Hailey Welch, who shot toviral fameas the "Hawk Tuah Girl" after a candid interview on TikTok, is ready to move beyond the persona that catapulted her into the spotlight. In the debut episode ofWest Wilson's dating show, West Date Ever, Welch opened up about her desire to be recognized for more than just her internet moniker.During a fishing date with Wilson in Nashville, Welch expressed her wish to step away from the "Hawk Tuah" label, saying, "I'd rather just be known by my first name, not Ms Hawk." Despite the playful origin of her nickname, Welch is eager to redefine her public image.Theinternet sensation, who has since made appearances on podcasts and at country concerts, revealed her plans to build on her newfound fame. Welch mentioned that she’s exploring opportunities in podcasting andreality TV, aiming to create a lasting presence beyond her viral moment, reported the Decider.As the date progressed, Welch and Wilson shared lighthearted banter, with Welch even joking about her interest in Wilson’s cattle-rancher father. Despite the humor, Welch’s desire to be seen as more than just a meme was clear. Reflecting on the date, she appreciated Wilson's genuine interest in getting to know her, saying it was "probably one of the best dates" she had ever been on.In an exclusive interview, Wilson acknowledged Welch's journey and emphasized his intent to help her move past the "Hawk Tuah" label, noting, "Everyone has a story, and I wanted to get to know more about her and help her leave ‘Hawk Tuah’ in the past."

A strongearthquakemeasuring 5.9 on theRichter scaleoccurred in theBanda Sea, off the coast ofDarwin,Australia, on Tuesday. Theseismic eventwas detected at a depth of 62 km.According to the Bureau of Meteorology, "there was no threat of a tsunami to Australia" following the earthquake. Geoscience Australia received nearly 300 reports from individuals who felt the tremors.The significant seismic activity in the Banda Sea came shortly after a smaller, magnitude 3.0 earthquake struck the Gippsland region of Victoria on Monday evening at 7:54pm.The epicenter of this quake was located at Sandy Point, in close proximity to Wilsons Promontory, approximately 190km south-east of Melbourne.

Police in Iceland have called off a search for missing tourists at the site of an ice cave collapse that killed one person and severely wounded another.Authorities initially said two people were thought to still be trapped under the ice, but later issued a statement saying that all individuals had been accounted for.The collapse happened on Sunday afternoon while a tour group was visiting theBreidamerkurjokull glacierwith a guide.One man was pronounced dead at the scene, while a woman was seriously injured and taken to hospital in the capital, Reykjavik. Both wereUS citizens.Breidamerkurjokull, located in the southeast of the country, extends from southern Vatnajökull into the glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón, one of Iceland's popular tourist destinations.Why did police end their search?Police said late on Monday that they had ended their search after examining the tour operator's records and establishing that 23 people were on the trip, not 25 as had first been reported.They said that despite "conflicting information about the number of people on the trip," the search had continued as a precaution to make sure no one was trapped.More than 200 people took part in the operation, with rescue crews working for hours to cut through big blocks of ice as they searched for those believed to be missing."A moment ago, the police field manager located at the scene announced that all the ice that was thought to have fallen on the people had been moved,'' police said. "It has come to light that no one (was) hidden under the ice.''Two coast guard helicopters were dispatched to the scene, as well as ambulances, Icelandic broadcaster RUV reported.

Germanyon Monday announced that it would donate 100,000dosesof mpoxvaccineto the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other African nations in hopes of getting an outbreak of the disease under control.The gift will all but wipe out the German military's reserve of roughly 118,000 doses.Berlin will also lend financial support to its effort, providing funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as supporting partners inAfricathrough the Gavi Vaccine Alliance.Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said Berlin's aim is, "to support in solidarity the international efforts to containmpoxon the African continent."Hebestreit, noting that these were immediate-term measures, added that Berlin would also work alongside the African Union (AU) to foster local vaccine production.New mpox strain is deadlier, more transmissibleThe World Health Organization (WHO) this month declared a recent mpox outbreak in the DRC a global public health emergency when cases began showing up outside the country.The WHO claims the disease "can be stopped" but notes that this will require a comprehensive and expensive global effort.France last week announced that it would donate 100,000 doses and the US, too, will donate 50,000.Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, has been around for decades, yet a new, more virulent strain is thought to be behind its recent spread.Deadly and communicable, the Clade 1b strain has killed more than 570 people this year. The disease has spread across the DRC, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. The first European fatality was registered in Sweden.The mpox virus can spread from animals to humans but also between humans through close physical contact, most often through kissing or sexual contact.

The former MalaysianPrime Minister,MuhyiddinYassin, has been charged withseditionover a speech in which he questioned the integrity of the last king. Muhyiddin, who was in office from March 2020 to August 2021, has pleaded not guilty.Background of the chargesAccording to the Associated Press, he faces charges over remarks made during a by-election campaign inKelantanlast month.Malaysia's monarchy is rotated every five years among nineethnic Malay state rulersin a system that has been followed since the former British colony's independence in 1957. Largely ceremonial, the monarchy is deeply respected by the majority-Islamic nation.In his August 14 speech, Muhyiddin questioned why then-King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah didn't appoint him as prime minister after a hung Parliament in November 2022. Muhyiddin claimed he had the backing of a majority of lawmakers. Instead, Sultan Abdullah appointed Anwar Ibrahim, who had formed aunity governmentwith support from rival parties, as prime minister.Sultan Abdullah, from central Pahang state, ended his reign on January 30 this year and did not comment on the sedition charges. However, his son criticised Muhyiddin's remarks, calling them dangerous and divisive, with the potential to undermine the royal institution.Muhyiddin was questioned by police following complaints against him but denied insulting theroyalty. He asserted that his remarks were factual and maintained that he had submitted a sworn oath of support from 115 lawmakers in the 222-member parliament.Legal and political contextZaid Malek from Lawyers for Liberty, a human rights and law reform organisation, criticised the use of the colonial-era Sedition Act against Muhyiddin. Malek said, "The king is a constitutional monarch and not a feudal ruler. His exercise of his power can thus be debated, questioned or criticised. This is the very bedrock of our system of constitutional monarchy."The Sedition Act, introduced by the British in 1948, criminalises speech or actions with an undefined "seditious tendency," including promoting hatred against the government and monarchy or inciting racial discord. Malek noted, “Questioning or criticising the exercise of constitutional power by the king wasn't seditious."Malek also pointed out that Anwar had backtracked on his promise to repeal the Sedition Act, which has been historically used to suppress dissenting voices.Muhyiddin, aged 77, could face up to three years in prison, a fine, or both if found guilty. He is also dealing with corruption and money laundering charges, which he claims are politically motivated.He is the second formerMalaysian leaderto be charged with crimes. Ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak, who lost a general election in 2018, began a 12-year prison term in 2022 and faces several ongoing graft trials.

