WASHINGTON — In recent weeks, several social media influencers have popped up in online feeds touting the California gubernatorial campaign of billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer.
Some complain about the price of gasoline. Others mention environmental concerns. One cites her newfound sobriety as evidence that people can change — a nod to Steyer’s self-proclaimed metamorphosis from hedge fund titan to scourge of big corporations.
“I did not expect the most progressive governor candidate to be a billionaire, but look at the policies you guys,” said one content creator on TikTok with the user name Jaz R. “Hear me out. I know Tom Steyer is a billionaire, but he also is for the people.”
The posts include direct-to-the-camera appeals, with personal details interwoven into messages of support for Steyer. An influencer goes for a stroll as onscreen text touts Steyer’s policies. Some seek to convey authenticity, if occasionally ham-fistedly; one influencer mispronounces Steyer’s last name.
What they do not include is a disclosure that their creators were paid by the Steyer campaign to produce the videos, according to a complaint filed this week with California’s Fair Political Practices Commission and a Times review of the posts.
The complaint alleges that the Steyer campaign failed to notify the influencers it hired of their obligation to inform their audience when their posts have been sponsored by the campaign.
California passed a law in 2023 requiring that influencers disclose if they have been paid to create promotional content for or against a candidate or ballot measure, one of the few jurisdictions in the country with such a requirement. There is no such requirement at the federal level.
“Every time there’s a new technology, you have to create legislation that requires them to disclose,” said state Sen. Tom Umberg (D-Orange), who sponsored the bill.
Violating the law doesn’t carry criminal, civil or administrative penalties, but the FPPC can take influencers who break the law to court and ask a judge to force them to comply.
The complaint was filed by two California women — political influencers themselves — who said they noticed a number of new accounts that suddenly started posting similar-sounding videos promoting Steyer earlier this month.
“They had the exact same language, they had the same talking points,” said Beatrice Gomberg, who worked with Kaitlyn Hennessy in their digital sleuthing efforts.
The FPPC did not comment on the complaint.
Steyer’s campaign appears to have relied on paid influencers more than any candidate for governor, according to the most recent campaign finance filings.
That spending represents only a small fraction of the massive campaign war chest Steyer has seeded with nearly $180 million of his own money. But the complaint highlights the growing degree to which political candidates have come to seek out the authenticity that social media influencers seem to offer.
Steyer campaign spokesperson Kevin Liao said the campaign had properly followed the rules in hiring influencers and that the campaign is “confident” that Gomberg and Hennessy’s complaint is “baseless.”
“Creators make their living generating content. The campaign believes in compensating people for their time and work product and has paid creators to generate content,” Liao said in a statement. “Payments for creator content are disclosed in campaign finance reports, and we notify creators we directly work with of their disclosure requirements.”
While many of the new Steyer influencers have few followers, Steyer’s campaign disclosed in its most recent campaign finance report that it had paid thousands of dollars to numerous social media influencers with massive audiences, the Sacramento Bee reported.
Several of the videos produced by these popular social media personalities also failed to disclose that they had been paid by the campaign, according to the complaint and The Times’ review of the content.
But even accounts with few followers can still have a big impact if they are producing a steady stream of content supporting Steyer, said veteran California political strategist Mike Madrid.
“What they’re trying to do is trip the algorithm,” he said. “It looks like it has a bigger audience than it really does. It’s taking the concept of astroturfing into the digital age.”
Gomberg and Hennessy said they became friends after meeting at an April campaign event for Xavier Becerra, Steyer’s chief Democratic rival in the race, who holds a narrow advantage over Steyer in several recent political polls.
The pair have been prolific social media supporters of Becerra’s campaign ever since, though they insist they are not being paid for their efforts.
They said they discovered that many of the new pro-Steyer accounts seemed to be run by influencers — mostly women — who had previously created different social media accounts to hawk other products.
One of the pro-Steyer influencers had an online portfolio listing numerous clients, including the Steyer campaign and a gummy designed to boost arousal, according to the complaint and the Times review of the publicly accessible website.
The pair said they stumbled on an advertisement placed by a vendor for the campaign on a platform used by creators to find work. The advertisement indicated that creators would be paid $10 for each post, with bonuses for posts that amassed large viewership.
The vendor who posted the ad did not respond to a request for comment.
The advertisement has since been updated to say that it pays $1,000 per month and that creators will have to disclose that it is paid content.
As Gomberg and Hennessy dug deeper, they determined that some of the influencers promoting a candidate for governor weren’t even based in California.
A TikTok account using the handle jess.votes, for example, appears to be connected to a woman registered to vote in Florida. Other accounts were connected to women who indicated elsewhere that they were based in Pennsylvania, Missouri and Michigan.
Several influencers who created seemingly paid content promoting Steyer did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Times.
The brouhaha over paid social media content is just the latest instance of the growing political impact of online creators.
Eric Swalwell’s campaign for governor — and congressional career — came to an end after multiple women accused him of sexual assault. A pair of influencers had publicly raised concerns about Swalwell’s behavior and helped connect victims with journalists who produced highly detailed reports of the allegations.
The California law requires influencers to disclose in a political post’s audio or text that it was sponsored and who paid for it.
The onus is on the creators to make the disclosure, but campaigns are required to tell them that they must do so. Despite passage of the law, the issue has so far remained largely under the radar.
“I have dozens of candidates and campaigns and I have not heard this issue come up one time,” said a campaign finance lawyer who requested anonymity because they represent numerous candidates with active campaigns.
Gomberg and Hennessy said that they were driven to call attention to potential violations of the disclosure requirements because of their concern about the corrosive influence such paid content could have if left unchecked.
“You have people who have trust in these creators,” Hennessy said. “You have a responsibility to your audience.”
Trump posts doctored photo of the Obamas and Air Force One with graffiti spray-painted on plane
WASHINGTON — President Trump on Sunday posted a falsified image of former President Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, waving before boarding an Air Force One that had been spray-painted with graffiti.
It came months after another post by the president that showed the couple as primates in a jungle. That one was deleted after stiff, bipartisan backlash.
The latest image shows the Obamas smiling and waving at the top of stairs alongside a baby blue and white presidential plane with graffiti painted on it that included the Democrat’s campaign slogan “Yes We Can,” “Obama” and “BLM,” short for Black Lives Matter. The post also shows graffiti in Arabic on the plane that says the phrase “alhamdulillah,” which means “praise be to God” or “thank God.”
The use of graffiti is a coded message to remind people of crime and urban decay and has been used in racist messaging against Black people in the past.
Trump has a yearslong record of intensely personal criticism of the Obamas, and of using incendiary, sometimes racist, rhetoric. That includes everything from feeding the lie that Obama was not born in the United States to crude generalizations about majority-Black countries and posts that have sparked anger on his Truth Social website.
The president’s post of the Obamas as primates came in February, during the first week of Black History Month. It was removed following widespread criticism from civil rights leaders and Republican senators. Trump refused to apologize, however, and a staffer was later blamed for making the post.
This time, the presidential plane is a sensitive topic since Trump last week took his maiden voyage on a new Air Force One — a retrofitted Boeing 747-800 worth $400 million gifted by Qatar. The aircraft’s trademark light blue hull that helped Air Force One blend into the sky was replaced with Trump’s preferred color scheme: a navy-blue belly with red and gold stripes.
After giving a speech on the National Mall in Washington to mark Independence Day and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on Saturday night, Trump had no public events Sunday and spent the day at his golf club in Virginia. He’s scheduled to leave Monday for Turkey to attend a summit with NATO allies.
