Tim Kennedy, a former Army Green Beret and UFC fighter, is recovering in the United States after being wounded in an ambush last month in the Democratic Republic of Congo that killed or injured at least 20 people.

The 47-year-old is undergoing treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He spoke there Sunday with Rep. Derrick Van Orden, a Wisconsin Republican, Reuters reported.

“I just spoke to my dear friend @TimKennedyMMA. That means he is not dead and that means I am thankful,” Van Orden, a former Navy SEAL, wrote on X.

He asked the public to pray for Kennedy’s recovery and for “Peace” for his family.

Van Orden also used the moment to joke that Kennedy’s wounds had not altered his allegiance in the Army-Navy rivalry.

“GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY!” he added.

Kennedy was working in Congo for Vectus Global, a private security company founded by Blackwater founder Erik Prince, when his team was attacked Sept. 17 while moving between locations in South Kivu province.

Eastern Congo has endured decades of violence involving armed groups, government forces and regional interests.

Kennedy sustained three gunshot wounds in the attack, while at least 20 people were reportedly killed or injured.

Those killed included at least seven Congolese nationals and a former member of New Zealand’s Special Forces.

A Congolese security official told Reuters that villagers near the ambush site were also likely among the casualties.

Kennedy was evacuated from Congo by medical transport. Authorities have not disclosed the full extent of his injuries.

The former UFC competitor has not publicly discussed the attack or his condition. His most recent social media post, published Sept. 25 during his recovery, focused on parenthood.

No group has claimed responsibility for the ambush. However, Congolese government sources told Reuters that Rwandan forces accused of supporting the M23 rebel movement may have tracked Kennedy’s team by following a surveillance drone operated by the unit.

Rwanda has consistently rejected claims that it backs M23, despite repeated accusations from the United Nations and Western governments.

The conflict intensified again in early 2025, when M23 fighters rapidly captured territory across eastern Congo, a region rich in tantalum, gold, lithium and other valuable minerals, according to Reuters.

Congo’s government hired Vectus Global last year to help increase tax revenue and combat mineral smuggling. The company’s responsibilities later expanded to include combat operations.

Contractors working for Prince used drones to support the Congolese army’s effort to retake Uvira, an eastern city held by M23 rebels. After Washington helped negotiate an agreement for M23 to leave the strategically important town in early 2026, Vectus personnel were sent there.

The attack was the first known incident in which Vectus Global contractors were killed in Congo, Reuters reported.

The Post has contacted the Pentagon, Van Orden and Vectus Global for comment.

Kennedy served as a Green Beret in Iraq and Afghanistan and fought professionally in Strikeforce and the UFC before retiring with an 18-6 record in 2017.

The father of four later became a bestselling author and hosts a popular YouTube podcast, interviewing UFC fighters, veterans, cultural disruptors and others.

Since news of the ambush broke, the MMA world has rallied around Kennedy.

UFC CEO Dana White said he hadn’t heard the details but hoped Kennedy “heals up and recovers.”

“Jesus Christ. I wish him well,” White said at a UFC press conference last week.

Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva called the ambush “terrible news” as he offered his prayers and support to Kennedy.

“Strength to you and your family. We’re all praying that you get well. God bless,” Silva wrote in an Instagram post.

With Post wires

Hilary Swank is expanding her family once again and is set to become a mother of three.

The two-time Oscar winner, 52, revealed Wednesday that she and her husband, Philip Schneider, are expecting their third child.

Swank announced the pregnancy in a playful Instagram video featuring Schneider and their 3-year-old twins, Aya and Ohm, dancing in the darkness with glow sticks taped to their bodies.

The glowing display also highlighted Swank’s baby bump, including a small outline resembling a baby beneath the lights.

“So many people have been wondering what project I’m taking on next. This one comes out in December,” she wrote in the caption, seemingly teasing the month her baby is due.

ABC News has contacted representatives for Swank seeking further details.

Swank and Schneider, who wed in 2018, welcomed Aya and Ohm in April 2023, when the actress was 48.

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“It was not easy. But, wow, was it worth it,” Swank said on Instagram at the time, sharing a picture of herself cradling the newborn twins.

She first shared news of her twin pregnancy during an October 2022 appearance on “Good Morning America.”

“I’m going to be a mom—and not just to one baby, but to two,” she said then. “I can’t believe it.”

Since becoming a parent, the actress has spoken candidly about entering motherhood later in life and accepting the physical and emotional changes it brings.

“For me, the goal isn’t returning to our pre-baby bodies. It’s moving forward into the bodies and identities we have now,” she told Women’s Health last year.

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Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has introduced a proposal that could lead to the conditional release of as many as half of the people arrested under the country’s state of emergency. More than 90,000 people have been detained during the government’s four-and-a-half-year crackdown on violent street gangs.

