SOAS University, of which Hamdi is an alumnus, urge ‘US authorities to ensure full transparency and due process’ in his case.
Published On 6 Nov 20256 Nov 2025
Share
The London university where British political commentator and journalist Sami Hamdi completed his studies has called for “full transparency and due process” regarding his detention in the United States.
In a statement published on Wednesday, SOAS University of London said it was “deeply concerned” by reports of Hamdi’s detention, adding that “there is no indication that Mr Hamdi has violated any laws”.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
“We urge the US authorities to ensure full transparency and due process in Mr Hamdi’s case, and to uphold his fundamental right to freedom of expression and movement.”
Hamdi, 35, was stopped at San Francisco international airport in California on October 26 and detained by agents from the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned Hamdi’s detention as “a blatant affront to free speech”, attributing his arrest to his criticism of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed at least 68,875 Palestinians and wounded 170,679 since October 2023.
Sami Hamdi’s wife Soumaya told Al Jazeera that the US government has still not provided any evidence ‘as to why they feel the need to revoke his visa’ [Screen grab/ Al Jazeera]
Hamdi, who was completing a speaking tour in the US discussing Israel’s war on Gaza, had addressed a CAIR gala in Sacramento, California, the previous evening and was due to speak at another CAIR event in Florida.
He was unaware at the time that his visa had been revoked by US authorities two days before his detention.
Hamdi’s detention has led to a legal battle, with his lawyers filing emergency petitions against his detention, and his wife Soumaya and civil society groups demanding that the United Kingdom government take action.
Soumaya told Al Jazeera that the US government has still not provided any evidence “as to why they feel the need to revoke his visa. And therefore they are treating him as an overstayer”.
She said the incident raises an important question: “Has the United States become a country now where a British citizen travelling on a valid visa can be detained at will? Because that is really scary.”
Soumaya said she believed her husband had been targeted by the US authorities because “he’s become extremely effective at galvanising support for Palestinian rights. Sami has been able to bring people together across the political spectrum, not just within Muslim communities.”
She also said her husband’s arrest should be of concern to “everybody who values the right to freedom of speech, everybody who values the right to receive facts from journalists and for journalists to be able to report on news without being persecuted”.
“If they [US authorities] are able then to treat Sami in this way, it’s only a matter of time before they start to treat US citizens like that too.”
“The US government must release Sami immediately. They’ve made a big mistake, and they need to release him immediately. And Congress must investigate these ICE detentions because they are setting a dangerous precedent for the future ability of US citizens being able to exercise their right to the First Amendment properly. And that’s bad news for everybody,” she said.
In next week’s episode of Fletcher’s Family Farm, Kelvin and Liz are hit with yet another farming emergency, having been forced to move off the property after a fire broke out
16:38, 20 Oct 2025Updated 16:39, 20 Oct 2025
Kelvin Fletcher’s family farm has been hit by fresh disaster
Kelvin Fletcher and his farming family are facing yet another disaster on their Cheshire land in an upcoming episode of their ITV show. The ex Emmerdale star and his family are back with a third series of Fletchers’ Family Farm – however, the show started on a sombre note when their farmhouse was destroyed by a blaze.
Unfortunately, the Fletchers’ troubles don’t stop there – with Kelvin learning in next week’s episode that their oat crop could be “devastated” by an infestation. Showing the cameras his oat field in the show, Kelvin admits that he’s “worried” about the crop after it loses his colour.
After enlisting the help of agronomist Ben, who has been helping the family with their soil, he discovered that leatherjackets have taken hold of the soil. Leatherjackets are the larvae of some crane flies, which can embed in lawns and soil before eating the roots.
“Ah, look at that – is that a leatherjacket?” Ben says as he goes through the soil. “A leatherjacket is like a little grub and they come in rings in the field and you’ll find there are bare patches in the field where they have just mauled and eaten the seed.
“There – there’s a leatherjacket,” he tells a disappointed Kelvin. “They’ll eat the root system of your grass and now your oats. These can be quite a problem.”
When Kelvin asks whether they will “decimate the crop”, Ben replies: “They really can be devastated but generally speaking, they’re in circles across the field.” Despite the alarming news, Kelvin and wife Liz will need to wait to see whether the leatherjackets have fully invaded the field.
“Ben won’t know the extent of the leatherjacket invasion until the crop is more established,” he tells the show. “If gaps or rings start appearing across the field, it’s usually an indicator that it has spread across the field.”
It’s not all bad news for farmer Kelvin and his first oat crop – Ben confirms that the oat seeds have taken hold in the soil. Elsewhere in the upcoming episode, Kelvin and Liz challenge their kids to make scarecrows to keep the birds and bugs at bay, while Liz comes up with a plan to whip chaotic chickens into shape.
It comes after Kelvin, Liz and their four kids were forced to leave their farm after a fire broke out while they were on holiday. Episode one saw the emotional couple go through the remains of the fire, with Kelvin admitting that all of his clothes had been destroyed.
“The way the year has got off to a busy start, but it hasn’t all been plain sailing,” he said. “While the animals have been thriving, at the end of last year, an unexpected and devastating disaster hit our farmhouse.
“The fire we think has started around there, and then it’s honestly gone up through the roof, and the roof’s completely gone.”
Fletchers’ Family Farm continues on Sunday at 11:30am on ITV1 and ITVX.
Arne Slot says he is concerned about Liverpool’s recent run of results after they suffered their fourth loss in a row with a 2-1 defeat by Manchester United.
Oct. 15 (UPI) — Half of adults in the United States are more concerned than excited about the rise of artificial intelligence, at the top of the worries list of those surveyed in 25 countries by Pew Research.
The study, which was released Wednesday, didn’t include respondents from the following nations with populations of at least 100 million: China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Philippines, Congo and Vietnam.
Globally, 34% expressed concern about AI with 42% equally in both extremes and 16% more excited.
Joining the United States at 50% are those in Italy, followed by Australia at 49%, Brazil at 48%, Greece at 47%, and Canada at 45%.