The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Nor did a spokesperson for the Obamas.
Sunday’s post also followed one from last month when Trump shared an doctored image of Obama’s new presidential library in Chicago so that it looked like the building had a large bag of garbage on top and was surrounded by a wasteland. “The Obama Library ten years from now will be a ‘Mecca’ for those who hate America! President DJT,” he wrote then.
Trump has frequently criticized the Obama library in public comments, and he posted the library image twice on his social media platform.
The Air Force One image was part of a series of Sunday posts Trump made on Truth Social, including a past picture that appeared to show Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni grinning and gazing upward at Trump under the words “RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED.”
That, too, could touch off a new firestorm at this week’s meetings in Turkey, since Trump had suggested that Meloni asked “over and over” for a photo with him during the recent Group of Seven summit.
Trump’s comments prompted Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to cancel a subsequent, planned trip to Washington, while Meloni called Trump’s account “completely fabricated,” saying “Italy and I never beg.”
Weissert writes for the Associated Press.
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Victoria and David Beckham celebrate 27 years of marriage in sweet tribute posts on their wedding anniversary
VICTORIA and David Beckham have celebrated 27 years of marriage with sweet tribute posts on their wedding anniversary.
The superstar couple said “I do” in 1999, and have been smitten with each other ever since.
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Today, they thrilled fans when they each shared posts to commemorate their long and happy marriage.
Victoria, 52, posted a picture of herself lovingly kissing her husband on the cheek, and penned: “After 27 years of marriage, four amazing children and countless matching outfits, you’re still my *everything*.
“Happy anniversary!! I love you so much.”
While David, 51, shared a slew of pics from their time together, dating back to when they first met.
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The smitten husband then wrote: “29 years together. 27 years married & you have given me everything I could ever wish for.
“Our proudest achievement will always be our family 🩷 I love you & Happy Anniversary.”
The famous couple said their “I do’s” on July 4, 1999, with their first-born Brooklyn as their ring bearer.
The big day came after the two started dating in 1997 and Becks popped the question the following year.
Posh and Becks sat on golden thrones at the altar and spent all the money needed to have their dream wedding.
According to reports, they splashed out around £500,000, making it one of the most extravagant celebrity weddings.
Along with Brooklyn, the couple also share three more children – Romeo, 23, Cruz, 21, and Harper, 14.
However, their eldest son is currently embroiled in a bitter estrangement with David and Victoria.
In January, Brooklyn made a dozen explosive accusations in a ruthless statement hitting out at his family.
The aspiring chef called out his famous parents for their “inauthenticity”, accused them of making bribes and scolded the family for their treatment of his wife on their wedding day.
In a shock move, he also sent his parents a legal notice warning they can only contact him via lawyers.
In the extraordinary “desist” letter, he also instructed them not to “tag” him on social media.
But in a surprising twist, last month Brooklyn filmed a World Cup advert taking a savage swipe at his family’s estrangement.
It showed the eldest Beckham boy throwing down his match tickets onto the coffee table, which appeared to show a £250,000 designer watch gifted to him by his dad and a stack of unopened letters.
The ad went live on social media after we revealed Brooklyn spurned his sister Harper’s attempt at a reconciliation.
The teenager was pictured delivering a letter to the house Brooklyn shares with his wife Nicola Peltz, 31.
They quickly hit back at the Beckhams, claiming the letter felt like an “orchestrated move by his family” – insisting it “made them feel uncomfortable.”
A spokesman for the couple added: “That photographers were in place as the letter was hand-delivered says it all.
“This was choreographed for the cameras.”
But a source close to the Beckhams called it “another untrue and unfair accusation”.
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Rally for Luxembourg teacher fired over pro-Gaza posts | Gaza
Students and supporters of a Luxembourg teacher fired over social media posts held a demonstration for her this week. Fatima Kurtic was fired in October over a post deemed anti-Israel. She told Al Jazeera about the motivations and costs behind her pro-Palestinian activism.
Published On 2 Jul 20262 Jul 2026
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World Cup 2026: Concerning increase in racist social media posts
More than 100 examples passed the legal thresholds for preparing case files to enforce action.
While detection methods have improved, the SMPS said the “data trends show a concerning direction of travel in terms of racially aggravated abuse”.
The Netherlands players who missed penalties in the last-32 shootout defeat to Morocco on Monday all suffered racist abuse.
Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber and Crysencio Summerville were subjected to discriminatory, racist and hateful comments on social media, said the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB).
More than six million posts and comments were scanned – an increase of 33% – with 225,000 identified for human review.
Around 1,000 accounts were identified for further investigation and 181,000 hateful comments hidden.
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Micron posts record results as AI boom drives 15-fold jump in net profit
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Micron, one of only a handful of companies able to make advanced memory chips at scale, said on Wednesday that revenue in the third quarter reached $41.4 billion (€36.5bn), more than four times the $9.3 billion (€8.2bn) it recorded in the same period last year.
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The figure also comfortably beat the roughly $35.7 billion (€31.4bn) analysts had forecast, while profit climbed even more dramatically.
The Idaho-based group posted net income of $28.24 billion (€24.9bn), or $24.67 per share, against less than $2 billion (€1.7bn) a year ago. Adjusted earnings of $25.11 a share sailed past the $20.49 expected.
The market reaction to the impressive results was immediate.
Micron shares rose more than 15% in after-hours trading to around $1,213, leaving the company valued at roughly $1.16 trillion (€1tn).
The stock has now climbed about 700% over the past year, one of the most dramatic re-ratings of any large company through the AI boom, reflecting a fundamental shift in the economics of the AI build-out.
The vast data centres being constructed by hyperscalers such as Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Meta, which have collectively earmarked hundreds of billions of dollars in capital spending this year, depend on enormous quantities of high-bandwidth memory, a specialised chip that sits alongside the processors made by Nvidia and others.
Micron has said its entire 2026 output of these chips is already sold out under fixed-price contracts.
According to CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, the results reflect what he called the strategic value of memory in the AI era.
The company pointed to a series of multi-year customer agreements that it expects to make earnings more durable and predictable, a notable claim in an industry long defined by brutal boom-and-bust cycles.
Margins to rival the biggest names
What has startled analysts most is Micron’s profitability.
The company reported a gross margin of around 85% for the quarter, a level that now rivals or exceeds those of far larger technology names such as Nvidia and Meta, an extraordinary position for a memory maker historically squeezed by volatile chip prices.
The tightness of supply, with new factories not expected to add meaningful output until 2028, has handed producers exceptional pricing power.
Micron’s guidance was more striking still.
The company expects revenue of around $50 billion (€44bn) in the current quarter and adjusted earnings of roughly $31 a share, implying the boom is accelerating rather than fading. It is ramping up investment to match, lifting planned capital spending to about $27 billion (€23.7bn) this fiscal year and signalling a further jump in 2027, management told analysts during the earnings call.
The results offer reassurance to investors betting that AI infrastructure spending remains robust, with Micron’s order book serving as a real-time gauge of that demand.
The open question, as ever in the memory industry, is how long the upswing can last before supply catches up. Even the most bullish observers acknowledge that risk has not completely disappeared.
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Ashley Cain breaks silence after BBC axe for historic ‘abusive’ posts as reality TV star says ‘I cannot change the past’
ASHLEY Cain has spoken out for the first time since he was axed by the BBC after allegedly making degrading comments about women online.
The reality TV star penned an apology on Instagram, addressing “language I used many years ago that I am not proud of”.
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The 35-year-old was dropped by the Beeb last week after historic social media posts came to light which were deemed “offensive” to women.