DUBAI:Iran'sSupreme LeaderAli Khamenei, who has imposed some of the strictest controls on internet access in the world, said on Tuesday thatcyberspaceneeded to be regulated, citing the arrest of messaging appTelegramfounder Pavel Durov in France as an example of how other countries also imposed controls."There need to be laws to regulate cyberspace.Everyone does it. Look at the French, they arrested this man and threatened him with 20 years in prison for breaching their laws," Khamenei said during a meeting with relatively moderate President Masoud Pezeshkian and his cabinet.The Islamic Republic has some of the strictestinternet controlsin the world, but its blocks on U.S.-basedsocial mediasuch as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are routinely bypassed by tech-savvy Iranians using virtual private networks (VPNs).Russian-born Durov, also a citizen of France and the United Arab Emirates, was arrested in Paris as part of an investigation into crimes related to sexual abuse of children, drug trafficking, and fraudulent transactions on the platform, French prosecutors said on Monday.His platform is blocked in the Islamic Republic. Iran regularly charges internet users based on posts they shared online. "Some do not understand or do not want to understand, but I have already said before that virtual space needs to be regulated in order to be turned into an opportunity and not a threat," Khamenei added.During presidential debates, Pezeshkian criticised internet filtering, notably for its impact on the country's economy as many small businesses depend on social media. Iran ranked third globally in the number of times it shut down the internet in 2023, according to the digital rights group Access Now.This included shutting down mobile networks, both nationally and in targeted areas, while also blocking access to Instagram and WhatsApp, the only two major platforms not already subject to outright bans, Access Now said.

Oasis, one of the 1990s rock bands that defined Britpop, is set toreuniteas brothersNoelandLiam Gallagherteased an announcement early Tuesday and a newspaper said they were planning shows in 2025. The band, whose debut album 'Definitely Maybe' was released 30 years ago, split in 2009 when Noel said he could no longer work with Liam. ThebrothersSunday posted to social media "27.08.24" and "8am".Sunday Times, citing insiders, said shows were planned in Manchester, where the band was formed in 1991, and London. A performance at Glastonbury Festival was also rumoured, it said. A tour in 2025 will mark the 30th anniversary of album '(What's the Story) Morning Glory?', which includes singles 'Don't Look Back in Anger' and 'Wonderwall'.

JERUSALEM: A far-right Israeli minister sparked fresh outrage on Monday by saying he would build asynagogueatJerusalem's flashpointAl-Aqsa mosquecompound if he could, once again challenging government policy.National Security Minister ItamarBen Gvir, who has repeatedly ignored the government's long-standing ban onJewspraying at the site, told Army Radio that if it were possible, he would build a synagogue at the Al-Aqsa compound, known to Jews as theTemple Mount.The Al-Aqsa compound is Islam's third holiest site and a symbol ofPalestiniannational identity, but it is also Judaism's holiest place, revered as the site of the second temple destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD."If I could do anything I wanted, I would put an Israeli flag on the site," Ben Gvir said in the interview.Asked several times by the journalist if he would build a synagogue at the site if it were up to him, Ben Gvir finally replied: "Yes."Under the status quo maintained by Israeli authorities, Jews and other non-Muslims are allowed to visit the compound in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem during specified hours, but they are not permitted to pray there or display religious symbols.In recent years, the restrictions at the compound have been increasingly flouted by hardline religious nationalists like Ben Gvir, prompting sometimes violent reactions from Palestinians.Since taking office as national security minister in December 2022, Ben Gvir has visited the disputed holy site at least six times, drawing severe condemnations.The Al-Aqsa mosque compound is administered by Jordan, but access to the site itself is controlled by Israeli security forces.Ben Gvir told Army Radio that Jews should be allowed to pray in the compound."Arabs can pray wherever they want, so Jews should be able to pray wherever they want," he said, claiming that the "current policy allows Jews to pray at this site".- 'Dangerous' -Jordan hit back at Ben Gvir's latest remarks."Al-Aqsa and the holy sites are a pure place of worship for Muslims," Jordanian foreign ministry spokesman Sufian Qudah said in a statement."Jordan will take all necessary measures to stop the attacks on the holy sites" and "is preparing the necessary legal files to take action in international courts against the attacks on the holy sites," Qudah said.Saudi Arabia and Qatar also condemned the Israeli minister's comments."The Kingdom stresses the need to respect the historical and legal status of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque", Riyadh's foreign ministry said in a statement posted to social media, calling Ben Gvir's remarks "extremist and inflammatory".Qatar's foreign ministry likewise denounced the call to build a synagogue at the Al-Aqsa compound as "a provocation to the feelings of Muslims around the world" and warned it could undermine efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.Several Israeli officials also condemned Ben Gvir, while a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said "there is no change" to the current policy."Challenging the status quo on the Temple Mount is a dangerous, unnecessary, and irresponsible act," Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on social media platform X."Ben Gvir's actions endanger the national security of the State ofIsrael."Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said on X that Ben Gvir's repeated comments show that "Netanyahu lost control of his government".Palestinian presidency spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh warned that "Al-Aqsa and the holy sites are a red line that we will not allow to be touched at all".Hamas, with whom Israel is locked in a bitter war in the Gaza Strip, said the minister's comments were "dangerous" and called on Arab and Islamic countries "to take responsibility for protecting the holy sites".Earlier this month, Ben Gvir announced he had prayed at the compound, drawing widespread condemnation, including from several influential Israeli rabbis.During a recent visit to the site, Ben Gvir filmed a video statement in which he reiterated his opposition to any ceasefire in the Gaza war.

