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.
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.
Ashley Hickerson believes that it was her brother Brian’s undeniable charisma that kept actress Hayden Panettiere returning to him, despite the ups and downs in their relationship.
The actress, who sadly passed away last Sunday from a suspected overdose, first crossed paths with the real estate agent in 2018. Their relationship was marred by turbulence, with Brian facing multiple arrests for domestic violence against Panettiere. At the time of her tragic death, he was at an Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina, with his brother, Zach Hickerson.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Ashley Hickerson, who shares the same father, David, with Brian and Zach, described her brother’s alluring personality: “If I can say one thing about Brian, it’s that he is the most charismatic person, and he draws you in.”
She added, “I understand why Hayden stayed with him. Brian has the knack for making people laugh no matter the circumstance, and he can be a lot of fun to be around.”
Ashley stressed that Brian’s abusive history doesn’t stem from his upbringing. She remains adamant that it doesn’t reflect how they were raised.
“We all have our demons. Brian was not raised that way,” she said. “It wasn’t until he got into drugs that he went south.”
Brian already had a record years before meeting Panettiere, the outlet reported. Brian was arrested in November 2010 (when he was 21 years old) and charged with two counts of third-degree assault and battery by mob, alongside David and Zach.
Ashley commented of the incident, “Some people caused a riot with them in 2010. That’s what my dad told me.”
Ashley noted that Brian did acknowledge his issues.
“He did seek treatment and he was getting help,” she said. “He did own up to his s–t.”
She shared that despite Panettiere’s rocky relationship with Brian, the Hickerson family — particularly her dad — is grieving her death.
“My family is really feeling this loss as well,” she said, calling the “Nashville” alum’s death a “massive tragedy.”
Page Six has reached out to Brian’s attorney, Sloan Ellis, about Ashley’s claims.
Ellis previously told Page Six that “Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed.”
“As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play,” the statement continued. “Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.”
Meanwhile, Panettiere’s estranged mom, Lesley Vogel, has spoken out against Brian, doubting his alleged story about the timeline of the day she died and blaming her rocky relationship with her daughter on him.
She told the New York Times that Brian had pawned some of Panettiere’s belongings before she died, including a vintage guitar, and that the “Heroes” alum was shocked that some of her personal items were in Brian’s personal storage unit.
Brian was facing serious financial issues after his arrests for domestic violence against Panettiere, and he filed for bankruptcy in 2022.
The elusive spouse of a slain police officer was discovered lifeless in a dense forested area adjacent to a healthcare center.
Karen Solomon, aged 58, vanished from her Massachusetts residence following a police-issued warrant related to the murder of her husband, 57-year-old Kurt Solomon.
In a press update on Monday afternoon, Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier revealed that personnel at Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital came across what is presumed to be her remains within the nearby woodlands.
The arrest warrant was issued for charges involving assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, resulting in bodily injury.
“We suspect this is a heartbreaking case of murder-suicide, but there is much work ahead to piece together the full story,” Saucier stated, noting the discovery of a handgun close to the body.
The gun was not a service weapon, and police said there was preliminary evidence of a gunshot wound on her body.
In the last video shared to the media, Solomon was seen entering the water at Coes Pond. Saucier said the body was found 0.6 miles away from the pond.
Saucier read a letter from the couple’s family on Monday, which read in part, ‘The nightmare of the past week has left our family heartbroken and rudderless,’ adding that they were grateful for the officers investigating the case.
Police have located what they believe is Karen Solomon’s body. She fled her Massachusetts home earlier this month after her husband was found dead
Officers were seen at the Solomon’s residence after Kurt Solomon was found dead in the home
Kurt Solomon served as a police officer the Worcester force for 31 years, and his colleagues are now having to investigate his untimely death
Police have been combing the Worcester neighborhood in search of Solomon. The new discovery comes just one day before her husband’s wake and two days before his funeral.
Last Thursday, Worcester Police shared footage of the alleged killer wife strolling outside a veterinary medical facility about a mile from the crime scene.