At the other end, South Korea is the least concerned at 16%, followed by India at 19%, Israel at 21%, Nigeria at 24%, Turkey at 26%, Japan at 28% and Germany at 29%.
The other nations ranged in the 30s, including Britain, Argentina and Spain at 39% and France at 35%.
In none of the countries, no more than 3-in-10 adults say they are mainly excited.
In the United States, the survey was conducted among 3,605 adults from March 24 to 30 and 5,023 adults from June 9 to 15 online or by phone with a live interviewer. They are all members of the Center’s American Trends Panel.
For non-U.S. adults, surveys were done over the phone, face-to-face or online, depending on the country, among 28,333 from Jan. 8 to April 26.
A median of 34% of adults worldwide have heard or read a lot about AI, while 47% have heard a little and 14% say they’ve heard nothing at all.
There was a correlation between the country’s domestic product per capita and AI awareness.
In the comparatively wealthy countries of Japan, Germany, France and the United States, around half have heard a lot about AI, but only 14% in India and 12% in Kenya.
Younger adults are more aware and excited about AI than the older respondents.
For example, 46% of Israeli adults under 35 are more excited than concerned about its increased use in daily life, compared with 15% of those ages 50 and older.
In more than half of the countries surveyed, men are more likely than women to have heard a lot about AI.
People who frequently use the Internet are more likely than others to be mainly excited about the growing use of AI .
Geographically, 53% of adults trust the European Union to regulate AI, while 37% trust the U.S. and 27% trust China. In the EU, the survey found those in France, Greece, Italy and Poland the least trusting.
The question caused Lakers coach JJ Redick to say he was “not being combative” with his answer.
Asked if the Lakers are missing opportunities to practice more and build on-court chemistry because of their busy six-game preseason slate, Redick was quick to wonder why reporters were so concerned about the situation.
“You guys are really harping on this,” Redick responded.
So, Redick was asked, is it a thing or is it not a thing?
“I’m not being combative right now,” Redick said. “I just want to acknowledge that you guys, like the last four days, like it’s becoming a little bit obsessive with all these questions about opportunities lost. So, I will answer it again. These are the cards that we were dealt. I sure would like everybody to be healthy.”
Making the most out of the situation, the Lakers held off the Golden State Warriors 126-116 Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena despite not playing with LeBron James (sciatica), Luka Doncic and Marcus Smart (Achilles tendinopathy).
Redick said the plan is for Smart to “get two games [in] this week.”
The Lakers have three remaining preseason games: Tuesday at Phoenix, Wednesday at Las Vegas against the Dallas Mavericks and Friday against the visiting Sacramento Kings — four games over a six-day span.
Redick was reminded that the Lakers as an organization have chosen to play six preseason games — the maximum allowed by the NBA.
“It’s something to be discussed I think going forward,” Redick said. “I think it’s awesome. I really do because we got to play in Palm Springs and I think it’s awesome that we get to play in Vegas and I recognize that there’s Lakers fans all over the world that maybe don’t get the chance to see us play.
“You hope that we can find some sort of balance in the future to get more practice time, less travel time. I’m sure at some point we’ll be one of the teams going overseas, so then that adds another scenario.”
Lakers guard Bronny James, front, and Golden State forward Trayce Jackson-Davis battle for a rebound in the first half Sunday of the Lakers’ 126-116 preseason win at Crypto.com Arena.
(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
Redick did say for training camp purposes, practice tends to be more helpful in team building than preseason games.
“I think more practices would be beneficial,” Redick said. “I do think the exposure to a game situation and playing against an opponent is very beneficial. You don’t have a lot of days anymore and to try to cram six games in there [and] four games in six nights, it’s significantly difficult.”
For Ayton, who was six for eight from the field and had a blocked shot, his joy came from the fans cheering him on. Sure, it was only a preseason game, but Ayton loved the vibe and the positive energy he felt.
It was Ayton’s first time playing at Crypto.com Arena since he signed a two-year, $16.6-million deal with the Lakers.
“It hit me in the whole arena today just hearing the fans and everybody cheering,” Ayton said. “It was kind of an unusual sound other than boos. … It was everybody showing love and welcoming me to L.A. I played so freely and I had a lot of fun.”
Educating Yorkshire returned for another episode on Sunday night where the teachers discussed a concerning trend at school
22:28, 07 Sep 2025Updated 22:28, 07 Sep 2025
Educating Yorkshire viewers were quick to share their concern on Sunday’s episode as the teachers discussed a challenging new problem within schools.
During the latest episode, the staff discussed how AI is affecting the school more widely and how they must adapt to this ever-changing and very modern challenge.
At one point, teachers were concerned that one student had used AI to create their Shakespeare essay.
The English teacher pointed out: “I have tried to mark it and it’s actually really really good but way ahead than what the other students have managed…” as she asked another teacher, who had taught the same student the previous year, for their opinion.
Analysing the work, the teachers pointed out the use of subheadings, paragraphs, punctuation and hardly any spelling mistakes, suggesting the student had used AI.
Educating Yorkshire viewers were quick to share their concern on Sunday’s episode as the teachers discussed a challenging new problem within schools(Image: Channel 4)
The English teacher said: “I can’t prove it without speaking to her” and later she spoke to the student, who denied using AI for their essay.
Sharing their frustrations, the teacher said that if students use AI, they don’t know how to assess their skills and help make them better. The teacher also pointed out that if students deny using AI, how do you prove it.
Later in the episode, the show dealt with another incident using AI that happened over the weekend. A student had used AI to make a video of two students at school which was now being circulated on Snapchat.
Headmaster, Mr Burton, said: “AI is a new problem, schools are finding out what the right way to use AI is and utilise its capabilities and then also be aware of the potential pitfalls.”
During the latest episode, the staff discussed how AI is affecting the school more widely(Image: Channel 4)
Discussing the AI incident with another teacher, they commented: “It’s frightening what people can do with AI now, though, isn’t it?” to which Mr Burton responded: “Terrifying!”
Taking to Twitter, now X, viewers were quick to share their thoughts on AI and shared their sympathies for how teachers are supposed to deal with it, especially as technology is likely to advance.
