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 Kogi Catholic Priest, Two Other Parishioners Freed After Week-Long Kidnapping A Catholic priest serving at St.Paul Parish in Agaliga-Efabo, Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State,  Rev. Fr. Wilfred Ezeamba, who was kidnapped by unknown assailants on Friday, September 12, 2025, had regained his freedom. The kogi State Police Command confirmed the safe release of Rev. Fr. Ezeamba, on Thursday, September 18, 2025, after enduring seven days in captivity.  After Rev. Fr. Ezeamba regained his freedom from his abductors, parishioners and community members gathered at the St Paul Parish to celebrate his safe return, offering prayers of gratitude and holding a special thanksgiving service saying, "We are overjoyed to have our priest back with us,” said Mrs. Grace Idoko, a local parishioner.  “His abduction left us in fear, but God has answered our prayers.” A statement by the Catholic Diocese of Idah, under which St. Paul Parish operates, expressed gratitude to God an...

 PRESS RELEASE M.B. SHEHU REITERATES DETERMINATION TO REPOSITION RMAFC. Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu OFR has reiterated his determination to reposition the organisation to achieve its mandate. The Chairman made this known in his keynote address at the opening ceremony of a retreat organised for the members of the Central Bank Monitoring Committee in Kano from Wednesday 17th to Friday 19th  September 2025 Dr. Shehu, who was represented at the occasion by the Chairman of the Committe and Honourable Commissioner representing Ebonyi State, Engr. Nduka Henry Awuregu disclosed that the retreat was organised in cognisance of the new monitoring mandate contained in the new RMAFC ACT, 2025 . Speaking on the relevance of the Committe, the Chairman said, "The Central Bank Monitoring Committee (CBMC) was created in February, 2021, following the need to set up the processes to closely monitor revenue accruals to and disburs...

 Wedding of YARI’s SON in Kaduna Former Governor of Zamfara, Senator Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari, Governor of  Borno Babagana Zulum, Governor of Kaduna Uba Sani, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Speaker Tajudeen Abass, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Senator Olamilekan Adeola Solomon and Majority leader Opeyemi Bamidele, during a Special Jumat prayer  and wedding of Nasirudeen Yari, and  Safiyya Shehu Idris at Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna.  State House Photo.  More photos below. 

ANAMBRA SECURITY: POLICE COMMAND DISPELS MALICIOUS VIDEO ALLEGING OFFICER’S INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME The Anambra State Police Command is aware of a malicious video currently trending on social media, alleging that a Police Officer is aiding kidnapping and violent crimes in the State. The Command categorically states that the video is not only false, mischievous, and malicious, but also a calculated attempt to tarnish the image of the Nigeria Police Force and demonize the said officer. For the avoidance of doubt, the officer featured in the video is an Assistant Commissioner of Police who is not serving in the Anambra State Police Command. The officer remains one of the pride of the Force in character and crime-fighting. We urge the public to note that, compared to the past, Anambra State has continued to record remarkable progress in the fight against violent crimes, particularly kidnapping. This achievement is the result of the collective efforts of Ndi Anambra working hand-in-hand with s...

 EKSG BANS GRADUATION CEREMONIES FOR KG, NURSERY AND SECONDARY CLASSES IN SCHOOLS. Ekiti State Government has banned the graduation ceremonies for pupils in kindergarten, nursery, primary and secondary classes in public and private schools across the state. The ban, which is expected to take effect from 2025/2026 academic session, is contained in a circular released by the Office of the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Mr Mike Omolayo. The new policy was put in place to reduce undue financial pressure on parents and curbing excesses associated with such ceremonies. According to the said circular, Ekiti State government is still committed to once in six years book review for Primary Schools, while that of Secondary School level has been changed from once in three years to once in four years. It added that parents and guardians are to note that siblings can pass textbooks to their younger ones as long as the books are in good condition.

 Sudan war: RSF attack on Mosque in Darfur kills dozens Sudan's paramilitary forces have killed 75 people in a drone strike that hit a mosque at a camp for displaced people in Darfur, an aid group operating at the site has said, TRT Afrika reported. The strike came on Friday as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) pushed to oust the army from the Darfur region's main city, Al Fasher. According to the Emergency Response Room group at the Abu Shouk camp, a drone struck a mosque. "The bodies were retrieved from the rubble of the mosque," the group said in a statement. On the other hand, satellite imagery showed that RSF is making gains in besieged Al Fasher. For about 18 months, Al Fasher has been under siege by RSF, who already control parts of the North Darfur state capital. Sudan's army - whose positions in Al Fasher are concentrated in the west - has been locked in a devastating war with the RSF since April 2023.

