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America’s China Defense Gaps Are Bigger Than You Think

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The United States is down to roughly 1,000 missile interceptors, has shifted more than 30 warships away from the Pacific and still faces a $30 billion backlog in arms promised to Taiwan, raising new concerns that the conflict with Iran is draining weapons reserves originally intended to deter China.

That rapid depletion has unsettled Pentagon officials focused on the Indo-Pacific, who are tracking Beijing’s escalating pressure campaign against Taiwan just as critical American stockpiles appear increasingly stretched.

In December, China staged an extraordinary display of military power, encircling Taiwan with naval vessels and warplanes in what became its largest recorded military exercise.

After the sweeping drills, Chinese forces expanded military infrastructure on disputed reefs in the South China Sea and intensified pressure on Taipei through more assertive coast guard patrols.

U.S. intelligence officials say Chinese President Xi Jinping has directed the People’s Liberation Army, or PLA, to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027.

Although current intelligence suggests Beijing isn’t planning an immediate strike, military experts warn the target timeline exposes an alarming weak spot in depleted US armories.

Behind closed doors, the relentless inventory hemorrhaging has sparked growing friction between President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth – even as both leaders publicly insist that American weapon reserves remain fully loaded.

China's President Xi Jinping gestures towards King Abdullah II of Jordan (not pictured) during a bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 24 August

China’s President Xi Jinping gestures towards King Abdullah II of Jordan (not pictured) during a bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 24 August

US Navy sailors load AIM-120 air-to-air missiles on a F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford, lead ship in the Ford Class Aircraft Carriers

US Navy sailors load AIM–120 air–to–air missiles on a F/A–18E Super Hornet fighter jet aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford, lead ship in the Ford Class Aircraft Carriers 

Hegseth reiterated this stance as recently as Monday, insisting military stocks remain fully capable. 

‘We had plenty when we needed it, and we have plenty now and we have plenty when we’ll need them in the future, absolutely,’ Hegseth told reporters who questioned their military capacity.

Troops and hardware are being pulled out of the Indo-Pacific to feed Middle East operations regardless. The 30-plus warships now in the region were all originally earmarked for the Pacific, a US official says. 

The most alarming shortfall in the US arsenal involves defensive interceptors – the vital shields needed to protect roughly two dozen American bases across Asia and safeguard tens of thousands of US troops stationed in Japan and South Korea.

The US has already expended most of its pre–Iran–war collection of Patriot and THAAD interceptors, according to figures published in late July by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and first reported by the Washington Post last week. 

Roughly 1,000 Patriots and THAADs are left. They are purely defensive, meaning they can only absorb an attack, not answer one. 

That limited defense pool creates a glaring disparity when measured against Beijing’s strike capabilities.

‘China has 3,000 ballistic missiles or more. So that’s just bad math,’ Jennifer Kavanagh, director of military analysis at the Washington think tank Defense Priorities, told the Post.

America's military stockpiles are being dangerously depleted by the prolonged war in the Middle East, leaving terrifying gaps in the nation's readiness for a potential war with China

America’s military stockpiles are being dangerously depleted by the prolonged war in the Middle East, leaving terrifying gaps in the nation’s readiness for a potential war with China

The US Army conducting live fire tests of the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico

The US Army conducting live fire tests of the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico 

Mark Cancian, senior adviser at CSIS, told the newspaper: ‘They are the most critical because there are no good substitutes. When you run out of Patriots, when you’re out of THAADs, there’s no way you can stop missiles coming in.’ 

Offensive strike capabilities are suffering a similar strain.

More than 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired in the first four weeks of the Iran war alone, and CSIS says that number has now passed 1,000 – wiping out a massive share of stockpiles from before the war estimated at between 3,100 and 4,500 missiles.

Other key long–range strike weapons are also running low.

April estimates from CSIS show the Pentagon has already burned through roughly a quarter of its prewar Joint Air–to–Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) and up to three–quarters of its 90 Precision Strike Missiles.

Those staggering losses raise major red flags when stacked against potential war scenarios in the Pacific.

War–game simulations by CSIS reveal that a clash with China would burn through 5,000 long–range missiles in just four weeks – a staggering total that exceeds America’s entire prewar Tomahawk inventory. 

The armaments crunch is also directly impacting Indo–Pacific allies facing mounting pressure from Beijing.

Donald Trump speaks to the press as Leavitt looks on at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland

Donald Trump speaks to the press as Leavitt looks on at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland

Guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) firing a Tomahawk land attack missile in support of Operation Epic Fury, from an undisclosed location on March 1

Guided–missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) firing a Tomahawk land attack missile in support of Operation Epic Fury, from an undisclosed location on March 1

Pete Hegseth speaks on Thursday during an event to honor Marines who were serving during the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing at the Pentagon

Pete Hegseth speaks on Thursday during an event to honor Marines who were serving during the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing at the Pentagon

Nearly $30 billion in approved military aid for Taiwan is stuck in limbo, including $882 million in Patriot missiles, data from the Taiwan Security Monitor shows. 

‘It seems to me that the likelihood that [Taiwan is] going to get a whole 100 is pretty low. I think the number one priority for the United States, rightly, will be refilling its own stockpiles,’ said Kavanagh.

‘The United States probably also feels like it owes Gulf state allies some replenishment. The war on Iran is not over,’ she added.

The strain comes amid ongoing military posturing from Beijing, which in July celebrated its first known test of a sea–based nuclear–capable missile, further heightening tensions across the Pacific.

USS George Washington Captain Says Crew Ready for Mideast Mission

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Morale aboard the USS George Washington is reportedly strong as the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier arrives in the Arabian Sea, positioning near the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz and close to Iran.

The carrier, CVN 73, has taken over duties from the USS Abraham Lincoln. Just three weeks after a port visit to Vietnam, the massive floating airfield is now carrying roughly 5,000 sailors and hosting about nine operational squadrons, including advanced strike fighters, electronic attack aircraft and helicopter units. Senior officers say the crew is prepared and motivated for its latest assignment.

“Morale aboard USS George Washington remains high among our sailors,” Capt. Nicholas DeLeo, the ship’s Commanding Officer, told News Media. He added “I see this as I walk the deck plates, seeing them take pride in their work — whether conducting flight operations, maintaining our systems or supporting one another on the ship. The dedication and teamwork I see across the ship is outstanding, and that spirit keeps us ready and resilient.”

