removes

Gennadiy Trukhanov is alleged to have Russian citizenship, which is prohibited in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stripped the mayor of Odesa, Gennadiy Trukhanov, of Ukrainian citizenship over allegations that he possesses a Russian passport.

The Ukrainian leader has instead appointed a military administration to run the country’s biggest port city on the Black Sea, with a population of about 1 million.

“The Ukrainian citizenship of the mayor of Odesa, Gennadiy Trukhanov, has been suspended,” Ukraine’s SBU security service announced on the Telegram messaging app on Tuesday, citing a decree signed by Zelenskyy.

The SBU accused the mayor of “possessing a valid international passport from the aggressor country”.

Ukraine prohibits its citizens from also holding citizenship in Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the move against Trukhanov could see him deported from the country.

In a post on social media, Zelenskyy said he had held a meeting with the head of the SBU, which had reported on “countering Russian agent networks and collaborators in the front-line and border regions, as well as in the south of our country”.

The SBU chief “confirmed… the fact that certain individuals hold Russian citizenship – relevant decisions regarding them have been prepared. I have signed the decree”, Zelenskyy said.

I held a meeting on the security situation in some of our regions – these are matters of principle.

Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Maliuk reported on countering Russian agent networks and collaborators in the frontline and border regions, as well as in the south… pic.twitter.com/MxKyKjPYc9

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 14, 2025

“Far too many security issues in Odesa have remained unanswered for far too long,” the president also said, according to reports, without providing specific details.

A former member of parliament, Trukhanov has been the mayor of Odesa since 2014. He has consistently denied accusations of holding Russian citizenship, an allegation that has dogged him throughout his political career.

“I have never received a Russian passport. I am a Ukrainian citizen,” Trukhanov stressed in a video message posted on Telegram following the announcement of his citizenship revocation.

Trukhanov said he would “continue to perform the duties of elected mayor” as long as possible and that he would take the case to court.

Images of a Russian passport allegedly belonging to Trukhanov have been shared widely on social media in Ukraine.

SBU says: pic.twitter.com/fcRe8acOgo

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) October 14, 2025

Once considered a politician with pro-Russian leanings, Trukhanov pivoted after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and has publicly condemned Moscow while focusing on defending Odesa and aiding the Ukrainian army.

A source familiar with the matter told the Reuters news agency that Zelenskyy had also removed the Ukrainian citizenships of two other people.

Local media outlet The Kyiv Independent identified the two as Ukrainian ballet dancer Sergei Polunin, a vocal supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and former Ukrainian politician and now alleged Russian collaborator Oleg Tsaryov.

Polunin, who sports a large tattoo of Putin on his chest, was born in southern Ukraine but obtained Russian citizenship in 2018. He supported Russia’s 2022 invasion and, earlier in 2014, backed Russia’s annexation of Crimea, where he lived and worked.

In July, Zelenskyy revoked the citizenship of Metropolitan Onufriy, the head of the formerly Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

A LITTLE Mix feud has arisen once more after Perrie Edwards mysteriously removed her like on Jesy Nelson’s body positivity post – just hours after her “olive branch”.

The two women previously fell out when Jesy, 34, left the band in 2020, with Perrie describing her leaving as “losing a limb”.

Today Jesy, who gave birth prematurely in May following complications, posted a slew of sweet snaps on Instagram of herself with her post-pregnancy body holding her babies.

The singer told fans she had “never felt prouder” of her body, having always struggled with self image.

However, in what appeared to be an “olive branch” following a five year fall out, her former Little Mix bandmate Perrie Edwards “liked” the candid post.

This didn’t go unnoticed by fans who shared their excitement on X/Twitter.

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One tweeted:”Perrie Edwards liked Jesy Nelsons post on Instagram… I am dreaming?”

While another said: “Perrie liked Jesy’s post, mixerland is healing, I can go party with Jade in peace.”

Another said: “Perrie has extended an olive branch to Jesy!”

But their excitement was short-lived, as mysteriously Perrie no longer likes the post.

It’s not known why the singer suddenly removed her ‘like’ on Jesy’s post.

Perrie recently said “it was like losing a limb” when her friend left Little Mix in 2020.

Jesy quit the band in 2020 for health reasons, with the others taking a break since 2022.

Speaking about how their friendship ended after Jesy left Little Mix, Perrie said told Glamour UK: “It’s about a friendship that I once had, that I no longer have anymore.