 South African trade officials in Washington for tariff talks and efforts to ease tensions South African trade officials have held talks with their U.S. counterparts in Washington, reports said Friday as Africa’s largest economy looks to repair strained relations and negotiate the lifting of heavy tariffs imposed by the United States, AP reported. South Africa’s department of trade, industry and competition said the country’s Trade Minister Parks Tau and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer held “cordial and constructive” talks following three days of intense discussions by senior officials from both countries. There was no immediate word on the outcome of the talks. The South African ministry said they established a “roadmap” that will be prioritized in future talks. Relations between South Africa and the U.S. have deteriorated since President Donald Trump took office earlier this year. Since then, the U.S. has frozen key development aid to South Africa and expelled Ebrahim Ra...

 NLC Pushes For Full Coverage As Kaduna Implements N72,000 Minimum Wage The Kaduna State Government has begun the rollout of the new N72,000 minimum wage, with civil servants on Grade Levels 1 to 6 being the first to benefit. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kaduna State Council, confirmed the development during a Thursday press briefing but stressed that all categories of workers must be included without delay. State NLC Chairman, Comrade Ayuba Suleiman, described the step as encouraging but noted that significant gaps remain, particularly at the local government level and in some key sectors. “The government has started with Grade Levels 1–6, but this is only the first phase,” he said. “We expect the implementation to extend to teachers, health workers, staff of tertiary institutions, and employees of parastatals.” According to Suleiman, the government has linked the broader rollout of the wage to the ongoing staff and pension verification exercise, expected to conclude by the ...

 Kansas deputy charged with murder in death of man while in custody A Kansas sheriff’s deputy has been charged with murder in connection with the death of a jail inmate who suffered multiple rib fractures and a sternal fracture after an officer knelt on his back during an altercation. According to an autopsy report, 50-year-old Charles Adair died from complications of mechanical asphyxia, a condition where breathing is obstructed, with cardiovascular disease and cirrhosis listed as contributing factors. Adair’s death occurred on July 5, just one day after he was arrested on misdemeanor warrants for failing to appear on several traffic violations and was brought to the Wyandotte County Detention Center in Kansas City, Kansas. Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree announced that Deputy Richard Fatherley faces charges of second-degree murder and an alternative count of involuntary manslaughter. Dupree declined to specify whether Fatherley was the deputy who knelt on Adair’s b...

Songwriter Brett James killed in North Carolina plane crash Grammy-winning country songwriter Brett James, known for hits including “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “When the Sun Goes Down,” died Thursday in a plane crash in Franklin, North Carolina, along with two others. Macon County officials said a single-engine airplane went down near an elementary school around 3 p.m., and there were no survivors. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed three people were on board. James, 57, whose full name is Brett James Cornelius, was listed among the victims by the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. The plane was registered to Brett Cornelius of Brentwood, Tennessee. A native of Columbia, Missouri, James left medical school to pursue music and initially aimed to be a recording artist before finding success as a songwriter. His catalogue includes more than 300 major-label songs, including Kenny Chesney and Uncle Kracker’s “When the Sun Goes Down,” Rascal Flatts’ “Summer Nights,” and Carrie Un...

 Trump, Xi to discuss TikTok deal and US-China relations U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday to advance a deal allowing TikTok to continue operating in the United States. The call may also signal whether the two leaders could meet in person to finalize broader trade agreements and clarify the direction of U.S.-China relations. This would be their second call since Trump returned to the White House and resumed high tariffs on China, which have sparked reciprocal trade restrictions. Trump has signaled willingness to negotiate, particularly regarding TikTok, whose U.S. operations face a potential ban unless its Chinese parent, ByteDance, sells its controlling stake. The leaders previously spoke in June to ease tensions over China’s export limits on rare earth elements critical to electronics and military hardware. Trump told reporters Thursday, “I’m speaking with President Xi, as you know, on Friday, having to do with TikTok and a...

