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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.
Tommy John, renowned for his impressive 288 victories over a 26-year Major League Baseball career and as the namesake for the revolutionary elbow surgery, has passed away at 83.
His passing occurred on Saturday night at his residence in Bradenton, Florida, as confirmed by his agent, Mike Maguire, on Sunday. John had been under hospice care.
On August 8, the New York Yankees shared a heartfelt social media message from John. In it, he expressed his farewells to his fans and friends, reflecting on their unwavering support during his career, saying, ‘I will never forget you.’
The Yankees reminisced about John as a ‘pillar of strength in our rotation’ during his tenure with them, highlighting his enduring popularity among fans.
John’s illustrious career, spanning from 1963 to 1989, earned him four All-Star titles. He compiled a record of 288-231 with a 3.34 ERA, playing for teams including Cleveland, the Chicago White Sox, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Yankees, the California Angels, and the Oakland Athletics.
‘Tommy was an exceptional pitcher throughout his career in Major League Baseball, and his courageous role in becoming the first to have surgery that would go on to bear his name can´t be overstated,’ Stan Kasten, Dodgers president and CEO, said in a statement. ‘His impact both on and off the field has been felt by ballplayers of all ages and will be for generations to come.’
Baseball legend Tommy John has died at the age of 83
The left-hander was 31 years old when he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow in 1974, a death knell for pitchers’ careers to that point.
John allowed Dr. Frank Jobe, the Dodgers´ team physician, to replace the ligament with a tendon from his right forearm. Jobe gave the surgery 100-to-1 odds of being successful.
The procedure had been done on others before, although it was usually performed on wrists and hands. John was the first pitcher to have it done on his elbow.
More than 2,600 big leaguers and thousands more amateurs have since had UCL reconstructions, better known as Tommy John surgery. It´s been a godsend for many of baseball´s greatest stars, including two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani, three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander and even Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper.
‘If you put it in dollars and cents, I think there´s no question that Tommy John is the most valuable reconstructive procedure there is,’ Dodgers team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache told The Associated Press in 2024.
John recorded 2,245 strikeouts but never led either league in wins or strikeouts. He had the second-most wins of any pitcher since 1900 not to be elected to the Hall of Fame.
From 1995 through 2009, John was on the Hall of Fame ballot, but he never received more than 31.7 per cent of the votes, falling well short of the 75 per cent required for election.
Known for his longevity, John was the opening day starter for both the 1966 Chicago White Sox and the 1989 New York Yankees. He won 124 games before his UCL repair and 164 after. His final appearance came days after his 46th birthday.
John won 288 games for the Indians, White Sox, Dodgers, Angels, Athletics and Yankees
John pictured with his wife, Sally; daughter, Tami; and son, Tommy Jr. back in 1984
After his pitching career ended, John worked as a broadcaster for the Minnesota Twins and Yankees in the 1990s. He managed the Bridgeport Bluefish from 2007-09.
John was hospitalized in December 2020 because of COVID-19 and later had Guillain-Barré syndrome, in which a person´s immune system attacks their nerves.
John told the New York Post in May 2022 that he was paralyzed in his lower extremities for several months.
John and his wife Sally Simmons had four children: Tamara, Tommy III, Travis and Taylor, who died of a prescription drug overdose at 28 in 2010. The couple divorced in 2013.
Besides his children, he is survived by his second wife, Cheryl, and son-in-law Patrick Mannelly, a retired NFL long snapper who played 16 years for the Chicago Bears.
In the heart of a high-stakes political battlefield, tensions are escalating among Silicon Valley’s elite as Sergey Brin’s ambitious $100 million strategy to quash California’s proposed billionaire tax faces internal discord. Among the disenchanted voices is former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who reportedly believes the effort has strayed off course, according to insights unveiled by the California Post.
Schmidt, who contributed $3 million to Brin’s initiative, familiarly known as Building a Better California, is said to be particularly incensed following the endorsement of the wealth tax by the state Democratic Party, which also dealt a blow to two countermeasures heavily funded by the coalition.
“Eric has every reason to be upset,” one insider with close ties to the situation confided in The Post.
The frustrations don’t stop there. A growing chorus of donors and advisors, having invested substantial amounts including a staggering $10 million from venture capitalist John Doerr and $7.5 million from Michael Moritz, are increasingly concerned. They argue that the organization’s ambitious pivot to support six diverse state ballot initiatives signifies a detour from its primary agenda to block the potentially damaging billionaire tax.
Initially, Building a Better California was laser-focused on defeating a tax measure perceived to pose a severe economic threat by chasing wealth out of the Golden State. However, apprehension arises that its latest ventures into areas like environmental legislation might compromise the overarching objective.
“Once you do that, you’re in a place where you may not be as effective,” one adviser to a Building a Better California donor told The Post, warning about “splintering” the mission.
Schmidt’s frustration only intensified after the bruising defeat two weeks ago at the California Democratic Party’s executive board meeting in San Diego.
The party not only voted to endorse Proposition 40 — the union-backed measure that would impose a one-time 5% tax on the wealth of Californians worth more than $1 billion — but also opposed Propositions 41 and 42, two measures backed by the Brin-funded operation as counterweights to the tax.