USS George Washington

Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) conducts routine operations while underway in the Arabian Sea, Aug. 22, 2026. George Washington is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East. (U.S. Navy photo)

The USS George Washington, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, serves as the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5. It is reportedly operating alongside multiple U.S. warships, including the guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG 62) and the guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86).

Commander of Carrier Strike Group Five, Rear Adm. Jeff Heames, told News Media “The teams aboard USS George Washington and Carrier Strike Group Five are ready, determined, and resourced for sustained operations. Our Sailors understand the importance of the mission and continue to execute with precision and professionalism every day.”

With the carrier group now operating in the Middle East, it falls under US Central Command (CENTCOM). The command’s former Commander, Gen. Joseph Votel, (Ret.), recently told Fox News’ America Reports about the George Washington’s expected mission, saying “Being able to continue to have credible military capability in the Middle East is really important, so the arrival of the George Washington is I think a good example of that.”

Votel continued, “We’re going to have to be prepared, because this is probably going to take some time, to continue to bring forces into the region, we want them to be at a high level of readiness.”

Flight operations continue, both day and night. Launching into the skies off Iran from the George Washington, aircraft based on board are reported to be F/A-18E/F Super Hornet multirole strike fighters, F-35C Lightning II fifth-generation stealth multirole fighters, EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning and control.

Also onboard are said to be MH-60S Seahawk & MH-60R Seahawkmulti-mission helicopters for anti-submarine warfare and search-and-rescue.

This past week, a historic landing on the George Washington. Navy Lt. Steven Frazier, a pilot from Strike Fighter Squadron 147, the Argonauts, made the 200,000th trap – landing on the ship in an F-35C Lightning II fighter jet, with his stealth fighter caught by a thick, steel arresting gear cable with the jet’s tail hook.

In a laid-back understatement that could have come straight out of the movie ‘Top Gun’, Lt. Frazier said, “It’s a good feeling for me to know that once I leave, I can come back to the aircraft carrier and trap”. The carrier can land one aircraft on deck per minute, and typically lands 70 aircraft a day.

F/A-18 Super Hornet

An F/A-18 Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27, prepares for takeoff aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier the USS George Washington in the Arabian Sea Aug. 21 2026.  (NAVCENT Public Affairs)

Attention to mission is evident throughout the ship. On the bridge, Assistant Navigator Elizabeth Wayne told the ship’s communication team, “all of the time when we are navigating, we are focused outside of the ship on anything that could pose a hazard or a threat to the ship.”

Wayne continued, “When we are in special evolution, when we are conducting flight operations, the most important thing is to ensure we are lock step with (the) airboss, the captain, the command duty officer underway, everybody needs to be on the same page to execute that safely.”

As it arrived in the Middle East, Russia tried to suggest the food on the carrier was not good. Russia Today (RT) posted what are believed to be AI-generated photos of poor rations on board. However, from the videos seen by News Media of great food and even a café below decks, the truth appears to be very different. Victoria Marc, Culinary Specialist 2nd Class, talked to the communications team on the carrier, noting that “throughout the day and into the night, our sailors have all sorts of food and drink options available to them.”

Marc added, “Sailors have the opportunity to eat three meals a day, plus the night rations. Our 150 cooks work 24 hours to prepare and serve 15,000 meals a day to ensure our sailors are well-fed. From the mess deck throughout the day, there’s always something there where people feel fueled and ready for the fight.”

And the Navy intends keeping it this way. Earlier this week, CENTCOM published images of the George Washington being replenished at sea. Navy images show the ship being resupplied twice in four days this past week, an average of 2,000 pallets of supplies including fresh food and ammunition winched by helicopter from a nearby supply ship.

Fuel for the carrier’s aircraft is also transferred ship-to-ship. The carrier is nuclear-powered, so the ship itself will not need refueling at sea.

Helicopter above USS George Washington

A Eurocopter AS-332 Super Puma, attached to fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO-187), delivers supplies to Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) during a replenishment-at-sea evolution in the Arabian Sea, Aug. 22, 2026. George Washington is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East.  (US Navy photo)

More history this week – under the headline “Shoutout to our Shipbuilders!!”, the ship’s communications team posted “40 years ago on August 25, 1986, the keel for USS George Washington was laid.”

Today in the Arabian Sea, that keel supports the 5,000 men and women and their array of air firepower, as they stand at the coalface of the Middle East conflict, ready – and willing – to carry out their mission.

Accused NYC Double-Killer’s Bizarre First Words After Bust

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An ex-convict wanted by the FBI in connection with two deadly New York City robberies had an unusual message for the public after NYPD officers arrested him Saturday.

“God is good, God is great,” 31-year-old parolee Jesus Acosta said as he was led in handcuffs to Bronx Criminal Court to face charges tied to the fatal incidents.

Acosta had been the focus of a joint FBI and NYPD manhunt after authorities said he fatally shot a married father of two who worked at a wings restaurant in Brooklyn on Aug. 23, then later fired a fatal shot at a customer inside a Bronx deli.

Investigators have not indicated that either killing stemmed from anything other than robbery, police said.

Police said officers with the NYPD arrested Acosta at a Bronx park over the weekend.

Acosta was still on parole after being released from state prison April 23 following 10 years behind bars on assault and felony gun possession charges, according to online records.

His deadly killing spree began when he shot beloved hard-working wings-eatery employee MD Yousef, 44, in the head during a heist. Yousef died at the hospital, police said.

Within 48 hours, Acosta pulled off another armed robbery at a bodega on 149th Street, where he shot and killed 33-year-old Tayvon Shuler, cops said..

The FBI posted a $25,000 reward for the accused career criminal, while United Bodegas of America, a Big Apple-based advocacy group for small food retailers, put up another $10,000, and Acosta was nabbed in the park Saturday.

He was led out of the 43rd Precinct in The Bronx in cuffs hours later, ignoring questions from reporters outside the stationhouse before he blurted out his bizarre first public comments.

Rylee Arnold Reacts to Fan Support After DWTS: The Next Pro Drama

Dancing With the Stars pro Rylee Arnold is leaning on her inner circle — and thanking fans — after receiving criticism tied to her appearance on The Next Pro.

“I love you all so very much,” Rylee, 21, wrote in the caption of a TikTok video posted Friday, August 27, showing her decorating makeup containers with rhinestones alongside troupe dancer Carter Williams. Carter kept the mood light in the comments, writing, “Us just bedazzling our night away… [I know] that’s right.”