 Kamala Harris calls ABC's pause of Jimmy Kimmel an ‘outright abuse of power,’ says Trump uses ‘fear as a weapon’ Former Vice President Kamala Harris has thrown her support behind Jimmy Kimmel amid his ABC suspension. On Thursday, Harris criticized the network’s indefinite pause of Jimmy Kimmel Live! as “an outright abuse of power,” warning that media companies were “capitulating” while President Trump “is attacking critics and using fear as a weapon.” “What we are witnessing is an outright abuse of power,” Harris wrote on social media. “This administration is attacking critics and using fear as a weapon to silence anyone who would speak out. Media corporations — from television networks to newspapers — are capitulating to these threats. We cannot dare to be silent or complacent in the face of this frontal assault on free speech. We, the People, deserve better.” The suspension followed comments Kimmel made during a Monday monologue about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Kimmel su...

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, arrives in Port Harcourt The Rivers state governor, Sim Fubara, has arrived the state and is expected to resume office today, September 19, The governor flew into the state via the Port Harcourt International Airport at about 11:50 a.m. on Friday, more than 24 hours after President Bola Tinubu ended the six-month emergency rule in the state. He was greeted by a crowd of supporters who had earlier converged at the VIP wing of the Port Harcourt International Airport, awaiting his arrival. While the House of Assembly resumed sitting on Thursday, Fubara did not show up at the Government House, despite the hundreds of supporters who had gathered to welcome him. Watch video below. 

 “Before you even think of sex, run tests together” — Lady warns after partner discovered he had hepatitis B A Nigerian lady has sparked conversations online after stressing the importance of health checks in relationships. In her words: “Please, before you have sex with that person, go and run tests. Both of you should go and run tests. In short, while you guys are still in the talking stage, pick a hospital that you trust and run tests.” She revealed how she once insisted on testing during a talking stage, only for the guy to discover he had hepatitis B without knowing. “This person broke down when he found out because supposedly, the only thing he was scared of was HIV,” she said. The lady added that infections can last longer than the relationship itself, warning: “The talking stage might last for a week, but that infection will last longer.” She also pointed out the importance of checking genotype and other health issues early, saying: “Immediately you know, you know where you...

 A Virginia pre-school worker was fired after tying a 21-month-old toddler to a chair. This incident took place last month at VINCI School Alexandria North- in Alexandria, Virginia.  Fortunately, the entire ordeal was captured on the school's security cameras. When the school administration became aware of the incident, they reported it to the state licensing office and child protective services. In the security footage, you see the unidentified teacher's assistant use a blanket to tie a 21-month-old toddler to a chair for approximately 22 minutes! There was a teacher in the room at the time of the incident who failed to intervene on the child's behalf. Many people in the community find it equally unacceptable for the assistant to do this while another teacher watched and did nothing to help the toddler.  When questioned about the incident, the teacher's assistant said she had restrained the child for "throwing food on the floor" and "moving tables" ...

 A Florida woman has mysteriously gone missing on a cross-country road trip after sending her mother a cryptic text message. 38-year-old, Anna Kovrizhnykh, was officially entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System on August 27th. However, Anna's family has not heard from her since July 5th, causing the family to grow increasingly concerned.  Anna left her Hallandale, Florida home to embark on a cross-country adventure. Anna left with no clear destination and was determined to do a driving tour of the country, but after reaching California, Anna's adventure seems to have taken a mysterious and possibly dark turn. Anna last contacted her family on July 5th when she texted her mother a baffling message instructing her to take possession of Anna's personal belongings. There has been 100% radio silence from Anna since that message. There have been no sightings of Anna. The family needs the public's help.  One week after sending the "very unusual m...

 An Indiana mother is facing charges after her toddler was found dead in her driveway.  Officers in Shelbyville, Indiana responded to the report of an unresponsive child at 10:45 p.m. on Wednesday, September 17th.  Officers arrived to a housing development on the 900 block of Hale Road. Once on scene, officers found Sophie Igou (pictured below) laying in the driveway next to an unresponsive 21-month-old child.  Responding officers attempted emergency life-saving measures but quickly determined the child was beyond saving.  After investigators were called to the scene of the incident, Sophie Igou was taken into custody.  She was initially arrested on charges of neglect of a dependent causing death. However, formal charges are yet to be filed.  The death is still under investigation, and an autopsy is pending.   Our thoughts are with everyone involved, everyone who loved the toddler and the first responders.  The Indiana Shelbyville police...