Courtni Pugh, a partner at Hilltop Public Solutions and former director for the Service Employees International Union, had been tasked with lobbying Democrats to remain neutral on the billionaire tax while also whipping support for Props. 41 and 42, according to sources.
Instead, the billionaire coalition walked away 0-for-3, as the billionaire tax narrowly cleared the 60% threshold required for the party endorsement.
Hilltop, which is also working on the gubernatorial campaign of Democratic frontrunner Xavier Becerra, has received $75,000 from the pro-Prop. 42 committee. Becerra and Gov. Gavin Newsom, who also has worked closely with Hilltop on ballot measures, both oppose the billionaire tax.
Pugh did not respond to requests for comment.
Building a Better California raised $118 million through June, with Brin accounting for $82 million of it at the time. He has since thrown down another $20 million to bring his pot commitment to $102 million.
On July 24, the $20 million was split evenly between committees for Props. 41 and 42, giving them a lifeline after both ballot measure committees exhausted nearly $50 million apiece to collect petition signatures and qualify for the November ballot.
The group’s widening ambitions, however, are creating some strange bedfellows — and even putting its donors in uncomfortable positions.
Building a Better California has contributed $10 million to Proposition 45, which would significantly streamline environmental reviews under California’s landmark CEQA law for housing, transportation, water, energy and other projects.
The measure has been pitched by supporters as a way to lower housing and infrastructure costs by cutting red tape.
But Schmidt’s wife, environmental philanthropist Wendy Schmidt, is helping lead the campaign against Prop. 45 with actress Jane Fonda, believing it would gut environmental safeguards.
Along with past and future spending expected on Props. 40, 41, 42 and 45, Building a Better California has sent $6 million to Prop. 37, $1 million to Prop. 1 and millions more to another proposed constitutional tax-and-spending measure.
Other billionaire tax opponents are growing concerned by the group’s tactics.
“This is about not only what are you against,” the source said, “but what are you for?”
Despite some internal disagreement on priorities, more money is expected to flow toward the state propositions in the coming days and weeks.
The New York Times reported that Brin’s group has reserved nearly $87 million of advertising time across the state to air TV commercials.
A source with knowledge of the situation told The Post that the money is being allocated now to save on ad buys before they become more expensive closer to November’s election.
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In the heart of the Daintree Rainforest in Far North Queensland, Tamara Scenna absorbs the serenity of her surroundings, standing beneath the lush greenery that reaches for the sky.
Sunlight streams through the dense foliage of ferns and fan palms, casting a dappled glow along a nearby gentle stream where she takes a moment to pause.
The song of birds echoes around her, creating a serene symphony unique to one of the planet’s most ancient rainforests.
Here, amidst nature’s splendor, is the ideal environment for “forest bathing,” an age-old Japanese practice of becoming one with the natural world.
“It’s about experiencing the forest with fresh eyes, and giving yourself the permission to slow down, pause, and simply exist,” Scenna explains to SBS News.
“It took a while to slow down and really have a city adrenaline stop, but after a couple of months we sort of went, ‘actually we don’t want to go to the city anymore’.
“We’d rather spend the time out in nature.”
But behind the tranquillity lies a challenge shared by many of the Daintree’s roughly 700 residents. Living beyond the electricity grid means finding ways to balance life in this remote rainforest with the realities of modern living.
Living beyond the grid
In 2021, Scenna and her family swapped life in Sydney for the quiet of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest.
Hoping to escape the pace of city life, her family spent a year travelling around Australia before deciding they were ready for a change.
The journey led the couple to settle in the rainforest, with Scenna leaving her public sector job to run a caravan park and restaurant with her husband, Bruno.
But the dream of living among the ancient trees comes with practical challenges. Like many residents in the region, the couple must find their own solutions for powering their home and business.
While the Scennas have a hybrid energy system that includes solar, relying on diesel generators remains a necessity.
They paid about $300,000 for the solar that powers around a third of their business.
Bruno says installing enough solar panels to power their entire operation would be expensive and require clearing more rainforest for additional infrastructure.
We are basically burning diesel rather than having a renewable microgrid; it makes no sense whatsoever.
“From an environmental perspective, why would you do that when you can have renewable energy? I fundamentally don’t understand,” he tells SBS News.
In 2022, a solar-based microgrid project received a funding commitment of $18.75 million from the then Coalition federal government, with funding to start in 2025.
The proposed project included an 8-megawatt solar farm, a 20-megawatt-hour battery storage system, and a 1-megawatt hydrogen plant. However, the current Labor government withdrew the funding in 2024, leaving the project without the grant needed to proceed.
In the lush landscape of Cape Tribulation, nestled among rolling mountains and dense forest, Lawrence Mason runs a café and fruit orchard in Douglas Shire.
To keep his business running, he burns about 700 litres of diesel every week — a cost that has grown as fuel prices surpassed $3 a litre earlier this year.
For Mason, the rising cost of generating electricity has affected the future of his business in the rainforest.
I don’t want to leave this place, it’s my home.
“But there does come a time in everyone’s life and I think it doesn’t matter where you live, where you have to make practical decisions for your future,” he tells SBS News.