Solomon can be seen slouching slightly as she walked past the animal center, and at one point glancing over her left shoulder.
The Ring security video was filmed at about 5.40am last Tuesday – roughly 10 minutes after officers found her husband dead inside their Wildwood Avenue home.
Kurt Solomon served as a police officer with the Worcester force for 31 years, and his former colleagues are now having to investigate his untimely death. He was a father to two sons.
Their leafy Webster Square neighborhood has been rocked by the tragedy, with neighbors telling local media there were no warning signs.
Karen Solomon was even known as a champion for first responders after co-founding FIRST H.E.L.P, a group advocating for the mental health of police officers.
She also wrote two books about the physical and psychological experiences of emergency responders.
Before locating Solomon, police initiated a manhunt for the accused killer. They shared surveillance footage of her walking around the street in flip-flops
Solomon was last seen on surveillance footage near the parking lot of Westside Animal Clinic on Mill Street
At a press conference last week, Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early would not disclose how Kurt died, describing the situation as a domestic incident.
Saucier clarified on Monday that the situation was described as ‘domestic’ per Massachusetts state law.
Public records seen by the Daily Mail indicated that the two were married and had lived inside their $370,000 home for several years.
Solomon’s police officer mental health group, First H.E.L.P, released a statement in response to the tragedy.
‘Our first concern is for the officer who lost his life, his family, his colleagues, and the Worcester law-enforcement community,’ the group said.
‘We extend our deepest condolences to all those affected by this tragedy.
‘The Board of Directors is focused on maintaining the continuity, integrity, and independence of First H.E.L.P.’s mission, programs, and services to the first-responder community and the families we serve,’ the group added.
‘The organization will continue its work in support of those families and the broader first-responder communities.
‘The circumstances surrounding the Worcester investigation are an active matter for law enforcement.
‘First H.E.L.P. will have no further comment on the specific circumstances of the investigation.’
Members of the Massachusetts State Police Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) are seen here searching for Solomon
Police tape is seen here across the front yard of the Wildwood Avenue property in the Webster Square neighborhood of Worcester following the death of Kurt Solomon, 57
The New England Police Benevolent Association said in a statement that Kurt had worked for the department for more than 30 years and had two sons.
‘The New England Police Benevolent Association extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and fellow officers of Worcester Police Officer Kurt Solomon, a 31-year veteran of the Worcester Police Department and valued member of the NEPBA family,’ the group said.
‘Officer Solomon dedicated more than three decades of his life to serving the City of Worcester.
‘Throughout his distinguished career, he earned the respect of those who served alongside him and was known as an incredibly dependable officer, colleague and friend,’ the statement continued.
‘His loss is being felt deeply throughout the Worcester Police Department, NEPBA Local 911 and our entire Association.
‘Our hearts are especially with Kurt’s sons, Niklas and Brandon; his mother, Shirley; his brothers, Karl and Eric; and all those who knew and loved him as they navigate this unimaginable loss.’
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce was recently pressed about the party’s immigration goals after fellow MP David Farley indicated their targets align closely with those of the Labor party.
During an appearance on ABC’s Insiders, the MP representing Farrer clarified that One Nation’s plan for a net overseas migration cap of 130,000 each year does not account for entries via the Pacific labour scheme, aged-care nurses, and other crucial skilled worker categories.
He admitted these exceptions would push the numbers up by about 100,000, setting the total at 230,000, which is a mere 5,000 below what Labor’s current budget anticipates.
A few hours later, party leader Pauline Hanson clarified on social media that One Nation is committed to decreasing net overseas migration to 130,000.
On Monday’s broadcast of Channel Seven’s Sunrise, Joyce emphasized that Farley’s remarks were an error in articulating the figures.
“Show me a political career where people haven’t made a mistake, and I’ll show you a person who’s not told the truth,” Joyce said.
“I’m not going to throw anybody under a bus. When people are new in parliament, they can sometimes get things incorrect, and that’s what happens. God knows, I’ve done it enough.”