On the boulevard in front of the presidential palace in Taipei this weekend,Taiwan's worst nightmare was unfolding in front of film crews. A crowd of actors and extras portrayed one kind of chaos that might come with aChinese invasion: a protest descending into violence and bloodshed. The scene being shot was for "Zero Day", a newTaiwanese TV seriesthat depicts an effort by China to take over the democratically governed island."Zero Day" will not air until next year, but it has already set off heated debates in Taiwan, after the release of a trailer. Supporters of the series say it could encourage a much-needed conversation about the threat that China poses. Critics have denounced it as scaremongering. Cheng Hsin-mei, the producer of "Zero Day", said she wanted to jolt Taiwanese people out of what she sees as widespread complacency and reticence about the possibility of war.The show "Zero Day", a 10-episode series, imagines how China could mount a blockade around Taiwan, then try to overrun the island, a possibility that many experts see as increasingly plausible. The drama follows a Taiwanese TV presenter, an online celebrity, a (fictional) prez and prez-elect and other characters as they confront a weeklong Chinese campaign. The blockade leads to shortages on the island, looting and financial meltdown. Foreigners are evacuated. Finally, as Chinese troops land, fighting ensues. The characters wrestle with whether to flee or stay, and whether to collaborate or resist. The tone is somber, to judge from the show's 17-minute trailer, which was issued online before the series had finished shooting.Despite the extensive policy research that has been done about the risk of an invasion of Taiwan, until now, no movie or TV drama has explored these questions for a wider public, apparently because of the topic's political contentiousness. Some Taiwanese actors turned down roles in the show, Cheng said, out of concern that they would be blacklisted by China or lose sponsors. The owners of some buildings or sites pulled out of agreements for scenes to be shot on their premises.Critics, mostly from Taiwan's opposition, said "Zero Day" amounted to propaganda for the governing Democratic Progressive Party. Opposition Nationalist Party, which argues for stronger ties with Beijing, pointed out ministry of culture and a govt-linked fund invested in the production, and that scenes were filmed at military sites and inside the presidential palace. Lo Ging-zim, one of the 10 directors involved in the series, said it was normal for Taiwanese TV and film productions to win some govt funding. Lo said he was inspired to join "Zero Day" after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

DHAKA:Bangladeshinterim govt chief adviser Prof MuhammadYunussaid Monday he wants to build a Bangladesh where everyone can practice their faith without fear and where no temple needs to be guarded."Our responsibility is to establish the rights of every citizen, our job is to ensure justice for every citizen," he told a group ofHindu leadersat Jamuna State Guest House.They had raised the issue of Hindu property being grabbed, including Hindu temple land, said the chief adviser's press wing.The leaders included Kajal Debnath and Monindra Kumar Nath of Hindu Buddha Christian Oikya Parishad, Charu Charan Brahmachari of Iskcon, Basudeb Dhar and Santosh Sharma of Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad, and Priti Chakraborty of Universal Medical College and Hospital. Yunus also exchanged Janmashtami greetings with leaders of the Hindu community."There can't be any division among people in our country. We are equal citizens. The interim govt is determined to protect the rights of every citizen," he said.The Hindu leaders said they had suspended Janmashtami celebrations in the flood-stricken parts of the country and sent food and relief to the region.Bangladesh Nationalist Party, meanwhile, said they did not see any roadmap in Yunus' Sunday address to the nation. "We're still in a state of confusion. We thought the chief adviser would present a roadmap but we didn't find that roadmap for a transition to democracy in his speech," BNP secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said. BNP hoped the interim govt would engage in dialogue with parties on a national election and reforms.

South Korean PresidentYoon Suk Yeolhas demanded a thoroughinvestigationinto digitalsex crimesfollowing media reports that sexually explicitdeepfakeimages and videos of South Korean women are frequently being shared inTelegramchatrooms. According to Reuters, the issue caused widespread anger, with the president criticising the misuse of technology."This is an exploitation of technology while relying on the protection of anonymity.It’s a clear criminal act," President Yoon said during a televised cabinet meeting on Tuesday. While the president did not directly mention Telegram, his comments come as the app faces increased criticism following the arrest of its founder,Pavel Durov, over the weekend. Durov was detained in France as part of an investigation into childpornography, drug trafficking, and fraud conducted through the encrypted messaging app.The country’s state media regulator, Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC), is set to convene a meeting on Wednesday to discuss new measures to counter the rising threat of deepfake crimes. This follows reports that deepfakes of female students and military personnel have been circulating in Telegram chatrooms.The issue has escalated rapidly inSouth Korea, with police reporting a surge in cases of online deepfakesexcrimes. In the first seven months of this year alone, 297 cases were recorded, up from 180 last year and nearly double the figures seen in 2021 when data collection on this crime first began. According to authorities, majority of suspects in these cases are teenagers and individuals in their twenties.One report by the 'Hankyoreh' newspaper that gained significant attention showed how deepfakes of female university, high school, and middle school students were being shared in certain Telegram channels. This pushed the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union to call on the education ministry to investigate these reports, saying that students have already been victims of these crimes.Sexually explicit deepfakes targeting female military personnel have also been uncovered in Telegram chatrooms, according to the Military Sexual Abuse Victim Support Center, which provides assistance to victims of military-related sexual abuse.Telegram’s reputation in South Korea has been tarnished for years, particularly after an online sexual blackmail ring was discovered to be operating within its chatrooms. In 2020, the leader of the ring, Cho Ju-bin, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for blackmailing at least 74 women, including 16 minors, into providing degrading and violent sexual content.Under South Korea’s Sexual Violence Prevention and Victims Protection Act, creating and distributing sexually explicit deepfakes can result in up to five years in prison or a fine of 50 million won ($37,500).