His BBC Three documentary Into The Danger Zone has been shelved for its second season.
In response to a disastrous day as he was dropped by his management, Cain took to Instagram to address the controversy.
“You may have seen a recent article concerning language I used many years ago that I am not proud of.
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“I don’t deny it. I don’t excuse it. And I certainly don’t condone it,” he began.
Cain blamed the loss of his football career as one of the factors which caused him to feel “lost, frustrated and unsure of where my life was heading”.
He went on: “The reality is that growth doesn’t happen overnight. It happens through experience.
“Through mistakes. Through hardship. Through being forced to look in the mirror and ask yourself whether you’re willing to become better.”
Yesterday, the Daily Mail reported that Ashley had been dropped as a client by his management company Off Limits amid recent events.
“Ashley has been dropped by Off Limits, who also represent stars such as Jimmy Bullard, Jesy Nelson and Harry Redknapp,” an insider told the publication.
“They have a roster of talent who are household names, they don’t want to be associated with him after the vile posts came to light.
“Ashley is now pretty much blacklisted in the industry, and it’s doubtful he will ever be on television again.”
Ashley no longer appears on Off Limits website as a listed client.
The Ex on the Beach star’s Twitter posts made in 2011 and 2013 are said to have referenced extreme sex acts and appeared to make light of consent.
He reportedly used offensive, sexualised and aggressive language about women.
Derogatory terms allegedly written in 2014 and 2015 include “sl**s”, “b***hes” and “psychos”.
He also said he’d like to “choke slam” and “spit in the face” of Love Island star Jessica Hayes while commenting on the ITV2 reality show.
Cain’s apology post said he has learnt lessons from fatherhood over the past decade.
His daughter Azaylia Cain sadly died in 2021 of a rare form of acute myeloid leukaemia.
She was just eight months old when she died after a battle with the aggressive disease.
“Losing my daughter changed me forever,” Cain wrote.
“Since then, I have dedicated my life to trying to honour my daughter’s legacy and help others wherever I can.”
The reality star added: “I cannot change what I said over a decade ago. What I can do is take responsibility for it.
“What I can do is continue striving every day to be a good father, a good human and a positive force in the lives of others.”
Cain’s shock slurs sit uncomfortably alongside his more recent work as a BBC presenter exploring masculinity and gangs in dangerous locations around the world.
A BBC spokesperson said: “We are very clear we expect the highest standards of behaviour from everyone who works with or for the BBC.
“When allegations are brought to our attention we take them seriously. We will consider this information carefully and do not intend to comment further at this stage.”
The BBC were reportedly unaware of the offensive content prior to recruiting Cain as a host.
Dad-of-three Cain was a professional footballer at the time of his oldest offensive tweets.
Following contracts at Coventry City and non-league Barwell, he was forced to retire from the game in 2014 due to the effects of a serious achilles injury.
He turned to reality TV and starred in the first series of Ex on the Beach. More recently he appeared on Celebrity SAS, The Real Full Monty and Celebrity MasterChef.
Cain was left devastated in 2021 when his daughter Azaylia died from leukemia aged just eight months.
He set up The Azaylia Foundation in her name and has tackled gruelling endurance challenges to raise money and awareness.
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Ashley Cain ‘dropped by his management’ days after BBC axe for historic ‘abusive’ posts about women
ASHLEY Cain has been dealt a fresh blow following his BBC axe after allegedly making degrading comments about women online.
Historic social media posts by the reality TV star, 35, that have been deemed ‘offensive’ to women came to light last week and resulted in him being dropped by the Beeb – with the second series of his BBC Three documentary Into The Danger Zone now shelved.
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The Daily Mail reports that Ashley has now been dropped as a client by his management company Off Limits amid recent events.
“Ashley has been dropped by Off Limits, who also represent stars such as Jimmy Bullard, Jesy Nelson and Harry Redknapp,” an insider told the publication.
“They have a roster of talent who are household names, they don’t want to be associated with him after the vile posts came to light.
“Ashley is now pretty much blacklisted in the industry, and it’s doubtful he will ever be on television again.”
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Ashley Cain’s axed BBC doc is still on iPlayer after bosses admits vetting failure
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BBC launching investigation into Ashley Cain ‘failings’ after his show is axed
The Sun has reached out to Off Limits and Ashley Cain for comment.
Ashley no longer appears on Off Limits website as a listed client.
The Ex on the Beach star’s Twitter posts made in 2011 and 2013 are said to have referenced extreme sex acts and appeared to make light of consent.
He reportedly used offensive, sexualised and aggressive language about women.
Despite this, series one of Ashley Cain: Into the Danger Zone aired in April 2025.
It followed his journey to the world’s most dangerous places, interviewing young men who live on the fringes of society.
Filming for a second series took place earlier this year however, it will no longer air following The Guardian‘s report accusing Ashley of writing derogatory terms in 2014 and 2015 including “sl**s”, “b***hes” and “psychos”.
The newspaper also revealed Ashley was secretly sacked from a BBC job last year for being “drunk on set”.
After the success of his documentary, he was picked to host, Sin City: The Real Las Vegas.
Ashley was flown out to Nevada to film the show but concerns were raised about his conduct.
Appearing to be drunk during filming of the show, the production was suspended and Ashley was ultimately dropped from the project and replaced by another presenter.
Despite this, the incident went largely ignored as Ashley returned to filming with the BBC earlier this year for the second series of his Into The Danger Zone series.
A BBC spokesperson told The Sun: “The posts by Ashley Cain, albeit from many years ago, are completely unacceptable.”
“The BBC has clear requirements around vetting and social media checks, which are undertaken by the production company.
“In this instance, the process clearly failed and we are investigating why.
“We are continuing to strengthen our processes to ensure everyone working for, and on behalf of, the BBC meets our values and standards.
“We have no plans to broadcast the new series of ‘Into the Danger Zone’, and no future projects with Ashley Cain.”
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Lewis Hamilton goes Instagram official with Kim Kardashian as he posts first pic of girlfriend after Monaco Grand Prix
FORMULA One star Lewis Hamilton has gone Instagram official with Kim Kardashian after sharing his first photo of the reality star following the Monaco Grand Prix.
The snap quickly sent fans into a frenzy, with followers flooding the comments section as the pair confirmed their relationship.
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Kim Kardashian appeared in Lewis Hamilton’s photo dump from the star-studded Monaco Grand Prix weekend attended by a host of celebrities and sporting icons.
Kim looked glamorous as ever, and many were quick to point out that it was the first time Lewis had shared a photo featuring Kim on his social media.
In the snap, Kim was seen holding Lewis’ racing helmet.
The reality star opted for a daring black sheer top, adding to the glamour of the Monaco Grand Prix weekend.
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The stylish photo immediately caught fans’ attention.
One commented: “Great pics Lewis and a fab weekend well done ❤️ And welcome to the family Kim kardashian ❤️”
Another added: “In his boyfriend era”.
A third penned: “YES!!!!!! Kim on the grid!”
A fourth said: “Omgggggg kimmmmmm😍”
A fifth wrote: “Omg Kim !! U guys are so cute”.
Kim made her F1 trackside debut to support her Ferrari driver boyfriend.
She arrived with her sister Khloe Kardashian as well as a huge entourage.
Kim wore a stunning cream one-shoulder maxi dress, while Khloe opted for a satin plunge midi dress also in cream.
Kim watched the race and Lewis narrowly miss out on winning.
Kimi Antonelli became the youngest winner at 19 years old.