His grandparents moved to the region almost a century ago and lived off the land, working as timber cutters and later cattle farmers.
Mason has spent his whole life connected to the tourism industry in the region.
“They’re [tourists] coming to what is [one of] the oldest rainforest[s] in the world, a very beautiful place, and most of them are horrified to learn that we have a government with so little imagination, we’re still [using] diesel generators for power.”
Ageing off-grid
Confronted with the decision to potentially leave the rainforest, many ageing in the Daintree face a difficult reality.
Resident Chris Reinke, who has lived alone for the last decade, shares similar concerns about whether she can remain in the rainforest long-term.
The 71-year-old moved to the region with her late husband in 1983, but says spending her later years there is becoming increasingly difficult without access to mains power.
At the end of the day, I’m going to have to move out as I get older because I’m trying to lift jerry cans for generators.
“If I had mains power or a microgrid, you’d have to carry me out in a box because I wouldn’t be leaving until then, because I wouldn’t have to worry about generators,” Reinke tells SBS News.
Sitting on her veranda tucked between towering canopy trees, Reinke is reminded of the natural beauty that drew her to the Daintree decades ago.
“As soon as I crossed that ferry, it was like I fell in love,” she says.
“I just knew this is where I should be, it was just beautiful.”
For Betty Hinton, the Daintree has been home for almost five decades — a place where she built a life, an art practice and a small business.
The 91-year-old artist moved to the rainforest with her late husband, drawn to its diverse plant life and picturesque landscapes.
“For some people, it would have been difficult, impossible,” Hinton tells SBS News.
“But for us, because we just love the area, we were excited about the chance to live here.
“It was a lot of hard work; there was nothing here, we had to build everything.”
Today, Hinton runs an ice cream business that relies on costly generators, selling a variety of flavours, including a signature green ice cream inspired by the rainforest.
She still services her own generators, a physically demanding task involving changing filters and carrying heavy oil.
The cost of getting help to maintain the equipment can also be prohibitive in such a remote location.
“When I got the bill, I nearly died, they [tradespeople] charged me $600 to change the oil,” she says.
“What do you say? What options do I have?”
It’s a lot of work that I don’t enjoy, it’s a lot of expense that it’s very difficult for a small business to maintain.
The debate over a Daintree microgrid
Former federal member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch, who was in parliament for 26 years, spent years of his career campaigning for a microgrid project in the Daintree.
“So many businesses have started and failed because of the cost of generation of power,” he tells SBS News.
It is just so grossly unfair.
“You’ve got an older population here that cannot deal with this.”
While some residents and community leaders see a microgrid as a way to provide more reliable renewable energy, others argue that development in the world-heritage-listed rainforest must be carefully managed.
Former Douglas Shire mayor Mike Berwick says: “Biologically, this is an incredibly valuable place and the priority should be helping people to live with minimal impact.”
“And that means don’t build a bridge, don’t widen the road, don’t urbanise the place, don’t put grid power in there, but help people to live independently with a life footprint.”
When asked if the federal government would reconsider funding for the project, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the Albanese government was investing in microgrid projects in regional and First Nations communities.
“The Daintree Microgrid Project was given every opportunity to meet requirements they were contractually obligated to meet, but they failed to do so, and the grant funding ceased,” he said in an earlier statement.
The company developing the grid, Volt Advisory Group, disputes the government’s account, saying Cyclone Jasper in December 2023 caused unprecedented damage to the Douglas Shire road network and prevented heavy construction machinery from reaching the site for many months.
“Despite the disaster’s force majeure status being acknowledged and approvals being in place, the project was unable to get the government to extend the grant to allow the project to be built once roads were restored,” it said in a statement to SBS News.
First Nations calls for renewable energy
For Eastern Kuku Yalanji people, the conversation about power in the Daintree is connected to culture, Country and the ability to live on ancestral land.
In the remote Aboriginal community of Wujal Wujal, north of the Daintree Rainforest, Kathleen and Francis Walker sing out to their ancestors at a waterfall.
The Eastern Kuku Yalanji Elders are calling on the federal government to reconsider funding a microgrid in the Daintree, saying reliable power could help First Nations people return to Country.
Known as the rainforest people, the Eastern Kuku Yalanji have deep cultural ties to the area, including through cultural sites, Dreamtime stories and totemic animals.
Francis Walker, who is a dialysis patient, believes having reliable power in the Daintree would help her live back on Country.
“If that microgrid did go ahead for me, I’d be happy to be living on my land instead of living in another place where I’m not happy,” she tells SBS News.
My wawu [spirit] is here at home.
In 2021, the Daintree National Park was formally handed back to Traditional Owners in a historic agreement that established joint management of the area with the Queensland government.
Jabalbina Aboriginal Corporation, which represents Eastern Kuku Yalanji Traditional Owners, is also advocating for investment in renewable energy infrastructure for the region.
Culture and language manager Trinity Clarke says reliable infrastructure could help more First Nations people live on Country and maintain their connection to culture.
“It’s still ongoing today, like families still reconnecting back with who they were, their bubu, where they’re from and their family lines, it’s still devastating,” she tells SBS News.
