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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.
The trial of a former Libyan intelligence officer linked to the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 bombing faced a delay on Monday. This decision comes after the defense received a fresh batch of evidence from prosecutors over the weekend, prompting a federal judge to grant the postponement.
Originally scheduled to begin with jury selection on Wednesday in Washington, D.C., the trial of Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi marks a significant legal milestone. It would have been the inaugural U.S. trial connected to the tragic bombing, which claimed the lives of 270 individuals, a majority being Americans.
U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich’s order did not disclose details about the newly surfaced evidence, leaving room for speculation regarding its impact on the proceedings.
Citing their “constitutional and ethical obligations,” Al-Marimi’s defense attorneys stressed the necessity of examining the new developments thoroughly. They reported receiving the surprise evidence on Saturday and called upon the judge to allow time for adequate investigation.
Pictured in a December 12, 2022, image provided by the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi remains in custody at the Alexandria Adult Detention Center. (Alexandria Sheriff’s Office via AP)
The judge granted Al-Marimi’s lawyers the delay and scheduled a status hearing on Sept. 1.
Al-Marimi is charged with making the bomb that downed the Pan Am flight, killing all 259 passengers and crew members. The plane came down over the small town of Lockerbie, Scotland, where it destroyed an entire city block and killed 11 people on the ground.
Citizens of 21 countries were among the victims, including 190 Americans and 43 people from the United Kingdom. Among those aboard were 35 Syracuse University students returning home from a semester abroad.
The bomb exploded less than 40 minutes into the flight, which had departed from London Heathrow Airport and was headed to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.
The wreckage of Pan Am Flight 103 after it crashed onto the town of Lockerbie in Scotland, on Dec. 21, 1988.(Bryn Colton/Getty Images)
Kara Weipz, board president of the nonprofit Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, told The Associated Press that her organization has not received any details about what caused the delay in Al-Marimi’s trial.
Weipz’s brother, Richard Monetti, was one of the Syracuse students who died on the flight.
Weipz said the families of the victims had already been packing to head to Washington for the trial.
“At the same time, for almost 38 years we’ve been seeking the truth of what happened,” Weipz said. “If that’s what this is, then that’s a good thing, and this delay is worth it… It’s important to hear all the facts.”
The Pan Am plane killed 11 people on the ground and destroyed an entire city block in Lockerbie.(Bryn Colton/Getty Images)
Prosecutors say Al-Marimi carried out the bombing at the behest of Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi, who was ousted from power in 2011 and violently killed by rebels.
In 2000, two other Libyan agents were tried by a panel of Scottish judges on a U.S. military base in the Netherlands. One was convicted, while the other was acquitted.
For decades, the true identity of the bombmaker has been a mystery.
Al-Marimi, now in his mid-70s, faces two counts of destruction of an aircraft resulting in death. He could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted.
A courtroom sketch of Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik Kenerson, front left, watching as Whitney Minter, a public defender from the eastern division of Virginia, stands to represent Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi during a Dec. 12, 2022, hearing in Washington, D.C.(Dana Verkouteren via AP)
Prosecutors say Al-Marimi worked for Libya’s intelligence service from roughly 1973 until 2011, eventually attaining the rank of colonel.
Investigators allege he brought a suitcase containing a bomb to an airport in Malta and handed it off to co-conspirators for a flight to Frankfurt, Germany. The suitcase was then transferred to London, where it was loaded onto Flight 103.
On Monday night, Angel Reese channeled her inner Dennis Rodman with an unforgettable performance.
The star forward of the Dream dominated the court by grabbing an astounding 26 rebounds, leading her team to a 78-71 triumph over the Sparks. This remarkable feat shattered the longstanding single-game record of 24 rebounds set by Chamique Holdsclaw back in 2003.
With this phenomenal display, Reese also ascended to the top of the WNBA’s single-season rebounding list. She now boasts a record-breaking 458 rebounds for the Sky, surpassing A’ja Wilson’s previous high of 451 established in 2024.
