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We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
TAMPA, Fla. (The Hill) – As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday, the U.S. reached an all-time low in death rates in 2025.
The Vital Statistics Rapid Release report highlighted that in 2025, the mortality rate was 689.2 per 100,000 individuals. This marked a 4.6 percent decrease from 2024, establishing the lowest death rate recorded in the nation’s history.
Heart disease and cancer topped the list as the most significant contributors to mortality in the U.S., followed by unintentional injuries, stroke, chronic lower respiratory disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes.
While the leading seven causes of death remained unchanged from 2024, the subsequent rankings shifted. In 2024, causes such as Nephritis, chronic liver disease, and suicide were prominent. By contrast, in 2025, influenza and pneumonia, along with kidney disease, surpassed these, although chronic liver disease continued to be a leading cause.
Statistics showed that death rates were particularly high among males, the elderly, and Black communities.
“The death rate decreased from 2024 to 2025 for all demographic groups except American Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and Asian people. Although the death rate decreased for people age 85 and older during this period, rates for this group remained higher than those for all other age groups,” the report stated.
“Death rates also decreased for several race and ethnicity groups; however, rates for Black people remain higher than those for all other groups.”
The data used for this report was derived from the National Vital Statistics System and accounted for 99 percent of deaths that occurred in 2025.
The report identified four limitations to the findings: The data is provisional, the timeliness of death certificate submissions varies by jurisdiction, race categories may have been misclassified and the methodology of population estimates varied between 2024 and 2025.
“Despite these limitations, this report provides an overview of provisional mortality in the United States during 2025,” reads the report. “Provisional death estimates can give researchers and policymakers an early signal about shifts in mortality trends and provide actionable information sooner than final mortality data. These data can inform public health policies and interventions aimed at reducing mortality.”
LA GUAIRA – In the heat of the day, Rosa López quietly recounted the heart-wrenching task of navigating through rows of bodies, exposed under the sun, as she assisted her daughter in searching for her missing husband. Despite her experience as a nurse, she was unprepared for the grim scene of countless dead shrouded in sheets and blankets.
“We saw a lot of bodies that had not yet been identified,” López shared, her voice tinged with sorrow.
As families scramble to find loved ones, La Guaira, the Venezuelan state hardest hit by the devastating earthquakes on June 24, faces a race against time. With at least 2,295 lives lost, the region is grappling with an overwhelming number of corpses that authorities struggle to process and preserve for identification. Meanwhile, thousands more remain missing.
José Antonio Toledo, the 25-year-old son-in-law of López, was tragically discovered under the rubble of the building where he had been working as a security guard when the earthquakes struck. His body was initially taken to a local hospital, only to be turned away due to overcrowding, and then redirected to another facility, eventually ending up in an open parking lot.
Days later, a forensic doctor assisted the family in locating his body. After finally identifying him on Saturday, the López family faced a new dilemma—without the $450 fee demanded by a funeral home, they were at a loss for how to proceed with a proper burial.
At almost midnight on Saturday, López got word that the mayor’s office was offering them a free space at a local cemetery, but they had to move quickly to not lose the spot. An hour later, López and her daughter trudged up a hill leading to the cemetery and buried Toledo.
“He was an exemplary person, a boy who liked helping people,” López said.
They saved him from a mass grave that many fear is coming as they search for the bodies of their loved ones.
The number of bodies found is expected to soar
Forensic technician Joel Mirabal has worked for seven days straight since the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck.
The 45-year-old estimates that in 60%-70% of cases, there’s a relative or neighbor available to identify a body when he comes to pick it up. Even so, it’s a struggle, he said, with many relying on tattoos, scars or familiar clothing.
“They don’t look even 10% like what they were in real life,” he said of the victims.
If a body cannot be identified, it goes to forensic specialists working at La Guaira seaport. Private companies have donated large cooling containers to help preserve the bodies, but the number of dead keeps growing.
“Obviously, mass graves will have to be created,” Mirabal said. “The collapse is massive, and the bodies are buried under many layers of debris.”
Mirabal said he and other forensic technicians anticipate spending up to three months collecting bodies.
