Home Blog Page 684

If Epstein files are released, what are they?

0


USA Today spoke with former FBI agents and prosecutors to understand what the so-called “Epstein files” contain and the pros and cons of releasing them.

play

The White House continues to appeal from Congress and President Donald Trump’s own base, asking the court to release the testimony of the Great Jue Trial in order to release the FBI investigation file at Jeffrey Epstein instead, interviewing convicted Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell to meet his demands for transparency.

So far, these alternatives have not satisfied conservatives who believe it, as Trump allies have suggested for years that Epstein had been involved in sex trafficking conspiracy with many other rich and powerful people. Top Trump officials have taken office with the promise of a new level of transparency in the Epstein case. And many Trump supporters argue that the administration should release all the files it has.

But what exactly is the required file? What do the public learn from their releases? To answer these questions, USA Today spoke with former FBI agents and prosecutors. They said the file is likely to be much more vast than the testimony of the Great Ju Court, including interviews with eyewitnesses and records of the investigation trajectory.

“It could be a huge universe of original documents, interview notes and analysis notes,” said Michelle Epner, a former New Jersey federal prosecutor who handled the sex trafficking case.

R-Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie and R-Colorado Lauren Boebert co-hosted a law this month with compilation to protect victims, aggressive investigations and national defense to announce the government’s Epstein Records. House Speaker R-Louisiana Mike Johnson announced on July 22 that he was closing his home early for a summer break to avoid voting for the release of the Epstein file.

Let’s look at the arguments for and against transparency, what kind of material the government is hiding.

What are the FBI’s Epstein Files?

The FBI’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein died in solitary cells at Manhattan federal prison in 2019 while awaiting a federal sex trafficking trial, and can include a wide range of material dating back decades.

Around 2006, federal agents considered allegations that Epstein was paying several minor girls to have sex with him. That investigation led to what many consider Epstein’s Sweet Heart deal, making Florida’s prostitution twice in 2008, avoiding sexual personnel charges and serving just 13 months in a local prison.

The incident involving criminal activity at Epstein’s Palm Beach Mansion was about two miles away from Trump’s Mar Arago Club. The federal prosecutor who negotiated the contract, Alex Acosta became Labor Secretary in Trump’s first administration, but resigned after a fallout from the Miami Herald investigation in 2018, revealing Acosta’s role in the contract.

In July 2019, a convicted sex offender was arrested on a more serious charge of a minor. On the same day, the FBI stormed Epstein’s Manhattan mansion, gathering computer hard drives and other potential evidence. After Epstein’s death, law enforcement also raided property in the US Virgin Islands.

These investigations would have produced a variety of materials and documents, according to former law enforcement officials. This includes interviews and detailed records of various witnesses, far beyond information relating to criminal charges against Epstein and Maxwell.

“People volunteer for anything, and sometimes people are so vocal that they teach you personal things that have nothing to do with the investigation,” said Katherine Schweit, a former special FBI agent and former Illinois prosecutor.

That means the file contains information or allegations dealing with a third party that has never been charged with a crime.

In a February press release, the Department of Justice said it plans to release “thousands of pages” of undeveloped documents after reviewing and editing them to protect the identity of Epstein victims.

However, a July memo said the department reversed the course and no further disclosure was justified.

Trump reportedly was told he was nominated for multiple times on the file in May. Trump and Epstein have been friends for many years, living close to each other and partying together until the early 1990s. Archived video footage and photos show that it was revealed on July 22nd of Epstein, who was attending Trump’s wedding with his second wife, Marla Maples, at the Plaza Hotel in 1993.

According to the Washington Post, the friendship between the two men ended around 2004. Trump recently said Epstein has banned Epstein from the Florida Mar a Lago Club after he “stole” staff from a spa, including Virginia Giuffre, a well-known Epstein victim who died of suicide earlier this year.

Does the transcript of the large ju appellate cover the Epstein file?

According to Epner, the transcript of the large ju judge requested by the Department of Justice will likely depend on a small sliver that is owned by the FBI.

“The testimony of the Great Jury – in theory it may be very broad, but in this case it is very narrow,” Epner said.

A federal judge in Florida has already rejected the Department of Justice’s request for the release of the transcripts of the Great Ju Court from around 2006. Two separate requests for the transcripts of the Great Ju judge that led to the charges against Epstein and Maxwell in New York more than a decade later are still pending.

Epner explained that the materials from the Great Juju Court are merely a subset of the working products compiled by the FBI and DOJ during the course of their Epstein-related investigation. And the Department of Justice does not even ask for all the materials from the Great Ju Court – only the transcripts of the Great Ju Court. For example, it does not include bank records obtained through a subpoena of the Great Ju judge.

In theory, the list of witnesses for the Great Jue could be long. Prosecutors can call many witnesses before a large ju trial, so they can be sure that the witnesses say under oath at trial. Some large ju judges also conduct an investigation and call a wide range of witnesses for that purpose.

But that wasn’t what happened in Maxwell and Epstein’s New York criminal case. According to the Ministry of Justice, only two witnesses testified before the large ju trial. They were FBI agents, New York police detectives, and at the time worked with the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Trafficking Task Force. These witnesses summarized what the interview subject said.

In other words, the transcription does not include direct testimony from the victim. It also suggests that the process of the big juice in two cases was streamlined rather than vast.

Additionally, if a federal court in Manhattan agrees to release the transcript, the Department of Justice plans to compile “other personal identification information” as well as victim-related information. That may mean blocking third party identifiers tied to Epstein. This is the type of people that the public wants to investigate as potential clients of Epstein.

“I think the people behind all this, those who are very protesting about this, will be happy with the information from the Great Juice, unless you know what it is,” said Rick Smith, a former FBI special agent who provided investigative services to the law firm today.

That does not mean that some revelation could not be included in the transcript of the Great Jue. Schweit said that court rules restricting testimony in trials have been relaxed before the big ju trial, so the ju judges who indicted Maxwell and Epstein may have heard that they were not discussed in Maxwell’s public trial in 2021.

“You might include someone’s criminal history on the big ju judge, or ask them about where they went to college and who their roommates are. Did they know this person or that person? They might not be deaf in a normal courthouse, that could be secondary information,” Schweite said.

Would you like to release a file?

There is a debate about releasing files. The Justice Department says the file review did not produce evidence justifying investigations of people who have not been previously charged. Assuming that is a fair assessment of the evidence, releasing the file could unfairly associate a third party with Epstein’s alleged crime.

“What happens with things like this is that there are a lot of people who are scared of this and are scared of it.

Trump is not the only celebrities already tied to Epstein in how he promoted speculation without evidence of Epstein-related criminal activity. Former President Bill Clinton repeatedly flew on Epstein’s private jet, according to flight logs reported by the Palm Beach Post. According to a Wall Street Journal investigation, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak met dozens of times and also flew by jet plane. Others may have only been at one of the many fascinating parties Epstein attended during his heyday.

If one day the Department of Justice finds new evidence and concludes that it is appropriate to investigate someone else, it releases evidence that could put that investigation into. There is no restriction law that restricts federal prosecutors from chasing someone else for sex trafficking.

“We want to be able to continue to search for the truth whether or not we need to do further investigations and whether someone is guilty or innocent,” Schweid said.

Still, releasing files also helps clear all the doubters in every corner of the court of public opinion. According to law and crime, actor Kevin Spacey, who was recognized in court testimony flying on an Epstein plane with Clinton, wants to release a file to clear his name.

“Releasing the Epstein Files. All Files,” 65-year-old Spacey, posted on July 15th.

And what makes Epstein-related research different is the level and spread of conspiracy theories surrounding how Epstein died and who was involved in his crime. Several members of Trump’s own administration have incited the flames of these conspiracy theories for years.

Now these same officials face a broad segment of the public who don’t trust that all investigative leads are protected.

“There was a conspiracy, so if there weren’t that much protest, I don’t think we’re where we are,” Smith said. “But now, that’s a problem because the people who said the most about it are in a position to do something about it.”

According to a Russian team, the earthquake could have caused the first volcano eruption in 600 years.

0

The overnight eruption of Krashengannikov volcano in Kamchatka, for the first time in 600 years, could be linked to the massive earthquake that shook Russia’s Far East last week, Russian RIA State News Agency and scientists reported on Sunday.