 Update- Authorities have announced they have found the possible remains of Travis Decker. Travis Decker allegedly kidnapped his three daughters on May 30th, 2025 and then took their lives near Rock Island campground in Washington.  The three daughters were found deceased on June 2nd, 2025. Travis was supposed to return the girls back to their mother that day after his visitation. Law enforcement stated that the clothing and other specifics found with the remains, match Travis Decker. Although authorities are announcing these are likely Travis Decker's remains, they cannot say with 100% certainty until testing is completed. The remains were found near the campground where Travis Decker's daughters were discovered deceased.  It was initially thought that Travis Decker was running from the law and might be utilizing his survivalist skills. Law enforcement stated that the remains were very decomposed and it is not believed, if these are indeed Decker's remains, that he was o...

 Assam’s iconic singer Zubeen Garg has passed away at the age of 52 in a tragic accident while scuba diving in Singapore. Just a day earlier, the celebrated artist had enthralled audiences at the 4th Northeast India Festival (NEIF) 2025, held at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, where he performed a moving rendition of Tears in Heaven. According to reports, Garg fell unconscious after an incident in the sea and was rescued by Singapore police before being rushed to a nearby hospital. Despite being admitted to the ICU and receiving extensive medical care, doctors were unable to save him. The news of his sudden demise has sent shockwaves across Assam and the entire Northeast, leaving fans and admirers mourning the untimely loss of one of the region’s most beloved cultural icons.

 Daughter of Cameroonian President urge citizens to vote against her father Brenda Biya, the daughter of President Paul Biya of Cameroon, has called on Cameroonians not to vote for her father in the upcoming October 2025 presidential election. She said this during a live TikTok session, where she openly criticized her father’s leadership and held him responsible for the deteriorating state of the nation. She attributed the country’s widespread poverty, unemployment, and social stagnation to decades of poor governance under his administration. President Paul Biya, now 92 years old, has ruled Cameroon for over 43 years, making him one of the world’s longest-serving heads of state. His tenure has been characterized by authoritarianism, economic mismanagement, human rights violations, and a persistent crackdown on dissent. Despite growing calls for change, Biya has repeatedly clung to power, with elections widely criticized for lacking transparency and fairness. Brenda’s message appear...

 DRC President Tshisekedi meets South Africa's Ramaphosa after snubbing forum with M23 rebels The ​​​​​​​Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi has visited South Africa for a working visit at the invitation of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Anadolu Agency reported. Ramaphosa received Tshisekedi at the Mahlamba Ndlopfu presidential residence to discuss issues of mutual interest and strengthen ties, the South African government wrote on X. Tshisekedi was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister of Defence Guy Kabongo, Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner and Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba, according to the Congolese presidency. The visit followed a peace conference hosted by former South African President Thabo Mbeki’s foundation in early September, in which the Congolese government declined to attend, but members of the M23 rebel group were present. Peace initiatives Eastern Congo has been plagued by violence for decades. The resurgence of the M23 rebel ...

 Tinubu does not need Makinde to win Oyo in 2027, Oladele knocks Alabi The media office of the Baàmẹ̀kọ́ of Ibadanland and Oyo APC guber aspirant, Oloye Saheed Oladele, has carpeted Oloye Akin Alabi, the Honourable member representing Egbeda/Ona Ara Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, over a statement he made recently. In a viral video, Oloye Akin Alabi, while making a speech during an event at a gathering of the Egbeda League of Imams and Alfas, suggested that Oyo people would reenact the pattern of voting APC at the federal level and PDP in Oyo State as was done in 2023, in 2027. Oloye Oladele frowned at the statement made by the third term seeking Federal Rep, at a time when efforts are being made to unite and strengthen Oyo APC. He bemoaned that his unguarded utterances at the event have dampened the spirits of the party faithful more.  “At a time true party members are healing from the wounds of the losses of the 2023 guber election and the recent Ibadan...

FG reintroduces Nigerian history as compulsory subject in schools The federal government has reintroduced Nigerian History as a compulsory subject in the basic education curriculum, a move officials say is aimed at strengthening national identity, unity, patriotism, and citizenship among young Nigerians. A statement to this effect on Wednesday night by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Education said, “Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad, announced the policy on Wednesday, thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for driving the reform under the Renewed Hope Agenda.” “They explained that, for the first time in decades, pupils will study Nigerian History continuously from Primary 1 to Junior Secondary School 3, JSS3,” the statement added. Students in Senior Secondary School (SSS1–3) will now take Civic and Heritage Studies, a newly developed subject that combines Nigerian History wi...