The debate over Australia’s migration figures has intensified in recent months, with a recent Redbridge/Accent Research poll, conducted for the Australian Financial Review, indicating that voters trust One Nation and its traditionally restrictive approach to handle migration better than Labor or the Liberal Party.
However, the disjointed nature of One Nation’s ongoing public discourse on the topic has prompted claims that the party is “incoherent” and “not fit to govern” from federal minister Pat Conroy.
What is One Nation’s immigration target?
Since its 1997 inception, cutting immigration has been seemingly a foundational pillar of One Nation policy. During her first speech to federal parliament, Hanson alleged Australia was in danger of being “swamped by Asians”, that migrants never assimilated, and that multiculturalism should be abolished.
Its website currently states One Nation would “cut immigration by over 570,000 people” through “capping visas at 130,000 per year”.
In a social media post on Sunday, Hanson wrote that NOM would be cut to 130,000 — a figure the party has previously clarified to SBS News. This number would be achieved by reducing international students, temporary graduate visas, and a “much more targeted” skilled migration program, Hanson said.
Those figures are different to the ones put forward by Farley, who said One Nation is focusing on “the NOM in its true form”, as separate to labour programs “that drive our economy”.
“The raw number is not too different [to current projections], but the reality is, where do we need them?” he asked.
“We don’t need them in the great urban metroplex — we need them out to be productive, working in agriculture, engineering, mining.”
Joyce further affirmed Hanson’s view that One Nation’s policy remained at 130,000 people annually for NOM.
SBS News has contacted One Nation for comment.
Where do Labor and the Coalition stand on immigration?
NOM hit 306,000 in the 2024-2025 period, down from a post-pandemic peak of 538,000.
Labor is yet to unveil its plan to restrict migration, but has previously set an official cap of 185,000 places on the permanent migration program. Treasury figures project that NOM will fall to 225,000 by the 2027-28 financial year.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke was set to detail Labor’s plan to ensure that forecast was met, but pulled out of a National Press Club address at the last minute over fears about the implications cuts would have for certain sectors.
“Our policy will be released when Tony Burke is in a position to do so,” Conroy told ABC Radio National on Monday. “But we’ve been very focused on getting the right migration mix to grow the economy as well as the broader interests of Australia.”
Opposition leader Angus Taylor has said the Coalition will cap NOM at or below the number of homes built in Australia the previous year. Current building rates suggest their figure would be under 180,000; however, the Coalition is yet to announce where they would restrict immigration to reach that figure.
Opposition immigration spokesperson Jonathon Duniam told ABC Radio National that the Coalition is being “fairly methodical” in assessing its figures but that he would not “put a date” on when it will reveal details.
Duniam attacked One Nation for being cavalier with its migration figures, saying it had not detailed the impact such reductions would have on industries like agriculture, which relies on working holiday visa holders for seasonal labour.
“It was the same leader of One Nation who said in an interview about a week ago as well that she did not care about the impact on business any change to the migration system would have,” Duniam said.
What’s in a NOM?
NOM is difficult for governments to control because it is a measurement of human behaviour rather than a fixed quota.
NOM is calculated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) based on the movement of people, subtracting overseas departures from overseas arrivals. To be included, a person must remain in the country for any 12 out of 16 months.
Citizens, permanent residents, temporary visa holders, and asylum seekers are included, as are backpackers and working holiday makers who stay for more than a year.
In 2024-2025, 568,000 people entered Australia, according to the ABS, down 14 per cent on the previous year.
Of that cohort, 88,000 were permanent visa holders, 53,000 were New Zealand citizens, and 64,000 were returning Australians. At the same time, 263,000 people left the country.
As Hanson stated, “short-term seasonal agricultural workers who do not meet the ABS residency test are not counted in net overseas migration”.
However, using Farley’s figures, many of the 100,000 additional workers he says would be able to enter the country — such as workers under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme — would be included in NOM.
PALM workers can enter under a short-term placement of up to nine months or a long-term placement of one to four years.