“This is the first historically confirmed eruption of Krashenannikov volcano in 600 years,” Leah quoted Orga Zirina, director of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Reaction Team.

She added that the eruption could be linked to the earthquake on Wednesday, causing a tsunami warning as far away as France’s Polynesia and Chile, followed by the eruption of Krichevskoy, the most active volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula.

In the telegram channel of the Volcanic Seismic Institute, Girina said that Krache Garnikov’s last lava exudate occurred in 1463 (plus or minus 40 years), and no eruptions have been known since.

The Kamchatka branch of Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Services said ash plume has been recorded, rising to up to 6,000 meters (3.7 miles) after the volcano eruption. The volcano itself is 1,856 meters.

“The clouds of ash drifted east towards the Pacific Ocean. There are no more populous areas along that path,” the ministry said on Telegram.

The volcanic eruptions are assigned an orange aviation code, indicating an increased risk to the aircraft, the ministry said.

Who will win the Senate majority in 2026? These are 11 important races to watch.

0


From the South to the Great Lakes, the contested primary and open Senate seats fight determine who has served President Trump in the past two years.

play

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s agenda late in his second term will depend on whether Republicans can maintain control of Congress in next year’s midterm elections.

In the Senate, where the GOP currently has a majority of 53-47, being a party in charge is essential to his ability to pass president and key legal priorities, and will confirm candidates including potential Supreme Court vacancy.

Heading into 2026, Republicans in Congress are trying to maintain legislative advantages, but face precedent challenges. A party that often does not own the White House – currently has better fares in medium-term parliamentary elections. Democrats are trying to turn the upper room back to blue by acquiring a handful of states scattered across the Great Lakes from the south, as they need to pick me up after last year’s presidential and congressional elections.

On their side, Republicans, who are trying to defend their majority in the November race next year, will need to first get through some basic split primary.

Here are 11 Senate races seen nationwide heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

1. North Carolina

Republican Tom Tillis, a two-term North Carolina Senator, announced in June he would not seek re-election.

His news, which Tillis called “not a difficult choice,” has repeatedly debated over Trump’s sweeping tax, spending and policy bills, involving Congress and opposed GOP members to each other.

The news was music to the ears of Democrats.

The North Carolina race, the Liberals’ biggest target for next year’s midterm, was set to be one of the most competitive Senate fights in 2026, even by Tillis’s vote.

Now open seats attracted famous candidates on either side of the aisle.

Former Democrat North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper officially announced his campaign on July 28th following weeks of speculation.

On the Republican side, Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law and former co-chair of the Republican National Committee, said she had considered diving in.

However, after she announced on July 24 that she would not run for a North Carolina seat, President Trump gave support to Republican National Committee chairman and former North Carolina GOP chairman Michael Whatley.

The state primary election will take place on March 3rd.

2. Michigan

Michigan set the stage for a race next year brought by another retired incumbent.

Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat, announced in January that he would not seek a third term representing the Senate’s Great Lakes State.

His absence leaves the race open for either party.

Republican Mike Rogers, a former Trump-backed lawmaker, is his party’s predicted candidate. Rodgers ran in 2024 and lost slightly to Senator Elissa Slotkin.

Among Democrats, Rep. Haley Stevens and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow lead the 2026 candidate pack. The state primary election will take place on August 4th, 2026.

3. Georgia

Georgia Democratic Sen. John Ossoff has to dodge a swarm of conservative lawmakers in 2026 to stick to his seat.

Alongside Georgia’s Democratic Sen. Rafael Warnock, Ossoff’s victory in the January 2021 leaked election secured his first term in Congress and a majority of his party.

Again, his race is key to determining whether Democrats will gain control of the Senate.

Republicans trying to free him include Rep. Buddy Carter, a former pharmacist who represents the Savannah area.

Carter first threw his red hat into the ring. But others, including Rep. Mike Collins, later entered the contest. Both Carter and Collins are eager to support Trump. This is Georgia’s deep red voter pocket and potentially heavy support.

The Georgia primary election is set for May 19th.

4. Texas

Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn could win his fifth term against a Democrat challenger in the Red Solitary Star State next November.

But first, he must do so through what he promises to be a tough primary against state Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Cornyn has been in the Senate since 2002, but early polls showed the second digit to Paxton.

National Republicans have expressed concern that Paxton, who faces charges, ammunition each and recently a very public divorce, could cost the GOP on a Texas seat that is held safely in the general election.

Democrats and former Rep. Colin Allred, who fought Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024, announced their 2026 campaign. Texas Rep. James Tarico said he is also “seriously considering it.”

The Lone Star State primary is scheduled for March 3rd.

5. South Carolina

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, attracted GOP challengers in his 2026 reelection bid.

Paul Dans, the original author of Project 2025, is an extensive conservative agenda for overhauling the federal government, and announced his admission to the race at the July 30 event in Charleston.

The major contests will likely bring voters in the Palmetto State of Maga against each other.

Graham previously was a regular target of criticism from Trump – sometimes displeased by lawmakers who infiltrate from GOP leaders – he is now a presidential ally and already has “full and full support” of Trump.

Dan’s main challenge is a difficult battle. If Graham gets to the top, he would highly like to win a fifth term representing the Palmetto State.

South Carolina is generally considered a safe red seat, but Democrats are about to face Graham and the general. The primary elections for both parties will take place on June 9th.

6. main

R Maine Sen. Susan Collins is about to wrap her fifth term in the Senate and has not officially announced her reelection bid, but many colleagues hope she will run again.

Her position as one of the Upper Chamber’s most independent voices, took office in her left-leaning state, in favour of her, but Democrats see this upcoming race as one of their top pick-up opportunities if Janet Mills decides to run.

Collins has gained a reputation as one of the few Congressional Republicans trying to tell Trump no. She voted against two of his two major legislative priorities this summer. This is a $9 billion cut in public broadcasting and foreign aid funds, while also openly criticizing some of the presidential candidates.

The willingness to oppose Trump is usually accompanied by the president’s complete rage and the major opponents that often line up in the Magazine.

But Collins is the only Republican senator to win the state that Democrats won the popularity vote in 2024. For now, at least, her unique position seems to make Trump not oppose many views as the best chance for GOP to keep a seat in Maine.

Several Democratic candidates announced a campaign against Collins, including David Costello, who failed in 2024 against Maine’s independent Sen. Angus King. Maine will hold its primary election on June 9th.

7. Minnesota

Minnesota Democratic Sen. Tina Smith announced her plans to retire earlier this year at the end of her current term, calling the decision “a complete individual.”

The blue leaning of the state could leave Smith’s seat in Democrats’ hands.

Minnesota Lt. Colonel Peggy Flanagan and Annie Craig are among the forefront of their party’s nominations. Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz, a running buddy of 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, returned to running for the Senate in February.

On the Republican side, former NBA player Lois White is running again after losing his bid for Senator Amy Klobuchar in 2024. The Minnesota primary election will take place on August 11th.

8. Ohio

The Buckeye state represents one of the few Democrats’ pick-up opportunities, and yet it’s not an easy flip.

Republican Sen. John Husted was elected by the governor of Ohio to fill a vacant seat by Vice President J.D. Vance earlier this year, and Husted will be taking part in the poll to keep his spot in November next year.

Ohio has certainly turned red in recent years, and for Democrats, they’ve been fighting to turn it over.

Their best shot is former Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown, who lost his bid for reelection to Senator Bernie Moreno last year. Axios reported that Brown met with majority leader Chuck Schumer in late July as part of a Senate Democrats’ top efforts to lobby Brown for him to run again.

9. New Hampshire

New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen announced that he would not seek another term in 2026.

Democrat Chris Pappas, who launched the campaign in April, is widely seen as a strong candidate to succeed Shaheen.

Scott Brown, a Republican, a former Massachusetts Senator and former Massachusetts Senator from New Zealand and Samoa, is one of the few candidates competing on the GOP side.

Like Minnesota, culinary political reports assess New Hampshire’s race as leaning towards Democrats.

10. Iowa

In Iowa, Republican Sen. Joni Ernst has the advantage, and the chef’s political report rates her race against Republicans.

So far, three Democrats have launched their bids in the hopes of breaking these odds. Nathan Sage, former Chamber of Commerce director of Knoxville. State Sen. JD Scholten; State Sen. Zach Walls;

Trump’s sweeping tax, spending and policy bills will be passed to the law earlier this summer and are expected to become a critical issue for Iowa’s race.

