ordered

Oct. 30 (UPI) — The U.S. Department of State on Thursday ordered non-emergency employees and their family members to leave Mali, where the government is in armed conflict with al-Qaida-linked terrorists.

“The Department of State ordered non-emergency employees and their family members to leave Mali due to safety risks,” the State Department said in an update to its travel advisory for the West African nation.

“The U.S. government cannot offer routine or emergency services to U.S. citizens outside of Bamako due to safety risks. Do not travel to Mali for any reason.”

The announcement comes two days after the U.S. Embassy in Mali issued a security alert urging U.S. citizens in the country to “depart immediately” via commercial flights.

“U.S. citizens who choose not to depart Mali should prepare contingency plans for any emergency situations that may arise, including a need to shelter in place for an extended period,” the embassy said.

The embassy has repeatedly issued warning about disruptions in the country of gasoline and diesel supplies, closure of public institutions, including schools, nationwide, and the armed conflict around the Mali capital of Bamako.

Mali has experienced a political and security crisis since January of 2012, with a rebellion and subsequent coup. The situation has intensified since Sept. 3, when the al-Qaida Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin declared a blockade on major fuel and food supply routes across in the country.

COMIC Michael McIntyre has admitted turning to fat jabs after his doctor told him he was obese.

The 5ft 5ins star said wife Kitty ordered him to start after the medic ticked him off for being 100kg (15st 10lbs).

McIntyre, 49, said he first used Ozempic before switching to ­Mounjaro and the weight dropped off in only three weeks of injections.

The dad of two, who has long struggled with his weight, made the admission to an audience in London.

He joked: “Have you noticed how tiny I am? I have lost weight.

“Don’t applaud it because there is a little bit of cheating that has gone on.”

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McIntyre who once lost 7kg (14lbs) at a £2,000-a-week clinic, confessed that he did not want to use appetite suppressants but Kitty insisted.

He also blamed his problem on eating his kids’ leftovers.

On his trip to the GP, he told fans: “The ­doctor told me I weighed 100kg.

“He told me I was ‘obese’. How rude. He said, ‘It’s a medical term’.”

McIntyre, whose new series of The Wheel started last night on BBC One, also declared that his weight-loss success will “fall apart” if he ever eats something sweet again.

Other stars who have admitted taking fat jabs include Jeremy Clarkson, 65, James Corden, 47, and US model Chrissy Teigen, 39.

The U.S. Navy’s supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford and at least a portion of the rest of its strike group have been ordered to Latin American waters. This represents a new and especially significant deployment of U.S. forces into the Western Hemisphere amid a steady escalation in the scale and scope of ostensible counter-narcotics operations. Strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats have now become routine, and the possibility that the campaign could extend to targets on land, particularly in Venezuela, continues to grow.

Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s top spokesperson, made the unexpected announcement about Ford, which is currently on a scheduled deployment in the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea on a scheduled deployment.

“In support of the President’s [Donald Trump] directive to dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and counter narco-terrorism in defense of the Homeland, the Secretary of War [Pete Hegseth] has directed the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and embarked carrier air wing to the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR),” Parnell said in a statement. “The enhanced U.S. force presence in the USSOUTHCOM AOR will bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States homeland and our security in the Western Hemisphere. These forces will enhance and augment existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle TCOs.”

Ford, the Navy’s newest carrier, currently has a full air wing embarked, which includes F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters, EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jets, E-2D Hawkeye airborne early warning and control planes, C-2A Greyhound Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) aircraft, and MH-60R/S Seahawk helicopters. The rest of its strike group includes four Arleigh Burke class destroyers – USS Winston S. Churchill, USS Bainbridge, USS Mahan, and USS Forrest Sherman – and likely at least one attack submarine.

USNI News has reported that it is currently unclear which of Ford’s escorts may accompany it to the SOUTHCOM AOR, citing an unnamed source. The outlet noted that, at least as of Monday, the USS Forrest Sherman and USS Mitscher were operating independently in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, respectively

It is likely to take Ford at least a week to get back across the Mediterranean and then the Atlantic Ocean. Where exactly within the SOUTHCOM AOR the carrier and elements of its strike group might take up station remains to be seen.

Regardless, just pulling Ford from a scheduled deployment is a major development and follows an already substantial build-up of U.S. naval, air, and other assets in and around the Caribbean. As of last week, approximately 10,000 U.S. personnel, in total, were forward deployed in the region. Fox News has reported that the Navy is now set to see roughly 14 percent of its combat fleets operating within SOUTHCOM’s AOR.

🚨 Today, the U.S. announced its 7th strike in SOUTHCOM, destroying a boat affiliated with a Colombian cartel. The U.S. has massed 10,000+ troops in the region, with most in Puerto Rico and on 12 U.S. Navy ships. Also:

– USAF B-52H bombers + USMC F-35B fighters conducted a… pic.twitter.com/PyYyZlWSxC

— Ian Ellis (@ianellisjones) October 19, 2025

The Navy’s aircraft carrier strike groups, in general, are at the very top of the U.S. military’s power-projection assets, offering immense capability to exercise control over surrounding sea and airspace, as well as to launch strikes on targets on the water and ashore hundreds of miles away in any direction. They also provide huge floating bases that can be utilized in other ways, including as launch points for major special operations forces missions.

Even if only a portion of the Ford Carrier Strike Group ultimately deploys to the SOUTHCOM AOR, it would still represent a major boost in capabilities and operational capacity in the theater. There are already multiple Arleigh Burke class destroyers, as well as a Ticonderoga class cruiser, in the region that could also join with Ford and its escorts, including to help provide protection for the carrier. The overall threat picture is not high, though one still does exist. It is worth noting that carrier strike groups also train heavily before deployments to be a deeply integrated, singular fighting force, something that would not exist with warships already in the Caribbean. Still, this combination of naval forces would likely be more than enough to suffice in this scenario.

Altogether, Ford‘s impending arrival can only signal a new and substantial escalation in U.S. operations in the region. As noted, American forces are now regularly striking small boats alleged to be involved in drug smuggling. Just earlier today, Secretary of War Hegseth announced the ninth such strike known to have occured since the start of September. To date, seven of the strikes have targeted boats in the Caribbean, while two more have occured in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

Overnight, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO), trafficking narcotics in the Caribbean Sea.

The vessel was known by our… pic.twitter.com/lVlw0FLBv4

— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) October 24, 2025

All of this also comes amid U.S. government efforts to put particular pressure on Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro. Just yesterday, Air Force B-1 bombers conducted a show of force close to Venezuela’s coast. Last week, Air Force B-52 bombers, accompanied by U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Joint Strike Fighters, conducted a similar mission that officials later described as a “bomber attack demonstration.”

There has been a steady drumbeat of reports in recent weeks pointing to the growing possibility of direct action of some kind against Maduro’s regime. President Trump said on Wednesday that his administration was moving to target drug cartels on land, though he did not elaborate on what that might entail or where such operations might occur. He also confirmed last week that he had authorized the CIA to engage in covert operations against the Venezuelan government. Maduro has been under indictment in the United States since 2020 for drug trafficking and other charges, and American authorities currently have a $50 million bounty out for his capture.