Despite the loss, Lewis appeared in high spirits as he blew Kim a kiss and sprayed her with champagne as he celebrated on the podium.
Kim and Lewis have been friends for over a decade.
They were first spotted getting cosy on New Year’s Eve in Aspen.
They went public with their romance at the Super Bowl in February.
Just last week, they took a huge step in their relationship as he was seen with her four children for the first time.
A source previously said that the couple have an “intense” relationship and Kardashian’s family absolutely “adores” him.
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Helen Flanagan posts cryptic quote as she returns to ‘special place’ after moving out of ex Scott Sinclair’s home
FORMER Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan has shared an emotional post with fans saying she’s returned to a “special place” after moving out of her ex Scott Sinclair’s home.
Helen parted ways from her long-term fiancé in 2022 after 13 years together – and she’s been open about how it isn’t always plain sailing.
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The model shares three children with footballer Scott – Matilda, 10, and Delilah, seven, and five-year-old son Charlie.
Earlier this year, Helen was forced out of her £1million family home by Scott as they never married and the house near Bolton is solely in his name.
But now, Helen has taken to Instagram to share with fans the behind-the-scenes of her “special place.”
The telly star is currently visiting Scotland with her kids.
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She posted a slew of selfies with her little loves at the lake and clips of the peaceful mountainous views.
Helen captioned the post: “No weapon used against me shall prosper.
“Love wins.
“I found this spot at Loch Lomond in lockdown and it’s just special to me, I don’t know why but I suppose we all take comfort in things and if it makes sense to us then that’s enough and every time I go to Scotland I go there.”
It seemed Helen was taking a swipe at Scott over the house drama as she recounted her trip away.
Back in January, a friend of Helen’s said: “Scott pays for the house and all the bills and he’s decided a six-bedroom place is way too big for Helen on her own with the kids.
“But Helen doesn’t want to move and is digging her heels in.
“She loves the place, the kids are settled at the local school and her mum and dad live around the corner.”
“Scott wants to buy Helen a four-bedroom home. He’s even offered to put it in her name but wants to stop the maintenance payments.
“The relationship has completely broken down. They no longer communicate — everything goes through her parents.”
Her celeb pals and fans rushed to the comments to share their support.
Christine McGuiness wrote: “Love you angel. The best mummy.”
One fan said: “Nothing like nature to make you feel better.”
Another fan added: “Scot gal here… Hope you had a nice time. Stay strong you are enough.”
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Lee Andrews’ conned ex Alana Percival posts about karma as Katie Price clings onto missing husband’s ‘kidnap’ theory
ALANA Percival has shared a number of posts to her Instagram story about karma in the wake of Lee Andrews going missing.
The pair used to date before Lee swept Katie Price off of her feet in a whirlwind romance.
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Taking to her socials, Alana reposted two quotes from a psychology account.
The first quote reads: “Karma: no need for revenge. Just sit back and wait.”
The second continues on the same theme, reading: “Those who hurt you will eventually screw up themselves and if you are lucky, God will let you watch.”
The posts come shortly after Alana received ‘threatening’ messages at 2am from someone connected to Lee amid his disappearance.
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Alana took to social media to call out the messages – of which she suggested she was targeted due to her openly being critical of Lee and ‘exposing’ his conman ways both in the press and on social media.
In her lengthy story post, Alana said: “Last night I received a DM from someone very well connected to the ongoing Lee Andrews situation.
“The message contained subtle undertones that I interpreted as threatening, implying that if Lee Andrews were to harm himself, somehow that responsibility would fall on me.
“There were also suggestions that I should stop speaking out, delete things from my phone, and stay quiet because this is now ‘a police matter.’
“So let me respond publicly. If everything that has been exposed about my personal life helps even one woman recognise red flags, leave an unhealthy situation, or avoid ending up in one like I did, then every bit of stress, scrutiny, and intrusion into my life will have been worth it.”
A missing persons’ report was filed with the British Embassy in the United Arab Emirates city this week and four days ago Dubai police denied that Lee had been detained.
Katie has continued to go forward with the theory that Lee has been kidnapped in Dubai, hence why he hasn’t been able to return to the UK.
During their time dating, Alana has claimed Lee conned her in a number of ways.
Lee connected with Alana on Facebook in March last year and she explained how he “love bombed” her with cash transfers, Louis Vuitton bags and Cartier jewellery.
Things moved quickly between the pair and Lee proposed – in a way that was identical to his proposal to Katie, 47, in January.
Speaking about Katie to The Sun earlier this year, Alana expressed: “I just worry for her welfare.
“I worry he’ll maybe end up getting her arrested or a flight ban. He obviously has no remorse toward anyone.”
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‘United States of the Middle East?’: Trump posts US flag covering Iran | US-Israel war on Iran News
Latest Truth Social post comes amid ‘delicate diplomacy’, expert says, as US and Iran indicate progress in talks.
Washington, DC – President Donald Trump has posted a photo of the United States flag covering the map of Iran, with the question: “United States of the Middle East?”
The post on Truth Social on Saturday represented another potentially incendiary message from Trump amid ongoing negotiations for a more lasting ceasefire in the US-Israeli war with Iran, experts said.
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It carries the potential to roil both regional allies and foes alike given Washington’s past intervention in the Middle East, most notably during the US invasion of Iraq from 2003 to 2011, as well as the Trump administration’s push to increase its influence abroad.
The sentiment also appears to run counter to the Trump administration’s repeated statements that it is not seeking a prolonged occupation of Iran. The US has maintained it is not seeking outright regime change in its war, which it launched alongside Israel on February 28, but that it would welcome such change as a byproduct of the military campaign.
Even for a president known for outlandish social media posts and conflicting messaging on the war, the post could have implications for ongoing negotiations aimed at a more lasting ceasefire, according to Vali Nasr, professor of international affairs and Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins University.
He pointed to Trump’s threat in early April that an “entire civilisation will die” if Iran did not agree to a deal at the time. Hours later, both sides agreed to a pause in fighting.
That pause has held since, save for a handful of flare-ups, with the US continuing to blockade Iranian ports and Tehran effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz.
“First he declared he wanted to eradicate Iran’s civilisation now he is declaring that he wants to turn Iran into an American property,” Nasr wrote on X.
“It is this kind of grotesque behaviour that undermines diplomacy and unites Iranians in defence of their country,” he added. “In the middle of delicate diplomacy he casts doubts on America’s true intentions.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Fragile negotiations continue
On Saturday, both US and Iranian officials indicated a new deal may be within reach.
Trump told CBS News both sides were “getting a lot closer”. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said an update could be coming shortly, the broadcaster reported.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the two sides were “currently working to finalise” a memorandum of understanding, and that “the opinions have been converging”.
Still, there have been no official announcements related to key sticking points in the standoff, including the future of Iran’s nuclear programme, the fate of its highly enriched uranium stockpile, and its future influence over the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump regularly uses his Truth Social account, which he launched after being briefly banned from Twitter, now X, in the wake of the 2020 election, to make major announcements, attack political enemies, and post AI-generated images and videos.
The foreign policy of his second term has been defined by efforts to grow US influence abroad, particularly in the Americas. That has included the military abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, continued threats against Cuba, and vows to take control of Greenland, the semi-autonomous Danish territory in the North Atlantic.
The Trump administration has adopted the term the Donroe Doctrine, a reference to the 1823 Monroe Doctrine, which sought to diminish European influence in the Western Hemisphere.
On Saturday, Trump also posted an image of his face peering over a mountain range in Greenland.
“Hello, Greenland!” it said.