 Fayose’s brother quits PDP, withdraws from Ekiti governorship race Otunba Emmanuel Fayose has withdrawn from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary in Ekiti State, citing alleged compromise by the party’s national leadership. Fayose, younger brother of former Governor Ayodele Fayose, announced his decision at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.  He accused PDP National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, of working with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). “I am using this occasion to formally announce my decision and that of my teeming supporters to resign our membership from the PDP,” Fayose said. According to him, the party’s leadership under Damagum and Anyanwu has “hindered the progress of the PDP in Ekiti State,” making the governorship primary an exercise already programmed for failure. Efforts to get a response from the PDP National Chairman on Fayose’s allegations were unsuccessful as a text message sent to him was not replied. “Gentlemen ...

 Wike debunks rumours of medical trip abroad The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has debunked rumours that he travelled abroad for medical treatment. Speaking on Thursday at the flag-off of a road construction project in the Wuye District of Abuja, Wike said those speculating about his health were engaging in unnecessary politics. “You see, the level of this country where we are, we play politics with everything. How can somebody sit down and just say all kinds of things? Where the people saw me, I don’t know. The hospital you saw me in, I do not know,” he said. The minister explained that since his appointment in June, he had not taken time off without carrying work along. The former Governor of Rivers State added that his recent trip was deliberately used as an opportunity to rest. “This time, I said, whatever it is, I must travel without any file. So, if the whole place will crumble, let it crumble. Because one has to be alive before one can satisfy other...

 LAGOS POLICE FOIL RIOT, ARREST 18 HOODLUMS AT TEJUOSHO MARKET The Lagos State Police Command has restored peace and normalcy to Tejuosho Market Phase II, Surulere, following a violent disturbance by hoodlums and miscreants who mobilized under the guise of protesting a power outage. The hoodlums and miscreants damaged some sections of the bank premises and attacked police personnel on guard duty at the bank within the market. The PMF personnel repelled the attacks and firmly protected the bank from invasion by the hoodlums and miscreants and exercised a high level of restraint in their actions. The details of the incident are that on 18th September 2025, at about 2:30pm, the Lagos Command received a distress call that hoodlums and miscreants had started attacking people, damaging goods and properties in Tejuosho Market. Further information revealed that the hoodlums attacked Mobile Policemen guarding a commercial bank within the market who firmly repelled them and prevented them fr...

  Lagos NURTW official arrested for beating dispatch rider to death in Lagos Island.  The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a senior member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Shamsideen Adio, for allegedly beating a dispatch rider to death on Tapa Street, Lagos Island. According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred on Wednesday after a minor clash between Adio and the victim, who was accused of scratching his vehicle. The argument quickly escalated, and Adio, reportedly joined by some of his colleagues, descended heavily on the rider, beating him until he collapsed. A journalist, Chris Nwandu, who shared a video of the incident on social media, described Adio as notorious for similar violent attacks on tricycle (Marwa) operators in the area. He alleged that just days earlier, the suspect had assaulted another operator who ended up in hospital. A police source confirmed that the rider succumbed to the injuries sustained in the attack. “The victim d...

 2027: Buhari’s men rally behind Atiku, slam Tinubu’s APC ABUJA – In a dramatic political shift ahead of the 2027 general elections, some loyalists of former President Muhammadu Buhari have declared support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, signalling deep cracks within the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. The move was formalised yesterday, at a private meeting in Abuja, where state chairmen of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Buhari’s original political platform, gathered at Atiku’s residence to chart a new political course. Atiku, who is spearheading efforts to build a broad coalition under the African Democratic Congress, ADC, hosted the delegation and pledged to work with them to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape. The CPC bloc, long regarded as Buhari’s most loyal political base, accused the current administration of abandoning the ideals that had united the coalition, which brought APC to power in 2015. One of the leaders said, “Bring it out,...

 Federal judge halts deportation of hundreds of Guatemalan children A federal judge on Thursday blocked the Trump administration from deporting hundreds of unaccompanied Guatemalan children, citing a lack of evidence that their parents requested their return. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, issued a preliminary injunction preventing the removal of minors who have neither received a final deportation order nor obtained Attorney General permission to voluntarily leave the U.S., at least until the case is resolved. Kelly noted that the government’s claim that parents sought the children’s return “crumbled like a house of cards,” pointing to the Guatemalan attorney general’s report that officials could not locate parents for most of the children identified for deportation. Of the few families contacted, none had formally requested their children be returned. Earlier, on Aug. 31, dozens of children aged 10 to 17 were transported from federal foster homes to a Texas...