The visa caps One Nation plans to set would place policy restrictions on NOM, but they can’t control it entirely. Australians suddenly returning home en masse from abroad would, for example, elevate the figure regardless of visa caps.
Illegal immigrant accused of CA murder after jail release
An unsettling tragedy unfolded in a sanctuary city in California, as reported by Chanley Painter with Fox News. A man from Venezuela, residing illegally in the U.S., has been accused of fatally stabbing a local father. What makes this incident even more contentious is that the violent act was committed just a day after a judge granted the suspect release on his own recognizance. Now, federal authorities are clamoring for Governor Gavin Newsom to allow for the suspect’s deportation.
Troubling revelations continue as an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, existing under a final deportation order since 2024, has been thrust back into the spotlight. The individual was apprehended and subsequently released on bond at the Texas border back in 2016. However, recent arrest links him to alleged fentanyl distribution near a Virginia high school—a situation now attracting the attention of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The accused, Isaac Melendez-Carranza, 31, found himself in custody on August 20, charged with distributing fentanyl in close proximity to a school. Due to the seriousness of the charges, he is currently being detained without the possibility of bond at Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.
“ICE had placed a detainer on August 20 for Isaac Melendez-Carranza, an illegal alien from El Salvador, at the Loudoun County Jail,” said a DHS spokesperson to Fox News.
The backdrop of Melendez-Carranza’s case is marked by an immigration judge’s final removal order, issued on July 18, 2024, underscoring the ongoing complexities within U.S. immigration enforcement as reported by DHS.
Isaac Melendez-Carranza is charged with distributing fentanyl within 1,000 feet of a school and is being held without bond.(Loudoun, VA Sheriff’s Department)
Melendez-Carranza was encountered in Sterling, Virginia, less than a month later, on Aug. 16, 2024, but no action was taken, DHS said.
The department cited the Biden administration for the lack of action.
U.S. Border Patrol arrested Melendez-Carranza near Hebbronville, Texas, on May 3, 2016, after he illegally entered the U.S. via the Rio Grande, according to DHS. He was released on bond on July 13, 2016, the department said.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office identified Melendez-Carranza as a suspected drug dealer connected to overdoses involving Park View High School students in May.
MEXICAN NATIONAL FACES FEDERAL CHARGES AFTER CBP FINDS $238K IN FENTANYL INSIDE ELECTRIC MOPED
Melendez‑Carranza was arrested on Aug. 20. During a search of his home, deputies found 100 pills and about $1,000. He is being held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center without bond.(Loudoun County, VA Sheriff’s Department. )
Deputies seized about 100 pills and approximately $1,000 in cash during a search of his home, FOX 5 DC reported.
Multiple students had been hospitalized following suspected overdoses at Park View High School in May, the outlet said.
Loudoun County Public Schools confirmed at the time that two students suffered nonfatal suspected overdoses during school hours.
Additional students were taken to a local hospital for evaluation after exhibiting symptoms, district officials said.
The school system noted that it was unclear whether the incidents were connected and could not immediately confirm whether controlled substances were involved.
FILE – Fentanyl pills were seized from the home of a Salvadoran illegal immigrant whom investigators linked to overdoses involving students at a Virginia high school. DHS says he had been under a final deportation order since 2024.(Getty Images)
Sheriff Mike Chapman called the case particularly alarming because the illicit drugs were reaching local students.
The sheriff’s office said Melendez-Carranza will be turned over to ICE after he is released, Fox 5 DC reported.
“He’s here illegally,” Chapman said. “I think he came in about 10 years ago. We shouldn’t be here and maybe if he wasn’t here this would not have happened, so we take that quite seriously. There is a detainer on him from ICE, so once he is done with his charges here, he will be released to ICE.”
The sheriff’s office said more arrests are possible, but there was no timetable.
Chapman confirmed ICE placed a detainer on Melendez-Carranza, who will be transferred to federal immigration authorities after his local criminal charges are resolved.
“Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, ICE is targeting the worst of the worst. Nearly 70% of ICE arrests are of illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S.,” DHS said.
Simon Cowell is taking a break from his role as a judge.
The popular figure from “America’s Got Talent” will be absent for several recording sessions in order to undergo a medical procedure for his persistent back issues, Fox News Digital reported. In Cowell’s absence, the show is coordinating appearances from guest judges.
According to TMZ, the medical procedure is considered routine, addressing Cowell’s ongoing back troubles rather than indicating any new or severe health issue.
Cowell’s back troubles date back to his incident on an electric bike in 2020.
“The situation could have been far worse. When the X-ray was shown, it revealed I nearly shattered my spine, which would have left me unable to walk,” he revealed to Extra six months post-accident.
The TV personality admitted he immediately knew he had broken his back after falling off the bike.
Simon Cowell is stepping away from the judges’ table. Variety via Getty Images
“You’re not supposed to get up, but I made myself kind of get carried into my bedroom, which is right there at the end of the house, and I’m lying there and I’m kind of passing out. I mean, it was just surreal,” he told the outlet.
Cowell was later injured in another e-bike incident in 2022. At the time, a source told Fox News Digital that Cowell had “crashed to the ground” and “broke his arm.”
Cowell’s breakthrough in front of the camera came in 2001 when he joined Britain’s “Pop Idol” as a judge.
Trae Patton/NBC via Getty Images
His cutting – and often funny – assessments of contestants quickly became his trademark.
American audiences got to know him the following year as one of the original judges on “American Idol” alongside Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.
Cowell subsequently built a television empire, creating “The X Factor” and developing the “Got Talent” franchise while helping launch or promote acts including One Direction, Fifth Harmony and Il Divo.
Perez Hilton has sustained several broken bones following a fall on the evening of his distressing self-harm livestream earlier this month.
The well-known celebrity blogger, now 48, remains hospitalized as he recovers from injuries sustained on August 4, when he injured himself with a knife during a TikTok livestream.
On Monday, his brother-in-law Tom shared on a recent episode of The Perez Hilton Podcast with Chris Booker that Perez’s injuries are considerably more severe than initially perceived.
Tom, who is married to Hilton’s sister, Barbara, explained that Hilton experienced multiple falls throughout the night during his troubling livestream, which resulted in the broken bones.
He also mentioned that doctors are still uncertain about the reasons behind Hilton’s ‘mental break.’
Aside from the broken bones, doctors also discovered other ‘unrelated’ issues requiring treatment, which stemmed from Hilton’s battle with sepsis in March.
Perez Hilton, 48, suffered multiple broken bones after falling on the night of his self-harm livestream earlier this month
His sister Barbara, 42, discovered Hilton naked and covered in blood in the bathroom of the Miami home he shares with his mother Teresita Lavandeira, 72, and his three children.
She ushered the children into her car and drove away as Hilton chased them into the street and banged on the windows, according to a police report.
Hilton then locked himself inside the house and cut himself with a knife before first responders were able to coax him out and treat him for lacerations and an overdose. He wasalso treated for ‘significant’ blood loss and undisclosed injuries.
After being asked about Hilton’s current state of mind, Tom said he is ‘lucid,’ though he is unsure how much Hilton remembers from that night. He added that doctors have been focusing on treating his physical injuries for now.
Hilton has also not seen his three children yet. His mom Teresita filed for temporary legal custody of Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and Mayte, eight, after the incident.
‘I think it’s all things that need to be done with the advice of psychiatric help. I think it’s a lot. It’s a lot for the kids. It’s a lot for him,’ Tom said.
Tom added that during Hilton’s ‘mental break’ the blogger thought he was doing ‘what’s best for the children.’
‘Obviously, since the incident, now that he’s lucid, we’ve explained to him that type of thinking is absolutely not true. These kids adore him, and he’s been a present father.’