While it will take some time for the elements of the Ford Carrier Strike Group to arrive in Latin American waters, that they are on their way already signals U.S. operations in the region are entering a new phase.

Contact the author: [email protected]

Oct. 7 (UPI) — Federal prosecutors have charged an alleged member of a Chicago-based gang of ordering a hit on a prominent border patrol leader, according to documents unsealed Monday.

The criminal complaint accuses Juan Espinoza Martinez of orchestrating a murder-for-hire scheme, alleging that he offered $10,000 in Snapchat messages to other members of the Latin Kings street gang to kill the unnamed official.

The Homeland Security Department later named that official as U.S. Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino, a formerly obscure regional agent who has risen to prominence amid President Donald Trump‘s aggressive efforts to deport undocumented immigrants in Los Angeles and Chicago.

Those efforts include Operation Midway Blitz, a crackdown in Chicago that has drawn protests and pushback from local officials. The charges against Martinez were filed as the Trump administration remains locked in legal battles with Democratic governors who object to his deployment of federal troops to cities.

The complaint is based on information provided to law enforcement by a confidential informant who described Martinez as a high-ranking member in the gang. After border patrol agents shot a woman on Saturday in the Brighton Park neighborhood of Chicago, Martinez ordered gang members to increase their presence in the area, the complaint states.

Screenshots included in the complaint show that Martinez offered $2,000 for information on Bovino or “10k if u take him down.”

“Placing a bounty on the head of a federal officer is an attack on the rule of law and on every American who depends on law enforcement to keep them safe,” Deputy Attorney General Robert Blanche said in a statement. “This case is exactly what we mean when we say Take Back America – taking back every neighborhood and street corner from violent thugs and criminal gangs and returning them to the law-abiding members of our communities.”

It’s not clear if Martinez has legal counsel and he has not made any public statements.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has summoned hundreds of generals and admirals to an urgent meeting in Virginia next week, but the reason is unknown to many who have been ordered to attend, The War Zone has learned.

Many of these high-ranking officers have been in contact with each other to find out why Hegseth has ordered such an unprecedented gathering that will upend the schedules of hundreds of them, a U.S. official told The War Zone.

“They know about this through scheduling, but they have no idea what this is all about,” the official added. “It is something everyone is wondering. There is no indication of what the topic is.”

The Pentagon confirmed the meeting but provided no details.

“The Secretary of War will be addressing his senior military leaders early next week,” Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.

The meeting, first reported by The Washington Post, comes as Hegseth is looking to trim the ranks of the military’s top commanders and reduce the number of headquarters.

“The directive was issued earlier this week…months after Hegseth’s team at the Pentagon announced plans to undertake a sweeping consolidation of top military commands,” according to The Post.

There are more than 800 admirals and generals, and the order about the meeting affects all the commanding officers, the publication noted.

In May, Hegseth directed that about 100 of those positions be slashed to make the Pentagon more efficient. He has also indicated he wants to reduce the number of military headquarters, including discussions of combining U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command into one.

Though Hegseth has indicated he wants to cut more than 12% of top officer billets, that is just one possible reason for this meeting.

Calling in all these leaders to one meeting is a potential logistical challenge, considering how many are deployed across the globe. The order does not affect staff officers, The Post noted. While there are many commanding generals already in Washington at the Pentagon and a few more who have traveled to the D.C. area to attend an annual Air Force conference, most are elsewhere in the country or located in the Middle East, Europe and the Pacific regions.

Admirals and generals travel with a retinue of support staff and secure communications systems that require a lot of airlift capacity. Considering that most large-scale meetings are conducted by secure teleconference as a result, making so many top officers travel with the resulting schedule disruptions and security issues has raised alarm bells.

“None of the people who spoke with The Post could recall a defense secretary ever ordering so many of the military’s generals and admirals to assemble like this,” the newspaper explained. “Several said it raised security concerns.”

This is a developing story.

Contact the author: [email protected]

Ticketmaster will have to give music fans more advance information about ticket prices, after complaints about Oasis’s reunion tour last year.

The Competition and Markets Authority says the company has agreed to tell fans 24 hours in advance if a tiered pricing system is being used, as it was for Oasis standing tickets, and give more information about ticket prices during online queues.

It comes after the CMA said Ticketmaster “may have misled Oasis fans” with unclear pricing last year.

Platinum tickets sold for almost two and a half times the standard the price, but Ticketmaster did not explain to consumers that they came without extra benefits.

Fans expressed outrage over allegations that Ticketmaster used “dynamic pricing” – where ticket prices rise and fall according to demand – prompting the CMA to launch an investigation into the sale.

However the CMA said it had “not found evidence” that algorithmic pricing had been used to adjust the price of tickets in real time.

As a result of the investigation, Ticketmaster will have to provide more information about prices during online queues, helping fans anticipate how much they might have to pay.

It will also have to use accurate labelling, to ensure they “do not give the impression that one ticket is better than another when that is not the case,” the CMA said.

The company will also have to regularly report to the CMA over the next two years to ensure it is adhering to the new compliance.

The U.S. Air Force has awarded a contract for the development and production of a new Next Generation Penetrator (NGP) bunker buster bomb. NGP is the planned successor to the 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), which became a household name after its first-ever real-world use against deeply-buried nuclear facilities in Iran during Operation Midnight Hammer earlier this year.

Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) recently announced that it had received the new NGP contract from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s (AFLCMC) Munitions Directorate at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. ARA will be working on the new bunker buster bomb in close cooperation with Boeing, the current prime contractor for MOP. The stealthy B-2 bomber is currently the only aircraft cleared to employ MOPs operationally, and can only carry two of them on a single sortie. The future B-21 Raider stealth bomber is smaller than the B-2 and is expected to be able to carry a single MOP. Both the B-2 and B-21 could be in line to carry NGPs depending on when that munition is fielded. You can read more about the history of MOP in this past TWZ feature.

Under the 24-month deal, ARA will “serve as the System Design Agent for the development of a prototype air-to-ground Next Generation Penetrator weapon system,” according to a company press release. “ARA will also produce and test sub-scale and full-scale prototype munitions. This effort will evaluate capabilities against hard and deeply buried targets that pose critical challenges to U.S. national security.”

In addition, “leveraging decades of experience in guided and penetrating munitions, ARA will lead design maturation, while Boeing will drive tail kit development and support all-up-round integration.”

A specialized tail unit, designated the KMU-612/B, which contains the GPS-assisted inertial navigation system (INS) guidance package and other systems, is a key component of the current MOP. A BLU-127/B penetrating “warhead” is combined with the KMU-612/B, as well as other components, including advanced fuzes designed to help produce the maximum destructive effect after burrowing deep down to a target, to create a complete GBU-57/B bomb.

Further details about the NGP’s expected capabilities remain limited. A contracting notice that the Munitions Directorate at Eglin put out in February 2024 called for a bomb with a warhead weighing 22,000 pounds or less and that would be “capable of blast / frag[mentation] / and penetration effects.” However, the notice did not specify a desired gross weight or prospective dimensions for the entire munition.