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Brooklyn Beckham posts gushing tribute to wife Nicola over her new film
BROOKLYN Beckham has posted a gushing tribute to his wife Nicola Peltz over her new film Prima.
The aspiring chef, 27, took to Instagram to share a series of pictures with his wife and the movie’s team as they celebrated with a get together.
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The couple beamed from ear to ear in the snaps, as Brooklyn wore a buttoned up blue shirt with black trousers and a flat cap.
Meanwhile, Nicola, 31, looked chic in a halter-neck cream top and black jeans, as she had her hair tied up in a stylish bun.
Proud husband Brooklyn penned: “I am so proud of you @nicolaannepeltzbeckham you have been working so hard on Prima and I can’t be more proud of you.
“I can’t wait for everyone to see what an amazing job you have done. I love you with all my heart.
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“Thank you so much @eastwestbank.us and Linda May for hosting such a wonderful night. Congratulations on your directorial debut @morellibrothers I love the film so much.”
Nicola responded in the comments: “Thank you. I love you.”
The actress plays a ballerina in the upcoming Indie drama film and she underwent rigorous ballet training to prepare for the physically demanding role.
Brooklyn’s tribute for his wife comes after he was noticeably absent at his grandfather Tony’s 80th birthday celebrations.
His mum Victoria, 52, put on a lavish celebration for her dad at Hotel Café Royal in Central London last weekend.
Victoria, who wore a white dress at the party, said as her father turned 80: “Happy birthday, Daddy, we love you so so much!
“Thank you to all our friends and family who helped to make it so special! Such an amazing night celebrating my wonderful dad.”
Victoria and her husband David, 51, posed for a family photo with her parents Tony and Jackie and their children, Romeo, 23, Cruz, 21 and 14-year-old Harper.
Sir David gave Tony a leg of Monte Nevado ham as a gift and called him “the best father-in-law I could ask for”.
Despite not attending the celebrations, he did take to Instagram to send a birthday wish to his grandfather.
Posting a sweet snap of the pair, he penned: “Happy 80th papa x I love you so much.”
He is said to still be close to his grandparents despite not seeing them for months amid his feud with his family.
Brooklyn and Nicola cut off all ties with his family and he claimed in his bombshell statement in January that they cared more about “Brand Beckham”.
David, Victoria and his brothers have put out plenty of olive branches but to no avail.
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The Steyer campaign pays influencers. Their posts don’t always make that clear
WASHINGTON — In recent weeks, several social media influencers have popped up in online feeds touting the California gubernatorial campaign of billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer.
Some complain about the price of gasoline. Others mention environmental concerns. One cites her newfound sobriety as evidence that people can change — a nod to Steyer’s self-proclaimed metamorphosis from hedge fund titan to scourge of big corporations.
“I did not expect the most progressive governor candidate to be a billionaire, but look at the policies you guys,” said one content creator on TikTok with the user name Jaz R. “Hear me out. I know Tom Steyer is a billionaire, but he also is for the people.”
The posts include direct-to-the-camera appeals, with personal details interwoven into messages of support for Steyer. An influencer goes for a stroll as onscreen text touts Steyer’s policies. Some seek to convey authenticity, if occasionally ham-fistedly; one influencer mispronounces Steyer’s last name.
What they do not include is a disclosure that their creators were paid by the Steyer campaign to produce the videos, according to a complaint filed this week with California’s Fair Political Practices Commission and a Times review of the posts.
The complaint alleges that the Steyer campaign failed to notify the influencers it hired of their obligation to inform their audience when their posts have been sponsored by the campaign.
California passed a law in 2023 requiring that influencers disclose if they have been paid to create promotional content for or against a candidate or ballot measure, one of the few jurisdictions in the country with such a requirement. There is no such requirement at the federal level.
“Every time there’s a new technology, you have to create legislation that requires them to disclose,” said state Sen. Tom Umberg (D-Orange), who sponsored the bill.
Violating the law doesn’t carry criminal, civil or administrative penalties, but the FPPC can take influencers who break the law to court and ask a judge to force them to comply.
The complaint was filed by two California women — political influencers themselves — who said they noticed a number of new accounts that suddenly started posting similar-sounding videos promoting Steyer earlier this month.
“They had the exact same language, they had the same talking points,” said Beatrice Gomberg, who worked with Kaitlyn Hennessy in their digital sleuthing efforts.
The FPPC did not comment on the complaint.
Steyer’s campaign appears to have relied on paid influencers more than any candidate for governor, according to the most recent campaign finance filings.
That spending represents only a small fraction of the massive campaign war chest Steyer has seeded with nearly $180 million of his own money. But the complaint highlights the growing degree to which political candidates have come to seek out the authenticity that social media influencers seem to offer.
Steyer campaign spokesperson Kevin Liao said the campaign had properly followed the rules in hiring influencers and that the campaign is “confident” that Gomberg and Hennessy’s complaint is “baseless.”
“Creators make their living generating content. The campaign believes in compensating people for their time and work product and has paid creators to generate content,” Liao said in a statement. “Payments for creator content are disclosed in campaign finance reports, and we notify creators we directly work with of their disclosure requirements.”
While many of the new Steyer influencers have few followers, Steyer’s campaign disclosed in its most recent campaign finance report that it had paid thousands of dollars to numerous social media influencers with massive audiences, the Sacramento Bee reported.
Several of the videos produced by these popular social media personalities also failed to disclose that they had been paid by the campaign, according to the complaint and The Times’ review of the content.
But even accounts with few followers can still have a big impact if they are producing a steady stream of content supporting Steyer, said veteran California political strategist Mike Madrid.
“What they’re trying to do is trip the algorithm,” he said. “It looks like it has a bigger audience than it really does. It’s taking the concept of astroturfing into the digital age.”
Gomberg and Hennessy said they became friends after meeting at an April campaign event for Xavier Becerra, Steyer’s chief Democratic rival in the race, who holds a narrow advantage over Steyer in several recent political polls.
The pair have been prolific social media supporters of Becerra’s campaign ever since, though they insist they are not being paid for their efforts.
They said they discovered that many of the new pro-Steyer accounts seemed to be run by influencers — mostly women — who had previously created different social media accounts to hawk other products.
One of the pro-Steyer influencers had an online portfolio listing numerous clients, including the Steyer campaign and a gummy designed to boost arousal, according to the complaint and the Times review of the publicly accessible website.
The pair said they stumbled on an advertisement placed by a vendor for the campaign on a platform used by creators to find work. The advertisement indicated that creators would be paid $10 for each post, with bonuses for posts that amassed large viewership.
The vendor who posted the ad did not respond to a request for comment.
The advertisement has since been updated to say that it pays $1,000 per month and that creators will have to disclose that it is paid content.
As Gomberg and Hennessy dug deeper, they determined that some of the influencers promoting a candidate for governor weren’t even based in California.
A TikTok account using the handle jess.votes, for example, appears to be connected to a woman registered to vote in Florida. Other accounts were connected to women who indicated elsewhere that they were based in Pennsylvania, Missouri and Michigan.
Several influencers who created seemingly paid content promoting Steyer did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Times.
The brouhaha over paid social media content is just the latest instance of the growing political impact of online creators.
Eric Swalwell’s campaign for governor — and congressional career — came to an end after multiple women accused him of sexual assault. A pair of influencers had publicly raised concerns about Swalwell’s behavior and helped connect victims with journalists who produced highly detailed reports of the allegations.
The California law requires influencers to disclose in a political post’s audio or text that it was sponsored and who paid for it.