One person said: “Can’t imagine how hard it is for teachers now with AI being so readily available #EducatingYorkshire” while a different account put: “AI’s a major problem for schools and higher education. #EducatingYorkshire.”
Meanwhile, another show watcher added: “I just don’t know how Teachers are going to stamp out kids using AI to do their homework.. #educatingyorkshire.”
Educating Yorkshire continues on Sunday nights at 8pm on Channel 4.
Trump says Beijing and Moscow would never use military force against US due to its superior military.
Published On 3 Sep 20253 Sep 2025
Donald Trump has brushed off concerns that deepening ties between China and Russia pose a threat to the United States, pointing to Washington’s unmatched military might.
Asked in a radio interview on Tuesday whether he was concerned about a China-Russia axis forming against the US, the US president said he was not.
“We have the strongest military in the world, by far,” Trump told the conservative pundit Scott Jennings.
“They would never use their military on us. Believe me, that would be the worst thing they could ever do.”
Trump, who campaigned on the promise of swiftly bringing an end to Moscow’s war in Ukraine, also expressed disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin over his failure to reach a peace deal with Kyiv.
“I am very disappointed in President Putin, I can say that, and we will be doing something to help people live,” Trump said.
“It’s not a question of Ukraine. It’s helping people live.”
Trump’s comments come as China and Russia have been ramping up cooperation to present an alternative vision to the Western-led international order.
Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China’s Tianjin earlier this week, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Putin took turns levelling criticisms at what they view as Washington’s undue dominance over the global arena.
On Wednesday, Putin attended China’s largest-ever military parade, held to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II, an event widely seen as part of Xi’s efforts to demonstrate Beijing’s growing clout on the international stage.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Trump dismissed suggestions that the parade should be seen as a challenge to the US.
“I don’t see that at all, no,” he said.
“I have a very good relationship with President Xi, as you know, but China needs us much more than we need them.”
The Rams coach said so three different times Saturday during a post-practice news conference. He added a “it does not worry me” for good measure.
But how could it not?
Stafford, 37, has not practiced since the Rams opened training camp while receiving treatment from trainers and the team medical staff for what McVay initially described as back soreness.
McVay said last Tuesday that Stafford would sit out the first block of practices, but return on Monday when the Rams will be in pads for the first time.
Not so fast.
McVay said Stafford would not practice next week and he is now “week to week.”
“I don’t have any reason to be concerned, based on the information that’s been given,” McVay said. “And with that being said I don’t think we can be smart enough with somebody like Matthew, and I think it’s best for him and best for our football team.”
McVay said the Rams were “being fluid” with the situation after consulting with Stafford, Reggie Scott — the Rams’ vice president of sports medicine and performance — and Dr. Robert Watkins, a spine specialist.
Jimmy Garoppolo will continue to take first team reps as the Ram prepare for their Sept. 7 opener against the Houston Texans.
During the first three practices, Stafford was nowhere to be seen. McVay said the quarterback was working with trainers in other areas at Loyola Marymount. On Saturday, Stafford observed practice for the first time, though not while wearing his No. 9 jersey. When he actually takes a snap or throws a pass remains to be seen.
Until then, uncertainty about his condition will continue to cast a pall over a team that with a physically sound Stafford would be regarded as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
This is the second time in four years a back problem has sidelined Stafford, who through 16 NFL seasons has been one of the league’s grittiest quarterbacks.
In 2022, Stafford was limited throughout training camp because of an elbow issue. He was ready for the opener — a blowout loss against the Buffalo Bills — but missed the final seven games because of a spinal contusion as the Rams stumbled through the worst Super Bowl hangover in NFL history.
Last spring, after Stafford and the Rams explored trade scenarios, the team and the veteran agreed to terms on an adjusted contract that gives Stafford a $47.5-million salary-cap number this season, according to Overthecap.com.
McVay does not play starters during preseason games, so Stafford still has plenty of time to prepare for the opener.
But until he is on the field and throwing passes, the Rams cannot be optimistic about their chances of improving upon last season, which ended with an NFC divisional-round loss to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles.
With receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, running back Kyren Williams, and a defense led by lineman Kobie Turner and edge rusher Jared Verse, the Rams appeared positioned to make a run at a third Super Bowl appearance in eight seasons.
But that projection only works with a healthy Stafford in the equation.
Regardless of McVay’s messaging, that has to be a concern.
Etc.
Verse took off his helmet and threw it to the ground before tussling with offensive lineman Justin Dedich. McVay later stopped practice to remind players to avoid situations that could result in penalties. … Garoppolo connected with Adams and receiver Jordan Whittington on long touchdown plays….Stetson Bennett threaded an impressive pass to receiver Drake Stoops in tight coverage against the first-team defense.
The four women jetted off on holiday to Greece and looked significantly different at the end of their getaway to how they looked at the start, leaving many people feeling concerned
The family showcased the dramatic change in their complexions but it’s left many people concerned (stock image)(Image: Getty Images/Carol Yepes)
A mother and her daughters have shared footage of their tans before and after holidaying in Greece and people have been left with the same concerns. Lots of people hope to achieve a post-getaway glow, with a tan often associated with looking healthy – but it does come with serious risks.
The NHS warns there’s “no safe or healthy way to get a tan” and adds that “people who spend a lot of time in the sun, whether it’s for work or play, are at increased risk of skin cancer if they do not take the right precautions.”
It’s important to use at least factor 30 sunscreen, never let your skin burn, and spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its strongest and most intense.
Of course, many people still want to look as though they’ve tanned in the summer and on holiday.
A growing trend on social media sees people comparing their skin tones before and after they’ve jetted off for a break in the sun, with one family’s video gaining a lot of attention online.
In the footage, which was shared on TikTok, a family of four women take it in turns to showcase their complexion before and after their holiday in Greece.
One of the daughters goes first and shows herself twirling around and smiling at the camera before it cuts to her doing the same movement in the airport, only in this second clip, her skin tone is significantly darker.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Next, her mother completes the same gestures in two different clips spliced together to show her paler complexion before her holiday, then a much, much darker tone after their getaway’s completion.
