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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.
WASHINGTON — In a dazzling display of celebration, President Trump took a triumphant course around the 1.7-mile track of the IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix near the US Capitol on Sunday, marking a high point in the summer events commemorating America’s 250th anniversary.
As he circled the track in the formidable presidential limousine known as “the Beast,” Air Force One majestically soared above, culminating a series of awe-inspiring flyovers that set the stage for the prestigious race.
In an interview with Fox Sports prior to his round, Trump remarked, “They’ve aspired to bring this event here for two decades. It has grown to be, I believe, grander and more spectacular. Despite forecasts of rain throughout the week, we are blessed with stunning weather. I was told it would rain, but I said, ‘No, it won’t,’ and today is one of the finest days in Washington I’ve experienced in quite some time.”
On his arrival, a wave of cheers greeted the president as he met with the drivers and prominent figures from IndyCar. He then settled into “the Beast” for a ceremonial spin, celebrating the inaugural IndyCar race hosted in Washington, D.C.
Additionally, Trump was charged with the honor of waving the green flag to officially start the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.
The 1980s emerged as an iconic era for science fiction, making waves across movies, TV shows, and groundbreaking novels that would leave a lasting impact on the genre. Over this decade, audiences were treated to cinematic masterpieces like “The Empire Strikes Back,” “The Terminator,” and “Aliens,” alongside popular TV series such as “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” Meanwhile, literature enthusiasts delved into thought-provoking works like “Neuromancer” and “Ender’s Game.” The synergy between different media in sci-fi was evident, with many films of the ’80s, both celebrated and criticized, drawing inspiration from novels that fans are encouraged to explore.
Advancements in special effects, coupled with the blockbuster blueprint initiated by “Star Wars” and “Jaws,” sparked a revolution in sci-fi cinema. This period marked the perfect time to adapt stories from the so-called “Golden Age of Sci-Fi,” as legendary authors like Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Philip K. Dick, and Ray Bradbury had their narratives ready for the big screen. Not to be overshadowed, Stephen King’s contribution to the genre spurred numerous adaptations, establishing a unique subgenre of its own.
Let’s revisit some standout sci-fi films from the ’80s that were based on essential literary works, exploring the differences between these adaptations and their original sources.
Blade Runner
Warner Bros.
Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner” stands as perhaps the most renowned and impactful sci-fi adaptation of the ’80s, brought to life from Philip K. Dick’s 1968 novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” While Scott chose a more memorable title, the book remains a pinnacle of Dick’s work, devoid of the cyber-futuristic visuals that the film helped popularize. However, it retains the deep thematic exploration of consciousness, artificial life, and human identity.
The central character, Rick Deckard, portrayed in the film by Harrison Ford, remains consistent between the narrative forms. In the novel, he’s identified simply as a bounty hunter, unlike the more evocative designation of “Blade Runner” used in the movie. Both versions follow Deckard’s mission to track down rogue androids or “replicants” as they’re referred to in the film, all while grappling with an unsettling realization of just how similar he might be to those he’s hunting.
The cyberpunk genre was yet to be conceived in 1968, and Dick’s future Earth is more of a barren wasteland, sparsely populated by dwindling human settlements as the planet’s ecosystem continues to fail and more and more humans leave for extraplanetary colonies. There’s also an increased focus on environmental devastation and the “electric animals” that have been created to take the place of real ones as species continue to die off.
Both versions depict stark visions of the future, our capacity for violence toward one another, and our destruction of the natural world. “Blade Runner” remains a must-watch cyberpunk movie, and if you love it, or if you just love good, classic sci-fi, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” is a must-read as well.
1984
Virgin Films/MGM
Would you believe that someone had the gumption to make a film adaptation of George Orwell’s “1984” in 1984? Well, that someone was writer-director Michael Radford, with a cast led by sci-fi icon John Hurt as Winston and screen legend Richard Burton as O’Brien (in the actor’s final film performance before his death that same year).
The movie is a pretty faithful adaptation, detailing Winston’s life under the oppressive authoritarian government of Oceania, his journey down a path of resistance, and his arrest by the regime’s brutal “Thought Police.” It earned strong reviews and is generally seen as the definitive adaptation, though it’s certainly more interested in getting everything right than it is in doing anything especially bold or new. The tie-in to the actual year was a big part of the marketing for the film, and 35 years after the novel’s 1949 publication, it was arguably even more timely. As discourse around the growing surveillance state, Flock cameras, and digital scrutiny grows, modern viewers will surely still find plenty that’s sobering, relevant, and terrifying in both versions.