“If we don’t live on Country and speak to Country, we lose that part of ourselves and our mob don’t want any more loss.”
It’s a connection that resonates with Kathleen Walker, who wants the opportunity to live on the land of her ancestors and continue traditional practices.
“Like the trees, you know, when they get old, they die in the rainforest,” she tells SBS News.
“Well, bama [people] wants to be like that.
Bama wants to die and have a rest in peace in their homeland.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s recent choice for a pivotal housing position has stirred the pot, as the nominee previously compared affluent homeowners to “cartels.” This statement has ruffled some feathers among City Council members, leading to a pushback against the candidate.
John Mangin, who currently serves as the housing director for the Department of City Planning, was chosen by Mamdani in June to lead the Board of Standards and Appeals. This independent body holds the authority to offer exemptions to New York City’s stringent zoning regulations, crucial for progressing with new construction projects.
“Several council members have expressed unease about his past remarks,” noted Council Speaker Julie Menin at a press conference on Thursday, which was unrelated to the topic.
She clarified, however, “To be clear, our council supports housing development.”
In a 2014 article for the Stanford Law and Policy Review, Mangin criticized what he described as “wealthy homeowner cartels.” He argued they obstruct necessary housing projects in “high-demand, high-cost neighborhoods” due to worries about their property values and taxes.
“The housing advocacy community tends to argue for a ‘kludgy’ set of policies that can actually prevent new development and end up increasing housing prices,” the Yale University Law School grad wrote.
Mangin specifically bashed commonplace “community benefit agreements” between developers and the neighborhoods they seek to build in. He also called out “downzoning,” in which changes to zoning rules are restricted for a variety of reasons, including maintaining an area’s historic look and preventing urban sprawl.
At least half of the council’s 51 members will need to approve Mangin’s appointment — but several of them have been voicing their opposition, saying his policies are in “direct conflict” to theirs, Politico first reported last week.
“We represent these communities. We have to go back to these communities and we realize what our communities need,” said Bronx Councilman Kevin Riley, who also serves as Chair of the Land-Use Committee.
“When you have such a high opposition to that, that’s going to be a concern to a lot of members within the council,” he said.
Community benefit agreements are typically legal contracts between developers and local community groups. Companies agree to provide benefits like monetary contributions, local amenities, or even jobs in neighborhoods affected by their large-scale construction.
Mangin, as a policy director, played a crucial role in then-Mayor Eric Adams’ Charter Revision Commission, that got a series of pro-housing ballot measures on the ballot in November 2025.
Voters approved those measures to speed up construction of affordable development citywide — despite vehement opposition from the council, which claimed their and community voices in the process would be undermined as a result.
The Board of Standards and Appeals gained more power this year as a result of the measures, with the five-member agency now being able to bypass certain zoning laws for affordable housing projects.
“On the face of it, a majority of members would be uncomfortable voting for him as it stands now,” one lawmaker told Politico.
Queens Councilwoman Shanel Thomas-Henry — who helped pass a 12,000-unit neighborhood plan in Jamaica last year — echoed the apprehension at Thursday’s press conference.
“I think a lot of the things he has been involved in, I personally see as a direct conflict with how the council sees its powers, and we are a pro-housing council,” she argued.
Mamdani stood by his controversial pick when pressed by reporters on the tension.
“I believe we’ve made the best possible pick for this position. We’re speaking about someone who has all of the requisite experience to combat the affordability crisis and build the kind of housing the city has not seen for a long time,” he said last week.
Hizzoner isn’t alone in his support of Mangin, pro-housing groups like Open New York have celebrated the nomination, along with City Comptroller Mark Levine.
“We are in the midst of a housing affordability crisis, we desperately need a leader like John Mangin,” Levine said.
Menin said Mangin has not reached out to her or members for a meeting, and neither a hearing for his appointment or a final vote has been scheduled.
A significant shake-up in U.S. naval deployments has forced a ship in the Pacific to withdraw from its position to support operations in the Middle East. This move comes as sailors onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln describe increasingly intolerable conditions.
The USS George Washington has left its Pacific station to replace the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. The latter, staffed by sailors who have been on duty for almost nine months, has been pivotal in aiding military operations and regional defense amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, according to a report by the Associated Press.
Originally, the USS Abraham Lincoln was slated to head back home in May. However, its deployment has been extended to ensure continued support for operations concerning Iran.
Reports from onboard highlight alarming conditions that have severely affected the crew’s morale, leading to incidents of suicidal thoughts among some sailors. This disturbing situation has been flagged due to the extended deployment and tough living conditions at sea.
The situation garnered additional attention when former President Donald Trump sparked controversy by questioning these claims. In response, Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), visited the USS Abraham Lincoln on Saturday to assess the situation firsthand.
Cooper, who oversees the war in Iran, visited the vessel as part of a 10-day voyage visiting Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, according to a new report by The Hill.
He called the crew onboard a ‘strong team of high-achieving Americans standing tall with immense, justified pride in everything they accomplished.’
‘History will record this deployment as one of the most operationally intense and consequential of the modern era,’ Cooper said in a statement.