They drive around the affected areas every day, led by rescue crews and civilians who have recovered or spotted bodies.
“Many of the rescues are carried out by the people,” he said of the thousands of ordinary Venezuelans who have pitched in for the recovery effort.
A dog trainer by profession who once helped the government locate drugs and missing people, Mirabal finds solace in the 12 dogs waiting for him at home, not counting the puppies. One of his favorites is Mila, a young black Dutch Shepherd who lay by his side on Thursday as he rested.
“It’s not easy at all to witness the suffering and tragedy of your fellow human beings,” he said.
Venezuelans wait in line to try to identify loved ones
Over the weekend, crews took dozens of bodies recovered from flattened buildings to a government-run health care facility in the city of La Guaira. They were left on a sweltering parking lot until families identified them, with funeral home workers estimating that more than 200 bodies were kept there at one point.
On Thursday, those who lost loved ones waited outside La Guaira seaport to identify bodies that authorities continue to pick up across the coastal state. Cars, including trucks and vans from funeral homes, formed a line outside a makeshift morgue.
Among those waiting was Robert Rodríguez. He sat on a concrete block, crestfallen, his legs dangling, waiting for his daughter to identify the body of his son-in-law. Rafael Alvarado died trapped inside a grocery store where he worked at the deli counter.
“He was her best friend,” Rodríguez said as tears soaked his blue face mask.
Rodriguez said the family found Alvarado in the rubble on Wednesday, his body freed and transported to the port on Thursday.
“I saw his shoes and knew it was him,” Rodríguez said, adding that he warned his daughter. “I told her, ‘Prepare yourself.’”
He said the family plans to cremate Alvarado and scatter his ashes on Isla de Margarita, the Venezuelan island that was his home.
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Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
In May 2018, chaos erupted when a two-story commercial building, housing the day spa Magyar Kozmetika, suddenly exploded. The blast scattered debris, including human limbs, and filled the sky with thick, dark smoke.
Emergency responders in Southern California arrived on the scene to find Ildiko Krajnyak, the spa’s owner, deceased, and two patrons gravely injured.
At first, investigators were on the lookout for signs of a gas leak or electrical malfunction but soon began to suspect that the explosion was deliberate in nature.
“In Texas, there had been a person doing package bombs,” commented Orange County Sheriff’s Investigator Jack Ackerman on the July 2 episode of Dateline: Unforgettable. “I thought, maybe somebody was doing a copycat of that.”
The Secret Life ofIldiko Krajnyak
The investigation concluded that a package bomb caused Ildiko’s death. The device, ingeniously crafted with a 9-volt battery, indicated the creator had an expert understanding of chemicals and fusing systems.
Authorities soon received a phone call from Ildiko’s business partner—and ex-boyfriend— Stephen Beal. He insisted he had no idea who would want to hurt her.
“She was always smiling,” he told investigators. “She had great advice for people, she cared, she went out of her way to ease your burden.”
But Ildiko’s love life was complicated by the fact that she was married.
“She had her boyfriends on the side—a good five or six,” her friend Holly told Dateline. “There was always someone. She just wanted to be loved and she loved attention from men.”
Ildiko’s husband of 22 years, Ronilo Vestil, was aware of his wife’s extramarital relationships—including one that had re-surfaced a few months before she died. But there was no evidence linking anyone specific to the murder.
Investigators continued examining Ildiko’s relationships—including the one with Stephen.
Stephen Beal Becomes a Suspect in Ildiko Krajnyak’s Murder
A search of Stephen’s home uncovered large quantities of explosive chemicals, but he had an explanation for the police.
He described himself as a rocket enthusiast who used to make his own fireworks. Those chemicals, he said, had been sitting untouched in his garage for years, and any similarity to those used in the bomb was purely coincidental.
The police interview then took a stranger-than-fiction turn.
Stephen began pitching detectives an idea for a screenplay he was writing about a soccer mom who moonlighted as an assassin. Then, he cracked jokes and even performed a magic trick, pretending to pull a coin from behind Ackerman’sear.
Then, Stephen shared that his girlfriend Valerie Stone had suggested that he perform a stand-up comedy routine about being a murder suspect.