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese skies for a rebound, and set the record for most in a WNBA game. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
On top of her rebounding heroics, Reese contributed 11 points, dished out three assists, and nabbed three steals during her 38 minutes of play.
Reflecting on her performance during the postgame show on Peacock, Reese remarked, “The last time I played here, I was perfect from the field. Tonight, however, my shots just wouldn’t fall. So, I decided to make my mark by crashing the boards. My aim is to always be a consistent force for my team, whether that’s on offense, defense, or wherever I’m needed to secure the win.”
Reese is certainly playing some of her best basketball at the right time as the WNBA playoffs approach, with Monday’s win keeping Atlanta atop the East with a 25-13 record, ahead of the Fever by a half-game.
Atlanta has already clinched a playoff spot.
For Reese, her 26-rebound mega-effort comes on the heels of an impressive Saturday performance where she posted a career-high 31 points against the Mercury.
“That’s a talent,” Dream guard Allisha Gray said. “I’m just in awe watching her rebound.”
Angel Reese #5 of the Atlanta Dream was a rebounding machine on Monday night. Getty Images
Her improvement on all sides of the ball is something that her coach Karl Smesko noticed.
“Angel’s been remarkable on this trip,” he said. “You can see her getting better each month.”
Reese needed just 37 games to set the league’s new rebounding mark and has six more games to pad her total.
She credits Tina Charles, the WNBA’s all-time leading rebounder over 14 seasons, for helping her find her way around the basket to clean up the glass.
“All the vets pour into me,” Reese said. “The players that have come before me were able to do so many amazing things so I can be in this very moment right now. So I’m really grateful for them, especially Tina.
“I remember last year when I was playing against her and how she was giving me little keys to playing around the basket and doing things to make yourself consistent and try to be one of the best players. And I just want to do that every single night.”
The Dream host the Fire on Aug. 28 and the Lynx on Aug. 30 before the league’s break for the FIFA women’s basketball World Cup.
A remarkable incident unfolded on Tuesday as a US Air Force transport aircraft executed an unexpected landing in Moscow, igniting widespread curiosity and speculation regarding its enigmatic mission.
The aircraft in question, a C-17A Globemaster III, arrived at Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport on August 25, originating from Riga, Latvia, as corroborated by public flight-tracking systems.
This plane is renowned for its capabilities as a large, long-range military transport vehicle, routinely used to airlift troops, vehicles, and substantial cargo across the globe.
The journey commenced in NATO-member Latvia at approximately 8:50 a.m. Moscow time, equating to 12:50 a.m. Eastern Time, with the aircraft touching down in Moscow just about 74 minutes later.
Notably, the C-17A navigated through the heavily regulated Russian airspace, requiring specific clearance for such entry. According to FlightRadar24 data, the flight’s journey began in Riga on August 23, after departing from Joint Base Andrews near Washington, DC, a base familiar as the home of the presidential fleet, including Air Force One.
Neither Washington nor Moscow has explained the reason for the flight as of Tuesday morning, leaving it unclear who or what the giant military aircraft was carrying.
The silence prompted speculation that it could be connected to a prisoner exchange, sensitive diplomatic talks over the war in Ukraine or an operation involving embassy personnel.
One X user who tracks US military planes said: ‘In a highly unusual move, a US Air Force C-17 transport aircraft has just landed in Moscow from Riga, Latvia, flying across restricted airspace. I wonder what is going on…’
The C-17A Globemaster III touched down at Vnukovo International Airport on August 25 after taking off from Riga, Latvia, public flight-tracking data showed
No evidence has emerged to support any of those theories, and the true purpose of the rare flight remains a mystery. The Daily Mail has contacted the White House for comment.
However, the flight path was shared online, sparking a range of theories from users.
One X user posted: ‘I suspect possibly a prisoner exchange or maybe a group of US officials are going for negotiations?’
While many agreed that a prisoner exchange was likely the reason for the secret mission, another user said: ‘Wouldn’t that be public knowledge though? All seems a bit covert.