“Michael Radford’s brilliant film of Orwell’s vision does a good job of finding that line between the ‘future’ world of 1984 and the grim postwar world in which Orwell wrote,” Roger Ebert wrote in his review. “What is remarkable about the movie is how completely it satisfied my feelings about the book; the movie looks, feels, and almost tastes and smells like Orwell’s bleak and angry vision.”
Alien from L.A.
Cannon Group
They can’t all be bangers, right? While a lot of all-time great movies came out in the ’80s, it was also an era filled with cheap schlock — remnants of a B-movie infrastructure from the previous decades that still had a lot of life in it. Few filmmakers of the decade gained as much notoriety for their efforts on these sorts of low-budget films as “Cyborg” and “Nemesis” director Albert Pyun, who, in 1988, helmed “Alien from L.A.”
The film follows a socially awkward woman named Wanda (Kathy Ireland) who goes on an adventure underground to find her archeologist father and eventually encounters the lost empire of Atlantis. Despite that description, the movie is loosely based on Jules Verne’s seminal science fiction novel “Journey to the Center of the Earth.” The production company, Cannon Films, brought Pyun in to complete work on a different adaptation of the Verne novel after canning the previous director. Pyun agreed on the condition that he also got to make his own version of the story. So Cannon wound up releasing two extremely loose adaptations in two years — “Alien from L.A.” in 1988, and the more directly-titled “Journey to the Center of the Earth” in 1989.
Neither rise above their B-movie essence, with “Alien” even getting panned in an episode of “Mystery Science Theater 3000.” The story in both films, that Atlantis was actually an alien spaceship that sank to the center of the Earth, is entirely untethered from the source material. For sci-fi fans, Verne’s book is still well worth reading — a bit retro in its style, but also thrilling in the way it paints its subterranean world, filled with strange creatures and ancient mysteries that it never fully explains.
The Running Man
TriStar Pictures
There wasn’t a movie star bigger in 1987 than Arnold Schwarzenegger, nor an author more popular than Stephen King. So it only made sense to put the two together. The result was 1987’s “The Running Man,” based on the King novel of the same name — a dystopian sci-fi thriller about a game show to the death where contestants are hunted by professional bounty hunters for the entertainment of the oppressed masses.
The basic premise is the same in both versions, but the ’87 film changes the details up quite a bit. In the novel, lead protagonist Ben Richards enters the eponymous contest to earn money for his daughter, who needs medicine. In the film, Richards is a former cop framed for the massacre of civilians protesting the regime. After he escapes prison, he gets caught again and put on the show for a ratings bump. The nature of the program is also very different: in the book, Richards is hunted through the real world, where normal people can turn him in and try to get the bounty on his head. The film’s game takes place entirely within a cordoned-off and abandoned sector of the old city.
Edgar Wright’s 2025 version of “The Running Man” is far more faithful to the book, but the ’87 version is great for its own reasons. Classic Schwarzenegger action, a surprisingly sophisticated take on media control and the importance of reading, and a fantastic soundstage aesthetic all make “The Running Man” one of the best cyberpunk movies of all time. And yeah, you should read the book too.
Dune
Universal Pictures
Denis Villeneuve has turned “Dune” from the book your sci-fi book friends won’t stop telling you to read into the film franchise your sci-fi movie friends won’t stop telling you to watch. And yes, you should probably do both. That annoying guy who won’t shut up about how Frank Herbert’s novel is one of the most important works of speculative fiction ever is, unfortunately, spot on. But before we had the shiny new Villeneuve “Dune” movies, we had David Lynch’s version.
Lacking the polish of modern effects and somewhat infamous as an adaptation, the 1984 “Dune” is still well worth watching. Every David Lynch movie or TV show is going to feature the director’s strong perspective, a high level of weirdness, and some one-of-a-kind creative choices. All of those things make his “Dune” less comprehensible than Villeneuve’s, but also faithful in a different way to the source material. Herbert’s book is, after all, filled with extremely wacky stuff, and Lynch translates those moments in memorable ways, even as the film itself falls a bit short of its intentions.
Lynch’s “Dune” famously bombed at the box office, and the massive success of the modern films has buried it even deeper. But for those who love Lynch, or the more bizarre elements of the “Dune” novels, it remains a fascinating piece of sci-fi cinematic history.
Your sofa isn’t just a comfy spot for relaxation; it can be a key asset for leg strength after you hit the age of 60.
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Chances are, your couch is already a fixture in your daily routine, making it an unexpectedly practical tool for boosting leg muscles. From sitting and standing to offering support, it provides the perfect setting to enhance leg strength whenever you need that extra boost.
While gym workouts undeniably build strength, they often demand time and dedication that not every day allows. Couch-based exercises, however, bring the effort conveniently home, offering a simple and consistent way to work your thighs, hips, and glutes without the need for a designated workout area.