At thePacific Islands Forum,UN Secretary-GeneralAntónioGuterresreported that sea-surface temperatures in the south-west Pacific have risen three times faster than the global average since 1980, according to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). He issued a warning thatPacific island nationsare in "grave danger" fromrising sea levelsand urged immediate global action to address this urgent crisis.“This is a crazy situation. Rising seas are a crisis entirely of humanity’s making, a crisis that will soon swell to an almost unimaginable scale, with no lifeboat to take us back to safety. But if we save the Pacific, we also save ourselves.” said Guterres.A second UN report warns that theclimate crisisand rising sea levels are urgent threats to Pacific island states, with future sea-level rise potentially more severe than expected. The IPCC has noted unprecedented global sea-level rise due to human-caused warming. Last year, 34 storm and flood events in the region led to over 200 deaths and affected more than 25 million people.Rufino Varea, regional director of the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, said Pacific communities are "enduring some of the world’s worst climate impacts despite contributing the least to the crisis." Michelle Higelin, executive director of ActionAid Australia, highlighted that the climate crisis is increasing debt in Pacific countries and worsening gender inequality.Guterres highlighted the extreme vulnerability of Pacific islands, where 90% of the population lives near the coast and much of the infrastructure is close to the sea. He warned that a 3°C rise in global temperatures could lead to 15 centimetres of additional sea-level rise by mid-century, with over 30 days of coastal flooding each year in some areas.He urged the world to cut emissions sharply and phase out fossil fuels quickly. Guterres also called for much more financial support for vulnerable countries to help them deal with the impacts of rising sea levels.Australia has promised $3 billion for climate finance until 2025, but this is less than its share of the US$100 billion goal, which is about A$4 billion per year.The climate crisis will be a major topic at the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan this November. As the US$100 billion annual climate finance pledge ends, ActionAid Australia and Oxfam Australia are urging Australia to support a new US$1 trillion global climate finance goal.

BEIJING: China's military said on Monday it had organised army units and joint air-ground police patrols near theMyanmar borderto maintainsecurity and stabilityas fighting between Myanmar's ruling junta andrebel forcesescalates.The patrols will focus on Ruili, Zhenkang and other frontline areas, the military said in a statement.TheSouthern Theaterof the Chinese People's Liberation Army organised army units to test troops' ability to "quickly move, block and control, and strike together, and maintain security and stability in the border areas," the military said.China had said it planned more drills near the Myanmar border as fighting between Myanmar's junta and rebels resulted in artillery shells injuring people and damaging structures in Chinese territory.China has said the conflict was having a negative effect on stability and social order on the China-Myanmar border.Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi also said recently that China would continue "its commitment to restore peace and stability in Myanmar."

French President EmmanuelMacronon Monday dismissed the idea of naming aleft-wing governmentto end the country'spolitical deadlock, in a move that sparked anger among the country's leftist alliance.Macron said that having a left-wing government would be a threat to "institutional stability," in comments that riled the New Popular Front (NFP).The front is made up of the hard-leftFranceUnbowed (LFI), the Socialists, the Communists and the Greens.It secured the highest number of seats in the country'sparliamentary electionearlier this summer.Green Partyleader Marine Tondelier said Macron's announcement was a disgrace, adding that he was ignoring theelection results. France Unbowed's parliamentary group leader Mathilde Panot even threatened Macron with the possibility ofimpeachment.Snap election that left more questions than answersLegislative ballots were held in France on June 30 and July 7 after Macron called asnap election that delivered a hung parliament. The election saw the 577-seat National Assembly divided between the NFP alliance with over 190 seats, followed by Macron's centrist group at around 160 and far-right French leader Marine Le Pen's National Rally at 140.The NFP says it has the right to form a government but centrist and right-wing parties have vowed to vote it down in any confidence vote.Macron argued that he could not choose a prime minister who would then receive a vote of no confidence in parliament."My responsibility is that the country is not blocked nor weakened," Macron said in a presidential statement late on Monday, calling on "all political leaders to rise to the occasion by demonstrating a spirit of responsibility."LFI blasts 'anti-democratic coup'The LFI reacted with fury, with its national coordinator Manuel Bompard calling Macron's remarks an "unacceptable anti-democratic coup."LFI leader Jean-Luc Melenchon called for a "firm and strong response" by the public and politicians, including a "motion of impeachment" against the president.Communist party leader Fabien Roussel called for a "grand popular mobilization" and ruled out a fresh round of talks.Green party leader Tondelier said "the people must get rid of Macron for the good of democracy. He is chaos and instability."Who Macron will choose as prime minister remains to be seen, especially as they would need to secure the support of the divided parliament. Monday's developments suggest there is no imminent end in sight to France's political crisis.

Eight people were stabbed during the two-dayNotting Hill Carnival, the largeststreet festivalin Europe, with a 32-year-old woman sustaining "life-threatening" injuries, according to London's Metropolitan Police Service (Met).The Metropolitan Police in London provided an update on their policing efforts late Monday evening, revealing that five individuals were stabbed during the last day of the renowned three-day festival celebrating BritishAfro-Caribbean cultureand identity.This incident followed three separatestabbingsthat occurred on Sunday. Among the victims of theviolencethat took place over the extended weekend, three were reported to be in a life-threatening condition, according to the police force.Over 230 arrests, including 37 individuals for assaulting emergency workers, 49 for possessing offensive weapons, and 8 for sexual offenses as of 10.45 PM Monday (local time) were made, said the London Metro police in statement. Hundreds of firearms were also recovered by security officials amid the festivities. Thirty-Five police officers were also reported injured during the festival.The carnival, an annual celebration of Afro-Caribbean culture, took place in the streets of west London's Notting Hill neighborhood and reportedly attracted over 1 million attendees. To ensure safety, 7,000 police officers were deployed for the event, which started on Sunday and concluded the day after.Claudia Jones, a Trinidadian activist, laid the foundation for the event by organizing a Caribbean carnival at St Pancras Town Hall in London in 1959. This event was a response to the racial tensions and riots that had taken place during that time.Participants in this year's carnival, particularly on the second day emphasized the increased relevance of Jones' message of unity in the wake of the late July racist riots,fueled by the spread of misinformation online regarding the suspected perpetrator of a knife attack that claimed the lives of three young girls in Southport, located in northwest England.Matthew Phillip, the Notting Hill carnival's chief executive, told Reuters the event was Britain's biggest celebration of inclusion - "of the things we have in common, rather than focusing on our differences".