In the third and fourth spot, the other two daughters show their approach to tanning – and it’s a lot more subtle. Both girls have a bit of a glow but their skin colour isn’t dramatically different like the first two.
In the comments beneath the TikTok video – which has been viewed more than 46.7 million times – people were keen to share their thoughts, and many had the same concerns about the women’s skin and the associated risks of tanning.
One person said: “Tanning is skin cells in trauma. No tan is worth the skin cancer risk.”
Another said: “3 and 4 were the only ones that tanned naturally. The other two (ESPECIALLY 2) went to a solarium and you cannot convince me otherwise”.
A third quipped: “Number two used boot polish instead of suntan lotion.” A fourth asked: “Did 1 & 2 sleep outside?”
The women looked significantly different at the end of their holiday (Image: TikTok/@sissejrgensen)
One TikTok user added: “So 3 and 4 actually know how to put on sunscreen”, while another joked: “I’m sorry, was the resort they stayed at THE SUN?!”
While someone else commented: “TANNING GIVES YOU WRINKLES AND……CANCER”.
Another person chimed in: “The first 2 definitely sunbathed whereas the other 2 used sunscreen and moderate exposure”.
Someone else asked: “Did you guys not use sunscreen at all?”
Another added: “Yall, can we normalise just wearing sunscreen?”
The NHS states: “Sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer. Sunburn does not just happen on holiday. You can burn in the UK, even when it’s cloudy.
“There’s no safe or healthy way to get a tan. A tan does not protect your skin from the sun’s harmful effects.
“Aim to strike a balance between protecting yourself from the sun and getting enough vitamin D from sunlight.”
BBC Breakfast was briefly interrupted on Wednesday as Jon Kay made an important announcement
BBC Breakfast star Jon Kay left his co-star concerned as he announced breaking news on Wednesday (July 16).
During today’s edition of the hit morning show, Jon and his co-host Sally Nugent kept audiences informed with the latest happenings from the UK and globally.
Weather forecasts were provided by Carol Kirkwood, while Hugh Ferris covered the sports news.
The broadcast was abruptly paused when Jon revealed a significant development concerning the UK economy.
“We’ve just had the latest update on how quickly prices are rising in the UK,” he disclosed, before passing over to Peter Ruddick for more details, reports the Express.
BBC Breakfast was halted for breaking news on Wednesday (July 16)(Image: BBC)
“Yeah, another reminder of the continuing price pressure on households this morning, John,” Peter remarked.
“In the past few moments, we found out that inflation, the way we measure the rising cost of living, was 3.6% in June. We have been expecting these figures to be 3.4%, the same rate as in May, so these figures this morning are quite concerning.”
He elaborated: “What this means is that on average, prices were 3.6% higher last month than they were in June last year.
“But remember that these figures are just an average. Some things will be going up in price by more than that sum and by less.”
Highlighting specific impacts, Peter mentioned that food prices saw a 4.5% increase, marking the steepest rise since February of the previous year, with staples like bread, meat, milk, and cheese driving the surge.
UK inflation rose to 3.6% in June(Image: BBC)
He summed up: “These figures this morning are a headache, mainly, of course, for households still struggling with the rising cost of living. But also for the Bank of England, which tries to keep inflation nearer 2%.
“And a headache for the government, yet more pressure on the Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Jon, as we look ahead to a very big budget speech in the autumn.”
The Chancellor, responding to the latest economic data, acknowledged that she understands “working people are still struggling with the cost of living”.
She further stated: “That is why we have already taken action by increasing the national minimum wage for three million workers, rolling out free breakfast clubs in every primary school and extending the £3 bus fare cap.”
Reeves conceded that “there is more to do” but affirmed her commitment to “deliver on our Plan for Change to put more money into people’s pockets”.
A woman travelled with three of her friends to Alicante, Spain, and shared before-and-after snaps of their tans on their return – but people were left with the same concern
13:29, 11 Jul 2025Updated 13:30, 11 Jul 2025
The girls’ ‘redness’ was met with criticism on social media (Image: Jam Press/Elizabeth Pittaway)
A group of Brit holidaymakers have been slammed online after sharing before-and-after snaps of their tans following a trip to sunny Spain. Lizzy Pittaway and three of her pals travelled to Alicante for five nights – plenty of time, it seems, to have caught some nasty sunburns.
Prior to jetting off, the group posed at the airport to show their pre-holiday skin colour as they stood in front of a Boots store. Then, on their return to the UK, they repeated the pose to show off the effects of the sun. Lizzy, from West London, shared the before-and-after video to TikTok, which quickly went viral with 895,000 views and 800 comments.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Many of those who commented criticised the ladies’ newfound “red” look, however.
“You were in Boots, why didn’t you buy sun cream?” one TikTok user asked in response.
Another person asked: “Tan or burn?” A third urged: “Girlies wear sunscreen. The locals feel bad for you when you walk around red as a lobster. It looks painful. I say this as a white as a ghost Spanish girl, skin cancer is not a joke.”
Meanwhile a fourth offered kinder feedback, declaring: “Looks like you had a very good time.”
In response to the backlash, Lizzy said: “We did use factor 50 sun cream consistently. And the lighting makes us look way redder than we actually were.”
Lizzy and her pals Morgan, Jules and Mary(Image: Jam Press/Elizabeth Pittaway)
She told What’s The Jam: “This has been a trend on TikTok for a while now so we thought it would be a bit of fun for when we went on holiday. We posted several TikToks while out in Alicante, including outfit checks each evening, but for some reason this one just blew up.”
The 21-year-old continued: “I think mostly because people were shocked and outraged by the video, not necessarily because they liked it. Whilst she explained that she posted the video “without too much focus” when their return flight home was delayed.
“I posted it while we were waiting at the airport and it wasn’t until the next day when I was like, ‘Whoa, this has actually gone quite big’,” she admitted. “The reaction was very mixed – friends and family thought it was quite funny and light-hearted, which was our motivation behind posting it.