For individuals over 60, I recommend leveraging the couch for targeted exercises. The seat serves as a stopping point for squats, the armrest aids in balance, and there’s plenty of floor space for glute bridges. It’s crucial to keep movements controlled, starting with manageable ranges of motion, and gradually increase as strength builds.
Consider incorporating these exercises into your routine three to five times a week. Begin with two sets, and as your legs grow stronger, introduce a third round.
Box Squat
The easiest way to make squats feel better is to give your body a clear place to land. A couch box squat does exactly that. You lower with control, touch the seat, and stand back up without guessing how deep to go, while staying in an effective range of motion. Couch box squats help rebuild leg strength in a practical way, especially if free squats make your knees or hips feel unsure.
Muscles Trained: Quads, glutes, hamstrings, core.
How to Do It
Stand in front of your couch with your feet about shoulder-width apart.
Reach your hips back toward the seat.
Bend your knees as you lower with control.
Lightly touch the couch.
Press through your feet to stand tall.
Repeat without fully relaxing onto the seat.
Recommended Sets and Reps: Perform 2 to 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps.
Form Tip: Touch the couch lightly, then stand back up with control.
4 Wall Exercises That Firm Sagging Glutes Faster Than Lunges After 60
Seated Leg Extension
When the front of the thighs needs direct work, seated leg extensions are simple and effective. Sit tall on the couch, straighten one leg, and feel the quad tighten with minimal setup and the added bonus of a comfy seat. Strong quads help support the knee during standing, walking, and stepping, making a simple move even more effective. Move slowly and pause at the top so the rep doesn’t turn into a quick kick.
Muscles Trained: Quads, hip flexors, core.
How to Do It
Sit near the front edge of the couch.
Place both feet flat on the floor.
Sit tall and brace your core lightly.
Straighten one knee until your leg extends in front of you.
Pause briefly.
Lower your foot with control and switch sides.
Recommended Sets and Reps: Perform 2 to 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps per side.
Best Variations: Smaller-range leg extension, paused leg extension, banded seated leg extension.
Form Tip: Lift and lower slowly so your quad stays engaged through the whole rep.
A reverse lunge becomes much more approachable with the couch for support. Rest one hand on the armrest or back of the couch, step behind you, and let the front leg handle most of the work. This move is useful because each side has to build strength on its own. Keep the step short at first, especially if balance tends to steal attention from the leg work.
Stand beside the couch with one hand resting lightly on it.
Stand tall with your feet under your hips.
Step one foot back.
Bend both knees to a comfortable depth.
Press through your front foot to return to standing.
Complete your reps, then switch sides.
Recommended Sets and Reps: Perform 2 to 3 sets of 6 to 10 reps per side.
Best Variations: Step-back tap, smaller-range reverse lunge, supported split squat.
Form Tip: Use the couch for balance while your front leg does the work.
5 Morning Exercises Women Over 60 Need to Keep Muscle From Disappearing
Glute Bridge
Finish with the hips. Glute bridges train the muscles that help your legs feel stronger when you stand, walk, and climb stairs. They also give your knees a break from bending while still adding valuable lower-body work. Pause at the top of each rep and make the glutes finish the movement before you lower back down.
Muscles Trained: Glutes, hamstrings, core.
How to Do It
Lie on your back on the couch for extra comfort.
Bend your knees and place your feet flat on the couch.
Rest your arms by your sides.
Press through your feet and lift your hips.
Pause briefly at the top.
Lower your hips with control and repeat.
Recommended Sets and Reps: Perform 2 to 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.
Form Tip: Squeeze your glutes at the top without arching your lower back.
5 Standing Exercises That Shrink Belly Pooch Faster Than Resistance Bands After 50
How to Keep Building Leg Strength at Home
Shutterstock
Restoring leg strength works best when the routine feels easy to repeat and, most of all, accessible. Use the couch as your anchor, keeping the first round smooth, and letting your legs warm up before adding more reps. A few clean sets several days a week can help your lower body feel stronger without a long workout or a trip to the gym. Pay attention to how you stand from the couch during the rest of the day too. Every controlled stand is another chance to practice the same strength you’re building here.
Use a firm couch when possible: A soft seat can make squats harder to control, so choose the most stable spot you have.
Keep support close: The armrest or back of the couch can help you stay balanced during lunges.
Slow down the lowering phase: Controlled lowering builds strength and keeps the reps from feeling rushed.
Train both legs evenly: Give the weaker or less steady side the same attention, even if the range needs to be smaller.
Add walking to your day: Short walks help your legs stay active between strength sessions.