The notice also called for a “terminal accuracy” of “CE90 w/in 2.2m both in GPS aided, degraded, and denied environments.” In layman’s terms, this means the munition needs to hit within 7.2 feet (2.2 meters) of a specified impact point at least 90 percent of the time, which is a very steep demand. GPS-assisted INS-guided Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) bombs, on average, can hit within 16.4 feet (five meters) of designated target coordinates under optimal conditions, but this can grow to nearly 100 feet (30 meters) if GPS connectivity is lost, according to the Air Force.

“The USAF will consider novel, demonstrated, or fielded Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) technologies with viability for integration into a warhead guidance system design that can achieve repeatable, high accuracy performance in GPS aided, degraded, and/or denied environments,” the February 2024 contracting notice added. It also mentioned the “possible integration of embedded fuze technology,” but did not elaborate.

As TWZ regularly notes in reporting on the MOP, fuzing is a particularly important aspect of deep-penetrating munitions, especially if the exact location and/or layout of the target is not well-established ahead of a strike. Advanced fuzes with features like the ability to ‘count’ floors to determine depth and sense the ‘voids’ formed by underground mission spaces greatly increase the potential for maximum damage from a weapon like MOP or NGP.

Furthermore, “the prototype penetrator warhead design effort should allow integration of technologies acquired and lessons learned under previous penetrator warhead developments to meet performance requirements for the HDBT [Hard and Deeply Buried Target] target set.”

As TWZ previously reported, the Air Force has had an interest in an NGP bunker buster bomb since at least the early 2010s, which is when the MOP began to enter operational service. The service has notably expressed interest in a powered standoff capability, as well as enhanced and potentially scalable terminal effects in the past. An add-on rocket motor could also aid with penetration.

An NGP that can be employed from standoff ranges would offer extended reach, as well as help reduce the vulnerability of the launch platform. Unpowered MOPs have to be released close to the target, a key reason why the highly survivable B-2 is currently the only operational delivery method for those weapons. The Air Force has been separately warning about ever-growing air defense threats that will increasingly challenge even stealthy aircraft, especially in any future high-end fight, such as one against China in the Pacific.

As noted, the forthcoming B-21 is smaller than the B-2, and is only expected to be able to carry a single MOP rather than two at a time. Broadly speaking, the much larger planned size of the total Raider fleet will help mitigate the smaller payload capacity of those aircraft. At the same time, this could create a new incentive to, if possible, devise an NGP that is smaller and/or lighter while at least retaining similar effectiveness to the existing MOP.

During Operation Midnight Hammer, six B-2s dropped 12 MOPs on Iran’s nuclear facility at Fordow, six each on just two impact points, with the successive bombs burrowing deeper and deeper to the actual target. If the same operation had been conducted using MOP-armed B-21s, twice as many bombers would’ve been necessary. As it stands, the exact results of the strike on Fordow remain a point of significant debate.

Air Force officials have already, unsurprisingly, made clear that lessons learned from Operation Midnight Hammer have been factoring into work on upgrades for the GBU-57/B, as well as planning for a follow-on to MOP. That operation also underscored the value that a conventional munition like MOP offers against targets that might otherwise only be reachable using a nuclear weapon.

“We are constantly looking at, whether it be those [MOP replacement options], or an advanced technology, or advanced tactics, to be able to get ahead and make sure, as the threat moves to defend, we have the ability to put the kit together that we can continue to have events like last Saturday night happen if we’re called upon again,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin said at a hearing before members of the Senate Appropriations Committee back on June 26, referring to the strikes on Iran. “It might be something different than the GBU-57, some advancement based on what the enemy might do.”

“This is not a static environment,” Allvin added at that time. “Now that we know that it was successful, I’m pretty sure that people who are potential adversaries might look at that and they may adapt.”

During the hearing in June, Allvin also said the Air Force was working to bolster its stocks of MOPs, which could continue to be an important part of the service’s arsenal even after the future NGP begins entering service.

Much still remains to be learned about the Air Force’s NGP plans, but with the new contract awarded to ARA, the service is set to have its first full-scale prototypes within the next two years.

Contact the author: [email protected]

Sept. 8 (UPI) — Whaleco Inc., operating as Temu, has been ordered by a federal court to pay a $2 million civil fine for violating federal law regarding its online marketplace, the U.S. Department of Justice said Monday.

The private U.S.-registered company, which mainly sells products from China, had the most downloaded app in the United States in 2024, according to Business of Apps. The company also sells products to customers in 90 countries.

DOJ and the Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts alleging Temu didn’t sufficiently disclose certain information for high-volume third-party sellers, including addresses, or provide consistent reporting methods as required by law. This included consumers’ ability to electronically and telephonically report suspicious activity to the marketplace.

The agencies said they violated the INFORM Consumers Act.

“The Justice Department is committed to ensuring American consumers have information about third-party sellers online and mechanisms to report suspicious marketplace behavior,” Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of DOJ’s Civil Division said in a statement. “The Department will continue to ensure that online marketplaces follow the INFORM Consumers Act.”

Temu also was ordered to ensure compliance with the INFORM Consumers Act in the future.

Temu, which means “Team Up, Price Down,” was founded as Whaleco Inc. in Boston in 2022.

It is a subsidiary of PDD Holdings, a Chinese online retailer owned by Colin Huang. PDD Holdings also owns Pinduoduo, an online commerce platform in China.

In July, the European Commission charged Temu with breaking the EU’s Digital Services Act by failing to prevent the sale of usnafe products that violate its standards.

In an analysis, the European Commission found that shopping on Temu carries a high risk of finding unsafe products, such as small toys and small electronics.

In the EU, companies can be fined up to 6% of their annual total worldwide turnover.

Temu, with an estimated annual revenue of $53.9 billion in 2024, competes with Amazon, the No. 1 online retailer in the world with $391.4 billion in revenue last year.

“Temu is committed to bringing affordable products onto its platform to enable consumers and merchandise partners to fulfill their dreams in an inclusive environment,” the company said on its website.

Temu and another online retailer, Shein, have been hit by tariffs imposed on imports into the United States.

“Due to recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs, our operating expenses have gone up. To keep offering the products you love without compromising on quality, we will be making price adjustment starting April 25, 2025,” Temu said in a statement to U.S. shoppers.

That was in late April when there was a 145% duty on Chinese imports. The Trump administration has since lowered them temporarily to 10%. The pause is until Nov. 10.

ORDERING your wardrobe online is always a risky business as you never quite know what you’re going to end up with.

And now one fashionista has proven why you might be better off trying on clothes in-store rather than trying your luck online – especially, if it’s a lesser-known website.

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Ahead of a birthday photoshoot, the shopper, only known as Chris, decided to treat herself to a stunning pearl gown she had spotted online.

The jaw-dropping gown, which looked incredible on the model, was advertised by a brand called Divacc – a website which no longer seems to be accessible.

The showstopper of a dress featured a busty neckline and hundreds of pearls of varying sizes, which hugged the tanned model’s body perfectly.

The gown, which appears to have since been taken down along the website, also boasted a sexy thigh-high split, making for a leggy display.

Stunned by how gorgeous the item was, Chris ordered the lavish gown – but much to her disappointment, the contents of the parcel were a far cry from her expectations.