The onus is on the creators to make the disclosure, but campaigns are required to tell them that they must do so. Despite passage of the law, the issue has so far remained largely under the radar.
“I have dozens of candidates and campaigns and I have not heard this issue come up one time,” said a campaign finance lawyer who requested anonymity because they represent numerous candidates with active campaigns.
Gomberg and Hennessy said that they were driven to call attention to potential violations of the disclosure requirements because of their concern about the corrosive influence such paid content could have if left unchecked.
“You have people who have trust in these creators,” Hennessy said. “You have a responsibility to your audience.”
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Strictly star Nikita Kuzmin devastated after loss of beloved family member as he posts emotional tribute
NIKITA Kuzmin shared a heartbreaking post to Instagram today announcing his grandad has died.
The emotional tribute received a lot of love from fans as well as other members of the Strictly cast.
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In the first picture in the carousel of snaps, Nikita is pictured beside his granddad beaming at the camera.
Others show the duo spending time with friends and other members of family.
The professional dancer emotionally penned a tribute in the post’s caption, writing: “Looking at these pictures my heart is beating so fast and I’m not sure what to write or how to even begin expressing how much I love you.
“Just memories of when I thought you’re the fastest walker in the world and how when I was a teenager I was proud of speeding past you, but you still were the quickest grandad in town.
tumbleweed
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Strictly’s Nikita Kuzmin shares pic with Amber Davies’ boyfriend after head kiss
“But specially how much you always took care of us, no matter what, always there.”
Nikita finished the post off by writing, ‘I love you, Grandpa,” in Russian followed by a red love heart emoji.
Strictly contestant Tasha Ghouri led the comment section, sharing two love heart emojis.
Actress Sarah Hadland added another series of hearts.
Meanwhile a fan wrote: “Thinking of you and your family. Sending hugs.”
Another fan added: “Sending so much love.”
Nikita joined Strictly Come Dancing as a pro dancer back in 2021.
In his first year on the show he was paired alongside Gordon Ramsay‘s daughter Tilly.
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Katie Price posts topless hospital pic and reveals she’s having a ‘little procedure’ weeks after secret surgery
KATIE Price has revealed she’s back in hospital for more surgery after sharing a topless snap and asking fans to guess what procedure she’s having.
The former glamour model, 47, recently travelled to Belgium for more work on her ‘biggest ever boobs’.
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And it seems Katie’s not done yet as she shared a new snap showing her topless in a hospital bed while medical staff worked on her.
She wrote: “Quick Little Procedure, Any Guesses?”
Katie underwent her 17th boob job in 2024 in Belgium where she had work done to refine the biggest chest she has ever had.
Her previous breast surgery saw her get massive 2120cc implants in order to have the title of Britain’s biggest boobs
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Katie underwent her biggest change in 2019 when she opted for a full body overhaul in Turkey.
During her visit to the surgeon, she underwent a third facelift, an eye and eyelid lift, her first BBL, a tummy tuck as well as more breast surgery.
Katie recently revealed the heartbreaking reason she continues to work on her appearance.
During a TikTok live she was asked by a fan why she keeps getting surgery.
Katie replied: “Katie replied: “That is a very good question, so obviously I’ve had a lot of therapy because I’ve had trauma in my life.
“I think surgery stems from something from when I was younger, and I feel I’m not validated or good enough.
“It must have started from there. But to be honest, I quite like having the surgery it makes me look fresh.
“If there’s these procedures out there to be done I will take advantage of them and at least I’m being honest.”
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Merger costs add up as Warner Bros. Discovery posts $2.9-billion quarterly loss
Warner Bros. Discovery’s impending sale has rattled Hollywood — and the company’s balance sheet as the auction’s high costs increasingly come into focus.
The New York-based media company released its first-quarter earnings Wednesday, which included a $2.9 billion loss. That amount includes $1.3 billion in restructuring expenses, including updated valuations for Warner’s declining linear cable television networks.
Contributing to the net loss was the $2.8 billion termination fee paid to Netflix in late February when the streaming giant bowed out of the bidding for Warner. The auction winner, Paramount Skydance, covered the payment to Netflix but Warner still must carry the obligation on its balance sheet in case the Paramount takeover falls apart. Should that happen, Warner would have to reimburse Paramount.
Warner also spent another $100 million to run the auction and prepare for the upcoming transaction, according to its regulatory filing.
“As we prepare for our next chapter, our focus remains on executing our key strategic priorities: scaling HBO Max globally, returning our Studios to industry leadership, and optimizing our Global Linear Networks,” Warner Bros. Discovery leaders said Wednesday in a letter to shareholders.
Warner generated $8.9 billion in revenue, a 3% decline from the same quarter one year ago, excluding the effect of foreign exchange rate fluctuations.
Its streaming services, including HBO Max, notched milestones in the quarter and 9% revenue growth to $2.9 billion. The company launched HBO Max in Germany, Italy, Britain and Ireland during the quarter.
Advertising revenue for streaming was up 20% compared to the first quarter of 2025.
The streaming unit posted a 17% increase to $438 million in adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA).
Warner’s studios, primarily its TV business, had a strong quarter.
Studios revenue rose 31% to $3.1 billion, compared to the prior year quarter.
Television revenue soared 58% (excluding exchange rate fluctuations) due to increased program licensing fees to support the launch of HBO Max in international markets. Those launches also propelled the movie studio, which saw revenue increase 21%.
Video games revenue declined 30% because of lower library revenues.
Adjusted EBITDA for the studios grew $516 million (158%) to $775 million compared to the prior year quarter.
The company’s vast linear television networks saw revenue fall 9% to $4.4 billion compared to the prior year period.
TV distribution revenue tumbled 8% largely due to a 10% decrease in domestic linear pay TV subscribers.
The company also felt the loss of its NBA contract for its TNT channel, which NBC picked up. Advertising revenue fell 12%. “The absence of the NBA negatively impacted the year-over-year growth rate,” Warner said.
As the costs of the merger with Paramount come into clearer focus, the opposition has grown louder.
More than 4,000 artists and entertainment industry workers, including Bryan Cranston, Noah Wyle, Kristen Stewart and Jane Fonda, have signed an open letter warning about the dangers of the merger with Paramount. “This transaction would further consolidate an already concentrated media landscape, reducing competition at a moment when our industries — and the audiences we serve — can least afford it,” according to the letter.
“The result will be fewer opportunities for creators, fewer jobs across the production ecosystem, higher costs, and less choice for audiences in the United States and around the world.”
Adjusted EBITDA for the television networks fell 10% to $1.6 billion, compared to the prior year quarter.
Warner ended the quarter with $3.3 billion in cash on hand and $33.4 billion of gross debt.
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Korea Zinc posts record profit in first quarter
A smelter of Korea Zinc in South Korea. The company logged record quarterly sales and profits during the first three months of this year. Photo by Korea Zinc
SEOUL, May 6 (UPI) — World-leading non-ferrous metal maker Korea Zinc said Wednesday it posted record results during the first three months of this year despite a challenging business environment.
The Seoul-based company said its first-quarter sales were $4.2 billion, up 58.4% from a year before, while operating profit nearly tripled to $515 million year-on-year. Both were all-time quarterly highs.
Korea Zinc’s operating margin almost doubled to 12.3% during the January-March period. The company said said its diversified product portfolios and stable production capabilities led to the strong profit.
Robust demand for precious metals and critical minerals, including gold, silver and antimony, supported the company’s stellar performance, Korea Zinc said.
Separately, the company’s board approve Wednesday a first-quarter dividend of $3.46 per share, totaling $71 million, with payouts scheduled for early next month.