Progress gradually: Add a few reps, another round, or light weights once the bodyweight version feels solid.
References
Frith, Emily, and Paul D Loprinzi. “The Association between Lower Extremity Muscular Strength and Cognitive Function in a National Sample of Older Adults.” Journal of lifestyle medicine vol. 8,2 (2018): 99-104. doi:10.15280/jlm.2018.8.2.99
Zoila, Federico et al. “Enhancing active aging through exercise: a comparative study of high-intensity interval training and continuous aerobic training benefits.” Frontiers in aging vol. 6 1493827. 2 Jun. 2025, doi:10.3389/fragi.2025.1493827
Experts, advocates, and community leaders are urging for enhanced social unity and robust measures against antisemitism, emphasizing to an inquiry the critical need to “break the cycle.”
This week, during a four-day series of hearings, Commissioner Virginia Bell was presented with growing concerns about diminishing satisfaction with democratic systems, the polarizing impact of social media, rising racism, instances of self-censorship, and weakened ties between religious and cultural communities.
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion also received suggestions aimed at strengthening educational efforts about Jewish Australians, improving the acknowledgment of migrants’ professional qualifications, and implementing more effective strategies to combat prejudice.
However, these hearings also raised challenging questions regarding the true meaning of social cohesion and how Australia might address discrimination issues without stifling open dialogue.
Initiated in response to the Bondi terror attack in December 2025, the royal commission has entered its ninth and concluding phase of hearings, with the final report anticipated this December.
Here are the key takeaways from the week.
Questions about democracy
Professors Nicholas Biddle and Matthew Gray, both from the Australian National University, fronted the royal commission on Monday, speaking to reporters about democratic attitudes in Australia and responses about declining satisfaction with democracy.
Their June report found that satisfaction with democracy fell to its lowest level since January 2023, while principled support for democracy increased. Professor Gray said multiple factors could be at play, including social media undermining support for democracy.
“We conclude that efforts to counter antisemitism will be limited unless they also address the platforms through which distrust, polarisation and extremist narratives circulate,” Gray told the commission.
He argued targeted interventions, particularly for young Australians with low educational attainment and low levels of principled democratic support, would be more effective than universal attempts to counter antisemitism.
“Because trust in core institutions is closely associated with democratic commitment, consideration should be given to how government agencies, education systems and public communications practices could be made more transparent, accountable and credible, particularly in communities experiencing disadvantage,” Gray said.
Ahmed Hegazi, a strategic adviser, and his friend Joel Lazar, the chief executive of the Jewish Climate Network, also expressed concern about polarisation and emphasised the importance of cross-cultural communication.
“Humans who know their neighbours don’t feel they are threats and they don’t fear them, they feel connected to them,” Hegazi said. “We need to break the cycle.”
“There’s basically no alternative to trying new things even if they’re hard … as fathers of young children, we know important things are always hard,” Lazar said.
Skills recognition proposed to ease tensions
Australian businessman, David Gonski told the inquiry his 24-member Antisemitism Education Taskforce was considering a proposal to improve recognition of migrants’ skills and address community tensions.
Many skilled migrants were underemployed because their previous qualifications were not recognised.
“This, (a member) put to us, creates some tension and concern both within them and the people that they live with, and so on,” he said on Tuesday.
“He felt that we could find a twofold solution: a solution that allowed us to have more skilled workers, and … that would take away some of the aggravation that comes for these people.”
Gonski said “there was merit” in considering the proposal but the task force had not reached a final decision. He stressed he was not suggesting further migration, but broader permissions for migrants to practice in their fields.
Gonski was appointed to lead the antisemitism education task force in December 2025 and previously filed the Gonski report on Australian education funding.
He also recommended broader education about Jewish contributions to Australia.
“We are hopeful that (the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority) will now look more broadly at not just Holocaust studies, but also more generally the contribution of the Jews and indeed the Jewish faith,” he said.
“There’s a lot of contribution by Jews to Australia, to the history of Australia.”
Orthodox Rabbi Zalman Kastel suggested educators address specific prejudices in youth’s education.
“Telling people a general message of don’t be racist, doesn’t cut it,” he said.
Monash University lecturers Farid Zaid and Daniel Heller said students and staff had become afraid to address difficult topics, with many students struggling to hear different views.
“We both saw conversations in the classroom play out along really rigid lines,” Zaid said.
“I was deeply surprised by my students’ inability to distinguish discomfort in the classroom … and distressed.”
Most students and academics adopted self-censorship for fear of social media censure or official complaints. Others were inclined to, in Said and Heller’s terms, “perform certainty”; project a sense of virtue over others.