“I’ve never experienced that in all the interviews I’ve done in my police career,” Ackerman said. “He thinks he’s outsmarting everybody.”
When sticks of dynamite were found in his home, Stephen was arrested for possession of unregistered destructive devices. Those charges were later dropped when investigators couldn’t rule out their use in rocketry.
Though Stephen walked free, store surveillance footage, recorded right before the killing, allegedly captured him purchasing a 9-volt battery and a box that matched a description of the one that contained the deadly explosives.
“That changed everything for me,” said federal prosecutor Mark Tackla. “When do the coincidences stop?”
Stephen Beal’s Girlfriend Valerie Stone Goes Undercover
Stephen’s girlfriend had stood by him through the investigation. But when the FBI asked her to become an informant, she agreed to help.
“It was such a horrendous crime that whoever did this to Ildiko deserved to be behind bars,” Valerietold Dateline. “If it was Stephen, it was Steven.”
The couple had planned a romantic getaway, giving investigators the opportunity to install cameras and recording devices inside their hotel room, and in Valerie’s car and phone. Valerie was also fitted with a necklace containing a listening device.
Valerie attempted to elicit a confession from Stephen, but the operation tanked when he didn’t reveal anything.
Life moved forward for Stephen, but months later, on March 3, 2019, he was re-arrested, this time on malicious destruction of a building resulting in death.
Stephen Beal Goes on Trial for Ildiko Krajnyak’s Murder
At Stephen’s 2022 trial, prosecutors argued that after learning Ildiko was talking to another man, jealously had driven him to kill. They also showed evidence that Stephen had searched online for information about how a “narcissist” could pass a polygraph test.
However, lead defense attorney Craig Harbaugh claimed that Stephen loved Ildiko, pointing to the pair’s friendly texts exchanged before her death. He also suggested the investigation focused unfairly on Stephen instead of other potential suspects.
The defense also offered explanations for Stephen’s suspicious behavior.
Those internet searches? He was preparing for an upcoming audition. The 9-volt battery and box purchased before the explosion? Material for Ildiko’s business and Stephen’s home remodeling projects.
After a seven-week trial that included 66 witnesses, jurors were unable to reach a unanimous decision, and the judge declared a mistrial.
Stephen’s second trial began in June 2023 and this time, prosecutors recreated the fatal explosion, presenting it alongside real footage of the devastating aftermath, including Ildiko’s dismembered body parts.
Stephen was found guilty of four felonies, including use of a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death. In Jan. 2024, he was sentenced to life in prison.
Inset: Syied Epps (Lexington Police Department). Background: The residential street near where Epps killed his 9-month-old daughter in Lexington, Ky. (Google Maps).
A heart-wrenching case in Kentucky has concluded with a man being sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for a tragic act of violence that took the life of his infant daughter. Syied Epps, aged 31, will spend a significant portion of his life behind bars for the horrifying events that led to the death of his 9-month-old child, Sykia Epps, due to a severe brain injury.
In May of this year, Epps admitted to the murder charge related to domestic violence, acknowledging his role in the abuse that resulted in his daughter’s death in July 2023. As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors decided to drop an additional charge against Epps for being a persistent felony offender.
This week, the court handed down a 25-year prison sentence to Epps. In consideration of the time he has already served, nearly three years of pretrial detention will be counted towards his sentence.
The tragic events unfolded at a home on Whitney Avenue in Lexington. On July 26, 2023, young Sykia Epps was brought to a hospital suffering from life-threatening injuries. Local media, including Lexington’s CBS and The CW affiliate WKYT, reported on the case as details of the distressing incident came to light.
Less than a week later, Sykia was dead.
Initially, Epps was only charged with assault; the charge was upgraded to murder after she died from severe brain trauma.
During a preliminary hearing, a detective testified that other children in the residence witnessed the abuse that took the child’s life.
“All three stated that Mr. Epps had dropped their sister on her head,” Detective Paul Hogan testified, according to a courtroom report by WKYT. “One articulated that quote, ‘Daddy smashed her on her head really hard and she was upside down.'”
The defendant, for his part, first claimed he was not home at the time the incident occurred, according to law enforcement.