Support quickly poured in from the DWTS family. Fellow cast member Ezra Sosa hyped her up with, “MY MF QUEEN,” while Rylee’s sister, Brynley Arnold, praised the choreographer as “iconic.”

Rylee later returned to TikTok with another upbeat post, dancing around her kitchen to Jamie Miller’s “Babydoll” as she appeared to shake off the online noise.

Shirley-on-Rylee-and-AJ

Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro judge Shirley Ballas has also entered the conversation surrounding Rylee Arnold and AJ Pritchard’s off-the-dance-floor drama. In the comments of a recent Instagram post promoting the upcoming Next Pro season finale, Shirley, 65, was asked to share her “opinion” after AJ’s fiancée, Zara Zoffany, publicly criticized Rylee, 21, for calling out […]

“If someone’s gonna hurt me / If someone’s gonna tear my world in two,” Rylee mouthed the lyrics in the Saturday, August 29, video. “If someone’s gonna wreck me/ Believe me baby / That someone’s gotta be you.”

Rylee further noted in her caption that she recently made banana bread and “life is so good.”

Rylee found herself in hot water after her appearance during the DWTS: The Next Pro semifinals, where she was partnered with contestant AJ Pritchard. During the episode, Rylee claimed to the judges that AJ, 31, was overly critical in rehearsals without offering her any positive feedback or encouragement.

Rylee-Arnold-Next-Pro-181729_EM100833

Disney/Eric McCandless

In response, AJ’s fiancée, Zara Zoffany, clapped back at Rylee’s feedback.

“[Rylee] — @aj11ace wouldn’t have had to critique you in the first place if everything had been right. Dancing with Bailey [McKnight] last week showed how he danced with an amateur & their dance was amazing,” Zara, 32, claimed in a social media comment, referring to AJ’s previous Next Pro dance with the influencer. “This week was suppose [sic] to be dancing with a pro … very different dynamics & what people didn’t see in rehearsals was that you injured him when you hit him in the head, leaving with a slight concussion and needing to see a [doctor].”

She added at the time, “He wouldn’t have needed to give it if something hadn’t been wrong. I hope you were able to take something positive and useful from his teaching and feedback.”

Ezra-Sosa-Defends-Rylee-Amid-AJ-Drama

Ezra Sosa has entered the chat amid his Dancing With the Stars costar Rylee Arnold’s ongoing drama over her Next Pro cameo. Rylee, 21, appeared on the Monday, August 24, episode, in which she teamed up with contestant AJ Pritchard for a routine in the semifinals. During the episode, Rylee openly claimed to the judges […]

While AJ has not publicly addressed Zara’s comments, several of Rylee’s colleagues publicly defended the DWTS finalist.

“I usually stay out of stuff like this, but this genuinely made me sick to my stomach,” Ezra, 25, replied to Zara via Instagram comment. “Rylee is my best friend, I love her and I will speak up for her. Rylee is more than qualified to be a pro, and one dance with a completely different partnership does not erase the years of training, talent and work that earned her that title.”

The Next Pro judge Shirley Ballas, for her part, stressed that Rylee “earned her place” on the main show in a separate statement.

“@ryleearnold1 has earned her place on DWTS through hard work [and] dedicating her time to all styles,” Shirley, 65, wrote. “I have a lot of respect for her. Shame others do not.”

AJ is among the finalists to become the next DWTS pro for the upcoming season 35 alongside Selena Hamilton and Adele Zaikman.

The Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro finale airs on ABC Monday, August 31 at 8 p.m. ET.

Simon Cowell’s AGT Replacement Revealed After Back Surgery

Kenan Thompson is stepping in at the “America’s Got Talent” judges’ table, temporarily filling the seat of Simon Cowell as Cowell continues to recover from back surgery.

NBC revealed the casting update Saturday on Instagram, sharing a photo of the “Saturday Night Live” veteran with the message: “A comedy legend is taking over the Judges’ table!”

“Kenan Thompson is joining AGT as a guest Judge! 🎉,” the show added in its announcement.

Thompson, 48, is set to appear on Tuesday’s episode of Season 21, joining regular judges Sofía Vergara, Howie Mandel and Mel B on the popular NBC talent competition.

For now, NBC has not said whether Thompson will remain on “America’s Got Talent” for the final five episodes, or if additional guest judges could rotate in while Cowell is away.

Thompson has been a cast member of “SNL” since 2003. He’s also played the role of Dexter Reed in the 1997 comedy “Good Burger” and starred in the late ’90s TV series “Kenan & Kel.”

The actor previously stepped in as a guest judge in 2020 when Cowell, 66, broke his back during an electric bike accident.

Earlier this month, Fox News reported that Cowell would miss a few weeks of “AGT” to undergo and recover from the procedure that would address his ongoing back issues.

At the time of the “American Idol” alum’s accident, he was out with his longtime partner, Lauren Silverman, 49, and their now-12-year-old son, Eric.

Cowell was riding his bike in a courtyard in Malibu, California, when he fell and landed on his back, resulting in “massive amounts of pain.”

“When he fell off the bike. he landed right on his back, which broke in a number of places,” an insider told us in 2020.

He was then transported to a hospital, where he underwent a six-hour surgery and had a metal rod placed in his back.

The horrific 2020 accident led Cowell to miss a majority of Season 15 of “AGT.”

Reflecting on the incident during a 2021 interview with People, he said, “I’ve got to be honest with you, it wasn’t that bad actually breaking your back.”

“I mean it wasn’t great for 3 to 4 weeks but after that you get through it,” Cowell added.

Cowell also suffered another e-bike injury in 2022, leading to a broken arm.

“AGT” airs Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Brit Shares Newlywed Wife’s Final Words Before Nepal Flood

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A heartbroken British husband searching for his new wife in Nepal has shared the last message she sent before the deadly flood swept through the region: “I love you so much.”

Pramod Poudel, 34, who was born in Nepal, has returned to the disaster-hit country in a desperate effort to find his 25-year-old wife, Sumitra, who has not been seen since Wednesday.

The newlyweds had spoken just hours before a glacier collapse unleashed torrents of water down the mountainside and into nearby villages, leaving devastation across the Nepal-Tibet border area.

Authorities have so far confirmed 734 deaths, while another 2,498 people remain missing. Among the 48 British nationals believed to be unaccounted for are two teenagers: a 13-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy.

Pramod, who runs a food truck business, flew to Nepal on Friday to search not only for Sumitra but also for his mother, brother and uncle, all of whom vanished after their entire village was wiped out.

Mr Poudel and his wife only married in June. She had been staying with his family in the village of Sole as he returned home for work. 