Ernst was one of 50 Senate Republicans who voted in favor of legislation that her democratic enemy accused of “moving to thwart Medicaid for hundreds of thousands of Iowa children and families.” The Iowa primary is scheduled for June 2nd.

11. Nebraska

Nebraska is widely seen as a Republican home with incumbent GOP Sen. Pete Ricketts, but there was an incredibly competitive race in 2026, with independent candidate Dan Osborn returning to the statewide election.

Osborne came within 7 percent points since beating Sen. Deb Fisher in 2024.

Former Labour leader Osborne, registered independent, but received campaign contributions from Democrats in his last campaign (he told NBC he didn’t ask). Ricketts, a former Nebraska governor and owner of some of the Chicago Cubs family, is now maturing after being appointed to the office in January 2023 with the resignation of Republican Sen. Ben Sasse.

The stock earns 10% per year. That’s the end.

0

play

Over the past decades, the US stock market has generated an average annual return rate of around 10%.

What do you do when those days are over?

Recent forecasts show that Vanguard will only increase the stock market from 3.3% to 5.3% per year over the next decade. Morningstar believes its US stocks are up 5.2% per year. Goldman Sachs predicts that the Broad S&P 500 index will only win 3% per year.

These numbers are not outliers. In the market prognosis summary charted by Morningstar, no one predicts that the annual return rate of domestic stock markets will exceed 6.7% over the next decade.

In June, USA Today said many analysts predicted that the stock market will close the year with just a small profit.

Some readers responded to surprise, others responded with disbelief. The inventory index has hit record highs despite prolonged inflation, softening job markets and rising import duties.

After all, these record highs are one of the reasons why forecasters are not expecting much from the stock market for the rest of the year and for the next few years.

Here we take a closer look at why economists have dimly hopes for the stock market over the next decade and what everyday investors can do about it.

Stock is high

Forecasters for simple reasons are not expecting much from the US stock market over the next decade. The stock price is already very high.

Stock indexes are breaking records. For analysts, that means many stocks are too high. There are few bargains. There is little room for growth in the index.

How high is the stock market? Economists have the standard to measure it. This is called the circularly adjusted price and return rate, or cape ratio. Measures the price of a stock against a company’s revenue. It effectively tells you whether inventory is overvalued or undervalued.

Currently, the S&P 500 has a cape ratio of 38.7. In other words, stock prices are very expensive compared to earnings.

“We’re committed to providing a great opportunity to help you,” said Randy Brunns, a certified financial planner in Naperville, Illinois.

There have been two moments in the past century, where the cape ratio is really high. One was in 1929. The other was in 1999. In the decades following these peaks, the stock market sank like stones: Great Fear pression of the 1930s, dot com bust and the Great Recession of the 2000s.

“Our prediction is that the ratio will come down in some way,” says Paul Arnold, global head of multi-asset research at Morningstar.

Investors forget to buy at a low price

No one is forced to buy expensive stocks. So why do investors continue to buy them?

It’s easy to recite the old investment saying about buying low and selling high. It’s difficult to follow the rules, especially if you don’t know how high you are.

Buying stocks when the market is high sounds like a terrible violation of the low rules of shopping. Still, investment advisors routinely encourage consumers to continue buying stocks when prices are high.

Reason: Stocks tend to rise over time. Even if you buy high, you can bet that the market will ultimately rise even further.

All of these headlines on stock market records work like stock ads. Investors continue to buy them and push prices up.

“When stocks are up, investors tend to think that now is the time to come,” said Todd Schlanger, senior investment strategist at Vanguard. “Stocks are one of the few things people don’t want to buy on sale.”

The stock market is “concentrated”

This is another reason why many forecasters are in US stocks, particularly monster stocks known as Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta and Tesla.

According to Motley Fool, the seven represent 34% of the overall value of the S&P 500, up from 12% in 2015. It can be called market concentration and can be a bad thing.

Investors are encouraged to diversify. Don’t just hold stocks, don’t hold too much of one stock.

According to Goldman Sachs, the problem with the epic Seven is that their huge growth is unsustainable. “For any company, it’s extremely difficult to maintain high levels of sales growth and profit margins over the course of a lifetime.”

These seven stocks are “already sold at perfect prices,” Schlander said. That’s a gentle way to say they’re expensive.

Vanguard predicts that growth inventory, a category dominated by the grand Seven, will only increase by 1.9% to 3.9% per year over the next decade.

That doesn’t mean that the 7 epic stocks crash.

“We are pleased to announce that we are committed to providing a wide range of financial plans for our customers,” said Katherine Vallega, a certified financial planner in Winchester, Massachusetts. “Large companies have the resources to pivot when needed.”

However, forecasters are questioning whether the epic Seven will continue to grow at the same hot pace as before.

“If these companies are booming, that’s great,” Brands said. “But if writing hits these seven companies’ barriers, it’s going to be bad news for the S&P 500 as a whole.”

What should we do about these dark stock forecasts?

If you want to avoid market concentration and expensive stocks, the forecaster can be found here:

  • Value stocks. Many mutual funds and ETFs invest in “value” stocks. Value stocks are essentially traded at a relatively low price compared to company sales, revenues and dividends. Vanguard expects value stocks to increase by 5.8% per year to 7.8% over the next decade.
  • Small-cap stock. One way to skirt an epic Seven is to invest in small caps, which are stocks in small businesses. Vanguard predicts that small-caps will rise by 5% to 7% per year over the next decade.
  • Non-US stocks. Some analysts believe foreign stocks are trading better than US stocks because they “have never seen the same level of bubbles or growth,” Arnold said. Non-US stocks in the MorningStar Project Advanced Market will increase by 8.1% each year over the next decade.

The Ukrainian drone attack will ignite fire at an oil depot in Russia’s former Olympic city, the governor says

0

More than 120 firefighters were trying to put out the flames at an oil depot in a Russian city in Sochi, but regional governor Beniamin Kondratiev, sparked by a drone attack in Ukraine, spoke about the telegram messaging app early on Sunday.

In the Krasnodar region of the Black Sea where Sochi is located, fuel tanks with a capacity of 2,000 cubic meters (70,000 cubic feet) were on fire, Russian news agency cited emergency officials.

In its daily morning report on Telegram, the Russian Ministry of Defense said its air defense units destroyed 93 Ukrainian drones overnight, including one of the Krasnodar regions and 60 in the waters of the Black Sea.

The ministry reports not only how many drones will be destroyed, but also how many drones will be destroyed.

Russia’s civil aviation authorities, Rosaviatia, temporarily suspends flights at Sochi airports, ensuring air safety before telegrams saying flights had resumed as of Sunday (10pm ET).

Reuters was unable to independently verify the report. There were no immediate comments from Ukraine.

The attack Kondratiev said will be the latest in Ukraine on infrastructure in Russia, which Kiev considers as key to Moscow’s war effort, in the Adler district of the coastal resort city.

A woman was killed in the Adler district in a Ukrainian drone attack late last month, but the attack on Sochi, which hosted the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, was rare in the war Russia launched in February 2022.

The Krasnodar region is home to the Irsky refinery near the city of Krasnodar, the largest region in southern Russia and a frequent target for Ukrainian drone attacks.

Also on Sunday, the governor of the southern Russian region of Bolognez said four people were injured in a Ukrainian drone strike that caused several fires, according to the military regime in the Ukrainian capital, while Russia launched missile attacks on Kiev.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said the unit had destroyed 18 Ukrainian drones in the Bolognez region, which borders Ukraine.

When the tsunami took over the Pacific Ocean, some in Asia saw the cartoon prophecy signs come true

0

As strong waves surged across the vast Pacific on Wednesday, people all over the world remained glued to their phones, tracking the rapid advances in the tsunami.

However, in China, over a million people were looking for an unusual term: “prophecy.”

This is because, to some, it seemed that natural disasters were predicted four years ago in Japanese comic books.

“The Future I Saw,” published in 1999 by cartoon artist Ryo Tatsuki, warned in March 2011 about a major disaster.

Released in 2021, her “full version” claimed that the date would skyrocket in most of Asia in recent months as the next major earthquake hit in July 2025, bringing the surge in viral internet memes and debate in much of Asia.

In China, the search term associated with Tatsuki’s so-called “prophecy” won over 1.1 million views on the video app Douyin shortly after Wednesday’s Pacific Tsunami.