The celebrity blogger is still recovering from his wounds in the hospital after he cut himself with a knife during an August 4 livestream; pictured in hospital earlier this year
On Monday, his brother-in-law Tom revealed that Hilton fell several times during the night of his livestream, resulting in broken bones; Hilton seen in 2025
Tom added that being a ‘single parent household’ can be a ‘challenge’ for Hilton, but his mother Teresita has been a ‘huge presence’ in the lives of the children.
He said that Teresita being able to have temporary custody is a ‘blessing’ because it’s ‘not a change for them.’
‘She’s always been there. She’s always been somewhat of a motherly figure to them.’
Tom went on to share that Hilton is not able to have electronics, but can call people from the hospital phone.
Last week, The Daily Mail exclusively revealed that Hilton will need ‘psychiatric clearance’ before he can see his three children again.
A Miami court agreed this week that Teresita should have sweeping authority over their schooling, healthcare and ‘all things necessary for the care of the children.’
Hilton was hospitalized under Florida’s Baker Act, which allows for the temporary involuntary detention of individuals in mental health crisis.
The act’s provisions will kick in when he’s medically discharged from the hospital, giving doctors a 72-hour window to transfer him to a psychiatric facility and evaluate him.
Hilton has also not seen his three children yet. His mom Teresita filed for temporary legal custody of Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and Mayte, eight, after the incident
Tom added that being a ‘single parent household’ can be a ‘challenge’ for Hilton, but added that the kids ‘adore him’ and that ‘he’s been a present father.’ He went on to say that Hilton’s mother Teresita has been a ‘huge presence’ in the lives of the children
Hilton could walk free when the clock runs down if they decide he’s not a risk to himself or others.
But that’s a ‘long shot’ according to Mark Astor, a veteran Florida attorney specializing in Baker Act cases.
‘You don’t just get to walk out of there after 72 hours,’ Astor previously told the Daily Mail. There are three possibilities, according to Astor, a former prosecutor, defense attorney and partner at Astor Simovitch Law.
‘Number one, they could release him. Number two, they get him to agree to stay on a voluntary basis.’
‘Or number three, they could file what’s known as a petition for involuntary placement,’ Astor explained.
The latter would involve a Miami-Dade judge holding a hearing within five days to decide whether Hilton should remain locked up. The case would be confidential – with media barred from attending or hearing any of the details.
Netflix’s latest crime thriller, Facing El Chapo, delves into the life of an infamous drug kingpin, exploring his notorious reign and eventual downfall.
The gripping drama, which premiered on the streaming platform last Friday, August 21, centers around two Mexican officers, one of whom is Arturo Carmona, played by Alfonso Herrera. These officers find themselves in a perilous situation, trying to endure the last hours of their shift after clashing with a merciless cartel leader. Inspired by real-life events, this intense narrative promises to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
As the title suggests, the film draws its inspiration from the notorious figure El Chapo, also known by his full name, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera. He is a former kingpin who co-founded the infamous Sinaloa Cartel.
Wondering if Facing El Chapo is rooted in real events? And where exactly is El Chapo today? Here’s the scoop on what the film reveals.
Is Facing El Chapo Based On A True Story?
Indeed, Facing El Chapo is branded as a “crime drama based on true events” by the streaming giant. According to SoapCentral.com, the storyline centers around the dramatic 2016 recapture of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. However, the film creatively dramatizes these factual occurrences for narrative depth and engagement.
Photo: Netflix
Was El Chapo Caught?
Yes, El Chapo was caught, but after escaping prison twice, per A&E. After being arrested in Guatemala in 1993, he was extradited to Mexico, and sentenced to 20 years in the Puente Grande maximum-security prison. However, he eventually escaped in 2001, only to be arrested again in 2014 in Mazatlán, Mexico, per ABC7 Chicago. The outlet reports that he then escaped in 2015, but was ultimately captured once again in 2016. According to A&E, in 2017, he was extradited to the United States, and was eventually convicted of every federal count against him, resulting in a life sentence plus 30 years in prison.
Is El Chapo Alive? Where is El Chapo Now?