“He originally stated that the child was under the care of a babysitter named Eric,” the detective went on. “That was all the information he had. He couldn’t provide last name, phone number, anything other than a physical description.”
Eventually, however, Epps would admit that narrative was false – after surveillance footage showed him at home at the time in question.
The detective also said Epps expressed a certain level of animosity toward the children during an argument with their mother.
“He stated she needed to come get her ‘roaches,’ referring to the children, and that if she was one minute late from work, they would be waiting out on the porch,” Hogan said.
On Wednesday, Sykia’s mother spoke multiple times — before, during and after the man who killed her child was sentenced.
“I don’t get to see her no more,” Markettia Epps said through tears, according to a courtroom report by Lexington-based NBC affiliate WLEX. “I don’t get to hold her no more.”
At one point, it was the defendant’s turn to speak.
“I’m truly sorry for my actions, and I pray that one day they can find it in their heart to forgive me for the mistake that I’ve made,” the defendant said during his allocution. “I’m truly sorry.”
But Sykia’s mother rejected the apology.
“I hate you,” she shouted in response from the gallery. “You are cruel. You are not a father. You’re not a man. You’re not nothing. It wasn’t a mistake. You knew what you did to her.”
Later, the grieving mother took the stand herself.
“I have her ashes on my chest, Syied, our daughter is on my chest,” she said, addressing the defendant while holding the necklace containing her daughter’s cremated remains.
After sentencing, Markettia Epps criticized the court’s decision as too lenient.
“No, he deserves life,” she said. “What do you mean 25? I don’t have 25 with her, I only had nine months with her. The same thing that he did to her needs to happen to him. He don’t need no 25, he needs life.”
Despite the tumultuous relationships often portrayed in television’s most toxic couples, reality can paint an even darker picture. In the real world, individuals sometimes endure horrors beyond what fiction can imagine, facing violent and abusive partners. This grim reality takes center stage in the Netflix true crime docuseries, “Worst Ex Ever.” Each episode unfolds the story of a seemingly idyllic relationship that turns nightmarish when one partner reveals their true, despicable nature. Tragically, not every victim manages to escape the peril.
With an abundance of gripping true crime documentaries available on platforms like Netflix, “Worst Ex Ever” stands out for those searching for similar tales. Each episode focuses on a separate case, emphasizing crimes committed by those the victims once knew and trusted. This series seamlessly blends interviews with those involved alongside dramatized reenactments, serving as a haunting reminder of the malevolence that can exist within human relationships. Many shows in this genre share one or more of these chilling characteristics, but few encapsulate them all as effectively.
For those experiencing domestic abuse, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1−800−799−7233. Additional resources and support can be found ontheir website.
Worst Roommate Ever
Netflix
While it may be an obvious suggestion, if you enjoyed “Worst Ex Ever,” you might also appreciate “Worst Roommate Ever.” Despite being distinct shows, their interconnected theme might appeal to the same audience. Considering the overwhelming content selection on Netflix and its sometimes unpredictable recommendation algorithms, many might have finished “Worst Ex Ever” without realizing “Worst Roommate Ever” is an equally engaging option.
“Worst Roommate Ever” delivers exactly what its title implies. Each episode delves into the terrifying experiences of individuals who welcomed new roommates into their homes, only to find their lives unraveling into chaos. These are not trivial roommate squabbles but unsettling stories that occasionally culminate in murder, echoing the haunting narratives shared by its sibling series.
It’s worth noting that critics took the show to task for how accurate it is, primarily in regards to glossing over — if not outright omitting — important details in the name of a more tidy story. But if such nitpicks aren’t a dealbreaker for you, “Worst Roommate Ever” should easily be your next binge after “Worst Ex Ever.”
Killer Relationship with Faith Jenkins
Oxygen
Faith Jenkins might not be as much of a household name as Judge Judy, Greg Mathis, or one of the judges who has presided over “The People’s Court.” But she did have her own courtroom show, “Judge Faith,” for three seasons in the 2010s, as well as doing a stint as the judge on “Divorce Court.” More recently, she used her experience in the legal field — specifically, being a prosecutor for many domestic violence cases — to host a true crime series about relationships that devolve into horrific violence. Which brings us to “Killer Relationship with Faith Jenkins.”