Another user suggested that a prisoner exchange would not likely happen with a C-17A, as previous swaps have all used smaller, private-style jets.
Some military-aviation observers also speculated that the mission could be associated with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, raising the possibility that he could be travelling to Moscow.
Pentagon records show Hegseth spent Monday, August 24, visiting Nebraska and Wisconsin as part of his ‘Arsenal of Freedom’ tour.
The mysterious flight also coincided with a Reuters report on Tuesday that Ukraine had worked with US and European officials to draw up a fresh proposal for Moscow.
The aircraft, flying under the call sign RCH4555, left the NATO country at around 8:50am Moscow time (12.50am ET)and landed in the Russian capital roughly 74 minutes later
Locals in Moscow spotted the US Air Force jet soaring over the region as it made a landing
Footage from Moscow, however, reportedly captured a US diplomatic convoy traveling through the streets around the same time the jet was spotted.
The C-17A Globemaster III is a hulking four-engine military transport designed to carry troops, armored vehicles and oversized cargo around the world.
The Boeing-built aircraft stretches 174 feet from nose to tail and has a wingspan of nearly 170 feet.
It can haul up to 170,900 pounds, enough to carry 102 fully equipped paratroopers or a 69-ton M1 Abrams battle tank.
The jet cruises at approximately 518mph and can travel about 2,760 miles without refueling while carrying close to its maximum payload. Aerial refueling gives the aircraft a virtually global range.
Despite its enormous size, the aircraft can take off and land on runways as short as 3,500 feet and even reverse under its own power.
The Air Force uses the aircraft, which is not an armed fighter, to deliver troops and equipment, conduct airdrops, evacuate wounded patients and support humanitarian missions.
Neither Washington nor Moscow has explained the reason for the flight as of Tuesday morning, leaving it unclear who or what the giant military aircraft was carrying
Its cavernous cargo hold can transport some of the US military’s heaviest equipment, and publicly available flight data did not reveal what was aboard the plane that landed in Moscow.
The roots of the C-17 stretch back to the late 1970s, when the US Air Force began searching for a powerful new transport capable of delivering troops and heavy combat equipment directly to remote battlefields.
The service formally opened its C-X competition in 1980, calling for an aircraft that could carry enormous loads, including the M1 Abrams tank, into small, austere airfields.
McDonnell Douglas beat Boeing for the project in August 1981 with a design based partly on its earlier YC-15 prototype, and the aircraft was designated the C-17 the following month.
Development was plagued by cost overruns and repeated delays as engineers wrestled with mission-computer software, flight controls and a complex wing designed for short-runway operations.
The problems became so serious that the Pentagon placed McDonnell Douglas and the C-17 program on probation in the 1990s.
The prototype, known as T-1, finally completed its maiden flight on September 15, 1991, and the first operational squadron was declared ready in January 1995.
Boeing inherited the program after merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997 and continued building the aircraft at its Long Beach, California, plant.
Production ended in November 2015 after 279 C-17s had been built for the US Air Force and military operators including the UK, Australia, Canada, India, Qatar and NATO partners.
Renowned Nollywood actress and filmmaker Ronke Oshodi is calling on Nigerians to hold back on criticism or insults should she choose to publicly support a politician.
Oshodi is shining a spotlight on the unique challenges that celebrities encounter when they dive into political campaigning and endorsements.
Her plea underscores a larger issue that looms over public figures who wade into the political arena—scrutiny and judgment from the public.
Impassioned and direct, Ronke Oshodi has shared her thoughts, asking fellow Nigerians to exercise restraint in their comments if she decides to back a political figure openly.
During her address, Oshodi emphasized the difficulties faced by celebrities entering the political sphere, aiming to shed light on the often tough realities of political endorsements.
According to Ronke Oshodi, any political endorsement from her should not automatically be interpreted as a reflection of her personal beliefs or an invitation for people to attack her.
“If you see me endorsing any politician, just know that I’m hustling for survival. Please don’t drag or insult me,” she said.