“We know what’s virtuous, what’s moral, what’s right; and anyone who disagrees is, in one way or another, morally reprehensible,” Heller said.
The pair run Brave Conversations Project workshops teaching students and teachers how to stay in the room when discussions become difficult.
Terror attacks deepen Jewish-Muslim division
Faith Communities Council of Victoria’s Sandy Kouroupidis said interaction between Jewish and Muslim communities had stopped altogether following the Bondi massacre on 14 December 2025, and the attack on Israel by Hamas militants on 7 October 2023.
“We have two vice chairs; one of them is the chair of the Islamic Council of Victoria and the other one is the chair of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria,” he said.
“It has been very, very challenging to get those two communities in the same room.”
Jewish people had stopped attending interfaith events, while schools stopped visiting Muslim and Christian institutes.
“A lot of the Jewish schools simply don’t feel safe,” he said.
Social cohesion must not hide racism
Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman warned that social cohesion can camouflage racial discrimination.
“Stop talking about racism because you’re disrupting the social cohesion,” Sivaraman said he was told by a senior government official.
He said social cohesion policies could resemble those used to justify racial assimilation and cause distrust.
“If it’s obscuring, then it’s not actually solving the systemic or structural problem that you need to fix,” he told the inquiry.
“If your experience of policies or laws or programs under the term social cohesion are ones where you’re excluded … or you have to assimilate … you won’t trust the institutions you’re engaging with.”
Sivaraman also said reports of antisemitism, particularly in workplaces, had risen sharply since the October 7 attacks on Israel.
“Workplaces ended up being a really consistent theme that came up as an area where people felt disadvantaged,” Sivaraman said.
“(They felt) they couldn’t express their identity, felt they were in danger of losing their job, felt the inquiry also heard conflicting views over where legitimate criticism of Zionism ends and antisemitism begins.”
Separately,Rita Jabri Markwell, principal policy adviser to the Australian Muslim Advocacy Network, argued Zionism should be treated as a political ideology rather than a protected characteristic.
“It’s not a race or religion,” she said.
Jewish witnesses had described Zionism as inseparable from their religious and cultural identity. Markwell argued courts had increasingly taken her view and warned that treating Zionism as protected risked excluding Jewish Australians who rejected the ideology.
“The mere fact that there is a portion of Jewish people who do not accept that it is central to their identity indicates that it is an ideology,” she said.
On Sunday, Donald Trump was in the spotlight as he participated in the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, an IndyCar event that owes its existence to his vision.
First Lady Melania was at his side as they joined the celebrations in Washington, DC, which featured a series of ceremonial sports events marking America’s 250th birthday.
The NTT IndyCar Series brought its high-speed action to the capital’s streets, transforming the Freedom 250 Grand Prix into a one-of-a-kind event looping around Pennsylvania Avenue and weaving through Washington’s iconic national landmarks.
Racers navigated a 1.7-mile circuit that passed by some of Washington’s most celebrated sites, including the National Mall, the Washington Monument, and the US Capitol Building.
President Trump, the mastermind behind the Freedom 250 Grand Prix through an executive order as part of the country’s anniversary festivities, was slated to personally hit the track.
Arriving at the start line in a limousine, Trump greeted the lineup of drivers, their wives and girlfriends, IndyCar staff members and Roger Penske, who waited on the pit road.
Donald Trump took center stage as he attended the Freedom 250 Grand Prix on Sunday
The President was joined by First Lady Melania as they arrived at the historic race track
The NTT IndyCar Series took to the streets of DC for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix
The President’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., and his wife Bettina were also seen arriving for the 147-lap event, headlining the host of MAGA stars in attendance.
Trump was then granted the honor of performing a ceremonial lap in his armored limousine known as ‘The Beast’ and wave the green flag to launch Sunday’s race.
‘The track is wonderful,’ Trump gushed to Fox Sports in a pre-race interview. We’re going around the Capitol. This turned out to be a better track, and so now we see the Capitol. You see it right behind you. I want everyone to be safe, and I want the people to have a good time.’
He had a prime seat to watch the spectacle as open-wheel cars race in the shadow of iconic landmarks at speeds up to 185 mph.
The pre-race celebrations were opened with a flyover by the US Army Chinooks, Black Hawks and Apache helicopters.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA said: ‘The Freedom 250 INDYCAR race pairs 250 years of American achievement with a sport that embodies speed, ingenuity and the freedom of the open road.
‘This is a landmark event, and it is an honour for the FIA to be a part of it. Congratulations to President Trump, the U.S. Government, INDYCAR, our Member Club ACCUS, and all involved on making this vision a reality.’