Hosted and narrated by Jenkins herself, “Killer Relationship” isn’t content with simply letting the people involved in each case tell the story. Along the way, Jenkins comments on the situation and offers her professional opinion on both the way the story unfolds and how it’s handled within the legal system. That’s not to say that she’s the only voice on the show, as it does also feature all the usual interviews and analysis from victims, loved ones, law enforcement officers, lawyers, and so on.
If you like your true crime shows to feel more like an episode of “Dateline” than a typical docuseries, “Killer Relationship” will be right up your alley. Otherwise, your mileage may vary on the show’s very “newsmagazine” feel.
I Survived…
A&E
Not every episode of the long-running docuseries “I Survived…” is about someone being victimized by someone close to them. In fact, not all of the cases on the show include person-to-person violence at all, with some centered around car accidents, workplace mishaps, and other such near-fatal personal disasters. What unites them all, per the title, is that the situation is being recounted by the person who was fortunate enough to make it out the other end alive.
Nevertheless, there are still a number of stories across the six seasons of “I Survived…” that involve violence from partners, loved ones, friends, and other trusted people in the victims’ lives. One major difference from “Worst Ex Ever” is that there aren’t reenactments of any kind in “I Survived…”, nor is there much of anything in the way of flashiness. Each story is literally just about the survivor in question, telling their story on camera in front of a black background, while silent text over stock images and footage is interspersed to help fill in the details.
That bare bones approach might not be your cup of tea, especially if you like the way “Worst Ex Ever” incorporates animated reenactments, photographs of the people involved, and interviews with multiple people. But there is something to be said for stripping all that away and just letting someone tell their harrowing story of living through a traumatic ordeal without any other bells and whistles.
Fear Thy Neighbor
Investigation Discovery
“The Perfect Neighbor,” one of the most disturbing documentaries of all time, proved just how badly things can go between people who live in proximity to each other and end up running afoul of each other for one reason or another. It’s something that seems to happen often, with multiple true crime shows and docuseries centering specifically on neighbor relationships gone wrong. Among all those, the one that might best appeal to fans of “Worst Ex Ever” is probably ID Network’s “Fear Thy Neighbor.”
While not using animation the way “Worst Ex Ever” does, “Fear Thy Neighbor” spares no expense in recreating the events being detailed in each episode by using real actors in elaborate — though wordless — dramatic reenactments. Admittedly, the cut between the real people and the actors portraying them can be jarring at first, especially since it doesn’t always seem to be a major priority to have them match visually. But after a few minutes, you figure out who everyone is supposed to be, and then you’re along for the increasingly terrifying ride.
While the stories vary wildly — emphasis on the “wild” — what connects almost all of them is that a relatively low-stakes squabble between neighbors eventually escalates to such an intense degree that one or more people end up dead. Make no mistake: this isn’t one of those fun series like HBO’s “Neighbors,” where you mostly just laugh and shake your head at how absurd it all is. These feuds between neighbors get nasty — and deadly.
Evil Lives Here
Investigation Discovery
Its title makes it sound like a horror TV show — and despite not featuring anything supernatural or paranormal, that’s basically what docuseries “Evil Lives Here” is. Essentially combining “Worst Ex Ever” and “Worst Roommate Ever,” “Evil Lives Here” is all about violence that ends up happening between people who are living together, but also includes families, married couples, and parent/child relationships rather than just roommates who started as strangers or casual acquaintances.
One interesting thing about “Evil Lives Here” is that it blends little-known stories with infamous ones. John Wayne Gacy, Greg Scarpa, Eddie Lee Sexton, and the Speed Freak Killers are just a few of the subjects of “Evil Lives Here” episodes you might already be familiar with. Those that have seen the Netflix anthology series “Dirty John” are familiar with the story that served as the Season 8 premiere of “Evil Lives Here,” as it covers what con artist John Meehan perpetrated against the Newell family.