“Will Ryocki’s predictions for the July disaster come true?” The headline for Wednesday’s article was executed in Hong Kong newspapers.

The manga has gained enthusiastic support since its publication in 2021. However, fans were anticipating the arrival of obvious predictions from the author, which became a cultural phenomenon in most Asia earlier this year, with many canceling their summer trips to Japan.

Some tourists are ready to go home in peace after the Wednesday event caused minimal damage. But others are on the edge and are determined to be far apart for now.

“I’m getting goosebumps!” I wrote one Japanese user on X following the massive 8.8 earthquake.

Andrea Wang, a 25-year-old Chinese traveler, canceled his trip to Japan in April, and the manga called her “worried about the risks of my life.” The tsunami is currently dying, but she has no plans to travel to Japan for the rest of 2025, she told CNN on Friday.

It is impossible to project accurately beforehand if an earthquake could be attacked, and seismologists have strongly warned against believing in the increasing number of so-called predictions. In an interview with Japanese media in May, even Tatsuki herself urged people not to “overshake” her dreams.

But the valence of debate proves the cartoon’s harsh grip on the popular imagination, which amplified bullying in both Asia and social media, especially in seismic Japan, where constant threats of earthquakes and tsunamis are looming heavily on the popular imagination.

Many people were injured in the 2011 Tohoku disaster when the earthquake caused a devastating tsunami wave that caused the Fukushima nuclear meltdown. The disaster has resulted in more than 22,000 deaths or disappearances. It was then embedded in the national spirit, and Japanese infants conduct earthquake training from when they can walk, and the government regularly warns them of earthquakes in the next century.

Tatsuki’s manga depicts a cartoon version of her own Greening Vision from her Slumbers. Some fans believe she predicted the death of Princess Diana and Freddie Mercury, but skeptics are so vague that she is vague to take seriously.

The trembling of 2011 boosted Tatsuki’s supposed belief in science. Her 1999 manga, “The Future I Saw,” is on the cover of “The Large-scale Disaster in March 2011.” Many believe they predicted an earthquake of 9.0 magnitude more than a decade before they hit Tohoku.

In a follow-up in 2021, Tatsuki warned that an earthquake in the Philippine Sea on July 5th this year would cause three times the height of the tsunami waves.

Cover of Japanese manga and manga books in 2021

Ultimately, Wednesday’s earthquake struck thousands of kilometers from the predicted epicenter, with the highest recorded wave in Japan measuring only 4.3 feet, much lower than the 30-foot wave seen in 2011.

However, many travelers like King have decided not to seize their chance in the last few months, canceling their trip to Japan, pointing to similar warnings from the psychics in Japan and Hong Kong.

CN Yuen, managing director of Hong Kong-based travel agency WWPKG, said that bookings for Japan tours fell by about 70% in June and July compared to last year.

Oscar Chu, a 36-year-old traveler from Hong Kong, has also decided not to go this summer despite visiting Japan multiple times, usually in the year. “I’m not saying I was 100% certain (about forecasts), but I won’t amortize that possibility,” he told CNN on Friday.

On July 30, white waves collided with the Kujukuri coast in Sosa, Japan.

When July 5 passed without incident, he said some of his friends had booked a flight to Japan the following day.

He headed there a few weeks later and accidentally bought a ticket on Wednesday morning, just before receiving the news of the tsunami. But he’s still going. “You can’t avoid going for the rest of your life,” he said.

But not everyone is at ease. Several of Chu’s friends, who like him, love visiting Japan, have taken precautions such as avoiding coastal areas and skipping beaches.

They are not the only ones to be wary of “big things” on the horizon. Wednesday’s tsunami highlighted the vulnerability of millions of people living on coastlines around the Pacific Ocean, where the seismically active “Ring of Fire” has produced many of the world’s most powerful earthquakes.

Despite the science still remains contested, Japan’s fears have been rising since the government’s recent warning that a massive earthquake could hit the Valley of South Nankai within the next 30 years.

The Nanjing trough is a 700-kilometer (435 miles) long subduction zone with one tectonic plate being another. According to the Japanese government’s Earthquake Research Committee, serious earthquakes are recorded every 100 to 200 years in line with this obstacle.

The last such earthquake took place in 1944 and 1946, killing at least 2,500 people and destroying tens of thousands of homes.

The Japanese government has repeatedly warned that there is a 70-80% chance that Japan will be shaken by an earthquake in another South Ankai Trough within 30 years, and many scientists have questioned the accuracy of that probability.

Regardless of the reliability of the prediction, the nation is highly wary and kicks it into gear every time an earthquake hits it. This highly effective, sophisticated warning system was on display this week when local governments issued evacuation warnings and urged more than 2 million residents to seek high altitudes in high-risk areas along the coastline.

Skip past newsletter promotions

A notification at Tokyo Station on July 30th that some of Japan's highway bullet train services were temporarily suspended due to a tsunami warning.

When a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck southern Japan last August, authorities responded as quickly as possible, slowing down trains and warning of potential tsunami warnings, but ultimately there was no major damage.

Whether Wednesday’s trembling was what Tatsuki was supposed to be in Tatsuki’s manga, public vigilance about potential disasters will remain in Japan ever since the waves recede this week.

“It’s because of (Tatsuki’s) warnings, but it encouraged more people to start paying attention to earthquake risks in advance, improving their awareness of disaster prevention, learning relevant knowledge, and preparing emergency supplies.”

“People’s vigilance is increasing and in itself is very important.”

From the President to the Provocateur: The Long Journey of Russia’s Dmitry Medvedev

0

Dmitry Medvedev has traveled a long way since his time as President of Russia, once stood by US President Barack Obama, declaring that “solutions to many world problems depend on the joint will of the US and Russia.”

In his semi-official role this week as a Kremlin attack dog, Medvedev hinted twice that President Donald Trump’s administration pushed the US and Russia into war, warning about Russia’s nuclear capabilities.

Medvedev is the vice-president of the Russian Security Council, but he does not use enforcement force. But his provocative comments this week still made a splash.

Medvedev said on Telegram on Thursday that Trump should imagine the apocalyptic television series The Walking Dead, referring to the Soviet ability to launch an automatic nuclear strike.

The US president on Friday ordered two nuclear submarines to move to “appropriate areas.”

The skirmish comes after President Putin sets a new deadline for the war in Ukraine.

Unlike current leader Vladimir Putin, who is now the KGB agent, Medvedev cuts a different number than when he became president of Russia at the age of 42. I am pleased with the Internet – again, unlike Putin, he was keen to modernize the Russian economy and tackle corruption.

However, his presidency was seen as a stopgap for Putin to maintain constitutional limits and maintain power.

Still_21833441_2328450_still_10.jpg

“Very Dangerous Business”: John Bolton responds to Trump’s Nuclear Order

Still_21833441_2328450_still_10.jpg

3:18

Since Putin resigned from the president in 2012 to allow him to return to the post, Medvedev has changed from a relatively liberal technocrat to an untangled, provocative social media position, as he has untoldly untook the Russian enemy with a provocative social media post.

Compare what he said in a 2009 CNN interview – Russia “had to have a good, developed relationship with the West in every sense of the word,” and this comment in May and “There’s just “really bad things” happening in Russia about Trump’s words about Putin. I know it’s really bad.

That change appears to have started following his presidency. Medvedev began to rearrange himself to maintain the trust of the dominant Russian party.

In 2012, he told lawmakers: “They often said, ‘You’re a liberal.’ I can honestly say to you: I have never had any liberal beliefs. ”

As president, Medvedev told CNN that “the level of corruption is decisively unacceptable.” But then the prime minister was the target of an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Foundation of opposition Alexei Navalny, who claimed he had accumulated a “corruption empire” of luxury property, luxury yachts and vineyards across Russia.

Medvedev spokeswoman Natalya Timakova has rejected the investigation. It quickly won 14 million views on YouTube as a “promotional explosion,” but Medvedev became the target of street protests.

In 2020, he suddenly resigned as prime minister as Putin began a constitutional overhaul and solidified his power.

Since then, from his Security Council seat, he has launched a stream of xenophobia and offensive attacks on Ukrainians and Western leaders. Medvedev has a Russian and English X account with 1.7 million subscribers to Telegram and a total of 7 million followers.