He told The Sun: ‘When I last spoke to her, she said to me, ‘how are you? I love you so much’.

‘I have not had contact with her since then. It’s devastating – I don’t even know how to explain how I’m feeling right now. 

Nepal-born Pramod Poudel (right), 34, has travelled to Nepal to search for his 25-year-old partner Sumitra, who has been missing since Wednesday

Nepal-born Pramod Poudel (right), 34, has travelled to Nepal to search for his 25-year-old partner Sumitra, who has been missing since Wednesday

The couple last spoke only hours before a collapsed glacier sent water streaming down mountains and through villages

The couple last spoke only hours before a collapsed glacier sent water streaming down mountains and through villages

So far 734 people are confirmed to have died with a further 2,498 missing (the village of Betrawati in Nepal's Nuwakot district is pictured on Sunday)

So far 734 people are confirmed to have died with a further 2,498 missing (the village of Betrawati in Nepal’s Nuwakot district is pictured on Sunday)

A group of people stand in Betrawati in front of buildings destroyed when flash floods tore through the country on Wednesday

A group of people stand in Betrawati in front of buildings destroyed when flash floods tore through the country on Wednesday

‘I’m so worried about her and all my family. I work so hard for them and they are my world.’ 

Pramod, from Uckfield, East Sussex, moved to Britain when he was 18 after being raised in Nepal.

He is one of many Brits who have been left in agony as a result of the Asian country’s ‘tsunami from the sky’.  

The monster mudslide swept away roads, bridges and homes in seconds, while also knocking out power lines and mobile phone masts.

The discovery of a group of 31 tourists, none of whom are British, alive in the district of Rasuwa, raised hopes that all is not lost.

But the death toll this morning rose to 734, with the families of those who remain unaccounted for desperately jetting to Nepal to begin a search for them.  

Among them is the wife of 54-year-old Pravin Atmakur, who was leading a group of 77 pilgrims to Mount Kailash in Tibet when the floods struck.

Manjula Atmakur arrived in Kathmandu on Friday morning after travelling from Britain to search for her husband, who has not been heard from since the disaster.

The couple both work as consultant psychiatrists for the NHS, while their son studies at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Mrs Atmakur told the Telegraph in Nepal: ‘I am emotionally broken. I don’t know how my husband is. In which situation. I want him back.’

She added: ‘I came here with the only agenda that I want to take Pravin back home alive.’ 

Damaged houses stand precariously near the debris-choked Trishuli River

Damaged houses stand precariously near the debris-choked Trishuli River

Rescue workers trawl through a mountain side in search of the hundreds missing after the flash floods

Rescue workers trawl through a mountain side in search of the hundreds missing after the flash floods

Pravin Atmakur  was leading a group of 77 pilgrims to Mount Kailash in Tibet when the floods struck

Pravin Atmakur  was leading a group of 77 pilgrims to Mount Kailash in Tibet when the floods struck

A millionaire family-of-four from Surrey including a former Mrs India UK are also among Britons missing in Nepal

A millionaire family-of-four from Surrey including a former Mrs India UK are also among Britons missing in Nepal

Pictured: Mrs Sahu, a high-flying chemistry graduate from Mumbai who became a banker before moving to Ireland to work for Dell Computers

Pictured: Mrs Sahu, a high-flying chemistry graduate from Mumbai who became a banker before moving to Ireland to work for Dell Computers

Nelly Chhetri (pictured), 18, and her mother Yashika Basnet, 56, an NHS worker, had gone on the trip as part of a tour group, and have not been heard from since

Nelly Chhetri (pictured), 18, and her mother Yashika Basnet, 56, an NHS worker, had gone on the trip as part of a tour group, and have not been heard from since

Sarada Simkhada, a senior nurse at the Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, left for Nepal last Saturday for a pilgrimage

Sarada Simkhada, a senior nurse at the Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, left for Nepal last Saturday for a pilgrimage 

Mrs Atmakur last spoke to her husband on August 15, when he began the pilgrimage.

She believes he had completed the pilgrimage and was returning from Tibet into Nepal when the floods struck at around 9am on Wednesday.

Nepal is now facing what officials described as a scene of ‘devastation beyond imagination’ after a glacier collapse unleashed a ‘tsunami from the sky’, sending torrents of water crashing through villages and tourist hotspots.

Footage showed the mudslide racing down the Trishuli River valley and through Gyirong Port, a major border crossing between Nepal and Tibet used by thousands of pilgrims travelling to Mount Kailash each year.

Mrs Atmakur learnt of the disaster from her brother-in-law and immediately began preparing to travel to Nepal.

Her 19-year-old son Nalin, who studies engineering at Trinity College, Cambridge, was travelling at the time. She waited for him to return so they could fly out together.

She reached Kathmandu on Friday and went directly to the British embassy, but said she had received little help.

Mrs Atmakur said her husband had devoted much of his life to helping others and that she now wanted authorities to help bring him home.

A millionaire family-of-four from Surrey including a former Mrs India UK are also among Britons missing in Nepal.

Ex-banker and beauty pageant winner Surabhi Sahu, 44, her businessman husband Santosh, 46, their son Spandan, 18, and daughter Syna, 13, had been on an adventure trek across the Nepal-China border.

Mr and Mrs Sahu ran a successful technology company in London together before he set up a thriving pharmaceutical business. The family live in a £1.3million six-bedroom house in Cobham, Surrey. 

They travelled to India last week and then on to the Nepalese-Tibetan trek. They were due to return in ten days before the start of the new school year.

Nabhi Das from Streatham in South London also remains unaccounted for

Nabhi Das from Streatham in South London also remains unaccounted for

Leena Bector, 53, from Slough, Berkshire, has also not been heard of after travelling to the region to see the Himalayas

Leena Bector, 53, from Slough, Berkshire, has also not been heard of after travelling to the region to see the Himalayas

Bipin Patel, 66, and Mala Patel, 60, are among those missing after flash floods in Nepal. Issue date: Friday August 28, 2026

Bipin Patel, 66, and Mala Patel, 60, are among those missing after flash floods in Nepal. Issue date: Friday August 28, 2026

A poignant final photograph of the family with their tour group, mostly made up of Britons, shows them smiling beside their bus against the peaks of the Himalayas.

The Alpine Eco Tours group was last heard from as they crossed the frontier from Nepal into Tibet, around the time on Wednesday that a horrifying torrent of ice, mud and rocks engulfed the Gyirong border crossing.