The US Abraham Lincoln warship is set to be replaced by the USS George Washington (pictured) amid claims of horrid conditions aboard the vessel
Sailors aboard the USS Lincoln (pictured) have claimed they have been experiencing ‘horrid conditions’ on what’s been described as a ‘floating medal prison’
CENTCOM shared that the crew members have completed ‘thousands of combat flights in support of Operation Epic Fury, regional security missions and the ongoing U.S. naval blockade against Iran.’
The sailors have been docked there for more than 260 days since November 2025 after acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said the mission ‘demanded it.’
Cooper previously visited the ship in February along with US Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
At the time, CENTCOM said the ship was in the region ‘to support maritime security and stability.’
On Friday, Cao announced that the USS Abraham will finally be returning home as part of a planned rotation with the USS George Washington.
He claimed that reports of what the sailors are dealing with on board are an attempt to try and paint ‘our warriors as victims.’
Trump has also downplayed reported concerns for the sailors, and insisted that the new ship was on its way to replace it.
During a chat with reporters on Friday, the president said the lengthy deployment was ‘not nearly long enough.’
President Donald Trump sparked fury after refuting claims that sailors aboard the US Abraham Lincoln were experiencing horrid conditions onboard that have been leading them to suicidal ideations
Acting US Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao (pictured) announced that the USS Abraham will finally be returning home as part of a planned rotation with the USS George Washington ship. He claimed that reports of what the sailors are dealing with on board are an attempt to try and paint ‘our warriors as victims’
‘That ship is moving right now, or very shortly, and it’s being replaced with another very similar ship,’ Trump said before flying to New York for an event about the falling violent crime rate in the US.
When asked if family members of those onboard were worried about the reported conditions, Trump replied: ‘No, they’re not.’
After making that statement, Trump was slammed by the wife of a sailor who is aboard the USS Lincoln, which has been described as a ‘floating metal prison’ with ‘appalling conditions.’
The unidentified woman said that her husband described the experience aboard the aircraft carrier stationed in the Middle East as ‘the worst deployment he’s ever been on.’
‘This is not his first deployment. This is not his first time being out there, and he is saying that it is the worst deployment that he’s ever been on. And he also says that his shipmates say the same,’ she told CNN‘s Jake Tapper on Friday.
On Saturday, US Central Command (Centcom) commander Adm. Brad Cooper (pictured) visited the USS Abraham
Since the beginning of the conflict, reports have surfaced of food shortages and rationing aboard the Lincoln, accompanied by photographs of sailors’ meals.
‘It’s not just the quality; it’s the quantity,’ the sailor’s wife told the outlet. ‘It’s the rationing. The portions are awful, so it’s really not good.’
Remaining anonymous out of fear of retaliation against her husband, the woman added that her spouse, who she said is typically unaffected by work stressors, ‘feels himself being angrier and more frustrated.’
‘You’re stuck in a floating metal prison, essentially, in the middle of the water, eating prison-like food with the same people in the same bunk beds in the same small quarters for 200 days, 250 days, you start to go a little insane working 12 hours, getting four or five hours of sleep,’ she continued.
Outraged at Trump’s response to reports of the conditions, she slammed the president, saying: ‘I don’t think the man thinks before he talks.’
Since the start of Trump’s war, reports have surfaced of food shortages and rationing aboard the Lincoln, accompanied by grim images of sailors’ meals. These photos leaked earlier this year
‘Have some sympathy, some empathy. Take some accountability for what’s going on with your military, your ships, in your war,’ she pleaded.
‘It’s infuriating… essentially saying that families are lying and service members are lying.’
On August 3, a sailor assigned to the carrier’s air wing went into rough seas wearing a life vest in what the Navy deemed a mental health episode, CNN reported.
He was pulled from the water by a search and rescue helicopter within the hour.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal and other lawmakers are demanding answers from Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth.
But Hegseth has also refuted claims of the bad conditions onboard the ship and said they were ‘completely misrepresented.’
‘Listen, we make sure that every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment,’ Hegseth told Newsmax on Thursday.
Rumors are swirling around Manchester United as the club intensifies efforts to generate revenue from its renowned academy, according to insights from Inside Sport.
The iconic club is reportedly placing a greater focus on nurturing young talents amid observations that their previously prolific youth system has seen a decline in output in recent years.
Although developing players for the first team remains the club’s primary objective, there’s a growing realization that there’s room to financially benefit from players who may not reach first-team status. This strategy mirrors successful models seen at Manchester City and Chelsea.
Midfielder Toby Collyer is one player United believes could fetch a considerable transfer fee. However, this season’s increased game schedule, following their European qualification, might provide more chances for these fringe players to shine.
Earlier in the month, the transfer of Czech goalkeeper Radek Vitek, 22, to Middlesbrough fetched United approximately £14 million.
Harry Amass (left) could leave Old Trafford for a fee of around £7m with add-ons while midfielder Toby Collyer (right) is another United feel they could command a sizable fee for
Meanwhile, Amazon have commenced filming their documentary, which will be based on United’s forthcoming season and the latest of its fly-on-the-wall All or Nothing series, following on from Arsenal, Tottenham and City.