“We talk about breakups and heartbreak, but we don’t normally talk about friendships that break down. 

‘And it was like losing a limb. I was with her every day. We lived in each other’s pockets.”

Although Perrie may have removed her ‘like’, Jesy’s post did receive a lot of positive feedback from fellow celebrity mums:

Singer Jessie J wrote: “This is the energy for life. YOU are beautiful.”

While Geordie Shore star Holly Hagan said: “I wish you could have seen yourself through our eyes, you have always been so beautiful.”

Love Island legend Shaughna Phillips added: “Incredible woman, incredible mama.”

Jesy’s full inspiring post read: “I never thought it would have taken two beautiful girls, that I could’ve potentially lost, to make me realise how incredible my body actually is.

“33 years of extreme diets, of putting myself down and almost going through with a boob job, to standing here having this photo taken.

“I can honestly say I’ve never felt prouder of my body and what it has been through!

“Yes my boobs hang lower and my belly is bigger and squishier — it doesn’t look how it used to, but my god it created the best gift that has happened to me.”

Jesy was trolled about her weight in her Little Mix fame.

She hit back in 2018, posing naked with bandmates Perrie, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and Jade Thirlwall, with slurs written on their bodies to plug single Strip.

She adds: “I never want my girls to feel the way I did about my body for so many years.

“So to all the future mummies or those who have just given birth, if you’re struggling with how you are feeling in yourself or are maybe even feeling the pressure to ‘snap back’ just take a moment to remember what you did!

“Be kinder to yourself, and remember you are incredible.”

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A friend told The Sun: “Becoming a mum has been the making of Jesy.

“She has found inner peace.”

In the latest salvo between Hollywood and artificial intelligence companies, tech start-up Character.AI has removed many Disney characters from its chatbot platform after the Burbank entertainment giant sent the firm a cease-and-desist letter, alleging copyright infringement.

Chatbots on the Character.AI platform impersonated well-known Disney characters such as Elsa, Moana, Peter Parker and Darth Vader and generated replies that simulated the “essence, goodwill, and look and feel of each character” and also incorporated their backstories, according to a letter dated Sept. 18 from a law firm representing Disney.

“These actions mislead and confuse consumers, including vulnerable young people, to believe that they are interacting with Disney’s characters, and to falsely believe that Disney has licensed these characters to, and endorsed their use by, Character.ai,” the letter said. “In fact, Character.ai is freeriding off the goodwill of Disney’s famous marks and brands, and blatantly infringing Disney’s copyrights.”

Disney also raised concerns about reports that chatbots have engaged users in inappropriate conversations.

A spokesperson for the Menlo Park-based startup said in an email that Character.AI responds “swiftly” to rights holders’ requests to remove content and noted that all of the characters on the service are generated by users.

On Tuesday afternoon, a few Disney characters remained on the platform, including Elsa from the hit animated film “Frozen.” The spokesperson said removing the characters is a process.

“We want to partner with the industry and rightsholders to empower them to bring their characters to our platform,” the spokesperson said. “Our goal is to give IP owners the tools to create controlled, engaging and revenue-generating experiences from deep fandom for their characters and stories, expanding their reach using our new, interactive format.”

Friction between Hollywood studios and AI firms has been growing.

In June, Disney and Comcast’s Universal Pictures sued AI company Midjourney, alleging that its image generator infringed on its copyrighted characters from franchises such as “Star Wars” and “Despicable Me.”

Warner Bros. Discovery joined the legal fight earlier this month, alleging that Midjourney’s software was producing rip-offs of characters such as Scooby-Doo and Superman.

Sept. 30 (UPI) — Iowa formally revoked the license of the Des Moines schools superintendent who was picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and switched his status from paid to unpaid leave.

The Des Moines Public School Board had placed Ian Roberts on paid administrative leave. Monday morning, it learned that the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners had revoked Roberts’ license to practice in the state, which meant that the local board had to put him on unpaid leave, retroactive to the state board’s decision, a press release said.

“New information and confirmed facts will continue to inform our decisions as we develop a path forward,” said Jackie Norris, chair of the Des Moines Public Schools Board. “Two things can be true at the same time – Dr. Roberts was an effective and well-respected leader and there are serious questions related to his citizenship and ability to legally perform his duties as superintendent.”