The Trump administration previously hosted a showcase event outside the White House in July to promote the race, which featured drivers Alex Palou, Felix Rosenqvist and David Malukas, alongside a live pit stop demonstration in front of the West Wing.
Trump was granted the honor of performing a ceremonial lap in his armored limousine
Trump gestures to Roger Penske, chairperson of the Penske Corporation and owner of IndyCar
Trump was accompanied by an entourage of security vehicles as he performed his lap
Back in January, Trump held an event in the Oval Office alongside Roger Penske, a racing great who chairs the Penske Corporation, and signed an executive order to get the race in place.
‘Roger Penske told me they’ve been trying to do it for 20 years,’ Trump told Fox Sports. ‘I think he said he was down 211 times to try and get it done. And when he came to see Trump, it got done in about 15 minutes.
‘It’s turned out to be much bigger than we ever even thought possible. They actually closed the bridges because so many people wanted to come – I think 350,000 – and they close the bridges. So it’s turned out to be I think bigger and better.’
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who was in the Oval alongside his Fox News host wife Rachel Campos-Duffy, said the president had tasked him to ‘think outside the box’ and do something ‘historic and cool.’
Duffy didn’t realize that Penske’s company was already trying to get Washington, DC to host a race, which is now being dubbed the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.
The President’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., was seen arriving for the historic event
The pre-race celebrations were opened with a flyover by the US Army Chinooks, Black Hawks and Apache helicopters
US Army’s ‘Pershing Own’ Band performs on the track ahead of the race
‘But to think, 190 miles per hour down Pennsylvania Avenue, this is going to be wild,’ Duffy said.
The Transportation Secretary noted how the last race hosted in the streets of Washington was in 1801, when President Thomas Jefferson hosted a horse race.
‘And they’re going to put up something that’s really amazing,’ Trump gushed. ‘It’s really having to do with our great 250th birthday. We’re having so many wonderful things.’
It’s not the first time Trump has put himself front and center at sporting events to celebrate the United States’ semiquincentennial.
The UFC took over the South Lawn on June 14 for an astonishing event that saw Trump perform his own walkout from the Oval Office before taking his seat cageside.
He also attended the final day of the Patriot Games, the high school athletic competition that he created as part of the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations, in Geneva, Ohio.
The event brought together 120 teen athletes from ages 14 to 17 with one male and one female athlete representing each US state, plus participants from territories and tribal nations with $250,000 in scholarship money on the line.
Trump in his second term has increasingly seemed to focus on relishing the presidency’s ceremonial aspects.
That’s included a healthy dose of visits to sporting events – including an appearance last month at the World Cup final, where he presented the trophy to winner Spain and lingered onstage with the team as its members jumped in a hail of confetti.
The murder trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis has brought renewed attention to the final words of hip hop icon Tupac Shakur.
On August 17, retired officer Garry Dale from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department testified, sharing details of the rapper’s last moments after the infamous 1996 drive-by shooting on the Las Vegas Strip. Marion “Suge” Knight, who was driving, also sustained injuries but survived, adding to the gravity of the event.
Dale recounted pulling over their vehicle just minutes before the shots were fired due to an obscured rear license plate, based on his testimony shared by USA Today. After issuing a warning, he allowed them to continue.
Soon after, the 25-year-old Tupac found himself in an ambulance, critically wounded, with Officer Dale accompanying him in what would become the rapper’s final journey.
“I was attempting to communicate with him to ascertain what had transpired and identify the shooters,” Dale stated according to the report. “Despite his condition, he was responsive, and I urged him to reveal the names of those responsible for the attack.”
Shakur didn’t give any details and instead repeated “we’ll take care of it,” according to the testimony.
Dale added, “I couldn’t get him to talk to me any further than that.”
After arriving at the hospital, Shakur—who was signed to Knight’s Death Row Records, which, at the time was associated with the Bloods gang—was heavily sedated, placed on life support machines and put into a medically-induced coma before he died six days later, according to Fox 5.
Duane “Keffe D” Davis Admitted to Providing the Gun in Tupac Shakur Murder in2008 Police Interview
Davis—who was the leader of the rivaling South Side Crips—is on trial for murder. Prosecutors say he ordered the shooting after Shakur and Knight beat up his nephew Orlando Anderson earlier that night.
On Aug. 20, jurors heard Davis, who has pled not guilty, describe the killing in a 2008 interview with Los Angeles detectives. He described handing the weapon to Anderson, who allegedly fired the fatal shots from the car’s backseat, after spotting Knight and Shakur driving on the strip.
“If we would have been on my side,” Davis said in the recording, per NPR, “I would have blasted.”