“But then it started to get picked up by Spanish people, which is where most of the views and comments came from. They were quick to judge us and say that we were all sunburnt, don’t know how to use sun cream, and are going to get skin cancer.”
Lizzy added: “While I completely understand the dangers of sunburn and skin cancer, we were all extremely cautious on holiday. We even did a pre-order at Boots prior to the holiday that we picked up at the airport, mostly made up of sun creams.
“Some of the comments were restricted because they were quite harsh. Luckily, I am able to take the comments and they haven’t affected me too much as I know the truth behind the video. But for some, many of these comments could be damaging, as people don’t often consider that there is someone on the other side receiving them. There was also a lot of division within the comments section with many people arguing among themselves.”
A group of women who travelled to Alicante have seen snaps of their tans slammed online (stock)(Image: Jam Press/Elizabeth Pittaway)
While the university student and her pals covered themselves in cream every day, she admitted that “a few of us did get a little bit sunburnt”.
“But nothing unusual that we hadn’t experienced before,” she stated. “We were continually applying sun cream and were in the shade or pool for most of the day.
“I would say that it is quite hard to avoid getting a little bit sunburnt when visiting another country and trying to explore the area. We did try to stay inside or in the shade when it got to the highest UV levels in the day and apply extra factor 50 sun cream to be safe.”
Lizzy closed: “In no way did we intend for the video to promote getting sunburnt as obviously that is not cool and can be seriously dangerous. When we posted it, we obviously knew that we weren’t as sunburnt as the video made out and so didn’t think much of it.”
“But the labelling of us as ‘guiris’, which I initially didn’t know the meaning of, is untrue as we were up to date with how to stay safe in Spain.”
Social media platform says the Indian government ordered it last week to block 2,355 accounts, including two Reuters handles.
X says it is “deeply concerned about ongoing press censorship in India” after New Delhi ordered the social media platform to block more than 2,300 accounts, including two Reuters news agency handles.
X restored the Reuters News account in India on Sunday, a day after it said it was asked by the Indian government to suspend it, citing a legal demand.
Many other blocked accounts were also restored, with New Delhi denying its role in the takedown.
In a post on Tuesday, X, promoted by billionaire Elon Musk, said the Indian government on July 3 ordered it to block 2,355 accounts in India under Section 69A of the Information Technology (IT) Act.
“Non-compliance risked criminal liability. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology demanded immediate action – within one hour – without providing justification, and required the accounts to remain blocked until further notice,” X said.
“After public outcry, the government requested X to unblock @Reuters and @ReutersWorld.”
On July 3, 2025, the Indian government ordered X to block 2,355 accounts in India, including international news outlets like @Reuters and @ReutersWorld, under Section 69A of the IT Act. Non-compliance risked criminal liability. The Ministry of Electronics and Information…
— Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) July 8, 2025
According to a post on X post by the ANI news agency, Reuters’ partner in India, a spokesperson for India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said the government did not issue “any fresh blocking order” on July 3 and had “no intention to block any prominent international news channels”, including Reuters and Reuters World.
“The moment Reuters and Reuters World were blocked on X platform in India, immediately the government wrote to X to unblock them,” the post said. “The government continuously engaged and vigorously pursued with X from the late night of July 5, 2025.”
The spokesperson said X had “unnecessarily exploited technicalities involved around the process and didn’t unblock” the accounts.
India’s IT law, passed in 2000, allows designated government officials to demand the takedown of content from social media platforms they deem to violate local laws, including on the grounds of national security or if a post threatens public order.
X, formerly known as Twitter, has long been at odds with India’s government over content-removal requests. In March, the company sued the federal government over a new government website the company says expands takedown powers to “countless” government officials. The case is continuing.
India, the world’s biggest democracy, regularly ranks among the top five countries for the number of requests made by a government to remove social media content.
Rights groups say freedom of expression and free press is under threat in India since Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014.
New Delhi has regularly imposed blanket internet shutdowns during periods of unrest.
In April, the government launched a sweeping crackdown on social media, banning more than a dozen Pakistani YouTube channels for allegedly spreading “provocative” content following an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. Many of those have been restored.
New Delhi has also imposed intermittent internet outages in the northeastern state of Manipur since 2023 in the wake of ethnic violence.
The government has justified internet and social media bans as ways to curb disinformation in a country where hundreds of millions have access to some of the cheapest mobile internet rates in the world.
In its post on Tuesday, X said it was exploring all legal options available over censorship, but added that it was “restricted by Indian law in its ability to bring legal challenges”.
“We urge affected users to pursue legal remedies through the courts,” it said.
When a group of armed, masked men was spotted dragging a woman into an SUV in the Fashion District last week, a witness called 911 to report a kidnapping.
But when Los Angeles Police Department officers arrived, instead of making arrests, they formed a line to protect the alleged abductors from an angry crowd of onlookers demanding the woman’s release.
The reported kidnappers, it turned out, were special agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Police Chief Jim McDonnell defended the officers’ response, saying their first responsibility was to keep the peace and that they had no authority to interfere with the federal operation.
In political and activist circles, and across social media, critics blasted the LAPD for holding back the crowd instead of investigating why the agents were arresting the woman, who was later found to be a U.S. citizen.
“What happened downtown on Tuesday morning certainly looked and felt like LAPD was supporting ICE,” said Mike Bonin, a former City Council member who is now executive director of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at Cal State L.A.
Kimberly Noriega, left, speaks with her aunt, Anita Neri Lozano, at Veterans Memorial Park in Culver City on Sunday. The family was attending a news conference regarding the arrest of a beloved street vendor, Ambrocio Lozano.
(Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
The incident was one of more than half a dozen in recent weeks in which the LAPD responded to federal immigration enforcement actions that were called in as kidnappings.
The presence of local police officers at the scenes — even if they are not actively assisting ICE — has led some city leaders to question the department’s role in an ongoing White House crackdown that has swept up hundreds of immigrants and sown fear across Southern California.
Incidents of impostors masquerading as law enforcement have compounded the situation, along with rumors — so far unverified — that federal authorities have enlisted bounty hunters or private security contractors for immigration arrests.