During a news conference later that day, attorney Alfredo Parrish said that Roberts had submitted his immediate resignation to the local school board, reported the Des Moines Register. Parrish said that Roberts, his client, does not want to be a distraction while he challenges efforts to deport him in court.

“He understands that he has the community’s support and it really gives him inspiration,” Parrish said. “His spirits are high.”

The Des Moines School Board is scheduled to discuss whether to terminate or accept Roberts’ resignation Tuesday evening.

Roberts was born in Guyana and came to the United States for college in 1999. He went on to get a Ph.D. and became a teacher and school administrator. He has worked in education for 20 years and had jobs in Maryland, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

He was arrested on Friday “in possession of a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash and a fixed blade hunting knife,” an ICE press release said. It said when his car was approached by officers, he sped away. “Roberts has existing weapon possession charges from Feb. 5, 2020. Roberts entered the United States in 1999 on a student visa and was given a final order of removal by an immigration judge in May of 2024.”

The school board has asked for clarification from Roberts’ attorney by Tuesday afternoon. The district said Roberts filled out an I-9 form, said he was a citizen and provided two forms of verification: a driver’s license and a Social Security card.

“It still seems baffling to me how someone could be hired and their status not be legal in that process,” the Rev. Robyn Bles, who has a child in the district, told the New York Times. “The case that is being presented to us doesn’t stand up to the fact that he has been hired and worked in multiple districts and multiple states. So what’s going on in all of those places?”

Des Moines attorney Alfredo Parrish, whose firm is representing Roberts, told CNN he had spoken with Roberts via phone and said they had a good conversation and he sounded well. He declined to say more.

The school district said it will continue to share updates on any decisions made with families, staff and the public as information becomes available.

Sept. 24 (UPI) — The National Park Service on Wednesday removed bronze-colored statues of President Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein holding hands and frolicking on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The papier-mache and paint statues were erected on Tuesday by an anonymous group called The Secret Handshake, UPI reported. The statues were near U.S. governmental buildings with the Capitol in the backdrop.

“We celebrate the long-lasting bond between President Donald J. Trump and his ‘closest friend,’ Jeffrey Epstein,” the middle plaque reads. “There must be more to life than having everything.”

A member of the group behind the statue told MSNBC that U.S. Park Police took down the statue around 5:30 a.m. EDT, although they had a permit that allowed them to remain through Sunday evening. CNN also confirmed the removal.

The group said it had initially been told it would be given 24 hours’ notice if the administration wanted it removed.

“Instead, they showed up in the middle of the night without notice and physically toppled the statue, broke it and took it away,” the group said.

The permit is for a 6-foot-tall statue, but the display is taller than that when combined with its base, which is almost as tall.

A spokesperson for the Department of the Interior, which oversees the Park Service, told MSNBC, “the statue was removed because it was not compliant with the permit issued.”

In a statement to Time magazine, the White House said, “Liberals are free to waste their money however they see fit — but it’s not news that Epstein knew Donald Trump, because Donald Trump kicked Epstein out of his club for being a creep.”

Trump is displayed with another plaque quoting the infamous 50th birthday card to Epstein, which reads in part, “A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”

Epstein’s plaque reads: “Nor will I, since I also know what it is. Yes, we do come to think of it. As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you.”

Epstein died by suicide in jail on Aug. 10, 2019, while awaiting trial on federal charges of sex trafficking. He had been convicted on state charges of soliciting prostitution in Florida in 2008.

Tourists stopped before the statues out of curiosity and lined up to take photos.

“I think it’s a really good reminder about how artists are the ones that always push back on fascists first, on fascist governments,” D.C. resident Matt Gordon told UPI on Tuesday.

“This is a hoot,” D.C. resident Lelaina Brandet also told UPI. “It seems there’s other daily distractions, whether calling a marginalized group a terrorist organization or attacking some random vote to distract from what pretty much everybody from both sides wants — which is to see the release of the Epstein files.”

One week ago, a 12-foot golden Trump statue whose faceplate called him the “Bitcoin president” was displayed anonymously at the same location for about a day before being taken down.

“It is great to have these artists that keep pushing the focus of ‘Hey, let’s not forget this is what America wants right now.’ We love it. It’s fantastic,” resident Brandet said.

In 2024, the group’s “The Resolute Desk” and “The Donald J. Trump Enduring Flame” statues went viral. In June, their “Dictator Approved” statue and another of a golden television appeared.