Davis told detectives in the recording he had been out looking for Shakur and Knight with Anderson, Deandre “Big Dre” Smith and Terrence Brown, who was driving the vehicle, when he overhead fans shouting Shakur’s name, CNN reported. The car did a U-turn and pulled up alongside Knight’s car. Davis said in the recording that he passed the weapon to Smith in the backseat, who then handed it to Anderson.
He explained in the audio, according to KPIC, “He leaned over on the window, he rolled down the window, pop.”
Davis described his alleged role in the killing, per CNN, as part of a proffer agreement on drug charges against him and was told at the time that nothing he said in the interview could be used against him.
However, when he later wrote about the shooting in his 2019 memoir Compton Street Legend, prosecutors said it negated the deal he had with authorities and the judge ruled the recording would be admissible, according to CNN.
In his opening statements, Davis’ defense attorney called his accounts of the shooting in both the police interview and memoir “bulls–t.”
Tupac Shakur’s Autopsy Results Revealed
Jurors also heard from Clark County Medical Examiner Dr. Lisa Gavin, who testified Aug. 18 that Shakur was killed by a bullet that entered his right armpit. The bullet went through his lung and lodged into his chest, causing his lung to collapse, according to USA Today.
The “California Love” singer was also struck in the right thigh by a bullet that traveled into his stomach, causing damage to his intestines.
If convicted, Davis could be facing life in prison.
A standout Alabama high school football team recently shattered a national record, but not one they were proud of until now. Saturday evening marked a triumphant end to their challenging streak as they secured their first win since 2015.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — After years of perseverance, a high school football team in Alabama celebrated a momentous victory Saturday night, concluding the nation’s longest losing streak with a decisive 41-14 scoreline. This marks their first triumph on the field since October 16, 2015, ending a staggering 101-game losing streak.
The Columbia High School Eagles’ spectacular win at Milton Frank Stadium has created ripples far beyond the borders of Huntsville.
In recent years, the team caught the eyes of the nation and became the centerpiece of a compelling documentary series.
As the game unfolded, anticipation swelled that a long-awaited celebration was imminent. Initially trailing by two scores, the Columbia Eagles surged ahead, seizing a 20-14 lead by halftime. From there, they powered through, amassing 21 additional points to seal their victory emphatically.
When the clock zeroed out and the first win in more than a decade was confirmed, running back Christian Richey couldn’t believe what had happened.
“It didn’t feel real. It’s like all the hard work paid off,” he said.
October 2015 was a whole different era. Many of the players on the field today were in kindergarten then, if they were even in school at all. It’s a bit of an understatement to say Saturday’s win was a long time coming.
The historic moment happened at the start of the second season under head coach Sammie Coates, who took over the program in January 2025.
“Everything they’ve done, they deserve every moment of this,” Coates said while students rushed onto the field to celebrate.
Coates, an Alabama native, starred at wide receiver for Auburn University from 2011 to 2014, helping lead the Tigers to the 2013 SEC Championship and a berth in the 2014 BCS National Championship game. He earned All-SEC honors and finished his career among Auburn’s top 10 all-time in receiving yards.
The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Coates in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He went on to play for the Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, and Kansas City Chiefs, along with stints in the XFL and CFL, before moving into coaching at Jensen Beach High School in Florida, Ohio Northern University, and most recently the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, where he served as wide receivers/returners coach and community service coordinator.
Coates said he didn’t care about any outside noise. He’s looking to continue earning wins for the rest of the season.
“It’s over with. We got all of that noise out the way. Now, it’s time to focus on what we came here to do this year: That’s win multiple games,” he said.
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A day that began with hopes of a successful fishing trip ended in a sorrowful turn on Sunday, after a fisherman suffered a fatal medical crisis while out on the tranquil waters of Lake Woodruff.
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office reported an urgent call to action following a distressing 911 alert early that day. The call set off a rapid response as deputies hurried to the scene.
In an immediate effort to deliver aid, the sheriff’s office dispatched Air One. Meanwhile, a VSO dispatcher remained on the line to guide the caller through CPR procedures, offering a lifeline of instructions in those critical moments.
Upon locating the distressed vessel, Flight Paramedic Matt Brunelle did not hesitate to plunge into the lake, determined to reach the scene as swiftly as possible to provide vital first aid.
Alongside this heroic effort, a good Samaritan emerged onshore, ready to assist. This individual joined forces with other first responders, facilitated by Air One, ensuring they reached the boat to support the ongoing rescue efforts.
Inset: Shyanniah Ma’Ree Johnson. Background: The Chick-fil-A location in Cherokee County, Georgia, where Johnson reportedly stabbed her mother multiple times while two children looked on (WAGA).