Horrified, the online shopper took to TikTok where she shared the epic fail, leaving millions of viewers in hysterics.

”This is what I ordered for a birthday photoshoot,” she said at the start of the now-viral video.

”And this is w*f I got,” Chris said, as she modelled the actual dress she received in the post.

Unlike the stunning gown advertised online, the real dress appeared to be made out of a flimsy material – and the pearls were simply a printed design.

Although the figure-hugging dress did have a thigh-high split, that was pretty much the only similarity to the luxe gown she had ordered for the photoshoot.

Unimpressed, Chris gave horrified viewers a look of the epic fail from different angles.

”At this point @divacc you gone have to fight me,” Chris wrote in the caption.

Posted just a week ago under the username @vivala_mamacita, the video has already gone viral, winning the young beauty more than a whopping 11million views.

As over 20,000 people gave it a like, thousands flooded to comments in total disbelief.

One fast fashion fan said: ”Even SHEIN can’t do dirty like this.”

Many also shared their best jokes, with one viewer laughing: ”They sent the pdf version.”

”Girl did you order it or did you download it,” someone else wanted to know.

”The store is called DIVACC cause what DIVACC did you order,” another was in hysterics.

”I set my expectations low but this hit on another level,” a viewer couldn’t believe how bad the gown turned out to be.

Chris, who has since made a gorgeous pearl gown herself, went on in the comments: ”I saw it on Pinterest and went through their site on there. It’s Called Divacc.

”I’ll only be sticking with companies I’m familiar with from now on.”

MIAMI — A federal judge has put a stop to further expansion of the immigration detention center built in the Florida Everglades and dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz, ordering that its operations wind down within two months.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in Miami wrote in her 82-page order late Thursday that Florida officials never sufficiently explained why an immigration detention center needed to be located in the middle of sensitive wetlands cherished by environmentalists and outdoors people.

She also said that state and federal authorities never undertook an environmental review as required by federal law before Florida officials hastily built the detention camp that they championed as a model for President Trump’s immigration policies. That failure adversely affected the “recreational, conservational, and aesthetic interests” of the environmental groups and Miccosukee Tribe, which brought the lawsuit, she said.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday reacted to the ruling, saying he would not be deterred by “an activist judge.”

“We knew this would be something that would likely happen,” DeSantis said at a news conference in Panama City. “We will respond accordingly. You either have a country or you don’t.”

Here’s what to know about the situation and what might come next:

What did the judge say?

Williams said she expected the population at the facility to drop within 60 days by transferring detainees to other facilities. Once that happens, fencing, lighting, gas, waste, generators and other equipment should be removed from the site. No additional detainees can be sent to the facility, and noadditional lighting, fencing, paving, buildings or tents can be added to the camp. The only repairs that can be made to the existing facility are for safety purposes. However, the judge allowed for the existing dormitories and housing to stay in place as long as they are maintained to prevent deterioration or damage.

Here’s where detainees might end up

During court hearings, lawyers said at one point there were fewer than 1,000 detainees at the facility, which state officials had planned to hold up to 3,000 people. Although the detainees could be sent to other facilities out of state, Florida has other immigration detention centers including the Krome North Processing Center in Miami, the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach and the Baker County Detention Center managed by the local sheriff’s office. Earlier this month, DeSantis announced plans for a second state-initiated immigration detention facility dubbed “Deportation Depot” at a state prison about 43 miles (69 kilometers) west of downtown Jacksonville. State officials say it is expected to hold 1,300 immigration detention beds, though that capacity could be expanded to 2,000 beds.

How does this decision impact the other “Alligator Alcatraz” lawsuit?

Civil rights lawyers had filed a second lawsuit over practices at “Alligator Alcatraz,” claiming that detainees weren’t able to meet with their attorneys privately and were denied access to immigration courts. Another federal judge in Miami dismissed part of the lawsuit earlier this week after the Trump administration designated the Krome North Processing Center as the court for their cases to be heard. The judge moved the remaining counts of the case from Florida’s southern district to the middle district. Eunice Cho, the lead attorney for the detainees, said Friday that the decision in the environmental lawsuit won’t have an impact on the civil rights case since there could be detainees at the facility for the next two months.

“Our case addresses the lack of access to counsel for people detained at Alligator Alcatraz, and there are still people detained there,” Cho said.

Status of the hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts

No one has said publicly what will happen to the hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts involved in the facility. DeSantis’ administration in July signed contracts with private vendors to pay at least $245 million to set up and run the center, according to a public database. That amount — to be fronted by Florida taxpayers — was in line with the $450 million a year officials have estimated the facility was going to cost. The governor’s office and the Florida Division of Emergency Management on Friday didn’t respond to questions about whether Florida taxpayers would still be on the hook for the contracts if the facility is shuttered.

Is this a final decision?

No. This case will continue to be litigated. The state of Florida filed a notice of appeal Thursday night, shortly after the ruling was issued. As its name suggests, a preliminary injunction is only an initial action taken by a judge to prevent harm while a lawsuit makes its way through the court process and when it appears that one side has a good chance of succeeding based on the merits of the case.

Schneider and Anderson write for the Associated Press.

Aug. 18 (UPI) — An Australian court on Monday fined national flag carrier Qantas nearly $60 million for illegally firing more than 1,800 ground workers and then outsourcing their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Australia’s Transport Workers Union said in a statement that it was the largest employer penalty in Australian corporate history.

“Against all odds, TWU members have sent a $90 million warning to corporate Australia: you can’t break the law and get away with it,” the union said, referring to the amount Qantas was fined in Australian dollars.

Federal Court Justice Michael Lee said a little more than half of the penalty should be paid to the TWU, while the recipients of the remaining sum will be decided at a later hearing, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Lee said that while Qantas has expressed “genuine regrets” about the situation, he believes that “this more likely reflects the damage this case has done at the company rather than unique remorse for the damage done to the affected workers.”

He said that the airline “resisted until it could resist no more.”

Qantas said the Monday judgement holds the company “accountable for our actions.”

“We sincerely apologize to each and every one of the 1,820 ground handling employees and to their families who suffered as a result,” Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson said in a statement.

“The decision to outsource five years ago, particularly during such an uncertain time, caused genuine hardship for many of our former team and their families. The impact was felt not only by those who lost their jobs, but our entire workforce.”

The ruling brings an end to a five-year fight by the TWU over Qantas’s firing of some 1,800 workers and then outsourcing their jobs in 2020.

Qantas appealed through the Australian court system, with the High Court affirming that the airline had acted illegally by outsourcing the employment.

The Monday fine is on top of the roughly $78 million that Qantas agreed to pay eligible workers in December, after its failed bid arguing that it should not have to offer workers compensation.

“Qantas was not sorry to workers when it illegally outsourced these workers, many finding out they’d lost their jobs over loudspeaker in the lunch room. It was not sorry when it dragged them all the way to the High Court, or when it argued it should have to pay them no compensation at all,” TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said in a statement.

“Qantas is only sorrow now that it has to pay the larges penalty fine of any employer in Australian corporate history.”

The announcement comes about 14 months after Qantas reached a settlement with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to pay a multi-million-dollar fine for booking flights that had previously been canceled.