People reports that El Chapo is serving his life sentence in a maximum security prison in Florence, Colorado called U.S. Penitentiary, Administrative Maximum Facility, or ADX Florence.
The United States officially took the step to remove Syria from its roster of state sponsors of terrorism on Monday. According to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, this decision dismantles the last significant hurdles to foreign investment and economic rejuvenation for Syria.
In his statement, Rubio explained that the action followed a mandated 45-day period for congressional notification, which has now concluded.
The path to this removal began in July when President Donald Trump informed Congress of Syria’s cessation of support for international terrorism, setting the rescission process in motion.
“Additionally, I have removed Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) status as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT),” Rubio stated on Monday.
Syria’s president gained a significant diplomatic advantage as the U.S. lifted its terrorism designation, opening the door to vital investments. (BING GUAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images; Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The actions, he said, represent “another historic step by President Trump to give the Syrian people a path to prosperity.”
Rubio said Washington had taken unprecedented steps over the past year to provide sanctions relief to the Syrian people.
He pointed to Trump’s June 2025 executive order, “Providing for the Revocation of Syria Sanctions,” which accelerated sanctions relief by terminating the Syria Sanctions Program and the national emergency with respect to Syria while directing reviews of other Syria-related sanctions and terrorist designations.
“These actions were all taken in recognition of the positive actions taken and further commitments by the Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa to fully distance Syria from acts of international terrorism,” Rubio said of the Syrian government.
Al-Sharaa ousted President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 in an offensive led by HTS rebels. Syria had been on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list since 1979, with the designation in force throughout al-Assad’s rule.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio shakes hands with then Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel, on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.(Bing Guan/Pool Photo via AP)
“In the past year, the Government of Syria has taken significant steps to counterterrorism, to include formally joining the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in November and conducting operations to disrupt the terror networks of ISIS, al-Qa’ida, Hizballah, and Iran-aligned groups,” Rubio said.
He added that rescinding Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism and HTS’ designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist “eliminates the final major barriers for private-sector investment in Syria and promotes Syria’s economic recovery and reintegration into the global economy.”
Syrians gather in Umayyad Square, waving the Syrian revolution flags as they continue their celebrations after the overthrow of the 61-year Baathist regime and the end of the Assad family era in Damascus, Syria on Dec. 27, 2024.(Emin Sansar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani told Reuters on Aug. 22 that lifting the designation would help restore Syria’s links to the global financial system and encourage investment following nearly 14 years of war.
“There is no longer any obstacle to investment, doing business and rebuilding economic life in Syria,” he said.
“Today’s action will help foster additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also said in a statement, adding that it is “in line with President Trump’s promise to deliver sanctions relief to Syria.”
The governor of the Central Bank of Syria said Monday that lifting Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism is a “historic step that returns it to its natural place within the global economic system.”
On Monday, Trump also posted a photo on Truth Social of al-Sharaa and al-Shibani holding his signed June 2025 executive order directing sanctions relief for Syria.
Cuba, Iran and North Korea remain the three countries designated by Washington as state sponsors of terrorism.
Enes Kanter Freedom is vehemently denying allegations that suggest he will be barred from playing in the WNBA, labeling such claims as pure “fake news.”
Reports emerged on Monday across various media platforms stating that the former NBA player would be excluded from the league’s draft. A source shared with Front Office Sports that the WNBA intends to avoid facilitating any efforts aimed at ridiculing the league or that could be perceived as undermining and demeaning individuals.
However, Freedom revealed to Stefan Bondy of The Post that he has received no official communication from the WNBA regarding any potential disqualification.
Former basketball player and human rights activist Enes Kanter Freedom is seen prior to a game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“There has been no word from WNBA officials,” Freedom confidently stated. “This is fake news!”
In an interesting twist, Freedom, alongside Royce White, who was picked in the first round by the NBA’s Rockets in 2012, has declared themselves as women eligible for the WNBA draft. This move comes amid the heated discussion around the participation of transgender athletes in female sports categories.