For those who prefer that their true crime shows cover “new ground,” as it were, “Evil Lives Here” does feature significantly more lesser-known stories than it does well-known ones. And with over 176 episodes to pick from, there is plenty to watch even if you skip the ones that talk about events you are familiar with and aren’t interesting in sitting through again.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Amidst the unrelenting heat wave gripping Northeast Tennessee, various churches and nonprofit groups in Johnson City have stepped up to serve their community by turning their spaces into cooling centers.
One such sanctuary from the oppressive heat is Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church. Anthony Jackson, who directs Local Missions at Munsey, emphasized the importance of these centers, noting they offer much-needed relief to those seeking respite from soaring temperatures.
“These cooling centers provide critical support, especially during extreme heat. They act as a safe haven, offering relief when conditions become hazardous,” he explained.
Jackson also highlighted that the church is committed to community welfare beyond the summer months. They operate warming stations during winter, ensuring a year-round offer of safety and comfort.
At First Presbyterian Church, the River Ministry for Women is providing shade, water, and a safe place to stay cool.
Lisa Smith, The River’s Daily Operations Manager, said the lack of shade in downtown Johnson City makes the heat especially dangerous for many of the women they serve.
“We do not have a whole lot of shade in downtown Johnson City. People are in extreme peril of being overheated.”
Smith said she’s witnessed the impact of the heat firsthand.
“No one wants to be outside in this heat,” she said. “You can barely be outside for a few minutes. There are a lot of these ladies that we take care of here that have different breathing conditions and heart conditions that make that even more dangerous for these temperatures outside.”
Cooling centers like these are open during the hottest parts of the day in Johnson City and surrounding communities, offering residents a place to stay cool and safe during the heat wave.
Chris Johnson, a former standout in the NFL, has openly discussed his recent diagnosis of ALS, also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Johnson, who is now 39 years old, received this life-altering news last year.
The former athlete disclosed his condition during a conversation with Michael Strahan, co-anchor of Good Morning America.
“There’s no family history of ALS,” Johnson explained. “My doctors have informed me that my case is classified as sporadic ALS—a category that comprises the majority of ALS cases.”
He further expressed, “This disease is particularly startling because it can strike someone without any prior warning or history.”
Johnson said he was working out regularly and spending time with his wife, Brittany, and their four children when he first noticed something was wrong.
“I first noticed weakness in my right hand,” he said. “At first, it was little things like my grip didn’t feel right and I wasn’t as strong as I’ve always been.”
Brittany initially believed the symptoms were related to the years her husband spent playing professional football.
“I thought because of football and, you know, his career, that it had to be something with that,” she said. “Maybe … a pinched nerve or something along those lines, but never ALS.”
According to the National Institutes of Health, ALS is a progressive neurological disease that affects nerve cells controlling voluntary muscle movement. Over time, it can affect a person’s ability to move, speak, swallow and breathe. Although there is no cure, some treatments may help slow the disease’s progression and improve quality of life.
Johnson is taking three medications that help slow the disease, but he now relies on a speech-generating device created from recordings of his own voice.
“It’s continued to progress much faster than I ever imagined. I want people to understand just how quickly ALS can attack your body,” he said. “Just over a year ago, I was picking up my 7-year-old daughter so she’d make a wish with her birthday cake. Today, I couldn’t do that.”
Johnson credits his wife and children with helping him to keep going.
“She hasn’t left my side through any of this,” he said of Brittany. “My kids are also a huge part of why I keep going. Every day I wake up wanting more time with them to make more memories and just be their dad. They give me a reason to keep fighting.”
Following the interview, Johnson took to Instagram to revive the viral ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and raise awareness and funds for ALS research. In the video, his daughter, Honey Love Johnson, kicked off the campaign by nominating her brothers, CJ and Kaden, along with LeBron James.
NEW YORK (AP) — A tragic incident unfolded in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York as a man, brandishing a Tibetan flag, set himself ablaze on Thursday, leading to his death, officials have confirmed.
Officers from the New York Police Department responded to an urgent 911 call at approximately 6:30 p.m. Upon arrival, they found a 52-year-old man suffering from severe burns covering his entire body.