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called coverage of one reported kidnapping a “hoax” in a post Tuesday on X and said: “ICE does not employ bounty hunters to make arrests.”
In a letter to the Police Commission last week, City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez said the LAPD should make sure federal agents who cover their faces and often use unmarked vehicles are who they claim to be.
“Our residents have a right to know who is operating in their neighborhoods and under what legal authority,” wrote Rodriguez, whose district includes the San Fernando Valley. “Allowing unidentified actors to forcibly detain individuals without oversight is not only reckless — it erodes public trust and undermines the very rule of law.”
She said that city leaders couldn’t allow “bounty-hunter-style tactics to take root in our city,” and urged the commission, the LAPD’s civilian policymaking body, to “develop proper legal and safe protocol that provide for officer safety, transparency and accountability to our communities.”
Residents stand behind a line of Vernon police officers after an immigration raid in the city of Bell on June 20.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
“This lack of identification is unacceptable. It creates an environment ripe for abuse and impersonation, enabling copycat vigilantes to pose as federal agents,” Rodriguez wrote.
State and local officials have proposed legislation to increase transparency around officer identification, but it’s unclear if the bills will become law — and whether they could actually be enforced against federal agents.
Police Commission President Erroll Southers said Tuesday that he and another commissioner met with City Council members to discuss the Police Department’s response to the Trump administration’s aggressive sweeps. Several commissioners questioned McDonnell about how LAPD officers are supposed to respond to reported kidnappings.
Los Angeles police officers stand guard as community members protest recent immigration raids in front of the Federal Building in downtown L.A. on June 18.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
McDonnell said the department created new guidelines that require a supervisor to respond and instruct LAPD officers to verify the purported ICE agents are legitimate, preserving a record of the interaction on body-worn cameras.
The chief said the top priority for officers is maintaining the safety of all those present, but ultimately officers have no authority to interfere with a federal operation.
According to a new poll from YouGov, a public opinion research firm, nearly three-quarters of Californians believe local police officers should arrest federal immigration agents who “act maliciously or knowingly exceed their authority under federal law.”
The same survey also found that a majority of state residents want to completely forbid California officials from collaborating with immigration enforcement and make it easier for citizens to file lawsuits when “authorities violate the due process rights of immigrants.”
The LAPD has long claimed that it has no role in civil immigration enforcement, but the department is now facing pressure from City Hall and beyond to go further and protect Angelenos who are undocumented.
A motion considered this week by the L.A. City Council would, among other things, limit the LAPD’s “support to agencies performing immigration enforcement.”
Eastside residents and others march in Boyle Heights on Tuesday as part of a series of “Reclaim Our Streets” actions being conducted in protest of federal immigration enforcement operations.
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
LAPD officials say that the department has responded to at least seven calls in which people contacted 911 to report a kidnapping that turned out to be an ICE operation.
One emergency call came in when a group of masked federal Border Patrol agents was spotted staging near Dodgers Stadium last week, sparking a wave of speculation online about potential immigration enforcement at the ballpark. LAPD officers responded to the scene and again provided crowd control after a group of protesters showed up.
Several police supervisors said that in the past, it was customary for federal agents conducting surveillance in a given LAPD division to give the area’s watch commander a heads-up as a courtesy. But that longstanding practice has ended, leaving them largely left in the dark about the timing and location of planned immigration raids.
Cmdr. Lillian Carranza said it was irresponsible for people to describe the arrests as “kidnappings” and encourage people to call 911, saying that there is misinformation circulating online about how and when federal authorities can arrest someone. Authorities don’t need to present a warrant when encountering someone on the street, she said; all they need is probable cause.
“If people have concerns about the conduct of federal agents, they need to seek justice in court,” she said. “That is the place to litigate the case. Not the streets.”
In a testy exchange last month, McDonnell told the City Council that even if he knew about an immigration operation beforehand, he would not alert city leaders.
The LAPD’s relationship with ICE has been the subject of intense debate on social media platforms such as Reddit, where some commenters argued that the department’s focus on policing protesters was a tacit endorsement of the federal government.
Much of the discussion has fixated on an incident that occurred last week in downtown Los Angeles in which a woman named Andrea Guadalupe Velez was detained by agents clad in bulletproof vests with gaiters over their faces.
A livestream video showed a man, Luis Hipolito, who was later arrested, asking agents for their names and badge numbers.
“I’m calling 911 right now,” he told the agents.
“911, I want to report a crime. I want to report a crime,” Hipolito is heard saying on the phone.
“What are you reporting?” an operator is heard asking.
“They’re kidnapping kids, they’re kidnapping people on Nine and Main Street,” he is heard saying. “I need LAPD right here, right now. Nine and Main Street. They’re kidnapping, they’re kidnapping people.”
After several agents were seen piling on top of Hipolito, LAPD officers arrived at the scene. They formed a line between the agents and the angry crowd, members of whom were shouting to release Hipolito.
Homeland Security’s McLaughlin said Velez “was arrested for assaulting an ICE enforcement officer.”
Federal authorities said in court filings that Velez “abruptly” stepped into the path of an agent in “an apparent effort to prevent him from apprehending the male subject he was chasing.”
Velez, a Cal Poly Pomona graduate who is 4 feet 11, allegedly stood in the path of the agent with her arms extended. The agent couldn’t stop in time and was struck in his head and chest, federal authorities allege.
Velez’s mother, Margarita Flores, was watching in her rearview mirror, having just dropped her daughter off at the scene.
Flores said she saw a man running toward her daughter and then Velez falling to the ground. Flores said the men didn’t have identification or license plates on their car.
Fearing a kidnapping, she told her other daughter, Estrella Rosas, to call the police. When the LAPD arrived, Rosas said, her sister “went running to one of the police officers in hopes that they could help her.”
“But one of the ICE agents went back after her and fully [put] her in handcuffs,” Rosas said. “He physically had to carry her to put her inside the car and they drove away in the car that had no license plates.”