United have brokered a record fee for the production, with camera crews noticeable on the club’s pre-season tour.
Beeb under pressure over away day coverage
All would not appear to be well in the world of BBC local radio.
Rumours that bosses are set to stop commentators from covering away matches are rife, amid talk of a trial process which would mean fans of the visiting side would be forced to listen to the sometimes-parochial view of the host broadcaster.
Beeb insiders insist no decision has been made but say they are looking at working at ways to reduce duplication and showcase more of their local commentary teams across the network.
There is further angst over what some reporters have deemed double standards, claiming to Inside Sport that while some are being permitted to work for the likes of Sky Sports – and take paid BBC holiday days to do so – others have been denied such an opportunity. The BBC said it would not comment on individual cases.
British Rowing slammed for subpar farewell to performance chief
Interesting to see the former chair getting stuck into British Rowing following its markedly dry announcement of the departure of its director of performance.
Mark Davies, son of commentating royalty Barry, departed last November ahead of the arrival of a new chief executive and was quick to take his old employer to task with regards to the exit of Louise Kingsley.
A bland post, titled: ‘British Rowing statement regarding Louise Kingsley MBE, Director of Performance’ relayed the news that Kingsley had decided to retire and featured no named spokesperson or quotes.
Instead, it was left to Kingsley – who decided to go following an investigation into a complaint against her which concluded with no further action – to point out her achievements, namely turning a shambolic performance in Tokyo into a record-breaking one in Paris.
It was not lost on Davies, who noted: ‘British Rowing apparently cannot find a single person to say anything nice about a woman who turned round the worst Olympic performance for 30yrs in Tokyo to the best ever on foreign soil in Paris – an achievement for which she received an MBE. So she had to say it herself.’
Former British Rowing CEO Davies criticised the organisation for their farewell to performance director Kingsley, who turned a shambolic showing in Tokyo into a record-breaking one in Paris
Chelsea impressed by Malaysia’s rising football force
Chelsea wrapped up their pre-season tour last week with a 3-3 draw against Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim – or JDT, as they’re known – and don’t be surprised if fixtures against such high-level opposition become more familiar for them.
The credit belongs to JDT’s owner, His Royal Highness Tunku Ismail, the Crown Prince of Johor, who has quietly rebuilt the club over the past decade. Visitors for the Chelsea match were left marvelling at a stadium and training complex that wouldn’t look out of place in the Premier League.
That investment has brought the club to the brink of history. JDT are unbeaten in 108 Malaysian Super League games and, should they win their season opener this Friday, they’ll surpass a world record set by Ivorian side Asec Mimosas back in the early 1990s.
Having reached the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League last season under former Watford coach Xisco Munoz, the Prince now harbours ambitions of turning JDT into a club of genuine regional and global power.
Visitors for the Chelsea-JDT match in Malaysia were left marvelling at a stadium and training complex that wouldn’t look out of place in the Premier League
Golfers fume as heatwave rounds trigger handicap hit
Inside Sport has been contacted by a number of amateur golfers left furious that their willingness to shoot a round in the intense heat last week appears to have ended up shooting them in the foot.
Scores of hackers who braved afternoon temperatures of 37C were then stunned to subsequently discover that the World Handicap System had automatically added a stroke to their scores under its Playing Conditions Calculation, which can add or subtract shots should it deem extreme conditions favourable or harder.
‘What appears to have happened is a load of those who went out in the much cooler mornings have scored well and that’s had a knock-on effect on the rest of us, who had no choice but to go out in the sweltering afternoon when it was much tougher,’ explained one of those impacted negatively. ‘Outrageous!’
Renowned for his role on Countryfile, Adam Henson has opened up about a distressing pattern emerging in the agricultural industry that has left him deeply unsettled. Recent statistics have highlighted issues that are forcing industry professionals to take a closer look at their safety practices.
In addition to his duties as a BBC Countryfile presenter, Henson runs Cotswold Farm Park. He has found the latest figures concerning enough to prompt a reevaluation of the risks involved for those dedicated to farming.
Adam shared his thoughts in BBC Countryfile Magazine, stating: “The barrage of negative news can be overwhelming, often making it hard to truly grasp the impact of individual stories. However, there are times when a report causes you to pause and reflect. That moment came when I saw the recent workplace death statistics.”
The statistics showed that 33 people lost their lives in the agricultural sector during the 2025/26 financial year. This was a stark increase from the 23 fatalities recorded the previous year and the 27 reported in 2023/24.
Adam highlighted that, despite agriculture employing approximately 1% of the British workforce, it represents roughly 20% of workplace deaths, according to Gloucestershire Live.
Adam Henson (Image: BBC)
The statistics led him to consider his own farming operation, where he has staff and contractors on the payroll, and the precautions in place to ensure people’s safety.
He explained that evaluating risks and delivering training were already standard practice on the farm, though noted there was merit in taking stock to consider whether improvements could be made.
Adam recognised there was no simple answer for the death toll, emphasising that each fatality was a tragedy and that individual circumstances varied. Nevertheless, he drew attention to some of the specific difficulties associated with agricultural work, including long working hours, physical demands and the potentially solitary nature of working on a farm.