“Despite the sudden outbreak of war, rising raw material prices, and supply chain disruptions, we achieved record quarterly results thanks to our diverse product portfolio, stable production capacity, and growth in new business sectors,” Korea Zinc said in a statement.
“Down the road, we will keep putting forth efforts to maintain stable growth and solid profitability despite an uncertain global environment,” it added.
The company also said that it would focus corporate capabilities on the successful execution of Project Crucible, a $7.4 billion initiative to build an integrated smelter in Tennessee in partnership with the U.S. government.
The program aims to roll out 13 types of nonferrous metals, including 11 critical minerals, as well as semiconductor-grade sulfuric acid, beginning in 2029. Last month, Washington designated it under the FAST-41 permitting program for fast-track procedures.
The share price of Korea Zinc jumped 7.24% on the Seoul bourse Wednesday.
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Lufthansa posts record revenue but warns Iran war fuel costs will hit annual profit
Published on
The surge in jet fuel prices has become a primary concern for the European travel industry, with Lufthansa finding itself at the centre of this crisis.
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According to Lufthansa’s latest earnings report, the airline expects an additional €1.7 billion ($2bn) fuel cost burden in 2026 as soaring jet fuel prices continue to weigh on the industry.
The need to avoid certain airspaces has led to longer flight times, which naturally increases consumption. These adjusted routes also require more staff hours and higher maintenance cycles, adding layers of complexity to an already strained global supply chain.
As reported by Euronews, global airlines have already cancelled approximately 13,000 flights this May, while Lufthansa alone has axed 20,000 short-haul flights through to October in a bid to cut fuel consumption.
This reduction in capacity is a direct response to the unsustainable cost of operating older, less fuel-efficient aircraft during price peaks.
While Lufthansa has managed to stay profitable, the jet fuel price spikes have forced the firm to advise passengers to book their holidays as early as possible to avoid further surcharges.
The company is currently investing heavily in its “fleet modernisation” programme to mitigate these risks in the long term, though the immediate impact of fuel volatility continues to weigh on the balance sheet.
Lufthansa remains committed to its financial targets, but the volatility of the global oil market remains the largest variable in its 2026 outlook.
“We are satisfied with the first quarter […] at the same time, the current situation compels us to rigorously examine every lever available to reduce costs, improve efficiency and mitigate risks in order to maintain our ability to act decisively. Our annual profit will likely be lower than originally anticipated,” CFO Till Streichert stated.
The Lufthansa Group has announced a landmark financial performance, revealing that it generated the highest revenue in its history in 2025. Revenue rose by 5% compared with the previous year to €39.6 billion.
According to the latest figures, the airline group also saw its operating profit grow by 20% compared with 2024, highlighting a robust recovery in passenger demand.
In the first quarter of 2026, year-on-year revenue climbed 8% despite challenges linked to the conflict involving Iran, including €1.7 billion in additional costs caused by volatile jet fuel prices and the suspension of dozens of routes.
The firm kept its capacity broadly stable with slight growth in long-haul traffic compensating for capacity reductions in short and medium-haul segments.
Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Cargo also significantly contributed to earnings with demand for maintenance, repair and overhaul services increasing, as well as through the marketing of ITA Airways’ cargo space.
Global demand for air travel remains high and continues to prove resilient even in times of crisis, as Lufthansa Group again expects a strong summer travel season.
“In the first quarter, we significantly improved on the previous year’s financial results […] but the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, combined with rising fuel costs and operational constraints, poses enormous challenges for the world as a whole, for global air travel and for our company as well,” CEO Carsten Spohr stated.
“However, we are resilient in our ability to absorb these impacts. This applies both to our above-average hedging against fuel price fluctuations and to our multi-hub, multi-airline strategy, which provides us with greater flexibility in our route network and fleet development,” Spohr added.
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Election officials appeared skeptical of social media posts urging Democrats to delay casting their ballots.
SACRAMENTO — State elections officials warned voters Tuesday to send their mail-in ballots in early following changes at the U.S. Postal Service that has led to slower mail service throughout California.
Atty. General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber said vote-by-mail ballots should be put in the mail at least a week before the June 2 election.
The officials also cast skepticism about social media posts that urges Democrats to vote “late” and to rally around one candidate in order to ensure a Republican doesn’t win. The posts are similar in wording and have spread on Facebook in the last week.
Bonta said the posts, which were brought up by the Times at a news conference in Sacramento, could be “misinformation” or “disinformation” and “potentially unlawful.”
“Get your ballot in the mail at least a week early,” he said. “You want to make sure your vote is counted. And the misinformation that you’re referencing is the misinformation we’re trying to combat.”
Voters using the postal service to mail their ballot within a week of the election should go inside the post office and ask that their ballot be postmarked, or can drop off their ballot at a secure voter box, officials said.
The new guidance follows sweeping changes made at the United States Postal Services last year that has reduced the number of trips to pick up mail at post offices in mostly rural areas in the country, including California.
A Times analysis of last year’s November special election found that there was a significantly higher number of mail-in ballots that arrived too late to be counted compared to the 2024 election.
Rural counties saw some of the biggest increase in rejected ballots because they came in too late, The Times found.
The changes to the postal service are nationwide, but are particularly relevant in California because the vast majority of people vote in the state using mail-in ballots.
Voters who mail a ballot on election day, or even two days before, may not see their vote counted because it will arrive too late, Bonta told reporters.
“You want your vote to be counted, I want your vote to be counted,” Bonta said. “If you vote earlier, you maximize that possibility that it will.”
Vote-by-mail ballots are considered late if they are not postmarked on or ahead of election day or if the postmarked ballots do not arrive within seven days of the election.
Weber’s office also said it would look into a recent trend of social posts that urge California Democrats to “vote late” in the June 2 election.
The posts, which have appeared on Facebook and Instagram, are similar in wording, and tell Democrats to hold off from voting early to ensure that two Republican don’t make the two top spots, and to rally around one Democrat.
California’s primary election system allows the two candidates who received the most votes to advance to the November election, regardless of party.
With many Democrats crowding the ballot this year, some Democratic leaders have expressed concern fear that two Republicans — businessman Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco — will take the top two spots because Democratic voters will be splintered among the party’s top seven candidates.
The validity of the social media posts are under scrutiny.
One post on Facebook last week, for instance, purports to be written by historian Heather Cox Richardson. The post warned voters not to vote until after all the debates in California have concluded and the front-runner is clear.
Richardson told the Times she’s not connected to the post. “I didn’t write it and we can’t figure out who did,” she said in an email. “I haven’t— and won’t— take any position in a primary.”
The last statewide election in California was closely watched after the U.S. Department of Justice said would monitor polling sites in some California counties following a request by California Republican Party officials.
However, the election proceeded without any incident.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday sent a letter to elections officials in the state’s 58 counties that highlighted recent legislation mandating that California ballots be counted within 13 days, instead of 30 days. Newsom thanked the elections staff for their work and urged a speedy vote count.
“We must acknowledge that the longer the voting count takes,” Newsom wrote, “the more mis- and disinformation spreads.”
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Iran’s football team shows World Cup readiness with social media posts | World Cup 2026 News
Videos from a tournament kit reveal photo shoot and images from training sessions highlighting Team Melli’s preparations.
Published On 5 May 20265 May 2026
Iran’s preparations for the FIFA World Cup appear to be on track, as social media posts from the team’s official account hint at an upcoming tournament kit reveal and show the squad training at an undisclosed location.