Velez spent two days in a federal detention facility. Charged with assaulting a federal officer, she made her initial court appearance last week and was released on $5,000 bail. She has not yet entered a plea and is due back in court July 17.
Times staff writer Brittny Mejia contributed to this report.
Love Island fans have been left baffled with one Islanders lack of airtime on the ITV2 show – as they question whether she’s gone ‘missing’ from the villa after two weeks
21:50, 22 Jun 2025Updated 21:51, 22 Jun 2025
Love Island fans have been left searching for one Islander(Image: ITV)
Tonight, it was Emily and Shakira who clashed. However, fans have been left baffled as they claim one Islander has ‘gone missing’ from the show amid all the drama.
OG girl Alima first coupled up with Blue – but it wasn’t until bombshell Remell walked in that she formed a connection.
Fans are fuming with Alima’s lack of screentime (Image: ITV)
Fans were over the moon when their favourite had built a connection – however, they’ve now been left fuming with the lack of airtime the pair have been getting.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan penned: “is alima still in that villa??#LoveIsland,” as another questioned: “WHERE IS ALIMA ?? #LoveIsland“
Another even went as far as to say: “I’m about to file a missing person report for Alima. That screen time was diabolical #LoveIsland#LoveIslandUK,” as a fourth penned: “need to put a missing person’s alert for alima WHERE IS SHEEEE #loveisland.”
Another confused fan penned: “Are Alima and Remell still in the villa? Not even a mention in the morning recap cause we’ve seen nothing from them in days.”
Elsewhere, the fallout from Friday continued tonight, as Shakira took Emily to the Minifirepit to explain her side of things.
“I feel like in situations, it’s a case of reading the room a little bit…I feel like you’ve not made an effort with us,” she said.
Alima is currently coupled up with Remell(Image: ITV)
Later when Shakira mentioned Toni having a bad day, she added: “Just cause she’s in a bad mood doesn’t mean I can’t be in a good mood…you should have come to me”.
The two didn’t agree, and left things how they were. However, the argument was later reignited when Shakira heard Emily telling the rest of the group about the conversation.
The drama doesn’t end there for Shakira, as she’s later gets flirty with Harry in the snug. “So you’ve spoken to Ben and called things off with him?” he asks, as Shakira replies: “Nothing to do with you by the way, before that goes to your head”.
Shakira and Harry coupled up on Day 2, causing Sophie to be dumped from the villa. However, they called things off when Harry got flirty with Helena, and Shakira went back to her Day 1 partner, Ben.
Now, with things over officially with Ben, will Shakira and Harry attend to their unfinished business?
Casualty viewers were left heartbroken as Stevie Nash (played by Elinor Lawless) returned to the ED.
In the latest edge-of-your-seat episode of Casualty, viewers witnessed Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) returning to the ED post-cancer treatment.
Advised by medical professionals to extend her rest period, a determined Stevie was keen to dive back into work regardless. Yet, when faced with an influx of overdose cases due to tainted drugs, she quickly found herself overwhelmed.
While newcomer Flynn Byron (Olly Rix) initially promised his support for her shift, he was promptly swept away by other crises in the department.
Audiences took to social media expressing their concern, with many feeling it may have been too premature for Stevie’s return.
Casualty viewers concerned for fan-favourite as they plea ‘look after yourself’
One viewer expressed sympathy, commenting: “Sorry, Stevie. I don’t think you’re ready at all #Casualty” Meanwhile, another observed: “Stevie being thrown into the deep end on Day 1 #Casualty.”
A sympathetic comment read: “Poor Stevie rushed off her feet on Day 1” Another fan advised: “Stevie you shouldn’t be back so soon actually I’m glad you are but please look after yourself.”
Echoing this sentiment, one person said: “Stevie really hasn’t been supported back to work at all #casualty” While another commented: “Poor Stevie. Much too soon to come back to work.”
Someone else stated: “My heart breaks for Stevie #casualty” as another offered: “Tonight’s episode is stressful.”
BBC viewers saw Stevie return to the drama on Saturday night
As the episode progressed, we saw Stevie confronting Flynn about his absence during her tumultuous comeback shift, though he assured her he believed in her capabilities and kept a watchful eye on her the entire time, reports Wales Online.
As the drama on the show unveiled, it emerged the duo had past connections from their youthful days. Despite hints of a longstanding camaraderie, when Flynn advances romantically towards her, she is visibly unimpressed and promptly puts him in his place.
The actress shared her insights on the anticipated reappearance in the series and Stevie’s reaction to Flynn’s ill-timed kiss. Elinor divulged to What to Watch: “I know, it’s like, ‘dude, read the room and smell the chlorine!’
The fan-favourite was quick to shut down Flynn when he attempted to kiss her
“Stevie is very much, ‘What are you doing? !’ She has seen him do this [in the past] to other women but out of pride she never went there.
“It’s a moment where she takes charge and tells him to back off! It’s been great working with Olly to find the key to our characters’ friendship.”
Although Stevie firmly rebuffed Flynn in the moment, viewers are left wondering if this could signal the start of a blossoming romance.
Tech giant rejects ‘false reports’ after Iranian state media urges citizens to delete messaging app.
US tech giant Meta has expressed concern that Iran may block WhatsApp after state media claimed the messaging service is being used for snooping by Israel.
“We’re concerned these false reports will be an excuse for our services to be blocked at a time when people need them the most,” Meta, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, said in a statement on Tuesday.
“All of the messages you send to family and friends on WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted meaning no-one except the sender and recipient has access to those messages, not even WhatsApp.”
Meta added that it does not track users’ precise location or maintain logs of who is messaging whom.
“We do not provide bulk information to any government,” the California-based tech firm said.
“For over a decade, Meta has provided consistent transparency reports that include the limited circumstances when WhatsApp information has been requested.”
Meta’s statement came after the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) urged citizens to deactivate or delete their WhatsApp accounts because the “Zionist regime is using citizens’ information to harm us”.
“This is extremely important because they are using the information on your phone, your location and the content you share, which is likely private but still accessible,” an IRNA host said, according to a subtitled clip shared by Iraqi media outlet Rudaw.