The actress appeared to be urging her fans and members of the public to understand that entertainers, like other professionals, sometimes take on opportunities based on their financial needs.
Her remarks have sparked reactions online, with some Nigerians sympathising with her position, while others debated the responsibilities celebrities have when lending their influence to politicians.
“If you see me endorsing any politician, just know that I’m hustling for survival. Please don’t drag or insult me” —Actress Ronke Oshodi tells Nigerians. pic.twitter.com/GfQei0mpqR
— YabaLeftOnline (@yabaleftonline) August 25, 2026
Read some comments below:
@ElectionsNigeria2027:”So no one should dr@g you for joining hands with a wrong candidate to put everyone else in p0verty.. you want to make self!sh decisions but want collective support”
@Dr.:”A girl wey dey do ashawo work sef if you ask her, she go tell you say she dey struggle to survive, so I no blame you at all Aunty Ronke. Everybody get excuse for the nonsense wey dem dey do. You collect money endorse bad politicians wey go spoil our future, ashawo girl collect money too – na the same struggling to survive story. At least make una use the money hustle well, because Nigerians no go forget.”
@Chioma:”At what point does I’m hustling for survival” becom an excuse for selfishness? U can’t keep profiting from d same pple suffering under bad leadership. Pple are dyin, kidnapped and struggling to access basic healthcare.Ur survival can’t always come at d expense of everyone else’s.”
@Big Lanrey:”Shaking my head 😮💨😂 At least she’s being honest about where she stands. Everybody has bills to pay, but political endorsements will always come with plenty scrutiny.”
The ongoing turmoil in major college sports is surprisingly ironic, especially considering how simply it could have been circumvented.
This June, the NCAA introduced a revised eligibility framework that permits athletes to compete over five seasons within a five-year timeframe, starting from their full-time enrollment or the academic year after they turn 19.
However, the NCAA opted not to extend this additional year of eligibility to the class of 2022, who were seniors last year. Curiously, they decided to grant the extra year to athletes who will still be juniors, sophomores, or freshmen in the 2025-26 seasons.
Unsurprisingly, these neglected seniors have resorted to legal action, achieving successes in some instances. A notable federal decision in Colorado granted the entire class of 2022 an additional year through a temporary injunction, yet the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily halted this order, granting the NCAA a reprieve.
In a concerning development, a deadly mosquito-borne illness has made its first local appearance in a Florida county, marking a significant public health alert for the region.
The Florida Department of Health has confirmed the inaugural locally acquired case of dengue fever in Citrus County, a location positioned on the state’s west coast, roughly an hour’s drive north of Tampa. This announcement came over the past weekend, spotlighting the potential risks posed by the disease.
This year has seen Florida grapple with 23 cases of dengue fever that did not originate from international travel. Earlier this month, Hillsborough County reported eight cases, while Pinellas County identified two, illustrating the expanding reach of the disease in the Sunshine State.
Aside from Florida, Virginia remains the only other adjoining state to register a local transmission of this disease, having documented a case earlier in the month.
Throughout the nation, the United States has seen a total of 1,575 dengue fever cases this year, encompassing both local and international transmissions. Florida, with its 108 cases, tops the list among contiguous states, underscoring an urgent need for public awareness and prevention strategies.
Most cases of dengue fever recorded in the US are linked to international travel and the disease was nearly eradicated in the US in the 1970s amid a campaign to wipe out the Aedes aegypti mosquito, identified by the white bands on its legs, which carries the virus.
After that campaign was abandoned, however, the mosquito – and dengue fever – have repeatedly triggered sporadic outbreaks, particularly in Florida, Texas and California.
There have been at least nine states in the US to report local transmission of dengue fever since 2010, data from the CDC shows.
Pictured above is an Aedes aegypti mosquito, the species which carries the dengue fever virus
Overall, since that year, more than 600 cases of dengue spreading locally in the US have been recorded.
Florida has recorded the most, followed by Hawaii, Texas and California.
Additional cases have also been recorded in Arizona, North Carolina, West Virginia and New York.