After a full-scale invasion of Russia’s Ukraine, Medvedev called Kiev’s leadership “cockroaches breeding in bottles.”

In a speech earlier this year, Medvedev featured images of Trump and Ukrainian President Voldimi Zelensky as Muppets, urging the “destroy of the Kiev neo-Nazi regime.”

He frequently reminds me of the ghosts of Nazism, and this year, the new German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz said, “I proposed a strike at the Crimean Bridge. Think twice, Nazi!”

And while he is not afraid to rattle nuclear sabers, he said in 2022 that “the idea of punishing a country with one of its greatest nuclear capabilities is ridiculous and could pose a threat to the existence of humanity.”

Medvedev is pleased too To people attack. Last month, he untold Trump in a social media post. “Don’t go down sleepy Joe Road,” he said, referring to Trump’s own explanation of former President Joe Biden.

Despite his odd rhetoric, Medvedev has played a calculated role in the Kremlin message, according to analysts.

The War Institute states that it is “used to amplify inflammatory rhetoric designed to infuse panic and fear among Western decision makers.”

But the commentator says he should literally not be taken.

In reference to this week’s trip, Anatol Lieben of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Three-Dimensional Learning described both Medvedev’s remarks and Trump’s response as “pure theatre.”

“With the last three years of refraining from using nuclear weapons, Russia clearly does not intend to launch them in response to new rounds of US sanctions,” Lieben said.

At that press conference with Obama in 2009, Medvedev was a confident and freshly created president, seeing more than Putin’s placeholder. He said that day, “We have major nuclear weapons and we are fully responsible for those arsenals.”

Sixteen years later, he has the freedom of a provocateur.

Senate confirms Trump will choose Jeanine Pirro as DC’s US lawyer

0

play

WASHINGTON – Former Fox News host, Johnny Nu Piro won Senate approval on August 2nd to become a US lawyer for the District of Columbia.

Pirro was confirmed in a 51-45 party voting. Republican Senators Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Democrats Reuben Gallego and Peter Welch did not vote.

The conservative TV star has been playing a tentative role since May, when Trump retracted his former candidate, Ed Martin, amid Republican criticism of Martin’s support of the mob on January 6th. Trump gave mob tolerance on his first day in office.

Piro was an elected district attorney in Westchester County, New York, and a county judge before joining Fox. She hosted “Judge Janine’s Justice” on the network for 11 years and was named in a honour and loss lawsuit brought by the Dominion voting system, which ended with a $787.5 million settlement.

A few days before Pillo’s confirmation, Trump instructed lawmakers to postpone the summer holidays and clear a backlog of candidates delayed by Democrats over objections to his agenda, including judicial candidates.

The president reversed the course during a marathon voting session on August 2nd. In a post about Trump’s society, Trump accused Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of “sought over $1 billion to approve a few highly qualified candidates.”

“This demand is grossly unprecedented and, if accepted, is embarrassing for the Republicans,” Trump wrote. “It’s a political terr by another name. Tell Schumer, who is under tremendous political pressure from within his own party, to the radical left madman to go to hell! Don’t accept the offer, go home and explain to your constituents what Democrats are, what the Republic is doing, and what great work they have done for our country.

Schumer blows up Trump at a late-night press conference, where he GOP The president throws the towel “in response to his anger” and refuses to negotiate.

Contributions: Erin Mansfield and Aisha Baguch

Body found to scramble Chilean rescuers to find the missing miner

0

The Chilean mining company said it was found that one of five workers trapped in the copper mine on Saturday was dead, bringing the death toll to two from Thursday’s collapse.

According to Codelco, the state-owned company that runs the mine, rescuers are competing to save a man trapped in El Teniente, one of the world’s largest copper mines, after the mine shaft collapses.

The mine’s general manager Andrés Music said at a press conference on Saturday that prosecutors and civil servants will identify the workers’ bodies.

“We know that this news will be a hard hit on our fellow families and the entire mining community,” Music said in a statement issued after the discovery. “We intend to continue to maintain all our strength and hope, but now we can mean that we are paying attention and progressing slowly.”

The National Earthquake Centre at the University of Chile recorded a 4.3 magnitude earthquake on Thursday in the area surrounding the mine. The trembling and subsequent collapse caused nine people to be injured, Codelco said.

“The first 48 hours are basic for finding a living man,” Codelco CEO Rubén Alvarado said Friday. He added that 20 meters (65 feet) of the mine tunnel must be removed by rescuers to reach the location the man believes is trapped. As of Friday, only 4 metres had been cleared.

According to the company’s data, Elteniente, located in the Ohiggins region of central Chile, is the world’s largest copper deposit. The incident forced the surgery to stop as rescue workers dig the wreckage and free the trapped man.

Aerial view at the entrance to El Teniente Mine, Chile's Cordelco copper mine, on Friday.

Chilean President Gabriel Borik said in a statement on Friday in X’s statement that his government will do “all of all (that) power” to find the missing miners. “I have instructed Mining Minister Aurora Williams to be in the area to coordinate all necessary actions on the ground,” he wrote.

At a press conference on Saturday, Borik said he was so pleased with the family of Paulo Marine Tapia, who died in the collapse, and that he was in contact with the loved ones of five locked workers.

Over time, the anguish of the family and their fellow miners increased.

“Hope died last,” said Edgar Rodrigo Quesada, a miner and former union leader. He explained to CNN that in the case of collapse there is a shelter within the tunnel, but that is not close to where they believe there are miners. It is unknown if they made it in time.

“I pray to God that my colleagues are fine,” Quesada said. “To be honest, all I can tell you is that the shelter is very far from where the collapse occurred.”

The Chilean prosecutor’s office has already begun an investigation into the collapse. Codelco also reported that it was investigating the cause of the collapse.

Music, the mine’s general manager, said the accident was not due to the use of explosives. “We’re making every effort to save these workers,” the music emphasized.

Smithsonian removed cards from the bullet each exhibit over “exterior”

0

play

The Smithsonian National Museum of American History has confirmed the removal of placards that both President Donald Trump’s ammo each was generated for aesthetic reasons.

The Washington, D.C. museum said the placards would not fit “US President: A Glorious Burden” on Saturday, August 2nd.

“The placards intended as temporary additions to the exhibition 25 years ago did not meet the standards for the museum’s exterior, location, timeline and overall presentation,” the post reads. “It didn’t match any other sections of the exhibition and also blocked views of objects within that case. For these reasons, we removed the placard.”

The museum added that the placards for each bullet “will be updated in the coming weeks to reflect all bullet each bullet in the history of our country.”

The confusion over the exhibition began on July 31st, when the Washington Post first reported that references to both President Donald Trump had been removed.

Why was Donald Trump’s blast each removed from the exhibition?

The museum explained in a statement to USA Today on August 1. The reference to Donald Trump’s bluff each, which recurred in 2019 and 2021, described as being part of a “temporary label.”

In September 2021, a “temporary label on content related to Donald J. Trump’s blast each” was added, adding that the museum “was intended as a short-term measure to address current events at the time, but the label remained until July 2025.”

For now, the display now shows how it was done nearly 20 years ago, according to a statement from the Smithsonian and a report by the Washington Post.

“It has become clear that reviewing recent legacy content requires addressing the “Limits of Presidential Power” section of the “American Presidential Employment: A Glowing Burden” exhibition,” reads the museum’s statement. “The decision was made to restore the ‘burn each’ cases in 2008, as other topics in this section have not been updated since 2008. ”

Where can I find the Smithsonian bullet each placard?

The “Barges each” placard is housed in an exhibition called “The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden,” which opened in 2000, according to a statement emailed by the Smithsonian.

The placard is part of a display with information and artifacts about Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon, says the display’s companion website. Nixon resigned before he officially got fired off.

Other blunders featured on the Smithsonian website: each president

The display’s companion website does not include a section dedicated to Trump’s blast each, but “in 1868 the House of Representatives absorbed Andrew Johnson each in 1998, William J. Clinton in 2019, and Donald Trump in 2021.

Additionally, the website has sections on Johnson’s blast each, including tickets and newspaper clips from the time. Nixon’s Senate hearing and resignation. Photos from testimony documents and minutes. Clinton’s trial, including tickets and Senate question cards.

Analysis: Russian nuclear saber latling may be a distraction for Donald Trump

0

There is a faint rude thing about the US president who is being driven by a small number of Russian officials to create a nuclear threat on social media.