CCTV footage showed people running for their lives as the disaster struck.

Tour organisers have been frantically trying to reach the group ever since. There are hopes the tourists are alive and waiting to be rescued, but phone lines are down and the military has struggled to reach the mountainous area.

The Sahu family were well-travelled and on a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, a religious site for Hindus and Buddhists in Tibet.

Mrs Sahu is a chemistry graduate from Mumbai who became a banker before moving to Ireland to work for Dell Computers.

Her husband Santosh is an Irish citizen, and the family moved to Surrey where they became beacons of their community.

In 2018, Mrs Sahu won the Mrs India UK beauty contest – after being encouraged to enter it by her family – which she described as ‘a dream come true’.

She added it showcased ‘the best in women… not just in respect of physical beauty but in the many other capacities in which they are not always acknowledged or appreciated’.

As well as her successful business career, Mrs Sahu is an avid reader who promotes literature to her legion of Instagram followers. She has posted photos of herself visiting favourite spots of England, including the Cotswolds.

Her former banker husband Santosh has gone from strength to strength and is the founder and chief executive of Charac, a digital platform helping pharmacies improve deliveries to patients.

Their son Spandan is due to start a law degree at Durham University.

A former grammar school pupil and her NHS worker mother are also among those missing after travelling to the region on a pilgrimage.

Nelly Chhetri, 18, and her mother Yashika Basnet, 56, had joined a tour group and have not been heard from since.

Nepalese authorities have declared them missing, and their worried family said they have received no contact from the UK Foreign Office.

Nelly, an ‘ambitious’ former pupil of the Invicta Grammar School for girls, in Maidstone, Kent, hopes to go to university next year, her cousin Nickie Chhetri told the Daily Mail.

She has just completed a sixth-form course in health and social care at Uxbridge College, in London.

Sunil Amin, from Croydon, described the ‘horrible, horrible feeling’ of repeatedly trying to phone his wife, Hema Amin, 63, who was on a pilgrimage with Alpine Eco trek from Nepal to Tibet with her sister.  

‘I keep trying to call her. I’ve been trying, trying, trying,’ he said. ‘It just rings out or doesn’t get through. I’m devastated.’

The deadly deluge is one of the worst natural disasters in recent memory

The deadly deluge is one of the worst natural disasters in recent memory

A drone view of a broken bridge and damaged houses after the flash floods and mudslide, at Devighat, Nuwakot district, Nepal

A drone view of a broken bridge and damaged houses after the flash floods and mudslide, at Devighat, Nuwakot district, Nepal

A view of a home damaged by flash flooding in the Devighat area of the Nuwakot district in Nepal

A view of a home damaged by flash flooding in the Devighat area of the Nuwakot district in Nepal

Sarada Simkhada, 55, was also on a pilgrimage, following in the footsteps of thousands of other Hindus up Mount Kailash.

The mountain is a sacred site for both Hindus and Buddhists, and is believed to be the cosmic home of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

Sarada, a senior nurse who lives in Dartford, had travelled to Nepal on Saturday before she joined other pilgrims.

Her childhood friend Rajendra Pudasaini said she is known for taking part in the community and always ‘working incredibly hard’ at Darent Valley Hospital.

Sarada trained as a nurse in Kathmandu, before moving to London. Her relatives were last in contact with her when she was staying at the Kailash Hotel in Timure on the Nepal-China border, where she was waiting for Chinese customs officers to approve her visa.

Roshan Panday, owner of Fishtail Tours and Travels Group, had a tour group of 27 including Briton Leena Bector, 53, from Slough, and he said ‘no one is answering their phones’.

He said they had sent a video just nine minutes before the disaster struck, adding: ‘Absolutely everything’s under the mud. We tried calling the drivers. We tried calling the guides. We tried calling them all, but no one was answering.’

Ms Bector’s husband, Bhupesh Bector, told The Times he was frantically checking his iPhone to check her location but it had not changed for more than seven hours.

He flew out last night, saying: ‘I know that she’s in Nepal for sure, so even if they find her today or tomorrow, I need to be there.’ 

Another missing Briton is Nabhi Das, from Streatham in south London, family members confirmed. The University of Kent graduate, originally from Kenya and thought to work in finance, has not been heard from.

The flooding was likely caused by a huge chunk of a glacier that broke off and temporarily dammed a river, according to preliminary investigations by scientists.

That may have led to the backed-up water surging downstream with enormous force a few hours later, they suggested.

Scientists are still piecing together information from satellite and ground-level data to figure out exactly what happened to cause the flood.

The US Geological Survey on Wednesday reported a magnitude 5.2 glacier collapse that sent debris flowing downstream with catastrophic impact on communities.

Nepal’s Chitwan district became the site of mass burials for dozens of unidentified victims on the weekend. 

Authorities have dug hundreds of graves at the site – around 200 kilometres from where the floods began – though many bodies are said to be too badly decomposed to be identified.  

‘We were left with no other option and had to take this step. Our concern was the risk to public health posed by the rapid decomposition of the bodies,’ said Ganesh Arya, chief district officer of Baratpur, Chitwan.

Authorities buried 96 unidentified bodies in the forest on Saturday and planned to bury more than 100 others on Sunday, as recovery teams continue to retrieve victims from rivers and piles of debris.

TOWIE’s Mike Hassini Shares Baby Name After Prison Release

Mike Hassini has become a father for the first time, welcoming a baby daughter with his girlfriend Jessica Milford a year after his release from prison following a two-year sentence for supplying cocaine.

The former TOWIE star, 29, shared the joyful update on Instagram on Sunday, posting a series of sweet black-and-white photographs to mark the new arrival.

One image showed the couple’s newborn daughter peacefully asleep, wrapped in a teddy bear-patterned blanket embroidered with the words “baby Hassini.”

Another tender moment captured Mike leaving the maternity ward, carrying his baby girl in her car seat as he stepped through the doors.

Revealing their daughter’s name in the caption, the proud new parents wrote: ‘Introducing Orla Florence Hassini. Born 10.10.2024 at 8:52am, weighing 6lb 6oz.’

Mike Hassini has welcomed his first child with girlfriend Jessica Milford a year after being released from prison following serving two years for supplying cocaine

Mike Hassini has welcomed his first child with girlfriend Jessica Milford a year after being released from prison following serving two years for supplying cocaine

The former TOWIE star, 29, announced the happy news on Instagram on Sunday by sharing a number of adorable black and white photos

The former TOWIE star, 29, announced the happy news on Instagram on Sunday by sharing a number of adorable black and white photos

They continued: ‘A love beyond belief—our hearts are so full. You’ve changed our world, baby girl.’