Dengue is spread through the bites of infected Aedes species mosquitoes.
Symptoms include fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, severe muscle, joint and bone pain, nausea, vomiting and a rash, usually appearing five to seven days after a mosquito bite.
Most people recover within a week, but some develop severe dengue, which can cause shock, internal bleeding and death if not treated promptly.
The new case comes as the CDC has updated its travel alert for the virus after detecting unusual upticks in cases across the world.
In particular, the agency warned travelers heading to 11 countries and territories to take precautions, highlighting a rise in cases in these areas.
The CDC said it had identified a ‘higher-than-expected number of dengue cases among US travelers returning from’ Bolivia, Cambodia, Colombia, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, New Caledonia, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Tonga and Vietnam.
Health officials urged travelers to wear insect repellent, long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors, and to sleep in air-conditioned rooms or a room with window screens.
They warned that children under five, adults over 65 and pregnant women were considered to be at higher risk from the virus.
This article includes discussions about eating disorders.
For Kansasin Darwan, residing in the quiet town of Bajool in central Queensland, a weight-loss shot was initially seen as the key to regaining her vitality. However, the reality was far more troubling than she had ever imagined.
I was dizzy, nauseous, and I lost my appetite. To put it simply, I could barely live.
At 48, Darwan noted that weight gradually crept up on her during perimenopause. She was under the impression that her general practitioner in Australia wouldn’t consider her a candidate for weight-management medication, mainly due to not fitting the specific clinical guidelines.
In Australia, medical professionals typically prescribe GLP-1 weight loss medications for those struggling with chronic weight issues, especially when adults have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more, or a BMI between 27 and 30, coupled with at least one other health condition related to weight.
Seeking alternatives, Darwan found herself at a beauty clinic in the suburbs of Bangkok during a trip back to Thailand, where she procured Mounjaro, a brand of injectable weight-loss medication.
Beauty clinics in Thailand are generally supervised by doctors. However, the screening process for GLP-1 use can be less extensive than the assessment typically conducted by GPs in Australia. For example, some customers at beauty clinics may be prescribed GLP-1 drugs even if they do not have diabetes or are within a healthy weight range.
Darwan brought the drugs back to Australia and began using them to lose weight.
“I couldn’t concentrate while driving. I wasn’t feeling like myself. I couldn’t sleep. Even my children noticed that I was different,” she tells SBS Thai.
Eighteen out of every 1,000 Australians, or almost 2 per cent of the population, are now taking GLP-1s regularly, according to a study by scientists at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) published in November 2025.
Darwan’s experience offers a glimpse into a fast-growing market for weight-loss injections, where some Australians are seeking access overseas, while others are obtaining medicines through social-media sellers and informal supply channels.
An investigation by SBS Thai found weight-loss medicines being offered without a doctor’s prescription in Australian community groups, reports of products entering the country through informal channels, and unapproved peptides being marketed as weight-loss products.
But access to these medicines is not uniformly occurring outside the established medical system. Many Australians obtain weight-loss drugs through registered health professionals and pharmacies.
For consumers navigating this market, the distinction between an approved prescription medicine, an experimental drug and an unapproved product can be difficult to see — with experts and authorities warning that using medicines outside approved pathways can carry serious risks.
The unregulated supply chain
For some consumers, access does not require a trip overseas.
SBS Thai found GLP-1 injectable medicines openly advertised in Australian Thai community Facebook groups, with some sellers offering the products without requiring a prescription.
We contacted one Melbourne-based seller, posing as a potential customer interested in buying “Mounjaro”. The seller offered a 5mg vial for $750, saying it had been sourced from a beauty clinic in Udon Thani, a provincial city in north-east Thailand.
We contacted the clinic identified by the seller, which confirmed that it supplied products to the Melbourne-based seller.
SBS Thai has not independently established the circumstances of every shipment or whether every product sold through the channel was imported in accordance with Australian requirements.
The price for the 5mg multi-dose pre-filled injection pen also appeared significantly higher than the price we found for the same branded medicine at Australian pharmacies, where it was listed between $375 and $415 depending on the pharmacy and required a prescription.