“Many of us have friends and relatives living nearby, and some of them could be nuclear scientists or beloved figures, don’t forget.”
End-to-end encryption makes it technically impossible for third parties, including tech companies, to access the contents of messages while they are en route from a sender to a recipient.
However, Meta and other tech platforms do collect so-called metadata, such as contacts and device information, which they can share with authorities when requested.
Iran added WhatsApp and Instagram to its list of prohibited apps in September 2022 amid protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, in custody.
Iranian authorities voted to lift the ban two months later as part of reforms to enhance internet freedom promised by President Masoud Pezeshkian.
TOWIE star Amy Childs’ friends are worried about her relationship after she postponed her wedding to fiancé Billy Delbosq for the second time
08:40, 06 Jun 2025Updated 08:40, 06 Jun 2025
Friends have expressed their concerns about Amy Childs’ relationship after she postponed her wedding for the second time(Image: Instagram/amychilds1990)
Amy Childs has left friends and fans worried after calling off her wedding to fiancé Billy Delbosq for the second time, sparking rumours of relationship troubles among those who are close to her. The former beautician, who shot to fame on The Only Way Is Essex nearly 15 years ago, became a household name thanks to her larger-than-life personality — and introducing the public to the concept of ‘vajazzling’.
After a romantic past full of ups and downs, Amy, 34, seemed to have finally found lasting love with Billy, a fellow reality star who once appeared on Channel 4 ’s First Dates. The couple got engaged in 2023 after welcoming twins Billy River and Amelia Mae.
Friends have expressed their concerns about Amy Childs’ relationship after she postponed her wedding for the second time(Image: @amychilds1990/Instagram)
But last month she postponed their wedding again, after already delaying it last year over doubts about whether Billy was truly ready to tie the knot.
This latest cancellation has caused speculation that not all is well in their relationship. Friends close to the couple have voiced their fears, with one source telling the Daily Mail : “Billy has always been a player. He’s one of the biggest players in Essex…now there are fears that all is not well, that something could have happened between them.”
Fuel was added to the fire when Amy was spotted in Brentwood looking visibly thinner and not wearing her engagement ring. However, another source close to the couple insisted the pair are still going strong, and suggested she only removed the ring to work out.
In the paparazzi snaps that sparked concern, she was indeed dressed in gym gear. However, Amy and Billy were also seen at Stansted Airport on Thursday while en route to Spain for TOWIE filming, looking “preoccupied and unsmiling”. One pal admitted: “They usually seem so happy together. This time they looked really down in the dumps, neither particularly looked like they wanted to be there.”
Behind the scenes, Amy has been privately coping with a family crisis. She recently told The Mirror that her mum Julie, who has also made appearances on TOWIE, suffered from a heart attack in April and had to be rushed to hospital for emergency surgery.
She added: “It has been intensely stressful. None of us was expecting Mum to have a heart attack – it turned our world upside down.
“It was so frightening. She had a stent put in and was in hospital for six days. She’s now home but she’s being monitored daily and is on a lot of medication. It’s so tough for her – she sometimes struggles to walk upstairs.”
Amy and Billy made the difficult decision to postpone their September wedding at Cliveden House in Berkshire. The TOWIE star explained: “It’s upsetting, but I know we’ve made the right decision. Right now, we’re focused on looking after Mum.”
In response to the online abuse over her weight loss, Amy hit back, saying: “People don’t know what is going on behind closed doors…To be honest I do feel better when I’m a bit heavier than I am at the moment. There’s so much going on – it’s the result of pure stress.”
Despite facing these heart breaking family challenges, Amy is still hopeful that her and Billy will be able to get married abroad next year, and have planned for their kids to play a special role in the wedding. She concluded: “We just want it to be amazing, not rushed.”
Deontay Wilder has looked like a shell of his old self in his last few fightsCredit: GETTY
4
The American has suffered three brutal knockout losses in his last five lossesCredit: GETTY
4
Former foe Tyson Fury has urged ‘The Bronze Bomber’ to hang them upCredit: AP
Wilder, 39, will enter the bout on the back of four defeats in his last five outings, with three of those losses being brutal knockouts to Tyson Fury and Zhilei Zhang.
The American has looked like a shell of the fighter who struck fear into the hearts of heavyweights during his pomp, so much so that a litany of boxing icons, Fury, included, have urged him to call it a day.
During an appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast with former UFC champs Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, he said: “I’d like to see poor old Deontay retire from boxing.
“When I beat Wilder, he was 44 and 0, with 43 KOs, and he KO’d the guy who went the distance with him in the rematch, so that means he knocked out every single person he ever faced. 44 people.
“Obviously, he lost the three fights to me and since that third trilogy, we took a lot of lot of years off each other’s lives.
“That war, which ended in the 11th round by knockout, that took a lot out of our tanks.
“Between me and Wilder in that trilogy there was 10 knockdowns. It takes a lot out of a fighter.
“Even when he’s come back and had a couple of fights since, he’s only a shadow of his former glory.
Deontay Wilder has vowed to return to the summit of the heavyweight divisionCredit: Getty
“The only thing left that remains the same about Deontay is his name.”
Legendary boxing coach Teddy Atlas, who used to train Mike Tyson, shares the same view as Fury.
Deontay Wilder’s three-fight ‘plan’ revealed including overdue Anthony Joshua fight
Atlas told Slingo: “The last thing to go, George Foreman showed, is that the last thing to go with a fighter is power.
“As long as you have power, you’ve got a shot.
“But the way he’s looked, the punishment he took against Zhilei Zhang.
“Wilder took a lot of punishment in his last few fights.
“And the way he took it, how clean he got hit, and how he reacted to it, just as a human being.
“Forget trainer, promoter, anything, just as a human being, I’d be concerned about him fighting again.”
Wilder and his team are hoping a win over Herndon will kick-start an unlikely run to a world title, with head coach Malik Scott saying: “He’s still got that urge to become champion, because he’s a champion at heart.
“He’s on the second half of his career, he’s filthy rich.
“He wants to make another run at the heavyweight championship of the world.”