Aug. 16 (UPI) — Hours after Air Canada flight attendants went on strike and the airline indefinitely paused all flights, the Canadian government intervenued Saturday and ordered operations to resume.

Jobs Minister Patty Haju ordered the company’s management and the union back to participate in binding arbitration to hash out their differences on wages and compensation. It wasn’t known when flights will resume after opereations were paused early Saturday.

“After eight months of negotiations by the parties, and after meeting with both parties last night and urging them to work hard to reach a deal, it is disappointing to have to conclude today that Air Canada and CUPE flight attendants are at an impasse and remain unable to resolve their dispute,” she said in a statement released Saturday aftetnoon Eastern time.

“The government firmly believes that the best deals are reached by the parties at the bargaining table. It has now become clear that this dispute won’t be resolved at the table. Canadians are increasingly finding themselves in very difficult situations and the strike is rapidly impacting the Canadian economy.”

She invoked Section 107 of the Canadian Labor Code, which directs the Canadian Relations Board to arbitrate the dispute.

“I am exercising this authority because it is critical to maintaining and securing industrial peace, protecting Canadians and promoting conditions to resolve the dispute,” she said. “Despite the parties’ resolution of several key differences, the CIRB is best positioned to help them find a solution on the outstanding items.”

Also, she extended the terms of the existing agreement until a new one is determined by an arbiter.

“This decision will help make sure that hundreds of thousands of Canadians and visitors to our country are not impacted because of cancelled flights,” she said. “Further, the shipments of critical goods such as pharmaceuticals and organ tissue, over 40% of which are moved by Air Canada, should continue to reach their destinations.”

The Air Canada union asked her to direct the parties to enter into binding arbitration.

But on Saturday afternoon, the union blasted the order to end the strike and posted images and video stirkers.

“Now, when we are at the bargaining table with an obstinate employer, the Liberals are violating our Charter rights to take job action and give Air Canada exactly what they want — hours and hours of unpaid labor from underpaid flight attendants, while the company pulls in sky-high profits and extraordinary executive compensation.

“This sets a terrible precedent. Contrary to the Minister’s remarks, this will not ensure labor peae at Air Canada.”

More than 130,000 travelers worldwide fly on the airline daily.

Canada’s largest airline has more than 1,000 flights, including 170 international ones, and from 50 Canadian airports. Between more than 50 U.S. airports and Canada, there are 430 daily flights.

Locked out at 1:30 a.m. EDT were 10,000 flight attendants at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees. Air Canada Express, with regional 300 flights and operated by Jazz Aviation and PAl Airlines, is not affected.

The flight attendants went on strike at 12:58 a.m. EDT.

Picket lines had been set up at airports throughout Canada, the CBC reported.

The last negotiations were on Friday night and no new talks were scheduled.

On Wednesday, the airline served the union a statutory 72-hour lockout notice in response to the union’s 72-hour strike notice.

Air Canada was canceling flights ahead of the work stoppage.

“The carriers have since been gradually reducing their schedules of about 700 daily flights to manage the labour disruption created by CUPE’s strike notice,” the airline said. “Some 130,000 customers will be impacted each day that the suspension continues. At this time, Air Canada remains engaged and committed to negotiate a renewal to its collective agreement with CUPE.”

The airline said it “deeply regrets the labor disruption is having on customers.”

Wesley Lesosky, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees’ Air Canada component, told the CBC it is up to the airline when they would be back on flights. The airline hadn’t responded to the media site.

Air Canada Chief Operating Officer Mark Nasr earlier said after an agreement, it could take up to a week to fully restart operations.

The carrier advised people not to go to the airport if they are booked on the airline.

“Air Canada will notify customers with imminent travel of additional canceled flights and their options,” the airline said. “For those customers due to travel soon whose flights are not yet cancelled, Air Canada has put in place a goodwill policy to allow them to rebook their travel or obtain a credit for future travel.”

Compensation differences

Flight attendants want to be compensated for work before the flights take off and after they land. Typically with most airlines, they get paid only for the hours they are in the air.

The airline, in its latest offer, proposes a 38% increase in total compensation that “would have made our flight attendants the best compensated in Canada.”

The union said a proposed 8% raise in the first year is offset by inflation.

Hajdu told The Canadian Press on Friday that it is “critical” for the two sides to return to the negotiating table.

“It’s very important that we stay focused on the two parties,” Hajdu said. “They have the primary responsibility to solve this. This is a corporation and a union who have all the tools they need, as well as tools from the federal mediation service, to get this deal done.”

On Friday, the minister said she wasn’t ready to intervene in the dispute, and saw a path forward to a deal because most issues have been resolved.

The union accused her of speaking “on behalf” of the company.

“Every party has expressed support for our effort to end unpaid work, except for the governing Liberal Party,” Lesosky said during a news conference Thursday.

Hajdu posted Friday on Facebook that she met with both sides.

“It is unacceptable that such little progress has been made. Canadians are counting on both parties to put forward their best efforts.”

Travel options

The carrier advised people not to go to the airport if they are booked on the airline.

“Air Canada will notify customers with imminent travel of additional cancelled flights and their options. For those customers due to travel soon whose flights are not yet cancelled, Air Canada has put in place a goodwill policy to allow them to rebook their travel or obtain a credit for future travel,” the airline posted.

Air Canada is partnered with Star Alliance, which includes more than 20 airlines, including Lufthansa and United Airlines. Code-sharing flights might be affected.

The New York Times listed ideas for travelers.

Travelers can change flight dates and receive a one-time $50 credit per passenger or opt for an airline credit equal to the value of the ticket for one year.

Travelers are eligible for a full refund requested through the app or website. The airline said it will attempt to rebook travelers on other airlines. Canada’s second-biggest airline is WestJet Airlines, though it has many fewer international destinations.

Because of peak summer travel, options may be limited.

Keelin Pringnitz and her family were returning from a European vacation to Ottawa, but were left stranded at Heathrow Airport in London.

“It was an end of my maternity leave kind of trip,” Pringnitz told CBC. “We went to the Faroe Islands and Norway, travelling through Air Canada to London.”

She said they could fly to the United States, but no assistance once they land there.

“It didn’t go over well with the line,” she said. “Nobody really seemed interested. Everybody seemed a little bit amused almost at the suggestion, or exasperated, because it is a bit ridiculous to offer to take stranded passengers to a different country to strand them there.”

For those with travel insurance, some plans include trip cancellations, including a strike.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, which has jurisdiction over Air Canada flights that depart from the U.S., has a similar policy like the Canadian government. Refunds must be given within 30 days and rebooked if possible. There is no mandatory compensation for delays.

“For U.S. travellers, the key now is to think strategically,” Anton Radchenko, AirAdvisor’s founder, said in a statement to USA Today. “Don’t just look for the fastest alternative route; look for the most stable one. This may mean flying via smaller, less congested hubs like Detroit or Minneapolis, where rerouting is easier, or securing refundable one-stop connections through partner airlines before seats vanish.

“Keep all receipts, track your communications with the airline, and, if possible, pay with a credit card that includes trip interruption coverage. Above all, treat this strike as a high-impact event that demands proactive planning, not reactive scrambling.”