Commenting on the arrest of Telegram ownerPavel Durov,RFK JrMonday said Europe does not have free speech. Drawing a parallel to X owner Elon Musk -- who also endorsed Donald Trump in the coming election like RFK Jr -- Kennedy said Elon Musk should have been the hero of the Democratic Party, of the old Democratic Party. "Somehow he became the villain because he was actually the only platform that would allow free speech.He's now become a villain because the Democratic Party does not believe in the people," Kennedy said in an interview with Tucker Carlson. Pavel was arrested in France on allegations of drug trafficking and sexual abuse of children.Elon Musk expressed his disapproval of the arrest of Pavel Durov and agreed with American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy when Vivek opined that if it's Telegram today, it will be X tomorrow.In the Tucker Carlson interview, Kennedy Jr revealed that Trump asked him to join his presidential transition team and that he is looking forward to that. Amid much of Kennedy family drama over Kennedy Jr's unexpected support to Trump, Kennedy Jr maintained that his family is welcome to disagree with them.Kennedy Jr said as he met Trump before suspending his independent campaign, he also approached Kamala Harris but Harris refused to meet him. "I reached out to her and to a number of people who are very close to her," RFK Jr said adding that the impression he got was that Kamala Harris won't meet him but a meeting with some low-level party official could have been arranged. Kennedy said he was not interested in that."Why wouldn't Kamala Harris meet with you?" Carlson asked. "Maybe the same reason, she hasn't given an interview. I guess there are many handlers involved," Kennedy Jr said adding that Democrats do not elect a person but the apparatus -- the people around her.

A fire broke out in the early hours of Monday in an apartment building inDagenham, east London, forcing the evacuation of over 100 people.London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe said on Monday that theLondon Fire Brigade(LFB) had declared a major incident, which would allow them to focus its resources on the fire.The incident occurred at 2:44 a.m (3:00 UTC), while many residents were sleeping.By around 7:30 am, heavy smoke was still emanating from the structure and local residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed.Some 40 fire engines and 225firefighterstackled the fire at the building, which engulfed both residential and commercial units. But the cause of the fire is still unknown.'Significant search and rescue operation' underway"The building has a number of fire safety issues known to London Fire Brigade," Roe said."A full simultaneous evacuation of the building was immediately carried out and a significant search and rescue operation is under way," he added.The London Ambulance Service said four people were injured and treated at the scene, while two others were take to the hospital."The brigade has stood up full strategic arrangements to deal with the incident and a rest center has been set up at Beacontree Health and Leisure Centre," LFB said, in the aftermath of the evacuation.Local Member of Parliament Margaret Mullane credited the swift response of the emergency services for the blaze resulting only in "minimal" injuries.London Fire Brigade has announced that all residents of the building have been accounted for.

ISLAMABAD: Attacks byseparatistmilitants inPakistan's southwestern province ofBalochistanaimed at stopping development projects that form part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifsaid on Tuesday.The assaults begun on Sunday, killing more than 70, were the most widespread in years by ethnicmilitantsseeking to win secession of the resource-rich province, home to major China-led projects such as a strategic port and a gold and copper mine."The terrorists want to stop CPEC and development projects," Sharif said in a televised address to the cabinet, adding that the purpose was also to drive a wedge between Islamabad andBeijing. CPEC, said to have development commitments worth $65 billion, is part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road initiative.Pakistan has not been able to fully build the infrastructure needed to tap mineral resources in poverty-stricken Balochistan, and has sought China's help in developing the province. In the past, Beijing has flagged concerns about the security of its citizens working on projects in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan. Six Chinese engineers working on a dam project were killed in March in the northwest.Separatist militants have consistently targeted Balochistan's deep water port of Gwadar, run by China. A militant group, theBalochistan Liberation Army(BLA), took responsibility for this week's simultaneous attacks on police stations, railway lines, and highways in the province, the largest but least developed of Pakistan's four.

Campfireban forBritish Colombia’scoastandsoutheastwould soon be lifted by officials, due to prolongedwetterandcooler weatherconditions in the region, reported Global News.People living in these regions will now be able to light fires limited to Category 1, once the ban is lifted.Category 1fire is limited to half a metre wide or high. Any fire bigger than this range is considered a Category 2 and Category 3 fire and they would remain banned.The use of objects like fireworks and sky lanterns would also continue to be forbidden.The ban for theCoastal Fire Centrewill be lifted at noon on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the ban on burning for the Southeast Fire Centre was removed at noon on Monday.This action follows the lifting of a prohibition on campfires in the Cariboo region by officials last Friday. Campfires are also allowed in the Prince George's Fire Centre now.However, the campfires continue to be prohibited in the Kamloops Fire Centre and the majority of the Northwest Fire Centre.Why are the fires banned?According to the government, The regional fire centres decide when and where to put afire baninto effect based on local fire hazards, expected weather conditions, and the level of fire activity in the area.Fire bans may also be put in place in anticipation of a rise in lightning-caused fires or during critical fire situations when the British Colombia Wildfire Service cannot risk having human-caused fires divert resources from naturally caused ones.In such cases, fires pose an unacceptable risk and detract from the ability to detect and respond to fires by increasing the number of false alarm smoke chases, wildfire phone reports, and nuisance fires.What happens if someone lit a fire in a prohibited area?Violating a fire prohibition can result in a fine of up to $1,150. If the fire gets out of control and causes a wildfire, one could face a fine ranging from $100,000 to $1 million and a prison sentence of up to one year.