The injured man was swiftly transported to a hospital. Tragically, despite medical efforts, he was later pronounced dead by hospital staff, as noted by police reports.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the self-immolation. However, officials have refrained from commenting on any possible motives why the man chose such a drastic and public act.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.
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The man’s name has not been released because his family hasn’t been notified yet, according to police.
A United Nations spokesperson said the incident happened after all scheduled meetings were finished for the day.
China says Tibet has been part of its territory since the mid-13th century, and its Communist Party has governed the Himalayan region since 1951. But many Tibetans say they were effectively independent for most of their history and the Chinese government wants to exploit the resource-rich region while crushing its cultural identity.
China does not recognize Tibet’s government-in-exile, which is called the Central Tibetan Administration, and it hasn’t held dialogue with the Dalai Lama’s representatives since 2010.
In a heartbreaking incident, a Missouri woman lost her life in front of her children during a shootout between two rival groups at a gas station on Tuesday evening, as confirmed by both her family and law enforcement officials.
Identified as Shakeela Martin, this “devoted mother of five” was tragically shot while purchasing slushies with her kids at a BP station in Ferguson on June 28, according to a fundraising page set up by her family.
The 35-year-old had stopped by for the icy treats to commemorate their move into a new home planned for the following day.
“What was supposed to be a heartwarming family outing became an unthinkable tragedy,” expressed Whittley Anderson, Martin’s cousin, on the fundraising page.
“Shakeela was a loving and dedicated mother to her five beautiful children, who were her utmost priority. Her life was filled with love, resilience, and optimism for what lay ahead.”
An unidentified female friend who was at the gas station with Martin and her kids said several men pulled up to the BP and started shooting at another group of men before speeding away, local outlet 5 On Your Side reported.
The friend recalled hearing at least 10 gunshots ring out before noticing Martin had been hit by the gunfire.
Martin was shot in the head and heartbreakingly died in front of her children.
Police say another innocent bystander, a male customer, was also shot in the crossfire and is in critical condition, the outlet reported.
“It was just senseless. It’s so surreal,” Anderson told the outlet.
“How can a woman go to the store, get slushies for her kids and end up dying,” the grief-stricken relative said.
“These kids now have to live with this until they’re old and it will never go away. It will never leave our family.”
Martin’s 8-year-old niece told the outlet that her aunt “was pretty” and “kind” who gave her “lots of treats.”
“I cried because I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye and I didn’t know that she was gonna die,” the young girl said.
Martin leaves behind her five children, aged 3, 4, 9, 11 and 15.
“She was just a sweet mom, a sweet daughter and a wonderful sister,” Anderson painstakingly said.
According to leading experts addressing the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, Australia is currently experiencing an unprecedented surge of toxic online hate speech.
During its third week of public hearings, which follows an extensive period of private deliberations, the commission delved into the severity of online hate speech. It also examined the challenges faced in regulating and monitoring digital platforms.
Over the previous week, testimonies from influential Jewish Australians highlighted the detrimental effects of antisemitic vitriol and misinformation they encounter on digital platforms.
Jewish leaders detail antisemitic abuse
On Thursday, Sarah Schwartz, who serves as the director of the Jewish Council of Australia, shared with the inquiry that she faces online harassment due to her pro-Palestinian stance, often being labeled as a “traitor”.
Schwartz also pointed out that the political exploitation of the Bondi shooting incident has unjustly placed blame on Palestinian and Muslim communities.
“This sends a message not only to the broader Australian public, [but] to Palestinian and Muslim communities that they have to account for antisemitism in a way that no other community is asked to account for it,” she said.
The Jewish Council rejects antisemitism but says criticism of Israel, particularly the actions of its government, is not the same thing.
Dor Foundation chief executive Tahli Blicblau told the inquiry on Tuesday that a comment suggesting disused oil refineries be repurposed as “makeshift concentration camps” had been reported several times over the past week but still remained live.
Blicblau joined Jewish Labor MP Josh Burns in his calls for improved safety measures on social media.
Burns said criticism of specific Israeli policies or Australia’s actions in the Middle East is “fair game” and even encouraged as a sign of people enacting their democratic rights.
But he condemned abuse being levelled at Jewish Australians because of those policies.