MailOnline revealed that Mike and his girlfriend Jessica were expecting their first child in June.

Sharing polaroid photographs of him holding Jessica’s growing stomach and looking lovingly into her eyes, the couple later announced the news on Instagram.

Their joyous news came just nine months after Mike was released from prison having served two years out of a seven-year sentence for supplying cocaine.

In September 2023, Jessica, 29, confirmed she and Mike had spent her birthday together for the first time in two years, after she stood by him during his time inside.

Mike, who starred on the ITVBe series between 2015 to 2018, was caught with £70,000 worth of the Class A drug in 2021.

A source told MailOnline: ‘Becoming a father is everything Mike has ever wanted.

‘Family has always been very important to him and knowing he’s finally going to have a baby means the world to both him and Jessica.

‘Going to prison massively changed his perspective on life and everything he wants to achieve, he knows how lucky he is to have a second chance and he’s so appreciative of Jessica, who’s stuck by him through thick and thin.’

The couple shared a snap of their baby daughter sleeping while swaddled in a 'baby Hassini' blanket covered in teddy bears

The couple shared a snap of their baby daughter sleeping while swaddled in a ‘baby Hassini’ blanket covered in teddy bears

In the caption, new parents Mike and Jessica revealed the tot's sweet name: ' Introducing Orla Florence Hassini. Born 10.10.2024 at 8:52am, weighing 6lb 6oz'

In the caption, new parents Mike and Jessica revealed the tot’s sweet name: ‘ Introducing Orla Florence Hassini. Born 10.10.2024 at 8:52am, weighing 6lb 6oz’

MailOnline can revealed in June that Mike was expecting a baby with his girlfriend Jessica Milford

MailOnline can revealed in June that Mike was expecting a baby with his girlfriend Jessica Milford

The former TOWIE star announced his first child is due in October with loved up Polaroid photographs of him holding Jessica's growing stomach and looking lovingly into her eyes

The former TOWIE star announced his first child is due in October with loved up Polaroid photographs of him holding Jessica’s growing stomach and looking lovingly into her eyes

Writing on Instagram, Jessica captioned the couple’s pregnancy reveal, ‘After every storm, there is always a rainbow… You truly are our dream come true.

‘We are so excited for our new chapter as a mum and dad… Our happy ever after.’

Several TOWIE stars congratulated Mike on his baby news, including Ella Rae Wise and Georgia Kousoulou. 

Mike was arrested in 2021 after police found him with £70,000 worth of cocaine, with the former reality star later admitting to conspiracy to supply a class A drug, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and possession of criminal property.  

Jessica was also arrested on suspicion of drug dealing but was released after it became clear she was not involved in the operation. 

He received a sentence of six years and nine months imprisonment but only served two years and was released last September. 

Womaniser Mike famously claimed to have slept with more than 100 women before featuring on TOWIE.

During his stint on the show, he dated Chloe Meadows, Zoe Hamilton, and former Love Island star Malin Andersson. 

He made his debut on TOWIE alongside close friend Kate Ferdinand but was axed in January 2017 as part of a huge cast shake-up.

In September 2023, Jessica confirmed she and Mike had spent her birthday together for the first time in two years, after she stood by him during his time inside

In September 2023, Jessica confirmed she and Mike had spent her birthday together for the first time in two years, after she stood by him during his time inside

Writing on Instagram, Jessica captioned the couple's pregnancy reveal, 'After every storm, there is always a rainbow... You truly are our dream come true'

Writing on Instagram, Jessica captioned the couple’s pregnancy reveal, ‘After every storm, there is always a rainbow… You truly are our dream come true’

Jessica shared photographs of a recent scan, showing her growing baby, who is due in October this year

Jessica shared photographs of a recent scan, showing her growing baby, who is due in October this year

Mike, pictured with former TOWIE co-star Lewis Bloor in 2015, starred on the ITVBe series for three years

Mike, pictured with former TOWIE co-star Lewis Bloor in 2015, starred on the ITVBe series for three years 

Social Security Funding Cliff Could Cut Monthly Benefits by $500

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The trust fund that has helped keep Social Security checks flowing to Americans for the past 16 years is nearing a critical deadline, raising the risk of disruption to monthly payments relied on by millions.

Social Security currently sends benefits to 63 million people, including retirees, spouses and dependents. But the trust fund supporting those payments is projected to run dry by late 2032, creating a major fiscal challenge for the next presidential administration.

‘This train wreck is going to happen,’ Representative Steve Womack told Politico.

‘So as early as six years from now, we’re going to have to have a plan. And of course, I’m a big believer that we need to deal with it now, or we need to start the process of dealing with it now.’

Although workers contribute to Social Security through payroll taxes, the program is paying out more than it takes in. To cover the gap and continue sending benefits, the federal government has had to draw from a separate trust fund.

Congressional leaders have continued to sound the alarm that the funds would soon be depleted, but a solution has yet to come to fruition. 

Representative Brendan Boyle told Politico that he believed President Trump had ‘absolutely no interest whatsoever in solving this problem,’ adding that ‘like it or not, this will be on the plate of the next president.’ 

Senator Tim Kaine said: ‘The senators elected this November will be here when we have to solve this. The next president who’s elected will be here when we have to solve this. So rather than wait till 2032, let’s go ahead and get this started now.’

The trust that funds Social Security is set to deplete by the end of 2032, causing a decline in benefits for millions (Stock photo)

The trust that funds Social Security is set to deplete by the end of 2032, causing a decline in benefits for millions (Stock photo) 

Trump campaigned on saving the program, but a solution has yet to come to fruition under his administration

Trump campaigned on saving the program, but a solution has yet to come to fruition under his administration 

Representative Steve Womack called the Social Security problem a 'train wreck'

Representative Steve Womack called the Social Security problem a ‘train wreck’ 

The Social Security Board of Trustees submits a report to Congress every year with an update on the program’s financial status.

Their most recent report detailed a grim outlook for the program’s status, estimating depletion months sooner than anticipated last year. 

‘The program has been paying out more in benefits, more than it takes in in revenues, and that creates the financing gap that can’t go on forever,’ Shai Akabas, vice president of economic policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, told PBS in June. 

Last year, Social Security’s retirement fund earned $1.2 trillion in payroll taxes, but the program paid out $1.4 trillion. 