More than 21 millionShia Muslimsparticipated inArbaeen pilgrimsin Iraq this year, as per Associated Foreign Press. This year has marked the 40th day of mourning for the martyrdom ofImam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed and a founding figure of Islam. According to AFP , the number of pilgrims reached were 21,480525 this year. According to official figures reported in Tehran, among them were about 3.5 millionIranian pilgrims.Attendees converged on Sunday exhibiting their support forGaza. Arbaeen, which means 40 in Arabic is known as world's biggest religious gatherings and a significant event for Shia Muslims, who are majority in Iraq and Iran.This year, amid the ongoing war in Gaza, pilgrims have prominently displayed Palestinian flags during events.Mohammed al-Tamimi, a 32-year-old pilgrim, told the AFP news agency that the Palestinian flags waving among the pilgrims were “in support of our brothers in Palestine and in response to the Zionists, saying that Muslims stand as one against the Zionist actions and against the crimes taking place in Gaza”.Since October, Israel had killed more than 40,000 pilgrims. An estimated 1,139 people were killed during a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7.The incident took place in the southern region of Israel. Hamas, a militant group, orchestrated the attack leading to significant casualties. The attack marked a severe escalation in violence in the area.This tragic event has left a deep impact on the local communities and has intensified the ongoing conflict in the region.TheArbaeencelebrations last year attracted about 22 million pilgrims, with the highest number of foreign visitors coming from Iran. Heightened security measures ensured the safety of the event.Official figures report that around 22 million people participated in the Arbaeen celebrations. Among the millions, Iran contributed significantly with 4 million of the foreign attendees.Security remained a top priority during the celebrations, reflecting the significant measures taken each year to protect the pilgrims.(This is a top Google Trends topic)

Amidst mounting challenges from nations such as the United States, China's military is shifting its focus towinning warsagainst "strong enemiesand opponents," according to a top defence official. ChinesePresident Xi Jinpinghas directed the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to enhance its strategic capabilities to defend China’s sovereignty and developmental interests in this new directive.Xi Jinping, while commemorating the 120th anniversary ofDeng Xiaoping's birth, emphasised Deng’s legacy in building a modern China and highlighted his contributions to theCommunist Party of China(CPC), the nation, and the world.Xi highlighted Deng's focus on modernising the military by saying, "The best way to honour Deng is to continue advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics that he initiated." Deng's vision for the PLA included developing it into a strong, modernised, and well-organised force, emphasising the importance of "fewer but better troops."Xi Jinping, acting in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the PLA, reiterated on Thursday the importance of the military improving its "strategic ability todefend national sovereignty, security, and development interests," as reported by the South China Morning Post.Miao Hua, a member of the central military commission, China’s highest military decision-making body led by Xi, remarked on this strategic shift during a PLA commemoration event. He stated, "In the new journey, we should ... focus on strengthening capabilities to defeat strong enemies and opponents."The sentiment was echoed in an article from the official PLA Daily, published a day before Miao Hua’s statement. Referring to Deng’s 1980s strategic judgment that "world wars can be postponed or avoided," the article noted that China now faces "great changes unseen in a century." It stressed the need for the military to remain vigilant, asserting, "We must ... always maintain strategic clarity on the possible risks of war, make full preparations for military struggle, effectively deter war and resolutely win the war."The recent direction for the PLA to prepare for wars against "strong enemies and opponents" marks a significant departure from its previous focus on winning local wars.This shift is in response to the growing geopolitical challenges China faces, including its long-standing border dispute with India and maritime disputes in the South China Sea and East China Sea. Moreover, China’s relations with Taiwan have become increasingly strained, with Beijing asserting its claim over the island.China claims most of the South China Sea, a contention disputed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. In his 2022 speech at the party congress, Xi had set the goal for "victory in local wars" and instructed the PLA to "improve training and preparation for war in all aspects and improve the ability of the army to fight and win."He further stated, "We will strengthen the normal and diversified use of military forces, carry out military struggles with determination and flexibility, shape the security posture, contain crises and conflicts, and win local wars."

An Iranian foreign minister during a phone conversation with an Italian counterpart reiteratedTehran's vow to avengeHamaschiefIsmail Haniyeh's assassination.According to IRNA, Iranian foreign ministerAbbas Araghchitold Antonio Tajani on Sunday night that "Iran's reaction to Israeli terrorist attack in Tehran is definitive and will be measured and calculated"."We do not fear escalation, yet do not seek it-unlikeIsrael," Araghchi wrote on X.Tajani also voiced worries about the growing insecurity in the region and called on all parties to exercise restraint, urging Iran to contribute to de-escalating tensions, as reported by the country's state media.On the morning of August 25, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reported thatHezbollah, an Iran-backed group, had launched over 200 rockets and drones at Israel's northern border, claiming it was in retaliation for the killing of its senior commanderFuad Shukrin Beirut, Lebanon's capital.Israel responded by bombing targets across South Lebanon. According to a report in the Times of Israel, Israel claimed to have destroyed around 1,000 Hezbollah rocket launchers in a coordinated sortie of 100 Israeli fighter jets early Sunday to prevent much of the planned assault.The Times of Israel reported today that senior Israeli negotiators were on their way to Cairo, Egypt, to continue discussions aimed at finalizing a hostage release and truce agreement in Gaza.CNN news outlet cited an Israeli official as saying, "I don't think Iran wants to find itself in escalation, especially when the US presence in the region is (now) in staggering numbers".The US, Egypt, and Qatar are mediating the ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of being responsible for Haniyeh's death in Tehran on July 31, although the Israeli government has not issued any statement regarding the killing.On July 31, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards had been killed when their house in Tehran was attacked.The IDF has also stated that top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was killed in the Israeli strike in southern Lebanon on July 30, which was in response to the rocket attack at Golan Heights that resulted in the deaths of 12 children, as reported by The Times of Israel.