Announced Tuesday night, the plan would primarily target prisoners labeled as gang collaborators—a category that may include people accused of serving as lookouts or paying extortion demands.

“Many people have committed crimes, but their offense was collaborating with gangs,” Bukele said. “They should be in prison, but we come from a country where gang collaboration was not unusual. If we arrested everyone who had collaborated with gangs, we would have to detain 20% of the population.”

The president gave few specifics, but said officials would review individual cases to identify prisoners who could be released early under supervision. The measure could ultimately affect up to half of those detained during the emergency period.

The state of emergency began in March 2022, following a surge in violence that claimed more than 60 lives in a single day. Although initially approved for 30 days, the measure has been extended repeatedly.

The crackdown has coincided with a sharp fall in El Salvador’s homicide rate and has helped boost the country’s appeal as a tourist destination. At the same time, it suspended or limited constitutional safeguards, including detainees’ rights to know why they were arrested, consult an attorney and receive visitors.

Bukele has argued that the emergency powers are essential to dismantling the rival criminal organizations MS-13 and Barrio 18.

Human rights advocates have strongly condemned the policy, saying it has enabled mass arbitrary detention. They have repeatedly called on the president to end the state of emergency.

Human rights groups say they have documented more than 6,000 complaints since the emergency began, along with the deaths of at least 575 people while in government custody.

Critics say releasing thousands of detainees would not, by itself, undo the consequences of years spent behind bars.

“Those subjected to arbitrary detention deserve more than their freedom,” exiled Salvadoran attorney Bertha Deleón wrote on X. “They also deserve compensation from the State of El Salvador for the physical and psychological damage caused by imprisonment, as well as family hardship, lost employment or education and harm to their reputations.”

Bukele has rejected criticism from human rights organizations in El Salvador and abroad, arguing that those groups should focus more on the victims of gang violence.

The president also defended continuing the emergency measures, while saying he ultimately wants to bring them to an end.

Government statistics show that El Salvador’s homicide rate has plunged over the past decade, including during Bukele’s presidency. The rate fell from more than 100 murders per 100,000 residents in 2015—four years before he took office—to 1.3 per 100,000 in 2025.

However, officials have adopted a narrower definition of homicide that does not include killings by police, deaths inside prisons or bodies discovered in unmarked graves.

Demand is growing for the so-called ‘anti-Mar-a-Lago’ face.

The beauty trend, positioned as a direct counterpoint to the much-discussed MAGA makeover, centers on what experts describe as ‘anti-obvious plastic surgery.’

Dr Melinda Lacerna Kimbrell, a double board-certified plastic surgeon and owner of LA Plastic Surgery, previously told the Daily Mail that the defining feature of the ‘anti-Mar-a-Lago’ face is that the individual remains recognizable.

‘The goal is for people to notice that he or she looks rested, healthy and refreshed — not to immediately start counting the procedures,’ she said.

She pointed to Emma Stone, Anne Hathaway and Lindsay Lohan as celebrities who ‘all embody the refreshed-but-recognizable look from a purely aesthetic standpoint,’ reflecting a ‘definite pendulum swing’ toward the style in recent months.

Although the understated look has become a major cultural trend in Hollywood, experts say its appeal may extend beyond appearance and material concerns.

Behavioral scientist and social psychologist Jordan Bridger told the Daily Mail that the ‘anti-Mar-a-Lago’ face is ‘less about beauty than about group signaling.’

‘Faces work as quick identity badges. When a particular look becomes associated with a specific group, people who do not want to be seen as part of that crowd may move in the opposite direction, choosing softer, more “undone” styles.

‘Social psychologists call this distinction-seeking: we choose the markers that communicate who we are — and who we are not,’ he said.

In his analysis, Bridger said two factors help make the trend particularly powerful.

‘First, a look that is obviously done reads as effort, and effort reads as trying to be seen, so the natural look becomes the higher-status signal,’ Bridger explained.

‘Second, people trust faces that move and show expression, so a very polished, still face can come across as guarded, while a lived-in face reads as someone with nothing to hide.’

He added: ‘The irony is that “natural” also takes work, so it is still a performance, just a quieter one.’

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Psychiatrist Sam Zand, founder and CEO of Anywhere Clinic, agreed with that assessment.

He said: ‘One way to understand the “anti-Mar-a-Lago face” is as a response to beauty becoming associated with political identity.

‘Once a particular look takes on that meaning, some people may move away from it to express independence or feel more aligned with their own values.’

The expert, who has more than 15 years of experience, noted that every countertrend carries a degree of tension. ‘Rejecting one beauty standard can create another,’ he said.