“Before this, they’ve never been anything but friendly to work with,” Patrick and Carol Flaisher, an independent contractor who files the group’s permits, told CNN.

The group said they were able to view the removed statues. Trump’s head was split in half.

“It’s a great example of where we’re headed in this country when it comes to freedom of speech,” Patrick said.

Last week, a giant banner with Trump and Epstein was unveiled on the lawn outside Windsor Castle, where Trump was hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The banner was removed before Trump arrived in Britain.

Protesters then projected images of them on the walls of Windsor Castle. Also targeted was Prince Andrew, who was associated with Epstein.

Holocaust Museum LA says the post was misinterpreted as a ‘political statement’ and promises to ‘do better’.

A Holocaust museum in Los Angeles is facing backlash after deleting an Instagram post that suggested the phrase “never again” should apply to all people – not just Jews.

The post, shared with Holocaust Museum LA’s 24,200 Instagram followers, read: “Never again can’t only mean never again for Jews.” The slogan “never again”, long associated with Holocaust remembrance, is also invoked more broadly as a pledge to prevent future genocides.

The Instagram message was initially praised online and interpreted by some as an acknowledgment of Palestinian suffering amid Israel’s war on Gaza, which numerous United Nations experts, scholars and rights groups have described as a genocide.

It was later deleted and replaced with a statement on Saturday saying the post had been misinterpreted.

“We recently posted an item on social media that was part of a pre-planned campaign intended to promote inclusivity and community that was easily open to misinterpretation by some to be a political statement reflecting the ongoing situation in the Middle East. That was not our intent,” it said.

Holocaust Museum LA also promised to “do better” and to “ensure that posts in the future are more thoughtfully designed and thoroughly vetted”.

The museum, which is currently closed for construction until June 2026, quickly faced criticism online after journalist Ryan Grim of Drop Site News reposted a screenshot of the deleted message, writing: “Speechless. No words for this.”

Yasmine Taeb, a human rights lawyer and progressive strategist, called the museum’s move “absolutely disgusting”, saying that the museum is “cowering under pressure” from pro-Israel voices.

“Countless genocide scholars and human rights organisations have confirmed what Israel is doing in Gaza is textbook definition of genocide,” Taeb told Al Jazeera.

“It’s appalling that a museum established for the purpose of educating the public about genocide and the Holocaust not only refuses to acknowledge the reality of Israel’s actions in Gaza, but [is] removing a social media post that merely stated that ‘never again’ is not intended for just Jews, in order for it to not be interpreted as a response to the genocide in Gaza.”

The original now-deleted post did not mention Gaza, but it faced a barrage of pro-Israel comments expressing disapproval, including some that called on donors to stop funding the institution.

By deleting the post and issuing the subsequent statement, the museum sparked accusations of backtracking on a universal anti-genocide principle.

“We live in a world where the Holocaust Museum has to aploogise and retract for simply appearing to sympathise with Palestinians,” Palestinian American activist and comedian Amer Zahr told Al Jazeera.

“If that does not illustrate the historic dehumanisation that Arab Americans have had to live with, I don’t know what does.”

Assal Rad, a researcher with the Arab Center Washington DC, called the controversy “unbelievable”.

“Palestinians are so dehumanized that they’re excluded from ‘never again,’ apparently their genocide is the exception,” Rad wrote on X.

Political commentator Hasan Piker also slammed the museum’s decision. “A real shame that even a tepid general anti-genocide statement was met with unimaginable resistance from Israel supporters,” he wrote in a social media post.

The Holocaust Museum LA did not immediately respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment.

Indeed, Wissa has been expecting the Bees to agree his move to Tyneside this week after the west London side completed the signing of Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth.

However, according to sources, Brentford are still hesitating in allowing Wissa to leave amid suggestions they now value him above their original £40m asking price.

Reports suggest Brentford now value Wissa, who did not feature for the club during pre-season, at £60m.

As a result, the ongoing conflict between Wissa and Brentford has escalated, with the forward removing all photographs of him playing or training for the club from his official Instagram page.

Tottenham are also interested, but as things stand Newcastle’s move is more advanced. It now remains to be seen whether Brentford sanction his sale before the transfer deadline.

Wissa has scored 49 goals in 149 appearances for the Bees.