But that’s exactly what President Donald Trump has done now, ordering the relocation of two US nuclear submarines, allowing himself to appear rattle in the hollow saber rat of Dmitry Medvedev, the outspoken but long-separated former Russian president.

In a series of bold posts on social media, Medvedev, who styles himself as a toxic anti-Western critic in recent years, criticized Trump for closing the deadline in Russia for a peace deal in Ukraine, saying it was not between Russia and Ukraine, and “not between his country.”

In his provocative reference to the Soviet-era automatic nuclear retaliation system in Russia, the US President said, “We should remember how dangerous the legendary ‘dead hands’ are.

Trump’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio plays a recent post from Russia, pointing out that Medvedev is no longer a Moscow decision maker. It is a view shared by many Russians, and Medvedev is widely seen as politically irrelevant and has little authority, Needless to say, it’s the power to launch a nuclear strike.

It brings questions about why Trump is involved with what he himself described as a “silly” statement and issues fierce public responses that ratchet the rhetoric of Washington and Moscow.

One possible answer is that it is convenient for Trump to look harsh on Moscow, without directly facing the true powers of President Kremlin, Vladimir Putin, but instead electing a public figure often referred to as “Little Dima” in Russia due to his small stature, or in fact, made concrete changes to the US nuclear stance.

Trump said his orders for two nuclear submarines “to be placed in the right area” were “a stupid, inflammatory statement that is just more than that.”

However, there are multiple US nuclear submarines armed with hundreds of nuclear warheads, patrolling the world’s oceans on certain days. Given the thousands of miles of missiles they carry and the vast size of Russia, relocation is unlikely to make a big difference in Russian ability to hit targets.

However, timing is still important.

Trump’s Middle Eastern envoy, Steve Witkov, will hold more consultations with Russian leaders in the coming days in his dual role as a makeshift Russian mediator. It is likely that he is seeking a ceasefire again as a deadline set by Trump, in order for the Kremlin to agree to peace in Ukraine or to face harsh tariffs.

The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Tennessee will return to Georgia Naval Base Kings Bay on February 6, 2013.

The Kremlin does not realistically expect the Kremlin to stubbornly insist on achieving the military targets stated before ending the Ukrainian conflict. The latest escalating nuclear rhetoric is unlikely to change its hard position.

But again, the phantom of increased nuclear reserves may prove to be a useful distraction, as he threatened to do so, as Trump threatened to squeeze the potential out-of-pocket effects of imposing secondary sanctions on countries such as India and China that buy Russian oil.

In fact, distracting yourself from increasing political issues in your home may be a welcome by-product of the escalating core of the nuclear.

A story of a nuclear preparation for Russia, which has more atomic weapons than any other country in the world, could mask even more trivial domestic issues, such as the Epstein scandal.

Of course, mentions of nuclear escalation among the world’s largest nuclear superpowers have attracted serious attention. However, the broader relations between Washington and Moscow, albeit under new pressure, are not near nuclear conflict.

And while the apparently dim use of the nuclear threat by both countries may be of concern, it does not show that a nuclear conflict is ongoing.

3 Proven Ways to Unlock Large Social Security Checks

0

play

Social Security has recently reached an important milestone. In May 2025, the average benefit for the first time exceeded $2,000 a month. This means that a typical senior can expect about $24,000 in annual benefits. It sounds like a lot, but if you’ve ever tried to take that amount, you know it won’t take you that far.

Luckily, if you understand the factors that affect the size of your check, you can beat the average profit. If you haven’t signed up for Social Security yet, check out these three things:

1. If possible, work for at least 35 years before applying

The Social Security Administration calculates your profits based on the average monthly income of 35 maximum earning years adjusted for inflation. However, you don’t have to work that long to receive retirement benefits.

You will be qualified with just 10 years of work history. However, if possible, it is best to refrain from applying until you hand over the 35 year mark. If you apply earlier, your zero years of income will be divided into benefits calculations. Even one of these can permanently reduce the size of the check.

However, there is no drawback to working for more than 35 years before applying. If you are making more than you did earlier in your career, it can actually increase your check, as you start to earn more recent higher earnings and increase your average monthly income.

2. Maximize your income today

The more you pay with Social Security Payroll Tax throughout your career, the greater your retirement benefits. Everything you can do to increase your income today will also help with social security benefits later on. This includes getting a pay raise, finding a new job that is better paid, and starting a side job.

The only people who are not of this are already earning more than a taxable wage base. It’s $176,100 in 2025. It doesn’t help you increase your retirement benefits as you don’t pay Social Security taxes on your income than this amount. However, it could improve the quality of life today.

3. Choose the right age for you

If you want the full profits you earn based on your work history, you must apply for a full retirement age (FRA). That’s 67 for most people today. If you apply earlier than this, you will face an early claim penalty that will allow you to cut your check by up to 30%. That alone is enough to knock on an average of $2,000 a month benefit to $1,400 a month.

You can also delay profits past the FRA. Also, the check will continue to grow until it reaches 70. At that point, if your FRA is 67, you’ll get 24% extra to your check.

The ideal age for you to assert is two things: health and finances. If you can’t delay social security financially, your choice is very simple. They argue that they do not need to assume unnecessary debt when necessary. However, if possible, you can benefit from refraining from the application for a month or two. So you can increase your check a little.

If you’re in poor health, making an early claim can also be the right move for you. If you wait too long, you risk not receiving anything from Social Security. However, if you are married and want to gain the greatest possible survivor benefits after your spouse die, you may be waiting to make a claim or not, or at all. When you sign up for Social Security early, you will also permanently reduce your spouse’s survival benefits.

If you are married, coming up with a plan as a couple is generally a good idea. This way you can choose a strategy that will make the most of your home benefits. For example, if one person wins a large amount of other people, a low earning could insist on retirement benefits early and delay the higher earnings. After that, if a higher earner is applied, you can switch to your spouse’s profit if the lower earner is more valuable than what you’re getting.

This is not guaranteed to help you beat the $2,000 average Social Security check. However, doing all three of these is very likely to earn a greater profit that will help you increase your retirement costs.

Motley Fools have a disclosure policy.

The Motley Fool is a partner at USA Today, providing financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people control their financial lives. The content is produced independently of USA Today.

Most retirees with the $23,760 Social Security Bonus are completely overlooked

A miscellaneous fool’s offer: If you’re like most Americans, you’re a few years (or even more) behind your retirement savings. However, a few lesser known “social security secrets” can help ensure an increase in your retirement income.

One easy trick allows you to pay over $23,760 each year! Once we learn how to maximize Social Security benefits, we can retire with confidence in the peace of mind we want. participateStock AdvisorFor more information about these strategies, see

See “Social Security Secrets”»

New movies streaming now for Netflix, Amazon, HBO Max and Hulu

0

play

Do you like movies? Live for TV? USA Today’s Watch Party Newsletter has all the best recommendations delivered to your inbox. Sign up now and become one of the cool kids.

The only thing more inevitable than the death of a “final destination” movie is the ever-growing list of must-see movies that will hit your favorite streaming service.

Accepting this first weekend air conditioner in August and pushing it into “final destination pedigree.” This is new to HBO Max, with other services like Netflix, Peacock, and Hulu going home the theatrical release, like the Anthony Hopkins/Bill Skarsgård thriller. Don’t sleep even at the original fare, like Netflix Queen Sofia Carson’s new romantic comedy. There are also certain musicals that have been nominated for Oscars and are switching services again to satisfy another subscriber base.

Here are 10 new and well-known movies you can stream now:

“evaluation”

In futuristic landscapes destroyed by climate change, people need to obtain government permission to save resources. Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel play the scientific couple who want a little one, and Alicia Vikander is the evaluator sent to test it to the extreme in an extremely entertaining and very dark sci-fi thriller.

Where to see: Hulu

“Borderline”

In this dark comedy set in the 1990s, the pop star (Samara Weaving) recently returns to her mansion when a runaway mental patient (Rainicholson) and a superfan breaks into the house in hoping to marry her loved one. Attractively indifferent, Nicholson is likable enough to take a bit of root for his antagonist.

Where to see: peacock

“The Death of a Unicorn”

At The Tripily Bonkers Thriller, a widowed lawyer (Paul Rudd) takes her daughter (Jenna Ortega), who has become estranged on a work trip to the Rockies Nature Reserve due to a family reconnection. When they bump into a baby unicorn, it lies down and the father’s pharmaceutical employer aims to use that blood for profit. After that, the foal’s parents appear and things really go away.