‘A preference for a more natural appearance can feel freeing, but it can become another pressure if women are expected to prove their authenticity through how they look.’

However, Dr Zand did add a word of caution, adding that there are still others who have made cosmetic decisions based on ‘aesthetic preference’ alone.

‘We should be careful not to read someone’s politics from their superficial connections,’ he explained.

‘Psychologically, appearance can help us express both individuality and belonging: “This feels like me,” and “These are my people.”

‘Those motivations can exist across political groups, even when the resulting styles look very different.’ 

The anti-Mar-a-Lago face seems to be in contention to the MAGA makeover trend that swept Capitol Hill after President Donald Trump took office.

Defined by copious use of Botox, a Miami-bronze tan, puffy lips and silky smooth skin, several high-profile women have seemingly undergone the makeover, including Kristi Noem, Laura Loomer and Kimberly Guilfoyle.

The Daily Mail previously reported that Trump ‘has long expressed admiration for those who look like they are from Hollywood “central casting,”‘ and the hyper-feminine aesthetic, often seen as a status symbol linked to Trump’s circle, reflects that.

And, at the time, Jordan Conrad, a psychologist based in New York, told the Daily Mail that it was driven by Trump’s leading ladies wanting to reinforce classic feminine traits, with traditional gender roles being a strong belief in the MAGA world.

Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff confronted an angry faculty Wednesday as tensions mounted over his administration’s response to a woman’s report that she was gang raped at a fraternity house in 2024.

During a meeting of the university’s Faculty Senate, Kotlikoff admitted that mistakes had been made but defended his record as lawmakers considered a resolution expressing no confidence in his administration.

The meeting was closed to reporters. But in an audio recording obtained by The Associated Press, Kotlikoff urged faculty to give him additional time to carry out reforms and address the culture surrounding student social life.

He argued that the university needs experienced leadership to tackle problems “that are not simplistic, they’re not easy, they can’t be brushed aside with a wave of a hand.”

Removing the president, Kotlikoff said, would not solve the crisis and could damage Cornell’s reputation.

Kotlikoff also suggested that Cornell could impose sweeping limits on Greek life, questioning whether fraternities can operate safely. On Tuesday, he announced a ban on fraternity parties for the remainder of the academic year.

“If, at the end of the day, fraternities cannot exist in a safe environment and we can’t be convinced that they can be safe, then we should make that decision,” he said. He added that Cornell should base its judgment on research and evidence rather than emotion.

After Kotlikoff left the meeting, several faculty members said they no longer trusted the administration to effectively address sexual assault on campus.

“The faculty were extremely angry. They gave him a hard time, I think appropriately so,” said Richard Bensel, a professor of government.

Other members of the Faculty Senate cautioned that rushing into a no-confidence vote would not resolve the deeper issues facing the university.

The debate was expected to resume Oct. 28, with an electronic vote to follow.

Although a faculty no-confidence vote would be largely symbolic, it could deliver a pointed message to Cornell’s trustees, who have ultimate authority over the university’s governance and leadership.

Accuser’s lawsuit has roiled campus

A woman identified as Jane Doe in court documents filed a lawsuit last month accusing seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity of sexually assaulting or exploiting her in October 2024. She also alleged that Cornell mishandled her complaints.

The seven men have denied the allegations. They have said their interactions with the woman were consensual or that they were not involved.

An investigation by Cornell’s police department stalled after the local district attorney quickly concluded that no crime had occurred.

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At the time, Kotlikoff publicly described the allegations as “deeply disturbing,” suspended the fraternity and said both criminal and university investigations were underway.

He later established a presidential task force to review Cornell’s procedures for handling sexual assault reports.

However, in an interview published Tuesday by The New York Times, Kotlikoff said he never checked back to find out what happened to the woman or how the criminal investigation had progressed.

When a faculty member asked whether he had read the Cornell Police Department’s report on the rape allegations, Kotlikoff said he had not. He explained that the investigation was confidential and that university policy bars senior administrators from taking part in criminal investigations.

“I really reject the idea that I had no interest in it or was not concerned about it,” Kotlikoff said.

Kotlikoff denied that he wasn’t aware that students had been expelled or suspended as a result of the university’s Title IX investigation, but acknowledged that, until recently, he didn’t know the woman had dropped out of Cornell.

Faculty describe ‘contentious’ meeting

“The institution is split in significant ways,” said Grant Farred, professor of Africana Studies and English, describing those in the humanities as feeling they had enough information to proceed while those in the sciences wanted more data.

Iris Packman, a research and policy expert at Cornell’s Climate Jobs Institute, said she felt Kotlikoff got “defensive.”