The Social Security trust fund supplements the rest, but at the current rate, reserves will be depleted by late 2032, meaning beneficiaries will take the hit. 

The Committee for a Responsible Budget estimates that average monthly benefit cuts would surpass $500 in 29 states. 

‘With insolvency projected to occur during the terms of the next elected Senators and President, candidates and policymakers must decide how they will secure a program vital to millions of Americans. That starts with putting forward a plan because if Social Security becomes insolvent – no state would be spared,’ the committee said. 

The hardest-hit states include Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Utah and Washington. 

Representative Brendan Boyle speculated that Trump had 'absolutely no interest whatsoever in solving this problem,' adding that 'like it or not, this will be on the plate of the next president'

Representative Brendan Boyle speculated that Trump had ‘absolutely no interest whatsoever in solving this problem,’ adding that ‘like it or not, this will be on the plate of the next president’ 

Senator Tim Kaine has sponsored legislation proposing solutions to save Social Security

Senator Tim Kaine has sponsored legislation proposing solutions to save Social Security 

The trustees noted three factors contributing to the rapid decline: fertility rates, immigration levels and the president’s sweeping tax bill. 

As people have fewer children, fewer workers pay into benefits while older generations age. 

There are also lower levels of immigrants due to Trump’s crackdown. Immigrants typically still pay into the Social Security fund but are ineligible to receive benefits. 

Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill reduced taxes for a large group of beneficiaries, which has also resulted in fewer funds going to the program. 

When Social Security approached insolvency in the early 1980s, lawmakers passed last-minute legislation to raise the full-benefit age and increase taxes to save the program. 

Senators Dick Durbin and Bill Cassidy have sponsored a bipartisan bill to enact an advisory board that would submit draft legislation to Congress proposing solutions to keep the program solvent for at least 50 years. 

Cassidy has also joined Kaine on a bill to create a $1.5 trillion fund that would be invested in stocks over 75 years. 

If the bill is enacted, the Treasury Department would provide the funds and would be repaid. 

Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Moreno have also joined forces to lift the cap on the Social Security payroll tax.

Currently, Americans making less than $184,500 are taxed, but eliminating the cap would generate over $3.2 trillion over 10 years, according to the Peter G Peterson Foundation, a nonpartisan debt watchdog. 

When asked for comment on Trump’s plan to ensure Americans receive benefits, White House spokesperson Liz Huston told the Daily Mail, ‘President Trump will always protect and strengthen Social Security. Under his leadership, there will be zero reductions to Social Security payments. 

‘President Trump proudly delivered No Tax on Social Security for nearly every senior in America despite every single Democrat in Congress voting against it.’

Beloved Colorado City Leader Dies After Mountain Hike Collapse

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A Colorado municipal leader died Friday after collapsing during a hike on one of the state’s well-known 14,000-foot peaks, where nearby hikers attempted to save him until emergency crews reached the mountain, officials said.

Englewood Mayor Pro Tem Joe Anderson, 45, died Friday morning while climbing Quandary Peak in Summit County, city and county officials confirmed.

Summit County sheriff’s deputies were called at about 6:45 a.m. after receiving a report that a hiker had collapsed and was not breathing on the lower portion of Quandary Peak, Summit Daily reported. The mountain reaches 14,271 feet and is the tallest point in Colorado’s Tenmile Range, which is part of the Rocky Mountains.

Joe Anderson smiling

Englewood Mayor Pro Tem Joe Anderson was remembered as a productive and kind member of the city’s leadership. (City of Englewood)

Sgt. Mike Schilling told the outlet that other hikers began CPR before first responders arrived and continued lifesaving efforts.

An official cause of death has yet to be determined.

“We are all shocked and saddened at the sudden passing of our friend and council member, Joe Anderson,” Englewood Mayor Othoniel Sierra said in a statement.

A Summit County sheriff’s patrol car in a mountainous area

Summit County sheriff’s deputies responded around 6:45 a.m. Friday to a report of a hiker who had passed out and was not breathing on the lower slopes of Quandary Peak, according to the sheriff’s office. (Facebook / Summit County Sheriff’s Office, File)

“Joe was always there to lend a hand, whether it was in his role as friend, neighbor, pastor or council member,” Sierra said. “This is a tremendous loss for our city and our heart goes out to his family and friends during this time of loss.”

Anderson was elected to represent District 3 on the Englewood City Council in 2019 and won a second four-year term in 2023. His fellow council members elected him mayor pro tem that December.

Before taking office, Anderson served in pastoral roles at local churches and helped found Change the Trend, a coalition focused on homelessness. He also spent years coordinating a community service project that helped seniors and people with disabilities with home repairs.

A view of a mountainous area in Summit County

Other hikers performed life-saving measures until first responders arrived, authorities said. (Facebook / Summit County Sheriff’s Office)

On the council, Anderson focused on homelessness, affordable housing, infrastructure, economic development and pedestrian and bicycle safety.

He helped guide efforts to repair and expand Englewood’s aging stormwater system after deadly flooding in 2018, and pushed the city to balance the cost of those improvements with what residents and businesses could afford.

Anderson also supported changes to the city’s development rules aimed at lowering housing costs and homelessness, including streamlined regulations and smaller housing units.

Outgoing City Manager Shawn Lewis remembered Anderson as someone who encouraged city employees while also pushing them to improve.

“Mayor Pro Tem Anderson was this rare combination of a constant encourager behind the scenes while simultaneously challenging us as staff to think bigger and do better,” Lewis said.

Lewis called him “one of the most effective, productive and positive council members I’ve ever worked with,” and recalled Anderson offering to pray for him when his parents were hospitalized during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“He cared for me and other staff members as people,” Lewis said. “I’ll never forget the kindness and care he showed to me and I know so many others throughout his time on council.”

NYC Women Are Rejecting Men Who Play It Cool in Dating

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The new “it guy” isn’t hiding behind an air of mystery. He isn’t waiting 14 hours to text back just to look unavailable, and he’s definitely not acting like your date slipped his mind.

He is, as Gen Z might put it, chalant.

The viral dating term — basically the opposite of nonchalant — is gaining momentum in modern dating culture, as more women say they’re looking for men who show clear interest, communicate openly and aren’t afraid to be emotionally present. Even enthusiastic.

Put simply: the era of playing it cool is losing its grip. New Yorkers want men who make it obvious they care.

Picture Travis Kelce proudly cheering on Taylor Swift at her concerts, or Tom Holland openly praising Zendaya at film premieres — men who appear entirely comfortable being visibly, publicly devoted to the women they love.