Southern Europe is battling deadly wildfires and extreme heat this week, with record temperatures and dry conditions forcing evacuations across France, Spain and Portugal.

An enormous wildfire in southern France’s Aude region has killed one person, injured nine others, marking the country’s largest wildfire this season.

The blaze, which erupted on Tuesday, has already scorched at least 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) – an area larger than the city of Paris – in less than 24 hours. Fires have consumed forests, ravaged villages and damaged or destroyed at least 25 homes, with emergency officials warning that the blaze remains out of control.

“All of the nation’s resources are mobilised,” President Emmanuel Macron said in a post on X, urging people to act with “the utmost caution”.

More than 1,800 firefighters have been sent to battle the flames, backed by 600 vehicles and water-dropping aircraft.

“We have at our disposal in the Aude department the maximum number of personnel and resources that we can have in the south of France in its entirety,” said Remi Recio, deputy prefect of Narbonne.

An elderly woman who refused to evacuate was killed, while another person is missing. Two civilians were injured, including one in critical condition with burns, and seven firefighters suffered smoke inhalation.

Camping grounds and at least one village were partially evacuated, and roads were closed. “I left everything behind me,” said David Cerdan, 51, who fled the village of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse. “I’m putting it into perspective. I only have material damage.”

Officials say the fire has already consumed as much land as all French wildfires in 2024 combined – more than double that of 2023. “The fire is advancing in an area where all the conditions are ripe for it to progress,” said fire official Roesch. “This fire will keep us busy for several days. It’s a long-term operation.”

An investigation into the cause is under way. France’s environment ministry said drought conditions and dry vegetation contributed to the spread, with water restrictions already in place in the Aude region.

“The risk of fire is greatest in the Mediterranean,” said climate and agriculture analyst Serge Zaka. “In France, it is the hottest and driest area. But with climate change, these fire risks are expected to become more significant during the summer.”

Last month, a blaze near Marseille injured about 300 people. Scientists warn that climate change is driving more intense heat and dryness across Europe, the world’s fastest-warming continent.

Spain and Portugal face heat-driven blazes

In Spain, a prolonged heatwave since Sunday – with temperatures reaching 43C (109F) – has helped fan multiple wildfires across the country.

The resort town of Tarifa in Andalusia saw more than 1,500 people and 5,000 vehicles evacuated after a fire broke out near La Pena, a wooded area close to the beach. The fire, believed to have started in a camper van, was rapidly spread by strong winds.

“What concerns us most right now is the wind, whether it shifts between the west and east,” said Antonio Sanz, Andalusia’s interior minister.

Fire crews worked through the night to keep flames away from hotels and tourist accommodation, but the blaze remains active, and residents have not been allowed to return.

Elsewhere, a fire near Ponteceso in the Galicia region forced the evacuation of Corme Aldea village. In Cadiz, a blaze that erupted Tuesday led to mass evacuations, according to state broadcaster RTVE.

The Spanish meteorological agency AEMET has issued orange alerts across several regions through Friday. Civil protection authorities warn of “high” or “extreme” fire risk in much of the country.

Spain’s Ministry of Health reported 1,060 excess deaths linked to extreme heat in July, a 57 percent increase over the same month last year, based on data from the national mortality monitoring system. While the data does not confirm direct causation, it is widely used to estimate heat-related deaths.

In neighbouring Portugal, wildfires have already burned more than 42,000 hectares (104,000 acres) in 2025 – the largest area since 2022 and eight times more than this time last year. More than half of that land was scorched in just the past two weeks.

Firefighters managed to bring a large blaze under control near Vila Real in the north on Wednesday, but others remain active. A fire in the city of Amarante continued to burn, while another in A Coruna reached emergency level 2 due to its proximity to populated areas.

Lisbon declared a state of alert until August 7, with more than 100 municipalities on maximum fire risk amid soaring temperatures.

Scientists say Southern Europe is on the front line of climate breakdown. Rising global temperatures are creating the conditions for longer and more destructive fire seasons.

Airline pilots are told they should let rip in the cockpit, according to an air hostess who has revealed some wild facts from her experiences in the sky

It’s one of those taboo habits that most travellers would agree is just not on.

Farting on a plane is simply wrong for the same reason car wind and lift trumps are ‘illegal’ – the victim is trapped and cannot escape.

Sitting next to another passenger with wind is indeed a very unfortunate event and a rotten start to your holiday or trip. You either have to keep getting up out of your seat to let them go to the toilet every time they need to privately pop off, or you suffer the revolting indignation of breathing the foul air that has blasted out directly from their intestines into your lungs.

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However, if you’re a pilot rather than a passenger, you will have been told you MUST toot freely while in the cockpit, according to an one Argentine flight attendant.

Barbara Bacilieri, also known as Barbie Bac to her almost 2.65milion YouTube million followers, claims pilots are “prohibited” from holding in their gas because the discomfort it causes can distract them from their crucially important role.

To make matters worse, flatulence is heightened when the plane reaches an altitude of 30,000 feet. “At high altitudes, atmospheric pressure is lower, which increases the volume of internal gases,” she explained. “This can cause discomfort and distraction in the cockpit when the pilots should be focused on doing their job, not in pain from being full of gas. That’s why it’s always recommended that pilots, if they have to, just release them.”

Her wild assessment is even backed up by a 2013 study by Danish and British gastroenterologists. Hans Christian Pommergaard, Jakob Burcharth, Anders Fischer, William Thomas and Professor Rosenberg told the New Zealand Medical Journal that holding your farts in may seem preferential but they suggested that for the sake of their health and comfort, passengers and crew should set them free.

Not doing so could lead to pain, bloating, indigestion, stress and even nausea, they said. According to the Sydney Morning Herald they concluded: “There is actually only one reasonable solution – just let it go.” The medics did recognise that air cabin quality may be diminished for other passengers though.

The gassy dilemma also applied to the cockpit and pilots, the specialists found. “If the pilot restrains a fart, all the drawbacks previously mentioned, including diminished concentration, may affect his abilities to control the airplane. If he lets go of the fart his co-pilot may be affected by its odour, which again reduces safety on board the flight.”

Barbie Bac also claims the pilots eat different meals – not to see who can produce the biggest back draft but so they don’t both suffer another unfortunate bowel incident. “The commander and the copilot choose different meal options. One will choose chicken and the other will choose pasta,” she says.

This apparently is to lessen the chances of them both getting food poisoning, which would mean no one would be able to fly the plane – not ideal. “It’s almost always the captain who makes the choice, and the copilot is the one who has to accept the alternative,” explained Bacilieri, who works for a Spanish budget carrier.

Israeli soldiers have deliberately shot at unarmed Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza after being “ordered” to do so by their commanders, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports.

Israel ordered an investigation into possible war crimes over the allegations by some soldiers that it revealed on Friday, Haaretz said.

At least 549 Palestinians have been killed and 4,066 injured while waiting for food aid distributed at sites run by the Israeli-and United States-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the Gaza Government Media Office said on Thursday. The GHF has been a source of widespread criticism since its establishment in May.