Labor history professor Paul Ortiz, lead sponsor of the no-confidence resolution, said the debate was animated by the perception that the administration wasn’t doing enough to address “a perpetual ongoing crisis.”

Anne Marie Brady, a senior extension associate at Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, said she welcomed Kotlikoff’s recent announcement that state police, rather than campus police, will temporarily handle investigations of sexual assaults, but she questioned the timing, a day before the Senate debate.

Faculty describe ‘contentious’ meeting

“The institution is split in significant ways,” said Grant Farred, professor of Africana Studies and English, describing those in the humanities as feeling they had enough information to proceed while those in the sciences wanted more data.

Iris Packman, a research and policy expert at Cornell’s Climate Jobs Institute, said she felt Kotlikoff got “defensive.”

Labor history professor Paul Ortiz, lead sponsor of the no-confidence resolution, said the debate was animated by the perception that the administration wasn’t doing enough to address “a perpetual ongoing crisis.”

Anne Marie Brady, a senior extension associate at Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, said she welcomed Kotlikoff’s recent announcement that state police, rather than campus police, will temporarily handle investigations of sexual assaults, but she questioned the timing, a day before the Senate debate.

Kim said her efforts to avoid colleagues who had harassed her later became a point of criticism during her tenure review.

In one instance, a professor cited her unwillingness to accept his advice and her avoidance of him when he voted against granting her tenure.

Kotlikoff became the university’s interim president in July 2024 and took the job permanently last year.

He’s faced challenges including a dining and custodial workers strike, ire over his decision last year to pay $60 million to settle Trump administration civil rights investigations, and accusations from activists that his administration stifled campus protests.

An 8-year-old California girl died after suffering a severe asthma attack in a home prosecutors say was contaminated by cockroaches, mold and animal feces. Her mother and stepfather now face felony child neglect charges over the conditions and the alleged delay in getting her medical care.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office said Gabrielle Hanson, 32, and Jacob Randolph, 39, were aware of the hazardous conditions at their San Jose residence. Prosecutors also said medical workers and social services officials had repeatedly warned the couple about the potential danger to their seven children.

Even after those warnings, prosecutors allege Hanson and Randolph waited roughly eight hours to seek help when their daughter, Aurora Williams, began suffering a life-threatening medical crisis in May.

“By then, it was too late,” prosecutors said in a statement announcing the charges.

In February 2025, more than a year before her death, a relative brought Aurora to an emergency room after she developed wheezing, breathing problems and other asthma symptoms, according to the district attorney’s office.

During that visit, a bug reportedly dropped from Aurora’s shoe while another cockroach crawled on her. The girl then told hospital staff, “Oh yeah, bugs just crawl on me.”

Medical personnel also said Aurora smelled of cat urine, looked pale and severely underweight, and complained that she was hungry and had not eaten.

San Jose police officers and firefighters were called to the family’s home on May 13, 2026, after receiving a report of a child experiencing a medical emergency.

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Social workers removed the couple’s six other children, whose ages ranged from 2 months to 17 years, and placed them in protective custody.

Aurora died four days after first responders arrived at the home, prosecutors said.

The medical examiner concluded that severe asthma and an acute lung injury linked to a viral infection caused Aurora to suffer oxygen deprivation in the brain. Medical neglect was listed as a major contributing factor, and her death was classified as a homicide.

According to investigators, Aurora and her siblings had endured what prosecutors described as “squalid and dangerous conditions” since at least 2019.

Detectives also found that Aurora’s asthma equipment had not been properly cared for. Her prescribed inhaler was missing during two separate searches of the residence.

Investigators later located a dirty inhaler spacer without the rubber seal intended to keep medication from escaping. They also found cockroaches inside a respiratory mask.

“Another child is needlessly dead in this county, and once again our prosecutors will use every legal tool available to hold those responsible accountable,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said.

Rosen added that while prosecution is necessary after such a tragedy, it does not resolve the broader concerns. “There are serious questions about how this child and her siblings lived in this dangerous squalor for so long,” he said. “For this lost child and the others, our community deserves honest answers and meaningful change.”

The investigation also led to child sexual abuse charges against Aurora’s maternal uncle, Jonathan Hanson, 44, involving another child in the home.

Prosecutors charged Jonathan Hanson with two counts of molestation and one count of possessing explicit videos of the alleged victim, who was between 11 and 15 years old at the time of the alleged offenses.

Gabrielle Hanson, the alleged victim’s stepmother, was also charged with knowing about the alleged abuse and failing to intervene, prosecutors said.

All three defendants were arraigned Tuesday.

Gabrielle Hanson and Randolph were released under supervised own recognizance over prosecutors’ objections, while Jonathan Hanson was ordered held without bail.

Their next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 20 at the Hall of Justice in San Jose.