For New Yorker Jason Henley, 34, being openly obsessed is kind of the point.

Henley has been with his girlfriend, Hannah Alderman, 32, for nearly four years — and has happily abandoned the idea that romance should be kept under wraps.

“I absolutely identify as a ‘chalant’ man,’” Henley told The Post.

Henley said he once felt pressure to play it cool because modern dating can make genuine affection feel “cringe.”

“I’ve felt pressure to play it cool when dating as a man. I think it’s hard not to when everything is labeled ‘cringe’ nowadays,” he said.

But after nearly four years with Alderman, he has little interest in pretending not to care.

“But I’m also 34 and 4 years into the best relationship of my life so I’ve given way to all that comes with ‘corny’ and romance and the softness of being tender in public and on social media,” he said.

“It feels good to be proud of the person I’m with and to let the world know it from the top of the mountain that my heart is hers to have,” he said.

His Gothamite girlfriend is very much on board.

Alderman said she had dated nonchalant partners in the past and never stopped wanting the kind of passionate romance she grew up watching.

“I find it ironic that as young girls, we grow up watching Disney movies or rom coms where women are quite literally treated as princesses. Then, as we grow up and get older, some of that whimsy starts to fade and we settle for mediocre love along the way,” Alderman told The Post.

These days, she knows exactly what she wants.

“A ‘chalant’ partner looks like someone who gives a damn. He shows up no matter what. He loves me out loud and isn’t afraid to be perceived as corny,” Alderman told The Post.

For her, that openness translates into security.

“It means feeling absolutely secure in the relationship and having a solid foundation of trust. We talk through things, make each other feel celebrated, and can admit when we are wrong,” she said.

Henley believes ‘chalant’ dating also requires being comfortable with vulnerability — not simply showering someone with attention.

“I think being ‘chalant’ comes from being in touch with a more feminine energy in yourself, a side that is softer and more lighthearted, a more whimsical, je ne sais quoi energy that grounds you in your ability to be unafraid of your emotions and your softness,” he said.

For Henley, that is a far cry from the situationship-heavy dating culture he encountered before meeting Alderman.

“I’ve always felt like the modern situationship environment that dating is feels so toned down and lacking in any kind of substance,” he said.

And the couple isn’t alone in wanting to retire the dating games.

NYC dating coach Niko Emanuilidis, who has built a following teaching men how to cultivate what he calls “daddy energy,” is firmly on Team Chalant.

As Emanuilidis previously told The Post, “Daddy energy is all about being your most authentic self.”

Now, he thinks the era of deliberately withholding affection has officially run its course.

In a recent TikTok, Emanuilidis declared that “The nonchalant dating approach needs to end in 2026.”

The distinction, he argues, is that showing interest is only unattractive when it comes from insecurity and neediness. A confident man, by contrast, can tell a woman he likes her because he’s not terrified of what happens if she doesn’t feel the same way.

He later summed up the trend even more simply: “We need less nonchalantness in dating and more ‘chalantness.’”

Dr. Sabrina Romanoff, a Harvard-trained clinical psychologist and relationship expert at Hily Dating App, thinks that an appetite for open affection is a reaction to years of defensive dating.

“Chalant dating is resonating with so many young daters right now because people are fed up with the defensive and withholding dating cultural standard,” Romanoff told The Post.

“Without taking a risk, showing your interest or care, it’s impossible to truly make a connection.”

And in a dating world where potential matches are only a swipe away, playing hard to get may actually make you easier to forget.

“With the ease of access for potential new connections, playing hard to get is no longer effective, and in fact may make it easier for a partner to overlook you,” she said.

There’s also a psychological payoff to knowing exactly where you stand.

“The most important benefit of dating someone who is ‘chalant’ is that it’s emotionally safe and calming,” Romanoff said.

“Someone who is ‘chalant’ tells you where they stand, makes their interest in you known, and in turn, doesn’t keep you constantly guessing or on your toes.”

Because sure, the romantic rollercoaster can be thrilling. But eventually, you’re going to want to get off.

“Having to guess if they’re in or out may seem exciting initially, but that rollercoaster gets old quickly, and eventually you’ll want off that ride,” Romanoff said.

Still, there is a line between chalant and please-call-my-mother-I-have-lost-the-plot.

Romanoff cautioned that too much enthusiasm too quickly can cross into love-bombing or boundary-pushing. Her prescription for early dating? Show interest without abandoning your own life.

Her advice is simple: Don’t manufacture delayed texts or pretend you’re too busy to care. Tell someone you enjoy spending time with them — then see what they do with that information.

“Do they get turned off? Good! This saves you so much time. Do they meet your ‘chalant’ with their own? Good, now you know you’re on the same page,” Romanoff said.

For fellow New Yorker Jae Marie, 31, the appeal of ‘chalant’ dating is less about bouquets and more about whether a man is actually paying attention.

Marie said that when she was younger, “going with the flow” seemed like the default dating strategy. But that laissez-faire approach eventually became synonymous with endless situationships and men who had no idea what they wanted.

Now, she wants intentionality.

Her definition of a ‘chalant’ man is perhaps the most Big Apple-specific test of all: If he can memorize sports statistics, he can remember your java order.

“If you can tell me what the score was for the Giants game week 2 last year and how many yards whoever rushed, you should be able to remember what my coffee order is,” Marie said.

She’s not asking for a private jet or a reservation at Eleven Madison Park.

She wants someone who watches the reels she sends, waits to watch a show together, comes to her open mic night and remembers that she hates coconut.

NYC denizen Alexis R. Posey, 40, learned that lesson after years of dating emotionally unavailable partners.

For a long time, she “didn’t even recognize nonchalance as a pattern.”

When she finally met someone direct and intentional online, her first instinct was to wonder if it was too good to be true.

Then he did something she considered remarkable: He sent her a photo of his ID before they met in person, so someone could check on her if needed.

“That is what chalant looks like to me. Not grand gestures. Just someone who thought about me before I got there,” Posey said.

Ilana Schachter, 25, said she spent years navigating people who treated emotional detachment as a dating strategy, leaving her wondering where she stood and feeling like she was doing the emotional heavy lifting.

Now she wants consistency over coolness.

She also thinks celebrity couples like Swift and Kelce have helped make visible affection feel less embarrassing.

“For a long time, dating culture often suggested that whoever cared less had more power,” Schachter said.

“Now, I think more people are realizing that genuine confidence comes from being emotionally available and intentional, not from pretending you don’t care.”