According to the Haaretz report, which quoted unnamed Israeli soldiers, troops were told to fire at the crowds of Palestinians and use unnecessary lethal force against people who appeared to pose no threat.

“We fired machineguns from tanks and threw grenades,” one soldier told Haaretz. “There was one incident where a group of civilians was hit while advancing under the cover of fog.”

In another instance, a soldier said that where they were stationed in Gaza, between “one and five people were killed every day”.

“It’s a killing field,” that soldier said.

Method of ‘control’

According to Haaretz, the Military Advocate General has told the army’s General Staff’s Fact-Finding Assessment Mechanism, which reviews incidents involving potential violations of the laws of war, to investigate suspected war crimes at these aid sites.

One of the authors of the report, Nir Hasson, told Al Jazeera that the Israeli directive to fire on civilians is part of a method to “control” the aid seekers.

“It’s actually a practice of … controlling the crowd by fire, like if you wanted the crowd to run off [from] a place, you shoot them at them, even though you know they are unarmed … You use fire to move people from one point to another,” he said from West Jerusalem.

While the journalist and his colleagues do not know the name of the commander who might have issued such a directive, Hasson said that he would likely hold a position high up in the army.

Despite this practice at these sites, most Israelis and the army’s troops still believe the war on Gaza is just, even while some cracks are emerging in this understanding, the journalist said.

“[There are] more and more people who are asking themselves if this war is necessary, but also what is the humanitarian price the Gazan population is [paying] for this war,” he said.

‘A death trap’

Reporting from Amman, Jordan, Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut said the Haaretz report is “shocking”.

“People in Gaza have said these distribution centres have now become a death trap for Palestinians,” Salhut said.

“Aid groups have said that Palestinians are left with no choice – to either starve to death, or die seeking the very little food that is offered in the distribution centres run by the GHF,” she added.

The GHF operates four food distribution sites in Gaza – one in the centre and three in south.

Since an Israeli blockade was lifted on the entry of humanitarian goods at the end of May, attacks on aid seekers in Gaza have increased.

On Friday, medics said six people were killed by gunfire as they tried to get food in southern Gaza.

But the GHF has come under intense condemnation by aid groups, including the United Nations, for its “weaponisation” of vital items.

On Friday, Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials, MSF, called the GHF’s aid distribution sites “slaughter masquerading as humanitarian aid”.

Since Israel began its war on Gaza in October 2023, at least 56,331 people have been killed, with 132,632 wounded in Israeli attacks, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported.

Haley Joel Osment must commit to six months of court-mandated Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and therapy after he was arrested earlier this year for alleged public drunkenness and cocaine possession.

The “Sixth Sense” and “Blink Twice” actor, 37, was arraigned Monday in Mono County, Calif. The Times confirmed that a judge granted the former child actor’s request for a one-year diversion. Osment, older brother of “Young Sheldon” alumna Emily Osment, will be cleared of his charges if he completes the terms of diversion: at least 3 AA meetings per week and at least two meetings with his therapist for the next six months. He must also “obey all laws,” Mono County District Attorney David Anderson said in a statement to The Times on Tuesday.

“If he does not complete diversion, the criminal proceedings will be reinstated,” Anderson said.

A representative for the actor did not immediately respond on Tuesday to The Times’ request for comment.

Osment, also known for lending his voice to the popular “Kingdom Hearts” video game franchise, was arrested April 8 on suspicion of public intoxication and possession of a controlled substance at the popular Mammoth Mountain ski resort. The Mono County district attorney’s office said at the time it charged the “Spoils of Babylon” actor with two misdemeanors: disorderly conduct involving alcohol and possession.

Law enforcement responded to a call about an allegedly intoxicated individual at the ski resort, TMZ reported in April. The website published video of Osment, wearing his ski helmet backward, allegedly holding up the line for a ski lift. Frustrated resort guests urged Osment to “get out of the line,” but he brushed off their demands and refused to follow a crew member who tried to escort him to the side, according to the video.

Adding to his troubles, Osment berated his arresting officer, claiming “I’ve been kidnapped by a f— Nazi” and hurling an antisemitic slur at the officer. After the footage surfaced, Osment said in a statement that he was “absolutely horrified by my behavior … in the throes of a blackout.”

“From the bottom of my heart, I apologize to absolutely everyone that this hurts. What came out of my mouth was nonsensical garbage — I’ve let the Jewish community down and it devastates me,” he added at the time. “I don’t ask for anyone’s forgiveness, but I promise to atone for my terrible mistake.”

Anderson said in his statement that his office “did not believe diversion was appropriate and objected” to Osment’s request, citing the actor’s prior DUI conviction and his comments to the officer. Ultimately, a judge decided in Osment’s favor.

Osment is next due in court Jan. 5, 2026, for a review of his diversion compliance.

Before then, he is set to appear in Season 2 of Netflix’s hit series “Wednesday.” The streaming giant revealed his serial killer role during its Tudum fan event on Saturday in Inglewood.

In a move that threatens to destabilise Nigeria’s already fragile humanitarian landscape, the International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) has been ordered by the Nigerian authorities to suspend all its humanitarian support operations in the country immediately. The directive, communicated directly to INSO leadership, comes as a surprise blow to dozens of humanitarian partners across Nigeria’s conflict-affected regions.

In a statement seen by HumAngle, INSO Country Director Zeljko Toncic said, “INSO received a formal request from Nigerian authorities to suspend its humanitarian activities in the country. In strict compliance with this decision, INSO is immediately suspending all of its services to humanitarian partners in Nigeria.”

Since 2016, INSO has played a pivotal role in supporting over 110 humanitarian organisations, including international agencies and local NGOs, to navigate the complex security challenges posed by the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, terrorism in the North West, and communal violence in the Middle Belt.

The panic among humanitarian organisations is palpable, with many describing the suspension as a devastating blow to their safety and operations.

The suspension of INSO’s services, which range from security advisories to risk mitigation training, is likely to leave humanitarian workers vulnerable at a time of heightened insecurity.

INSO has maintained that it operates on strict humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence, with no political affiliations or agendas. The organisation has also expressed its willingness to engage with the Nigerian government to clarify its mandate and resume operations.

Humanitarian partners are reeling from the sudden halt in security information and support, fearing that the already volatile environment will become even more perilous.

Humanitarian fallout looms

The suspension comes as humanitarian needs continue to surge in Nigeria, with over eight million people in need of aid in the North East alone, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Aid workers, who rely heavily on INSO’s security support to operate safely in volatile areas, warn that the move could severely hamper the delivery of life-saving assistance.

“This is a serious setback. INSO’s services are critical to our risk assessments and operational planning. Without them, humanitarian workers are left to navigate these dangerous environments alone,” a humanitarian worker, speaking on condition of anonymity, told HumAngle. 

The anxiety within the humanitarian community is intensifying, with fears that without INSO, aid efforts will stall, putting lives at even greater risk.

A history of tension

This latest move is not without precedent. Nigerian authorities have previously clamped down on humanitarian actors over alleged concerns about transparency, neutrality, and security operations. In 2019, two international NGOs, Action Against Hunger (ACF) and Mercy Corps, were temporarily suspended in Borno State amid allegations of aiding armed groups, claims both agencies strongly denied.