KYIV: Russia launched several waves of missile and droneattacksovernight targetingKyivand other regions,Ukraine's militarysaid early on Tuesday, a day after Moscow's biggest such attack of the war.At least one person was killed when a civilian object was "wiped out" in the central Ukraine city of Kryvyi Rih, regional officials said. The Kyiv region's air defence systems were deployed several times overnight to repelmissilesanddronestargeting the Ukrainian capital, the region's military administration said on Telegram.Reuters' witnesses reported at least three rounds of explosions overnight in Kyiv. On Monday, Russia launched more than 200 missiles and drones, killing at least seven and damaging energy infrastructure in an attack condemned by US presidentJoe Bidenas "outrageous."The size of the Tuesday attacks was not immediately known, butUkraine's air force said it recorded the launch of several groups of drones and the take-off from Russian airfields of strategic Tu-85 strategic bombers and MiG-31 supersonic interceptor aircraft.Reuters could not independently verify the reports. There was no immediate comment from Russia.The Kremlin denies targeting civilians in the war that PresidentVladimir Putinlaunched against Russia's smaller neighbour with a full-scale invasion in February 2022.The Russian defence ministry said that its strikes on Monday hit "all designated targets" in Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure. Kryvyi Rih, Kyiv, and the central and eastern regions of Ukraine were under air raid alerts for most of the night, starting at around 2000 GMT on Monday.Five civilians may still be under rubble and four were injured as a result of the Russian attack, Oleksandr Vilkul, head of Kryvyi Rih's military administration, said on Telegram. "The news is bad," Vilkul said.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a conversation with Russian PresidentVladimir Putin, focusing on the ongoingRussia-Ukraine conflictfollowing visit to Kyiv.In a post on X,PM Modisaid, "Discussed measures to further strengthenSpecial and Privileged Strategic Partnership. Exchanged perspectives on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and my insights from the recent visit to Ukraine.Reiterated India’s firm commitment to support an early, abiding andpeaceful resolutionof the conflict."PM Modi’s dialogue with Putin follows his recent visit to Ukraine and India’s continued efforts to advocate for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.The ministry of external affairs, in a press release, highlighted key insights from the conversation. It noted that PM Modi recalled his successful visit to Russia last month for the 22nd India-Russia Bilateral Summit. The two leaders reviewed progress on several bilateral issues and discussed measures to further enhance the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two nations.They also exchanged views on a range of regional and global issues of mutual interest, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict. PM Modi shared his observations from his recent visit to Ukraine and emphasized the importance of dialogue, diplomacy, and sincere engagement among all stakeholders to achieve a lasting and peaceful resolution.The leaders agreed to remain in touch and continue their discussions on these critical issues.A day earlier, PM Modi also spoke to US President Joe Biden exchanging views on various regional and global issues, including the situation in Ukraine.PM Modi said, " I reiterated India’s full support for early return of peace and stability. We also discussed the situation in Bangladesh and stressed on the need for early restoration of normalcy, and ensuring the safety and security of minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh."

A New Jersey woman has suedAmerican Airlinesfor not doing enough to stop her from getting sexually assaulted by a stranger male passenger who was sitting next to her in a two-hour flight in 2022. The Independent reported that the flight was going from North Carolina to Newark Liberty International Airport where the woman was seated between her friend and an unknown male passenger.According to the lawsuit, after the cabin lights were switched off, the woman closed her eyes to sleep and when she woke up she found the strangers left arm inside her pants and his right hand forcing her hand onto his penis -- under a black puffer jacket which the stranger covered both of them with.The woman was frozen in a state of shock and panic while the stranger managed to climb on her top. The complainant then managed to push the stranger and wake her friend who reported the incident to a flight attendant.The assaulter went back to his seat and acted normal and even offered the woman water. The flight attendant switched her seat for the rest of the journey. Once the plane landed, the man was "escorted off the plane" while the authorities took reports from the woman and other passengers. The complainant in her lawsuit said it was not known whether the perpetrator was taken into custody or charged with sexual assault or just let off.American Airlines told the Independent that they are reviewing the lawsuit. “We are reviewing the lawsuit and the details of the flight. The safety and comfort of our customers is a top priority for American.”The lawsuit cited FBI data to show that there has been a sharp increase in onboard sexual assault allegations but many of these incidents remain unreported. The suit said the airlines owed a duty of care to ensure the woman's safety during the flight but "breached its duty of care by failing to properly monitor the cabin, failing to prevent the sexual assault, and failing to promptly intervene when the assault occurred.”

Black Myth:Wukong, a Chinese-madevideo gamebacked byTencent Holdings, took just 83 hours to sell 10 million copies, one of the fastest debuts in industry history. It reached the milestone by Friday evening Beijing time after being released on Tuesday, developer Game Science said on X. Its peak concurrent users, which counts the number of people playing at one time around the world, reached 3 million acrossPCand PlayStation platforms.An action-adventure title based on the mythology around the fabled Monkey King, Wukong was an instant hit and became the most popular single-player title on PC platform Steam on its first day, toppling much-hyped competition like Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring, according to data tracker SteamDB. The game's popularity endured and it set a new high of concurrent players on Steam on Thursday, confirming its position as the biggest PC debut in recent memory.The game is priced at about $38 in mainland China and Hong Kong - versus $60 in the US - and skews heavily toward the local market.It lovingly recreates historic Chinese temples and one of its founders expressed "the simple love" for the nation in a documentary by state news agency Xinhua on the eve of the game's release.Wukong turned profitable on its first day and earned more than $450 million in gross revenue over its first three days, according to Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad. Sony Group ran a sales promotion for its PlayStation 5 in China for the week around Wukong's launch and saw stores sell out of the console, Ahmad added.Counting sales across Valve Corp.'s Steam, Sony's PlayStation 5 and Tencent's WeGame, Wukong has reached the 10 million copies milestone faster than Elden Ring and Hogwarts Legacy, both smash hits in their own right.The strong performance may help shore up expectations that China's $40 billion-plus gaming arena is rounding a corner, after years of regulatory holdups. Developed by Hangzhou-based Game Science, Wukong marks China's biggest PC launch in history. China's video game industry is dominated by titles played on smartphones, not big-budget console or PC games that are released globally. The industry has been in turmoil in China over the last several years. Beijing introduced rules prohibiting young people from playing games online on school days and imposing time limits on games on weekends and holidays.Before its debut Tuesday, a company affiliated with Game Science rankled some influential overseas players with a list of topics to avoid discussing while livestreaming the game, NYT has reported. The list of forbidden subjects laid out in a document under "Don'ts" - politics, "feminist propaganda," Covid-19, China's video game industry policies and other content that "instigates negative discourse" - offered a glimpse of the curbs that content creators face in China as well as the topics deemed sensitive to Beijing.