The seller’s claim of easy access raises significant regulatory and health concerns.
In response to an SBS Thai query, a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) spokesperson said: “It is not legal to import GLP-1 medicines or peptide products into Australia for commercial purposes without appropriate authorisation and declaration.”
The spokesperson said GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, are prescription-only medicines in Australia and should be used under the supervision of a qualified health professional.
The regulator has also warned about unregistered products being sold as GLP-1 medicines, particularly those obtained online or from overseas.
In March, TGA testing found several imported products labelled as containing GLP-1 or GLP-1 analogues contained none of those ingredients. The regulator advised consumers to obtain prescription medicines from registered Australian pharmacies rather than social media or other digital platforms.
The regulator has also increased its focus on unapproved peptide products.
Earlier this month, with assistance from NSW Police, the TGA seized more than $120,000 worth of unapproved peptide and anabolic steroid products from two NSW properties. The TGA said the products had allegedly been imported, relabelled and promoted for sale through social media and a website.
One of the products seized was labelled “retatrutide” — a name that also appeared in SBS Thai’s investigation.
We found retatrutide offered at $300 for a 10mg vial at a Thai grocery store in Geelong, Victoria. The seller claimed the injectable product could help with weight loss and work similarly to other GLP-1 medicines.
Retatrutide is different from approved GLP-1 medicines such as Ozempic and Wegovy. While those medicines contain semaglutide, retatrutide is an experimental drug that acts on three hormone pathways involved in appetite and metabolism. It is not approved for sale as a medicine in Australia.
SBS Thai did not independently test the product or establish what was inside the vial. The TGA says unapproved peptide products have not been evaluated for safety, quality or effectiveness.
There is also a separate health warning involving products labelled retatrutide.
In June, Victoria’s Department of Health said it had been notified of six cases of acute liver injury since January among people who had used products labelled as retatrutide. The department said investigations were continuing.
Demand is surging
The informal market is emerging alongside a rapid increase in legitimate use of GLP-1 medicines.
Researchers at UNSW found that total sales of GLP-1 medicines rose from about 58,000 in May 2020 to 500,000 in April 2025. They also noted a significant disruption in sales from late 2022 to early 2024, when a drug shortage caused sales to drop by almost 80 per cent.
The researchers found that private, non-subsidised access had grown sharply, accounting for 43.8 per cent of estimated use by April 2025, with prices up to $600 per month.
The study did not include Wegovy and Saxenda, which are marketed specifically for weight loss. The researchers said their figures should therefore be regarded as a minimum estimate of overall GLP-1 use.
That expanding market is also being discussed heavily on social media.
Like Darwan, Ople Petchdee, who lives in Croydon South in Melbourne’s east, also bought a GLP-1 injectable from a beauty clinic just outside the Thai capital, Bangkok.
Petchdee, who has called Australia home for the past 15 years, says she became interested in the medicines after seeing friends post about their experiences.
“Everyone posted on their Facebook, on their social media, that these medications helped them lose weight. So, my friends suggested I use them, too,” she tells SBS Thai.
Beyond the weight-loss promise
For Trevor Steward, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Melbourne, the concern is not only how people obtain GLP-1 medicines but also how the drugs are presented and understood online.
Steward is currently running a clinical trial examining how GLP-1 drugs affect the neurobiological function of people with binge eating disorder.
It’s not about aesthetics. It’s not about achieving a certain number on a scale.
“It’s about someone’s mental and physical wellbeing. And that’s something that needs to be considered holistically with a doctor involved,” Steward tells SBS Thai.
He says there are also unanswered questions about what happens when treatment stops for people with eating disorders.
“If the weight comes back, we can maybe stipulate that the food noise will come back. And how will that person cope with that, thinking that they have achieved a certain sense of recovery and then falling back into that old pattern of behaviour before.”
Steward says social media often strips away that nuance, framing GLP-1 medicines as a shortcut to achieving a particular body shape or weight, rather than treating them as serious medications to be considered in the context of a person’s overall mental and physical health.