Analysts suggest that the government’s increasing scrutiny of international NGOs is rooted in broader concerns about sovereignty and national security, particularly in conflict-prone areas. However, aid organisations caution that these suspensions jeopardise not only their operations but also the lives of the most vulnerable Nigerians.

INSO’s expressed willingness to engage with authorities signals a potential path forward. Aid agencies and civil society groups are calling for immediate dialogue to ensure that humanitarian neutrality is upheld and vital services can continue uninterrupted.

“We sincerely hope that a space for dialogue may help this situation, for the benefit of the humanitarian NGOs we support and the civilian populations you serve,” Toncic wrote in his letter.

INSO’s operations in the Niger Republic were also suspended in February following refusal by the country’s junta to renew the organisation’s operational license. The organisation had been active in the country since 2020, providing support to over 132 humanitarian organisations, including 35 national, local, and international NGOs.

HumAngle will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as they become available.

Journalist Adam Maidment felt like a “daylight robber” after ignoring warnings and ordering a €1 beer in Benidorm but the cut-price pint turned out to be far better than expected

While researching his trip to Benidorm, journalist Adam Maidment came across cautionary advice urging tourists to steer clear of the famously cheap drinks.

Many claimed these €1 offers at the popular Spanish resort were best avoided, describing them as subpar or suspiciously watered down.

Benidorm, with its beachside bars, themed pubs and sprawling expat scene, is a well-oiled machine when it comes to luring in tourists. More than 830,000 British tourists visit Benidorm each year, with many attracted by the number of sports bars, Irish pubs, and other themed venues offering lucrative deals.

However, many warn that the bargain booze may not be all it’s cracked up to be. In one popular TikTok video, viewed more than 450,000 times, creator Frank the Stag Man bluntly told 227,000 followers: “You get what you pay for”, labelling the drinks “absolute rubbish”.

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Still, not everyone heeded Frank’s warning. Adam, though, a true professional, decided to fall at the first hurdle in the name of journalism. In an article penned for the Manchester Evening News, Adam wrote: “I practically fell at the first hurdle and ignored all warnings after a very sunny afternoon stroll through Levante Beach, it’s perhaps the very exact reason why these bars have beer at such a ridiculous price point in the first place.”

Hoping to head into the Old Town, Adam spotted a venue advertising a too-tempting deal. “I spotted the La Parada lounge bar, which offered both €1 beer and even €1 Pintxos dishes. Whilst not feeling brave enough to try my chances with the culinary options, I was prepared to give the very cheap beer a go – all in the name of journalism, of course.”

The bar, located just up from the beachfront near Tiki Town Beach Club, was in a shaded spot and not too crowded. A scattering of locals were inside enjoying the calm. Adam said: “The very lovely server was happy to take my order for a €1 beer and, not quite knowing what I had set myself in for, I contemplated what would be arriving at my table and whether it would be as watered down or ominous as social media had suggested it would be.”

The beer arrived in minutes. “The dinky little glass of beer was pretty much as expected: certainly not a pint, and perhaps not even a half (maybe more of a third). But it was a freshly-poured serving of Amstel, so it certainly wasn’t the worst choice of beer.”

Most importantly, it tasted fine. “It was ice cold and it tasted normal – I didn’t get the impression it was watered down.”

And the price? Almost laughably low. Adam said: “Most impressively, it was an absolute bargain of a drink for what was the equivalent of essentially just 84p – a price that nowhere in Manchester [or anywhere in the UK] would ever consider charging.”

Curious how the economics worked, Adam asked the server why they bothered offering such a low price. Her response was basic marketing: “It gets people in.” Once through the door, people then order food and smoothies or become repeat customers.

The bar’s menu and signage promoted other items, like €3 hotdogs and €5 smoothies, far more than the beer, but perhaps what keeps the tills ringing.

After sipping his drink in a relaxed atmosphere, Adam faced a very first world problem. He said: “Then came the moral dilemma that has been playing in my mind ever since: how do you pay for an 84p beer without feeling like you’ve just committed daylight robbery?”

He considered ghosting the bar with a euro left behind. He said: “I considered leaving the euro on the table and just making a dash for it in order to avoid having to make any pleasantries, but that just felt rude.”

He even thought about tipping. “I also contemplated tipping an extra euro in order to lessen the guilt I felt, which I appreciate is the very epitome of a first-world problem.” In the end, instead of dashing, Adam used his cool logic to reason. He reflected: “It was their offer, they chose to sell it, and they decided to promote it to get punters in – and it certainly worked, even if I didn’t stay to branch out into €5 smoothie territory.”

While he said he wouldn’t recommend spending an entire day bouncing between €1 beer bars, he gave La Parada credit for being a calm and pleasant place to sit and sip. “Whilst I definitely wouldn’t want to spend a whole afternoon stocking up on €1 beers, my time at La Parada was good. It certainly wasn’t one of the rowdier venues in the town; it was chilled and quiet, so I am sure there might be other popular options for people when it comes to going cheap on the beer.”

But he added a word of caution. “Of course, I cannot vouch for €1 beers at the other bars, and I’m sure there are some which warrant the level of caution.”

Adam also rightly pointed out: “It also goes without saying that it is always important to drink responsibly too, whether you are in Benidorm drinking €1 beer or not.”

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File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

May 14 (UPI) — U.S. District Judge Patricia Giles on Wednesday ordered the immediate release of Indian national and Georgetown University postdoctoral fellow Badar Khan Suri. He had been held by ICE for two months despite not having been charged with a crime.

Suri was in the United States on an academic visa. He was arrested March 17 by masked ICE agents and sent to a Texas detention immigration detention facility.

Judge Giles ordered Suri released without bond on condition that he maintain a residence in Virginia and attend hearings in his case in person. For Texas immigration hearings, Suri can attend virtually.

The judge said at Suri’s hearing his release is “in the public interest to disrupt the chilling effect on protected speech.”

Suri’s defense lawyers alleged he was singled out for revocation of his visa and deportation “based on his family connections and constitutionally protected speech.”

Suri has not been charged with a crime. He was taken by ICE for his social media posts supporting Palestinians.

Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin cited the posts as she claimed without including concrete evidence that Suri allegedly had connections to a senior adviser of Hamas.

Suri said in an April statement that he had “never even been to a protest.”

His release petition argued that he was likely targeted by the Trump administration due to his marriage to a U.S. citizen of Palestinian origin.

Also, Suri’s father-in-law Ahmed Yousef was an adviser to Hamas over a decade ago.

Giles ruled in March that Suri “shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the court issues a contrary order.”

Suri’s release order follows court-ordered releases from ICE custody of fellow immigrant academics Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University Palestinian student, and Tufts University student Rumseya Ozturk.

Attorneys representing Suri said during his detention he was transferred to five different facilities across three states. They said he at one point slept in a room with no bed and a TV blaring almost all day for nearly two weeks.

In a letter to his lawyers, Suri wrote, “My only ‘crimes’ making me a ‘national security threat’ are my marriage to a United States citizen of Palestinian origin and my support for the Palestinian cause.”