Where to see: HBO Max

“Final Destination Bloodline”

The 2000s horror franchise has returned after a long break. Kaitlyn Santa Juana plays a college student who knows her grandmother had deceived her death decades ago, and now she is taking the whole family with her through various creative Gnarly’s Rube Goldberg-Eskek Kills.

Where to see: HBO Max

“Happy Gilmore 2”

This is the sequel to the golf comedy, “Cannonball Run.” The plot is familiar. Brash Golfer Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) knocks on the link and raises enough money to send his daughter to ballet school. Come for stupidity and stay for endless cameos, from female hoop stars and professional wrestlers to musicians, grid iron stars and old peers of Sandler.

Where to see: Netflix

“rock”

Usually, Bill Skarsgard is the man who creeps up people. (Pennywise or Nosferatu, no one?) But he is the recipient of this thriller. Skarsgård plays a young, petty thief jacking a car. However, this souped vehicle is actually a trap, and its mysterious owner (Anthony Hopkins) aims to teach him a lesson.

Where to see: Hulu

“My Oxford Year”

Anna (Sophia Carson) is a New Yorker who realizes her life dream of going to Oxford University to study poetry. In a romantic drama, things get complicated when they fall violently for her TA, Jamie (Corry Milkleast), based on a novel by Julia Whelan.

Where to see: Netflix

“Phoenician Plans”

The comedy of Wes Anderson stars Benicio del Toro as a well-known weapons dealer, and after attempting to assassinate one, his estranged nun daughter (Mia Slairplatelon) becomes her sole heir. Absurd shenanigans are ongoing, but the real joy is a refreshing Thrare Platelon watching the delightful del Rotoro and navigating the strange, heartfelt family reconnection.

Where to see: peacock

“Until dawn”

“Till Dawn” video games are freaking fun times. The film’s adaptation then turns wildly, but not better. Clover (Ella Rubin) takes her friends on a fateful trip to find her missing sister, and they get caught up in a time loop where they have to live until dawn to do it until tomorrow. It has some cool moments, but it’s a more clichéd horror flick.

Where to see: Netflix

“evil”

If you haven’t seen the hit musical and the prequels of The Wizard of Oz in theaters, on demand, or in Peacock, it might be time to check out on Amazon. Or, to revisit Oscar-nominated Cynthia Ellivo and Ariana Grande’s fantasy featuring Pulse Elfaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda before the highly anticipated sequel, Wicked: For Good, arrives in November.

Where to see: Prime Video

Ukraine says it will reveal major drone procurement corruption schemes

0


Kyiv
Reuters

Ukrainian anti-corruption groups said on Saturday they discovered a major graft scheme that inflated military drones and signal jamming systems two days after government independence recovered after major protests.

The independence of Ukrainian anti-graft investigators and prosecutors Nabu and Sapo was revived by Parliament on Thursday after bringing the country’s biggest demonstration since the 2022 Russian invasion.

In a statement released by both agencies on social media, Nabu and Sapo said that sitting lawmakers, two local officials and an unspecified number of National Guard personnel are being taken to the bribe. None of them were identified in the statement.

“The essence of this scheme was to sign a state contract with a supplier company at a price that was intentionally inflated,” he added that the offender received a kickback of up to 30% of the cost of the contract. Four people have been arrested.

“There’s nothing but zero resistance to corruption, clear teamwork to expose corruption, and, as a result, fair writing,” Ukrainian President Voldimi Zelensky wrote in Telegram.

Participants will gather on Thursday in front of the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev, Ukraine, in protest against laws targeting anti-corruption agencies.

Zelensky, who has expanded the wartime presidential power and enjoys widespread recognition among Ukrainians, was forced on rare political aspects when he raised the first nationwide protests of the war, trying to bring Nab and Sapo into the control of prosecutors.

Zelensky then said he heard people’s rage and introduced a bill to restore the previous independence of the institution voted by Congress on Thursday.

Ukraine’s European allies praised the move and expressed concern about the original peeling of the institutional status.

A senior European official told Zelensky that Ukraine is putting bids for European Union membership at risk by suppressing the powers of anti-graft authorities.

“It is important that anti-corruption agencies operate independently, and the law adopted on Thursday ensures every opportunity for a real fight against corruption,” Zelensky wrote to them on Saturday after meeting the head of the agency, whom he explained to him in his latest investigation.

See what Dead Store Spirit Halloween is back

0

play

Shoppers may find it creepy to see their favorite Joann Fabrics, Big Lots, or Forever 21 store becoming Spirit Halloween.

According to the Spirit Halloween website, Egg Harbor Township, and its headquarters website in New Jersey, “There are over 1,500 seasonal locations in strip centers and malls in North America.” These hundreds of incoming stores take up space previously used by previously bankrupt retailers, including Big Lots, Forever 21, Joann Fabrics, Party City, Circuit City, K-Mart and Rite Aid.

Spirit stores are open at the end of summer, but their online stores are available all year round.

USA Today contacted Spirit Halloween on Saturday, August 2nd, but did not receive a response.

Here are the bankruptcy retailers whose space is reviving with Spirit Halloween:

What kind of bankrupts are there spaces revived by Spirit Halloween?

According to the Spirit Halloween location map, they show incoming stores scheduled to open after August, but these are notable bankruptcies whose previous space is occupied by the “large Halloween retailer in the country.”

  • Big Lot (filed bankruptcy in September 2024)
  • Forever 21 (filed bankruptcy in March 2025)
  • Kmart (filed for bankruptcy in January 2002, and filed its parent company, Sears Holdings, in October 2018)
  • Party City (filed for bankruptcy in January 2023 and then filed again in December 2024)
  • Joann Fabrics (filed for bankruptcy in March 2024 and then filed again in January 2025)
  • Rite Aid (Two bankruptcy filings in October 2023 and May 2025)
  • Circuit City (filed bankruptcy in November 2008)
  • Stores with only 99 cents (filed bankruptcy in April 2024)

How to check out future Spirit Halloween locations

Those who want to see if Spirit Halloween is open in their area can access the retailer’s map, enter their city and zip code, and see where they are nearest.

The company announced in June that it wanted to support more than 1,500 retailers, which are scheduled to open this year, with 50,000 seasonal employees.

Contributors: Mike Snyder and Gabe Howari, USA Today

Justin Timberlake warns about Lyme disease, mites bite bites

0


Small mites can lead to life-changing illnesses. And this year, mites have been getting quite a bit. what happened?

play

As Americans enjoy the warmer climate towards the outdoors, they get tired of mites, small creatures that can communicate many serious illnesses.

Justin Timberlake announced on July 31 that he is one of an estimated 476,000 people diagnosed and treated with Lyme disease each year.

Meanwhile, emergency room visits related to mites bites surged in 2025, reaching their highest level in five years, according to CDC’s Tickbyte Data Tracker.

By July 6, the CDC reported that the number of emergency department visits for mites had already exceeded the July record of nearly 10 years, with 92 visits reported per 100,000 people nationwide. Children ages 0-9 and people over 70 were the most common of these visitors.

Why is this tick season so bad?

Climate change is one of the main factors affecting mites populations, according to experts at the Binghamton University Tick-Borne Disease Center.

“Ticks can move further north than before and establish a population,” said Mandy Room, the centre’s associate director. “Back probably 15 or 20 years ago, it wasn’t that much of a problem. The mites were still around and people still had tick-borne diseases, but that wasn’t a problem now at all. We also have some really mild winters. Deer mites are active whenever they go above 39 degrees.

Room said land use could also affect mites populations. She said construction activities can create new habitats for animals like mice. This allows you to pass mites to pass pathogens.

“Deer, mice – when the range and numbers increase, we will definitely see the expansion of mites,” says Cassandra Pierre, assistant professor of infectious diseases at the Chobanian and Avevedien School of Medicine at Boston University. “And warmer weather also allows for more exposure to the mites as people are getting out there more.”

Why is tick bites dangerous?

Mites can carry several diseases that can infect humans and animals. According to Mayo Clinic, people usually suffer from Lyme disease.

According to the CDC, humans can also contract various other pathogens from mites.