BEIJING: Taiwan has launched a strong protest against Beijing for using economic pressure to interfere in politics of the self-governed island after a Taipei-based hotel chain apologised for excluding the Chinese flag from Olympic decorations at its Paris hotel earlier this month.Citing Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Focus Taiwan reported that China has continuously coerced foreign businesses into adhering to its political goals through the use of boycotts, penalties, tax audits, and regulatory infractions.The ministry claimed that Beijing's political manoeuvring "undermined the rules-based international order and normal business practices."The Taipei-based Evergreen Group, according to Focus Taiwan, issued an apology on Friday this week after a Chinese influencer said in a TikTok post on August 13 that he did not want to check into the Evergreen Laurel Hotel in Paris because the Chinese flag was not one of the flags flown in the lobby.The Evergreen Laurel Hotel's Shanghai and Paris locations were taken down from booking platforms by several Chinese travel portals shortly after TikTok was uploaded and circulated via Mandarin-speaking communities around the globe, reported Focus Taiwan.Evergreen Group said it supports the "1992 consensus" and is against Taiwanese independence in its apologies for the event on Friday, which has received strong condemnation, according to Focus Taiwan.The "1992 consensus" was an unspoken agreement made in 1992 between the Chinese government and the Kuomintang (KMT) administration of the Republic of China (Taiwan).According to the KMT, it is a recognition by both parties that there is only "one China," but that each party is allowed to define what that "one China" entails.Despite never having controlled Taiwan, China's ruling Communist Party claims it as part of its territory and has vowed to take the island by force if necessary.Meanwhile, on Saturday, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) also issued a statement saying it "strongly protests and condemns the Chinese Communist Party for manipulating nationalism, inciting and condoning netizens to bully and pressure our enterprises, and engaging in economic coercion."

Meta CEOMark Zuckerbergmade an explosive admission Monday that Facebook was pressured by the Biden-Harris administration during Covid. On the back of this acknowledgement, former president Donald Trump reupped his charge that the 2020 election was rigged. He said the revelation was what everyone has been waiting for.Zuckerberg made the admission in a letter to House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan over a year after providing the committee with thousands of documents for the investigation into content moderation on online platforms.Zuckerberg said senior officials from the Biden administration and White House repeatedly pressured Facebook teams for months to censor certain Covid-19 content including humor and satire."Ultimately, it was our decision whether or not to take content down, and we own our decisions, including COVID-19-related changes we made to our enforcement in the wake of this pressure," Zuckerberg wrote. "I believe the government pressure was wrong, and I regret that we were not more outspoken about it."I also think we made some choices that, with the benefit of hindsight and new information, we wouldn’t make today," he added. "Like I said to our teams at the time, I feel strongly that we should not compromise our content standards to pressure from any Administration in either direction – and we’re ready to push back if something like this happens."What White House saidA White House spokesperson said the administration during Covid 19 aimed at encouraging responsible actions to protect public health and safety. "Our position has been clear and consistent: we believe tech companies and other private actors should take into account the effects their actions have on the American people, while making independent choices about the information they present," a WH spokesperson said.'Kamala is hiding'Trump's advisor Alina Habba said as part of the administration, Kamala Harris too has to take the responsibility of the censorship. "This is exactly what this administration (WHICH INCLUDES KAMALA) has done to our country. Censorship is what happens in communist countries not this republic. They have gagged my client, his lawyers in and out of courtrooms and his team. Now, we once again have proof that they are gagging our media and censoring America. Kamala is hiding because she can’t answer for her actions. Still have doubts? TRUMP 2024 Make America Free Again," Alina posted.

The rock bandFoo Fightershave expressed theirdisapprovalafterDonald Trumpcampaign used theirsong"My Hero" at arallyin Glendale, Arizona, on August 23. A representative for the band told USA TODAY that thecampaigndid not seekpermissionto use the song and emphasised that if they had, the request would have been denied. The band announced that anyroyaltiesearned from the use of the song would be donated to vice presidentKamala Harris' presidential campaign.The Foo Fighters confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that they had not approved the use of the song, sharing a screenshot of their denial.The song was played as Robert F Kennedy Jr took the stage, shortly after he announced he was suspending his presidential campaign to support the Republican nominee.Trump's responseIn response to the controversy, aTrumpcampaign spokesperson told media that they had a license to play the song.Previous objectionsEarlier this month, Celine Dion's team publicly stated that they did not approve of Trump's use of her iconic song "My Heart Will Go On" at a rally in Montana. In August, the family of Isaac Hayes also threatened legal action against Trump for using Hayes' song "Hold On, I'm Comin' " at rallies, citing Trump's lack of integrity and his history of offensive behavior. Foo Fighters' frontman Dave Grohl had also criticised Trump in a 2018 interview with GQ, calling him "a massive jerk."

Kathmandu: The new PM ofNepal, K P SharmaOli, on Thursday overturned abanonTikTokthat his predecessor imposed in Nov, an apparent sign that the veteran politician intended to strengthen the country's relations with China, its northern neighbour.The popular social media app, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, was banned for its refusal to curb what the previous Nepalese govt had described as hate speech that disturbed "social harmony." At the time, Nepali officials said that they had resorted to the ban after TikTok declined to address concerns about troubling content.A spokesperson for TikTok expressed satisfaction with the move, saying, "We're excited to be able to continue enabling Nepali voices and creativity."The decision to reinstate TikTok signalled Oli's belief that, amid the geopolitical bickering between China and India, Nepal's neighbour to the south that also banned the app, the Himalayan country was better off aligning with China.TikTok and many other Chinese apps have been banned in India since 2020, amid historically fraught relations between the two countries and more recent efforts to dominate the South Asian region.Prithvi Subba Gurung, a Nepalese govt spokesperson, said TikTok would now have to abide by certain directives, such as naming a point of contact in the country. "We have set a few conditions such as TikTok to be used for promoting Nepali tourism, supporting us for digital safety, digital literacy and digital education and curb hate content," he said.On Thursday, the Chinese ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song, wrote on social media platform X, "Today is a good day," which many Nepalese took to mean that the talks to reinstate TikTok had been finalised.