A league source described Freedom and White’s declarations as “simply publicity stunts” to FOS.
The WNBA has become the battleground in a culture war ignited when Fever player Sophie Cunningham told ESPN in an interview published in July she wants “to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
Freedom was ejected from Wintrust Arena on Sunday night after getting into a verbal altercation with Sky star Natasha Cloud during a game against the Fever.
Freedom wore a shirt to the game that read, “WOMAN noun. adult human female.”
Former basketball player Enes Kanter Freedom and Natasha Cloud #9 of the Chicago Sky yell at one another. Getty Images
The ex-NBA player claimed to several media outlets that Cloud had shouted at him, “[Cunningham] is not going to sleep with you.”
In an interview with Laura Ingraham on Fox News, he repeated the claim, to the bewilderment of the host, who asked, “Are you trying to sleep with Sophie Cunningham?”
Freedom denied that he was.
“Definitely not, definitely not. I’m going to make this very clear, definitely not,” he said on the program.
A family in Colorado finds themselves overwhelmed with medical expenses after a neighbor’s police dog escaped and viciously attacked their young daughter.
The Dean family was joyfully celebrating their twin daughters’ birthdays on August 11, 2024, in their backyard in Castle Rock, when a large black dog unexpectedly leaped over the fence and set its sights on their two-year-old, Lily.
This aggressive canine, named Ragnar, belonged to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and resided next door with Deputy Zachary Oliver, its handler. Recalling the terrifying moment, Lily’s father, Nick, shared with CBS News that he noticed the imminent danger and acted swiftly to shield his family and the gathered guests.
“I was on our upper porch when I saw the dog. I dashed down the stairs but reached just as it had already attacked Lily, dragging her across our backyard lawn,” Nick recounted to the news outlet.
Lindsey Speer, a family friend who attended the party, described the harrowing scene to FOX31, saying the dog took hold of the little girl’s leg and violently shook her as if she were a rag doll.
From then on, Nick said three male party attendees piled onto the dog in an attempt to stop the vicious attack.
‘When I was wrestling the dog, I could hear the cracking of her femur bone,’ Nick recalled to CBS News.
Lily’s father was also maimed while trying to save her, leaving them both with severe injuries that they say continue to affect them two years later.
GoFundMe photo of Nick and Bethany Dean and their twins, Lily and Ollie
Lily Dean is treated after the brutal dog attack that occurred back in August 2024
The dog, Ragnar, was a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department K-9 who lived next door with his handler, Deputy Zachary Oliver
A GoFundMe set up by the family to cover their mounting medical bills said Lily suffered deep lacerations across her stomach, along with a punctured femur.
Nick sustained injuries to his chest, neck, back and hip and continues to struggle with PTSD and other lasting psychological effects, per the fundraiser.
‘It’s just the combination of not feeling strong enough to protect my family, and the pain,’ Nick said.
‘The chronic pain is like having an operating system going on in the background that just never shuts off, and it’s tiring,’ he added.
Prosecutors charged Oliver, but a jury cleared him after his lawyers argued his county contract protected him from criminal liability.
Oliver has since left the sheriff’s office, while the K-9 was retired from duty. The Deans said the dog and its handler moved away from the neighborhood nine months after the incident.
The family also hoped the county would help cover their medical costs, but the family says they are now saddled with $300,000 in debt.
Nick sustained severe injuries and continues to struggle with PTSD
Photo posted on August 23, 2026,of Nick and Bethany Dean and their twins, Lily and Ollie, after Nick and Lily survived an attack by a police dog
A 2023 photo of Zach Oliver and his dog Ragnar
Lily and Ollie’s party prior to the attack
‘When the criminal proceedings turned into nothing, we thought, well, of course, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department is going to do what’s right by our family,’ Nick told the outlet.
A Jefferson County attorney told the Deans’ lawyer that the county does not use taxpayer money to cover claims when it has no legal liability.
The family’s GoFundMe had surpassed $67,000 in donations as of Monday.