How to prevent mites bites

If you are expecting to be in the area where the mites live, be especially careful when going outside, such as parks, backyards, campsites, etc. Mites can be a nuisance throughout the year, but are most active during the warm months from April to September.

Contribution: Janet Loafke

Israeli hostage families hold emergency protests after Gaza militants release new propaganda videos

0

Protesters gathered at Tel Aviv’s “Hostage Square” on Saturday to launch an emergency protest following the release of propaganda videos showing that the promoted Israeli hostages are still being held in Gaza.

A video released this week by extremist groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad shows Israeli hostages Eviyata David and Rom Braslavsky in visibly vulnerable states. David’s dateless footage is juxtaposed with images of hungry Palestinian children.

They are one of the 50 remaining hostages on the territory, of which at least 20 are believed to be alive.

The extremist group released a video in its ceasefire talk as Palestinians face starvation crisis in enclaves.

US envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff attended the public square on Saturday amid protests a day after visiting the controversial US aid aid streaming site in the Gaza Strip.

Witkov later held a “very emotional meeting” that lasted for nearly three hours with about 40 representatives of the hostage family. A source attending the meeting told CNN.

During the meeting, Witkov said that ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas should be “all or nothing” and that all 50 hostages in Gaza should be returned to Israel at once.

“The plan is not to expand the war, it’s about ending it. I think negotiations should be changed to everything. It can end the war and bring all 50 hostages home at the same time.

According to the forum, if the remaining living hostages are not yet alive in Israel, “someone will blame them.”

White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff arrives to meet hostage families

According to the forum, Witkov said the United States would “take your child home and put Hamas on the responsibility for the bad behavior on their part,” and “do the right thing for the people of Gazan.”

“We have plans to end the war and bring everyone home,” he added.

CNN contacted Witkoff’s team to see if they made these comments.

Hostage families have frequently said that the ongoing battle in Gaza puts loved ones at risk, but on Saturday called for an end to the war on the territory and a “comprehensive deal” in which the remaining hostages will be released.

“Contrary to the background of the horrifying footage and harsh reports of hostage status, hostage families will be screaming in the heart of Tel Aviv this morning,” a statement from the Israeli hostage families said. “We appeal to the Israeli government and the US administration – we see our loved ones and our eyes.”

Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, chief of staff at Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), said on Friday that combat will continue to “no rest” in Gaza without a hostage trade.

“I estimate that in the next few days, we will know if we will be successful in reaching a partial deal for the release of the prisoners.

On Friday, Hamas Armed Building released an undated video showing 24-year-old David, who was held hostage at the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023.

This photo of Israeli hostage Eviyatar David is a screen glove of an undated propaganda video published by Hamas on August 1st.

Hostages and Missing Family Forum Headquarters first warned against the use of images from the video, but later said that David’s family approved the publication of the still images.

On Saturday, Hamas released a new video featuring David, who appears to be a longer version of the video released on Friday.

A similar propaganda video was published by Palestinian Islamic Jihad on Thursday. Islamic jihad said it was the last video of hostages before the group lost contact with hugging him in July.

“People talk a lot about what’s going on in Gaza, about hunger. I want to ask everyone who spoke about hunger. Have you seen our ROM? He has not received food, he hasn’t received medicine.

“I’m going to have Witkoff watch this video, and I’m going to make an urgent plea to President Trump. I’m going to take my son home,” the family said.

Earlier this week, the unsupported Food Security Agency warned that “the worst-case scenario of hunger” was unfolding in Gaza.

Gaza’s health ministry said on Saturday that seven people have died of malnutrition in the last 24 hours, including one child, resulting in total casualties of deaths between 169 and 169 when the conflict began in 2023.

Additionally, at least 39 people were killed and more than 800 were injured while awaiting assistance in various parts of the territory.

I remember the freeze-dried fruits for sale at Sam’s Club

0

play

Boxes of freeze-dried fruit sold at Sam’s Club retailers have been recalled due to potential listeria contamination, according to a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notification.

Doehler Dry Ingredient Solutions, LLC, “issued a recall of the Member Mark Freeze Dried Fruit Variety Pack 15 Count Box due to the potential contamination of organisms that can cause serious, sometimes fatal infections to young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.”

As of Thursday, July 31st, the date on which the recall was published has not been reported to the disease due to potential contamination.

Freeze-dried fruits include Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Maine Maine, Michael, Missippi, Missouri, Missouri, Missouri, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyom.

How was Listeria discovered?

According to the notification, the Cartersville, Georgia-based company has discovered the possibility of Listeria through internal testing of its products.

The recalled freeze-dried fruit was distributed between July 1st and July 25th and sold at Sam’s Club retailers. According to the notification, the product was packaged in a foil pouch inside a corrugated box.

What freeze-dried fruit products have been recalled?

All recalled products are 15 Count Member Mark Freeze Dried Fruit Variety Pack with UPC 1 93968 50900 2 and per-youth dates from June 24, 2027 to July 25, 2027.

What are the symptoms of Listeria infection?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms of Listeria infection include:

  • heat
  • Flu-like symptoms such as muscle pain and fatigue
  • headache
  • Stiff shoulders
  • confusion
  • Loss of balance
  • Crucifixion

The FDA warns that healthy people can suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, while Listeria infections can cause miscarriage and stillbirth in pregnant women.

What should consumers do if they have recalled freeze-dried fruits?

According to the FDA, consumers who possess recalled freeze-dried fruits should not consume the product and “should throw it away and can visit Sam’s Club for a full refund.”

Anyone with questions can contact Doehler Dry Gemendient Solutions, LLC’s customer service, at 770-387-0451, from 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.

Will Trump forgive Diddy? There may be an answer

0

play

President Donald Trump has broken his silence after first telling Sean “Diddy” Combs after being acquitted from the most serious charges of a federal sexual crime trial last month.

In an interview aired on Newsmax with host Rob Finnerty on Friday, August 1, Trump discussed the possible presidential pardons for convicted sex traffickers Gisleine Maxwell, Combs and former Congressman George Santos.

Finnerty asked, “Shawn “Diddy” Combs. Do you think you’re forgive him? ” Trump replied: “Well, he essentially, I think I’m kind of, half-nothing. I don’t know what they’re doing, he’s still in prison or something. He was celebrating the victory, but I think it wasn’t a good victory.”

USA Today contacted a Combs representative for comment.

On July 2nd, the ju judges discovered that Combs had not committed any crimes of assault or sex trafficking.

He was convicted on July 2nd of two of five counts against him for transporting the same woman for prostitution.

In an interview, Trump said, “Maybe…” and before pausing to Finnati to reveal, “I was very friendly with him, I got along and looked like a nice guy. 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?” the president continued. “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.”

Then Trump replied, “That’s what I say.” 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.”

Trump forgives the comb in the oval office on May 30th. “No one asked,” the president said. “But I know people are thinking about it. They know they’re thinking about it. I think some people were very close to asking,” Trump added, “I haven’t spoken to him in years. He really liked me a lot.”

Despite last month’s verdict, Combs’ legal saga continues. On Wednesday, July 31st, COMBS lawyers requested an acquittal or a new trial in court documents reviewed by USA Today.

A day ago, conservative host Megin Kelly urged Trump from a comb that could potentially be pardoned. In a July 30th post, Kelly said, “Trump shouldn’t forgive Diddy.”

“He’s a Trump hater. He’s a female abuser. Maga is upset with the elite who already seems to be covering each other. This doesn’t help.

Contribution: Tai Chi Muan

FDA recalls over 64,000 pounds of butter on unproclaimed milk

0

More than 64,000 pounds of butter are recalled due to potential undeclared milk allergens, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.

Food ingredients company Bunge North America recalls 1,800 cases of NH European style butter blends distributed to 12 centres across the United States and one in the Dominican Republic, reported a July 14 FDA alert.

The FDA classified the recall under the second highest risk warning in a July 31 warning that consumption could have temporary or medically reversible health effects.

USA Today reached Bunge in North America for comment.

Based in Chesterfield, Missouri, Bunge North America is an agribusiness that produces and sells multiple food ingredients, including corn, wheat, rice, soybeans and feed peas.

Which butter products will be recalled?

The FDA issued a £64,800 Bunge North America’s NH European style butter blend with the following recall:

  • UPC code: 1 00 78684 73961 2
  • Lot Code: 5064036503

The products were packaged in white paperboard cases containing 36 blocks each.