 Lionsgate cuts 50 jobs, says move is part of plan to ‘reposition company for growth’ Lionsgate is cutting about 50 jobs, reducing its workforce by roughly 5% as part of a year-long effort to “reposition the company for growth.” This follows an earlier round of layoffs this year that cut 8% of staff, bringing the studio’s total reduction to 13%. Company leaders say this latest round will be the final stage of the downsizing process. CEO Jon Feltheimer explained in a memo to employees that the cuts are part of broader corporate restructuring, including the recent split of Lionsgate and Starz into independent companies. Feltheimer described the moves as efforts to focus on growth areas, monetize non-core assets, and adapt to the rapidly changing media landscape. The studio, which recently released the Stephen King adaptation The Long Walk, has several upcoming titles, including The Strangers – Chapter 2, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, and the Sydney Sweeney-...

 Police investigate home near location where D4vd’s car containing body was discovered Police conducted a search of a Los Angeles home near the location where an abandoned Tesla, owned by singer David Burke, known professionally as D4vd, was found, containing the body of a missing 15-year-old girl. Authorities identified the girl as Celeste Rivas, who had been reported missing from Lake Elsinore, California. Forensic testing confirmed her identity. The search, carried out in the Hollywood Hills area and completed Wednesday evening, was part of the ongoing investigation into Rivas’s death. Officials from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office are working to determine the cause of death, a process complicated by the state of decomposition. The body was discovered on September 8 in the front trunk of the Tesla after impound lot workers reported a “foul odor” coming from the vehicle, which had been at the lot for two days. The car had been reported abandoned in the Hollywood ...

 Hundreds of thousands reportedly flee Gaza City amid Israeli offensive An estimated hundreds of thousands of residents have fled Gaza City as the Israel Defense Forces continue a military offensive against Hamas in the northern part of the city. Satellite imagery shows several tent encampments, once occupied by Gazans, largely emptied after the IDF warned civilians to evacuate. Over the past week, armored vehicles and troops have entered the city, supported by aerial strikes. Communications in Gaza City have been severely disrupted, with local phone lines and internet largely down. The IDF has identified the city as a Hamas stronghold and says it holds many of an estimated 50 hostages, several of whom Israeli intelligence believes are likely dead. Many fleeing residents are moving south to areas designated by the IDF as humanitarian zones. Amid the ongoing conflict, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich suggested that Gaza could become a “real estate bonanza” once hostilities ...

US commits billions to Britain as Trump and Starmer emphasize special relationship President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged Wednesday to “renew the special relationship for a new era” while announcing $203 billion in U.S. investment in the United Kingdom. Speaking at a joint press conference at Chequers, Starmer described the U.K.-U.S. partnership as anchored in defense, trade, the economy, and technology, emphasizing its readiness to tackle global challenges. Trump, noting his personal ties to the U.K. through his mother, expressed gratitude for the warm receptions at Chequers and Windsor Castle, where King Charles III hosted a state banquet. He reaffirmed that the two nations will “always be friends,” highlighting the trade deal signed in June that reduced tariffs on aerospace and auto imports while maintaining steel tariffs at 25%. The leaders addressed questions on immigration, the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, free speech, and energy policy. They differed on Pale...

 Brad Pitt sells Los Angeles home to Austin Butler following break-in Brad Pitt has sold his Los Angeles-area home, with actor Austin Butler purchasing the property. The Los Feliz estate, featuring three bedrooms and two bathrooms, officially closed last Friday after an off-market deal went into escrow last month. Butler reportedly bought the home for $5.2 million, slightly below the $5.5 million Pitt paid for it two years ago. Pitt’s decision to sell followed a break-in and ransacking earlier this summer, though the alleged perpetrators have since been arrested. The 1960-built property, known as “The Steel House,” boasts sweeping city views and a notable Hollywood history, with past owners including Aileen Getty and Maroon 5’s James Valentine. Pitt has already moved on, purchasing a $12 million Los Angeles residence from The Killers guitarist Dave Keuning. Butler now takes over the historic estate, enjoying its scenic vistas and storied legacy.