Videos posted by Team Melli’s Instagram account on Monday showed players taking part in a photo shoot for what appears to be Iran’s home kit for the World Cup.
Iran are in Group G of the World Cup and will play all their games in the United States, which is cohosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico.
Several members of Iran’s squad, including first-choice goalkeeper Alireza Safar Beiranvand and winger Milad Mohammadi, were shown wearing a new kit in a series of social media posts.
The Team Melli account also posted photos from training sessions, which have been held in Iran before the squad travels to Turkiye for three friendly matches before the World Cup.
The Asian giants’ participation in the tournament became uncertain after the US and Israel launched a war on Iran on February 28, with Iranian officials questioning the US’s role as host and President Donald Trump suggesting Team Melli’s players may not be safe if they travel to his country for the championship.
However, recent statements by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Iranian football officials have reaffirmed the country’s participation in the World Cup.
Infantino confirmed that Iran will play its games in the US in his opening remarks at the FIFA Congress in Canada on Thursday.
“Let me start at the outset. Of course, Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026. And of course Iran will play in the United States of America,” Infantino said.
Trump later said he was “OK” with Iran playing in the country.
“If Gianni said it, I’m OK,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “You know what? Let them play.”
Football officials in Iran have outlined the team’s training and preparations for the tournament, which include camps at home and in neighbouring Turkiye before travelling to the US.
“The first phase of the preparation period will end with an intra-team game on Wednesday,” assistant coach Saeed Alhoei told Iranian sport news outlet Varzesh3.
The game will be held at a stadium, and the players will wear official match kits, with an international referee and video assistant referee technology (VAR) to simulate tournament-like conditions.
Alhoei said the squad will depart for Turkiye on Monday for their final leg of preparations before travelling to the US in June.
Team Melli will kick off their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before taking on Belgium at the same stadium on June 21.
“We will have three friendly matches, two of which will probably be against [local] club teams and behind closed doors, and the third against an African team,” Alhoei said. “It is a quality team that can be a good simulation for playing against African teams.”
Iran will face Egypt in their final group match in Seattle on June 26.
On Monday, Iran suffered a significant blow after it was confirmed that winger Ali Gholizadeh had suffered a season-ending knee injury while playing for his club Lech Poznan in Poland.
Gholizadeh, who would have started on the right wing at the World Cup, was stretchered off the pitch against Motor Lublin last Saturday, and tests later confirmed he had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
“Gholizadeh will face surgery in the coming days, followed by several months of rehabilitation,” the club said in a statement.
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Supreme Court: Cheerleader can’t be punished for social posts
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave students their biggest free speech victory in decades, ruling that a disappointed high school cheerleader could not be punished for a social media post on Snapchat that included profane words.
In an 8-1 decision, the justices said a Pennsylvania school district violated the 1st Amendment when it suspended Brandi Levy from the cheerleading team in response to her post.
The court in an opinion by Justice Stephen G. Breyer said her words may have offended school officials, but they did not otherwise disrupt the school. And he said courts should be skeptical of efforts to discipline students for what they say or post on their own free time.
“It might be tempting to dismiss B. L.’s words as unworthy of the robust 1st Amendment protections discussed herein. But sometimes it is necessary to protect the superfluous in order to preserve the necessary,” he wrote in Mahanoy School District vs. B.L.
Only Justice Clarence Thomas dissented and said he does not believe students and children have such protected rights.
American Civil Liberties Union lawyers who represented Levy welcomed the outcome.
“Protecting young people’s free speech rights when they are outside of school is vital, and this is a huge victory for the free speech rights of millions of students who attend our nation’s public schools,” said David Cole, legal director of the ACLU.
The incident in this case occurred in May 2017, when Levy was in ninth grade. She graduated in 2020 and is now a freshman in college.
“The school went too far, and I’m glad that the Supreme Court agrees,” Levy said in a statement. “I was frustrated. I was 14 years old, and I expressed my frustration the way teenagers do today. Young people need to have the ability to express themselves without worrying about being punished when they get to school. I never could have imagined that one simple snap would turn into a Supreme Court case, but I’m proud that my family and I advocated for the rights of millions of public school students.”
Her case posed a question that has divided courts in recent decades. Are students entirely free to say what they wish on social media — even if it includes vulgar, harassing or racist comments — or can they be disciplined by school officials?
During the Vietnam War, the Supreme Court ruled in 1969 that students retained their free speech rights when they went to school, so long as their protests did not cause “substantial disruptions” there. But that landmark ruling in Tinker v. Des Moines has provided little guidance for how to view a student’s posts on social media.
Breyer’s opinion did not set a clear rule or say students are always protected for what they post. But he said those from “off-campus will normally fall within the zone of parental, rather than school-related, responsibility. …When it comes to political or religious speech that occurs outside school or a school program or activity, the school will have a heavy burden to justify intervention.”
The case began when Levy learned she had been passed over for the varsity cheerleading team.
On a Saturday afternoon, she took a photo of herself and a friend with their middle fingers raised and posted it on Snapchat. She included a caption repeating the F-word for “school … softball … cheer … everything.”
The post could be seen by 250 of her friends, including other cheerleaders, and they in turn showed it to the two cheerleading coaches for Mahanoy High School in central Pennsylvania.
They decided she had violated team rules that required showing “respect” to others and avoiding “foul language,” and they suspended her for the year from the junior varsity squad.
She and her parents appealed the decision to school officials and the school board. And when that failed, they sued in federal court, alleging a violation of her 1st Amendment right to the freedom of speech.
A federal judge ruled for Levy, who said her Saturday afternoon posting did not disrupt her school. The U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia agreed and ruled the school’s authority did not extend to off-campus speech.
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Pentagon chief Hegseth posts Army helicopter ride with Kid Rock
April 28 (UPI) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he shared a ride in a U.S. Army helicopter with Kid Rock weeks after the military came under fire for carrying out an Apache flyby of the musician’s home in Nashville.
Hegseth posted photos of himself and Kid Rock with members of the military on Monday.
“Joined my friend @KidRock — and some of our great @USArmy Apache pilots — for a ride this morning. (More to come on that!)” Hegseth wrote.
“Kid Rock is a patriot and huge supporter of our troops. The War Department is wasting no time celebrating America’s 250th — home of the free because of the brave.”
Sean Parnell, a spokesman for the Pentagon, said Monday’s helicopter ride for Kid Rock was part of the government’s plans to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday, The New York Times reported. CNN reported that Parnell said Kid Rock filmed videos to mark Memorial Day, the 250th birthday and his own Freedom 250 concert tour.
“The visit today provided an opportunity for Kid Rock to thank service members, highlight the professionalism of the men and women supporting the mission, and recognize their continued sacrifice in honor of our nation. The department is grateful for Kid Rock’s long-time support of our troops.”
In late March, the U.S. Army said it was conducting an administrative review after Apache helicopters performed a flyby of Kid Rock’s home. Days later, Hegseth shut down the investigation.
“@USArmy pilots suspension LIFTED,” he wrote in a post on X.
“No punishment. No investigation. Carry on, patriots.”
On March 28, Kid Rock posted two videos showing two Apache helicopters flying by and hovering near his home, which he has dubbed “The Southern White House.” In one of the videos, the musician can be seem saluting one of the helicopters before raising his fist in the air.
The performer has made several appearances in support of President Donald Trump during his second term in office.
Maj. Jonathon Bless, a spokesman for the 101st Airborne Division, said the Army’s probe would verify the helicopters were in compliance with safety and airspace regulations.
“Army aviators must adhere to strict safety standards, professionalism and established flight regulations,” he said.
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