For Darwan, who had gone looking for a way to lose weight, reality was harder.
“My mood was depressing. I suffered from energy loss.”
I will not use [GLP-1 drugs] again.
This story was produced in collaboration with SBS Thai.
Readers seeking support with mental health can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. More information is available at beyondblue.org.au. Embrace Multicultural Mental Health supports people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Readers seeking support for eating disorders or body image concerns can call the Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 ED HOPE (1800 33 4673) or visit www.butterfly.org.au
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and should not be relied on as a substitute for professional medical advice. Readers are advised to consult a qualified health professional for guidance specific to their situation.
A man from Charlotte, facing serious allegations of planning attacks on five local educational institutions, found himself out of jail just a short stint before the school doors reopened. The timing raised eyebrows as students were only days away from returning to their classrooms.
On the morning of August 22, 33-year-old Drew Andres Owens walked out of Mecklenburg County Jail. Coincidentally, students from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools were set to resume classes just three days later, on August 25.
Back in March 2025, a grand jury in Mecklenburg County had charged Owens with five instances of issuing mass violence threats aimed at schools. Despite these serious allegations, Owens has maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty, with these legal matters still unresolved.
The jail log, confirmed by News Media, shows that Owens was released from custody at precisely 11:30 a.m. on August 22. This has been corroborated by records from the Mecklenburg County Jail.
The indictment includes accusations that Owens dispatched alarming emails on February 15, 2025, targeting several schools: West Charlotte High School, Ardrey Kell High School, Community House Middle School, and Hawk Ridge Elementary School. Four specific charges detail these communications.
According to court documents reviewed by News Media, Owens allegedly sent messages threatening to “slaughter staff and students.”
A separate indictment alleges a mailed threat against Garinger High School. The affidavit claimed that a student, who was armed with two shotguns and an AR-15, would carry out the mass shooting. School administrators later determined that no student by that name was enrolled there, according to the affidavit.
The warrant affidavit states that Darryl Owens, Drew’s father and a West Charlotte High School ROTC instructor, told police he also believed his son was responsible for the school threats.
Darryl Owens allegedly told authorities that his son had harassed relatives, neighbors and family friends after being removed from the family home in 2021, and had sent unsigned emails and letters threatening to kill or shoot people at multiple locations.
The father told police he had previously obtained a restraining order against his son, that Owens had been arrested for violating it and that the order was later dismissed. He also told police that Owens had recently sat outside neighbors’ homes and photographed his car at West Charlotte High School “to try to lure him outside.”
According to court records, the bond in the four-school case was lowered from $135,000 to $60,000 in May 2026. Docket records indicate the four-school case had originally been set at a $135,000 secured bond with electronic monitoring in February 2025.
A judge reduced that amount to $60,000 on May 1, 2026. The separate case tied to Garinger High School carried a secured bond of $15,000. Owens satisfied the court-ordered pretrial bond conditions and was released Saturday, Aug. 22.
Court records showed a $60,000 secured bond in the four-school case and a $15,000 secured bond in the Garinger case. A professional surety posted the $60,000 bond the previous Friday night.
An aerial view of the skyline of downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, on Oct. 12, 2023.(Omar Vega/Getty Images)
WSOC previously reported that Owens’ record included arrests for resisting arrest and shoplifting. The local outlet did not report a total number of prior arrests and News Media has reached out to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for additional details.
Following his release, parents told WSOC that they are nervous to send their kids off to school as the school year kicks off.
“Is he going to show up at one of the schools? It’s not good,” said one parent. “I’m not going to feel at ease, I’m not going to pretend it’s OK.”
“In this situation it’s confusing because he had a $200K bond,” another parent said. “He’s clearly a public safety threat, so what took the threat level down?”
“He’s out and that’s it, and the rest of us have to deal with it and teachers have to go to school on Tuesday and deal with it,” another parent said.
It was not immediately clear if Owens had an attorney representing him.