“If there are no colleagues around and no chance of a second opinion (or a crucial second pair of eyes), it’s easy to imagine how something potentially dangerous could go unnoticed,” he wrote.
He also referred to the vast array of tasks undertaken by agricultural workers, ranging from handling livestock and shearing sheep to working with chemicals and operating heavy machinery.
Adam Henson (Image: Mikal Ludlow Photography)
Adam said he was mindful that a farm should be regarded as a workplace in the same way as a factory or workshop, despite its rural setting.
He recalled the notorious 1970s public information film Apaches, which warned children about the dangers of playing on farms, describing it as “terrifying to watch”.
Research conducted by the Farm Safety Foundation revealed that 88% of British farmers surveyed believed complacency, including overconfidence or a false sense of security, was a significant contributing factor in farm accidents.
Steps are being taken to address the issue, including the Foundation’s Yellow Wellies campaign, which offers safety guidance and training. The charity RABI has also introduced FarmersAid, a free app designed to support individuals who find themselves alone following a serious accident while awaiting the emergency services.
Adam’s remarks follow his recent discussion of another significant concern for agriculture during a question-and-answer session with fellow farmer Olly Harrison at Cotswold Farm Park.
The pair were questioned about their expectations from the Government, with Harrison contending that farming required greater recognition.
Adam then voiced apprehensions about food fraud, revealing he had been informed by someone at the Food Standards Agency that its value in the UK stood at £9 billion.
He said: “I was with someone from the Food Standards Agency and food fraud in the UK has a value of nine billion pounds. So stuff that is on a glass or a packet or says it’s something that it’s actually not.”
He added: “Huge amount of food coming into the country that is, you know, meats that is unlabelled or out of date or not fit for human consumption. Honey, olive oil and dairy products are the three biggest fraudulent foods.”
Regarding the farm safety statistics, Adam concluded with a straightforward aspiration: “Like everyone, I’m hoping and praying for zero avoidable deaths on our farms in the future.”
CHICAGO (WLS) — With the arrival of another academic year, college students are eagerly returning to campuses across the nation.
These students are a diverse mix. Some are teenagers fresh out of high school, stepping into higher education for the first time, while others are seasoned professionals aiming to advance their careers and secure a better future.
This brighter future is characterized by the promise of innovative, 21st-century roles that demand high-tech skills.
So, what strategies are Chicago’s educational institutions implementing to ensure student success in this evolving landscape?
According to Dr. Eddie Phillips, President of National Louis University, the institution has been conducting in-depth market research focused on students’ needs and aspirations for several years.
“What we’ve learned about things that college students are looking for, in this exact order, are time, convenience, cost and quality. With a focus on career success, career readiness and career outcomes,” Phillips said.
It’s back-to-school time and many of those returning to the classroom are college students.
Phillips says nationally there’s talk of an “enrollment cliff.”
“There’s fewer 18-year-olds…who are ready to go to college, it’s kind of one challenge we’ve been working against. But there’s also kind of a broader public perception about the value proposition of a college degree. ‘Is the time and the money that I invest in a degree really worth it on the back end when I finish my degree and I go to work?’ We have made a big commitment to make sure that our students are career prepared,” Phillips said.
He says a lot of students don’t have four years to devote to earning a degree.
“Workforce has become a big part of our academic strategy. We have a number of short-term credentials and a program called ‘Accelerate You’ that allows students to get through a credential and get to work in as short as five-to-six months,” he said.
The City Colleges of Chicago have been around since 1911. They consist of: Harold Washington College, Harry S. Truman College, Kennedy-King College, Malcolm X College, Olive-Harvey College, Richard J. Daley College, and Wilbur Wright College.
City Colleges also have five satellite sites, the Washburne Culinary and Hospitality Institute, Sikia Restaurant, Child Development Centers and a radio station, WKKC-FM.
The City Colleges of Chicago have been around since 1911.
Juan Salgado is the Chancellor of the City Colleges. He says it’s important for their students to understand there is a “marketplace for them. A job that meets their love and their passion.”
“They just have to discover what that is. And at City Colleges, we have a wide offering that will allow them to do that,” Salgado said.
According to Salgado, City Colleges has seen an increase in students.
“We’ve seen our largest increase, since 2021, a 41% increase in Black male enrollment. A 38% increase in Latino male enrollment,” he said.
“Making sure that we’re supporting our students holistically,” Salgado said. “So, we have wellness services for our students. In fact, last year, we served over 10,000 students with therapy appointments. Over 20,000 counseling sessions. So, you have to make sure that your students understand you are going to be there for them academically, career wise, but also with those human needs. And if you do holistic student supports, along with a rigorous curriculum that leads to high demand jobs, populations, that quite frankly when you think about men, have been leaving higher education, come back.”
For more information:
National Louis University
https://nl.edu/
City Colleges of Chicago:
www.ccc.edu/appy or call 773-COLLEGE
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Development, Associate of Applied Science
Heightened aggression by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is sparking a critical question: Could this vital maritime passage transform into another Strait of Hormuz, known for its geopolitical tensions?
