bedroom flat was purchased by 21-year-old fashion student Ira Herron for 250,000 euros (about half its market value).

“I don’t need to live here right now,” she told CNN. “For the future 20 or 30 years from now. Given the price and surface area (46 square meters in the heart of Paris), it’s a real bargain.”

Perched on the ninth floor of a modern building at the 14th Allendies in Paris, the apartment quickly captivated Herron in a vibrant area south of the Seine, known for its artistic heritage, the façade of Hausmannia and classic café culture. “It’s beautiful and cozy,” she said. “There are big windows that shed light on the space, and the views on the rooftop of Paris are magical. You can imagine living here one day.”

The Viager system is not without critics. Some view the system as pathological given that buyer investment depends on seller’s end mise. Hermann is not a f.

“Because of the death aspect, people feel uncomfortable with Baija,” he said. “But for me, dying is a natural part of life. The idea that this attractive young woman will eventually live in my home — it’s actually very enjoyable for me.”

This system may prove to be a timely solution for France’s rapidly aging population. As of January 2024, over 20% of French residents were over 65 years old and 10% were over 75 years old, according to the National Statistics Bureau’s INSEE. By 2050, one in three residents will be over 65 years old. As living costs rise, ensuring stable finances for later years is becoming increasingly urgent.

However, Viager is not without buyer risk. In addition to paying a lump down payment – poetically called Ha bouquet – Buyers must make monthly payments that could lead to decades.

“I always calculate the sellers who live in 100 people,” Raevel told CNN. “If they live beyond that, I might not make any profits. But as long as the market is held over the next 20 years, I will still be out ahead.”

Not every bet will be rewarded.

In one of the most famous cases, Jeanne Carment, who holds the record as the world’s longest-living figure, has signed a 90-year-old Bija contract. His family was legally required to continue paying monthly until Carment’s death at 122.

“That’s the ultimate exception,” Nakai told CNN with a laugh. “I’ve never seen anything like that with my clients. But it shows how human this business is. I was invited by their family to the seller’s funeral. Buyers are more than a real estate transaction – it’s about trust and connection.”

For Raevel, an American investor, it’s also a matter of values.

“It feels good to buy a Viager because I know I’m really helping someone,” she said. “Many older people struggle to maintain the quality of life they were decades ago. They are really struggling. In this way, I support someone while securing a longer-term home at a lower price. Why don’t you make a bet?”

Wendy announces “Unhappy Meal” for Adams fans on Wednesday

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  • Wendy’s “Meal of Misfortune” includes nuggets, fries, Raven’s blood frozen state, and four mysteries, “Dips of Dread.”
  • Available in US restaurants via the app from August 4th and in Canada from August 11th.

The Wendy’s teamed up with the hit Netflix show “Wednesday” with a new meal that the chain calls “the pure punishment of the bag.”

Limited time meals have been announced – you guessed it – WednesdayJuly 23rd will focus on four mystery sauces called “Dips of Dread,” “10 Piece Nuggets,” small “Cursed & Crispy” French fries, and a new frosty flavour called “Raven’s Blood.” According to Wendy’s, all items will be delivered in custom packages.

The meal, called “Meal of Misfortune,” coincides with the release of “Wednesday” season 2 on Netflix. The show will be in two parts. Part 1 will premiere at 3am ET on August 6th, and Part 2 will be available at 3am ET on September 3rd.

When and where can I get a meal on Wednesday?

According to Wendy’s, the items will be made at the restaurant via Wendy’s app starting Monday, August 4th. In Canada, customers will be able to dine from Monday, August 11th through the restaurant or via the Wendy app.

The fast food chain said the unhappy meals are also available in Wendy locations in Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and Guam.

“Wendy and Wednesday are both cultural icons renowned for their challenging conventions with wit and a bit of suspension,” Liz Gerati, International Chief Marketing Officer at Wendy’s Company, said in a news release. “This is not a typical collaboration. Not any brand can plan a misfortune meal with Adams on Wednesday. But for a bold brand that proudly enthralled with customers and not proud, it was a match made in dark, dry heaven.”

Fans have already gotten on social media to document their journey of waiting hours for meals at a restaurant in Norwalk, California, where last week held a special drive-thru event.

What kind of sauce is “Horror Dip”?

Wendy’s said two mystery dipping sauces are in each meal, adding that customers will receive “what of the four dips do destiny decide?”

Four flavors are called.

  • Hyde cannot be done
  • This will be stabbed
  • A serious mistake
  • There are no miserable places

“Don’t ask what sources you will get. You have to give in to your destiny. You have to endure multiple visits with enough courage to try them all,” Wendy said in a news release.

Contributions: Taiwan Muolman, Kelly Lawler, Brian Alexander, Pamela Avila. USA TODAY

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter for USA Today. You can follow him with X @geuna Alternatively, email him at gdhauari@gannett.com.