A young woman from Wisconsin, aged 21, is accused of violently attacking her mother, stabbing her at least ten times as they sat in a vehicle parked at a Georgia Chick-fil-A, with two children witnessing the horrifying scene.
Shyanniah Ma’Ree Johnson faces serious charges, including aggravated assault and two counts of child cruelty, according to jail records.
Police reports suggest that the incident erupted after an argument between Johnson and her 39-year-old mother escalated into physical violence outside a Chick-fil-A on Highway 92, near I-75 in Cherokee County.
Authorities disclosed that both Johnson and the victim sustained injuries during the confrontation.
“The mother ran inside the Chick-fil-A. Acworth police officers were inside the restaurant and assisted until an ambulance arrived and transported her to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital,” the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said.
One of the police officers inside the restaurant spoke with local Fox affiliate WAGA. She and another officer happened to be eating lunch at the time.
“We turn around and see a woman covered from head to toe in blood,” Acworth police officer Makayla Grimes told the TV station. “She told us she had been stabbed by her daughter. She was petrified, you could see it in her eyes.”
Grimes said she used a tourniquet to stop the bleeding from the victim’s wrist.
“I knew that the seconds mattered in that moment to stop the bleeding or she was going to die,” she said.
Johnson allegedly fled the scene with two kids in the car. Cops with Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol and Dalton Police Department tracked Johnson’s vehicle about 70 miles away in Dalton and pulled her over.
She had a stab wound to the leg and was taken to a hospital for treatment. She’s since been released from the hospital and is now in the Cherokee County Jail on a $3,000 bond. Her next court date is not listed.
The victim also was treated and released from the hospital.
“I’m just glad we were there, it was God’s timing for sure, right place right time for two off duty officers to just be having lunch,” Grimes said. “Just happy we were able to help her.”
The Division of Family and Children Services took custody of the kids, who were not physically hurt.
The post Mom ran into Chick-fil-A ‘covered from head to toe in blood’ after daughter stabbed her at least 10 times in front of 2 kids inside car: Cops first appeared on Law & Crime.
WASHINGTON — In a significant development, Iran’s president and its parliamentary speaker are vocally advocating for the conclusion of the ongoing conflict with the United States. This comes as they navigate through challenges posed by hardline factions favoring continued resistance.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed concern over the escalating economic strain on Tehran, highlighting that it is beginning to take a serious toll on the country. However, he also issued a warning about the repercussions of a retreat that could be perceived as shamefully yielding “before the enemy.”
In a statement delivered on Friday, as reported by state media, Pezeshkian emphasized, “This war must eventually find its conclusion.” He asserted, “It is more advantageous for us to display our power and dignity now, declaring to the world that we have emerged victorious and are thereby concluding this war.”
The collapse of a previous memorandum of understanding has led President Trump to sustain a blockade on Iran, effectively choking the nation’s key revenue stream—its oil exports.
Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to introduce what President Trump has termed “economic D-Day” actions against Tehran this week. The existing economic sanctions have already precipitated rising inflation, a worsening cost-of-living crisis, and further complications within Iran.
While it’s not entirely clear what those punitive measures will entail, Bessent has seemingly hinted that there will be secondary sanctions on countries that do business with Iran.
“I was in the presence of the Supreme Leader, and in his speeches as well, he openly stated that we must move beyond this state of ‘neither war nor peace,’” Pezeshkian claimed, per a translation referring to Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who hasn’t been seen publicly since the war in Iran began.
“We are not going to humiliatingly back down before the enemy or bow our heads. We can sit down with strength, but also with logic, and resolve our problems. This is possible, and we are also working to make it happen.”
Ironically, Khamenei recently elevated hardliners in Iran who lean towards resuming war over officials who favor trying to cut another deal with the US.
But similar to Pezeshkian, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf underscored the national security risks Iran faces if the theocratic regime continues to deal with a full-blown economic crisis.
“No matter how much military power we have, if our people are struggling and the country lacks financial circulation and economic growth, we will not achieve progress,” he said, per Iranian state media. “As someone who has experienced war, [I] understand the true value of peace.”
Throughout the prior negotiations with Iran, top Trump administration officials complained that they were getting conflicting responses from Iran. The MOU, which Trump signed in June, collapsed after Iran launched several attacks on vessels traversing the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has long made clear that his primary goal is to ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon. But he also wants the Strait of Hormuz to be fully reopened.
Already, the administration has claimed it is securing between 8 million and 9 million barrels of oil through the critical waterway daily. Before the war began, it was roughly 20 million barrels of oil a day.
“They would love to make a deal, but they’re not ready to make the right deal,” the president told reporters on Friday.