An “us and them” narrative, suggesting all Jewish Australians were loyal to the state of Israel and its actions in Gaza, had emerged online, he added.
“A lot of the commentary directed at me suggests somehow I am celebrating … the death of Palestinian kids.
“That is absolutely not the case,” he said.
“It’s a complete dehumanisation of Jewish people.”
Abuse was also levelled against his non-Jewish partner, Victorian Legislative Council member Georgie Purcell, with a “layer of misogyny” on top of it.
He said watching Purcell face abuse because of their relationship was “devastating”.
Calls for expanded police powers for Jewish Australians
On Wednesday, former Westpac co-chief executive and son of billionaire Frank Lowy, Steven Lowy, told the inquiry he has a personal security team that monitors online threats to his family.
He said about 40 people had been referred to police and 1,500 posts were flagged in a four-week period.
“It disturbs me, the volume and prevalence of it, and the serious nature of it,” he said.
“You would be subject to conviction in other areas where this was communicated.”
He used an 18-page submission to the commission to call for increased police powers in every state “for the protection of Jewish Australians and Jewish communal life”.
Bondi attack survivor recounts conspiracy theory attacks
Other witnesses included a Sydney woman who detailed threats her young daughter had received online from fellow school students and Arsen Ostrovsky, who said their experiences following the Bondi massacre had made their children scared to be in public.
Ostrovsky was shot in the head during the December 14 attack and lay bleeding on the grass at the Hanukkah celebration.
A photo of his bleeding scalp, and another of him receiving medical treatment, became part of a conspiracy campaign denying the attacks.
His nine-year-old daughter, who grew up mainly in Israel, found it safer to be there even during war than in Australia, Ostrovsky told the commission on Monday.
“This is the same daughter who, when we go to school, has to go through not one or two, but at least three layers of security,” he said.
Appeals to tech platforms to remove Bondi attack videos
eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant told the inquiry on Thursday that technology had “never been more powerful and guardrails have never been weaker”.
The eSafety Commission launched a trio of legal battles against X owner Elon Musk after gruesome footage of the Bondi massacre remained on the platform.
Inman Grant detailed needing to appeal to X to remove the footage, that families of the victims had viewed.
“We fought hard against X in terms of not allowing that post-mortem Bondi content,” she said.
“But these are mainstream platforms that are fighting for the right and ability to distribute and monetise this content.”
Inman Grant said overseas anti-regulation governments such as the United States were empowering technology platforms to strip back protections and so contributing to online hate speech in Australia.
“The geopolitics is very much playing into the fermentation of hate online because the platforms feel protected in rolling back protection.”
The Online Hate Prevention Institute’s Andre Oboler, who has researched hate speech for more than a decade, said that Reddit and X removed less than a quarter of posts flagged as antisemitic.
Reddit deleted just 17 per cent, while X deleted 24 per cent. YouTube, LinkedIn and Telegram removed just over 40 per cent. TikTok — which had less media flagged than other platforms — deleted about 62 per cent, while Facebook removed 54 per cent.
“X was generally difficult to work with, particularly from Australia,” he said.
Lack of communication between eSafety and police
Police rarely communicate directly with the eSafety Commission as investigations are unfolding, resulting in knowledge gaps about hate speech, the hearing was told.
NSW Police assistant commissioner Leanne McCusker said her team at times worked directly with platforms to issue takedown orders, rather than looping in the eSafety Commission.
McCusker said she needed to consider providing more regular information to the commissioner
The Western Australian police force had tried to draft a memorandum of understanding with the eSafety commission between 2022 and 2024, but it had stalled.
WA Police deputy commissioner Kylie Whitely said since then, the force did not meet regularly with Inman Grant’s team and had not often contacted it about online hate.
In Victoria, state police communicated with the eSafety commissioner on an “as needs basis”, which were generally crisis situations requiring the removal of a live stream, cybercrime detective Carl Keenan said.
The Australian Federal Police had only met with Inman Grant on three occasions in 2021, 2023 and 2026, the royal commission was told.
The royal commission will continue in Sydney, with public broadcasters SBS and the ABC scheduled to appear in the coming days.