This question’s complexity is underscored by challenging geographical and political landscapes. Unlike the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran directly impacts navigation from its own shores, its influence over Bab el-Mandeb is mediated through its alliances with the Houthis. The region surrounding this strait is further complicated by a fractured Yemen, divided among various armed and political factions. This division presents the U.S. and regional allies with a complex threat that isn’t easily addressed using naval capabilities alone.
The potential peril was highlighted when Houthi forces targeted the Egyptian-owned cargo vessel Tihamah in the strait. Tragically, four crew members—three Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian—lost their lives, as confirmed by Yemeni and Pakistani authorities. Additionally, two Yemeni rescue workers died in subsequent strikes aimed at rescue operations, according to Yemen’s Coast Guard. If verified, these fatalities could mark the first instance of deaths resulting from Houthi assaults on shipping since the onset of the U.S.-Iran conflict on February 28.
Yemeni soldiers patrol the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Yemen, April 5, 2026.(Abdulnasser Alseddik/AP Photo)
Positioned between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait serves as a crucial junction, linking the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea to the Red Sea. Further extending northward, this route provides passage to the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea. Its strategic importance cannot be overstated, especially for energy and commercial shipping. Notably, the Suez Canal, along with Egypt’s SUMED pipeline, marks the northern terminus of this essential Red Sea passage.
But the southern side of that corridor borders a country that has been at war for more than a decade.
The Houthis control the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen, while the internationally recognized, Saudi-backed government and an array of allied or competing groups control areas elsewhere. The Southern Transitional Council, a separatist movement that has been backed by the United Arab Emirates, has been a major force in the south.
That fragmentation is becoming increasingly relevant to the security of the waterway.
Amr Al Bidh, the STC’s foreign affairs chief, told News Media that naval forces can defend individual vessels but cannot by themselves remove the threat posed by Houthi-controlled territory overlooking the maritime route.
“Naval presence protects individual ships. It does not take away Houthi launch sites, it does not interdict the smuggling routes that resupply them and it does not hold terrain,” Al Bidh said.
He said that “you have to be on the ground” to ultimately secure Bab el-Mandeb.
Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, on Aug. 3, 2026.(Reuters)
The deterioration comes amid a broader escalation in Yemen. U.N. Special Envoy Hans Grundberg told the Security Council Thursday that the country faces its most serious threat of a return to large-scale war since the U.N.-brokered 2022 truce, warning that renewed Houthi attacks on commercial vessels risk drawing Yemen deeper into the wider regional confrontation.
That truce sharply reduced major fighting after years of war following the Houthis’ seizure of Sanaa in 2014 and the Saudi-led military intervention the following year. Though the formal truce expired in October 2022, large-scale hostilities remained comparatively limited for years.
Yemen’s Iran-backed armed Houthi group has warned they will move to shutter the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait through missile-drone attacks if Gulf nations join the US-Israel war on Iran.(Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images)
On July 20, the Houthis declared what they called a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia, threatening vessels doing business with Saudi ports. Riyadh denies the Houthi accusation that Saudi Arabia has imposed a siege on Yemen.
A White House official, speaking on background, said the United States expects the Houthis to continue to uphold the terms of the ceasefire. The official said the Houthis “saw during Operation Rough Rider that the United States and President Trump will take necessary action to protect freedom of navigation and U.S. commercial shipping from Houthi terrorist attacks.”
The official added that the United States is focused on protecting core national security interests — including freedom of navigation in the Red Sea — while “empowering our regional partners to take the lead in managing and resolving regional security challenges.” The official said Washington is in continuous dialogue with Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen government regarding regional stability.
United Against Nuclear Iran, citing Joint Maritime Information Center data, has put the decline in tanker transits since the July 20 blockade declaration at roughly 40%. UANI also said tankers have been observed broadcasting messages including “CHINESE OWNER” and “ARMED GUARD ON BOARD” through their tracking systems, apparently in an effort to reduce the chance of being targeted.
Thousands of people gather at Sabeen Square, under the control of the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, to protest the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, in Sanaa, Yemen on March 6, 2026.(Mohammed Hamoud/Anadolu via Getty Images)
China, meanwhile, has been in contact with the Houthis over safe passage for Chinese vessels, according to a July 28 Reuters report citing Chinese and regional sources. Four China-bound tankers had crossed Bab el-Mandeb following the blockade announcement as Beijing sought assurances for its shipping.
The economic stakes are rising because of what is happening hundreds of miles to the east.
Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on its Red Sea export infrastructure as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted by the U.S.-Iran conflict.
That makes the Red Sea both an alternative to Hormuz — and a potential second pressure point.
Yemeni Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman warned at the United Nations Thursday that Yemen’s internal collapse is increasingly threatening interests far beyond its borders.
“This is no longer a Yemeni crisis alone,” Karman said. “The continued collapse of the state in Yemen threatens international navigation and trade, energy security, and global supply chains and undermines regional and international peace and security.”
Karman had been invited by Denmark, which holds the Security Council presidency, to brief council members, but Denmark’s deputy U.N. ambassador said “strong opposition” prevented the briefing from taking place. Karman instead addressed reporters outside the chamber.
In a separate interview with News Media, Karman argued that restoring a functioning Yemeni state is ultimately essential to defeating armed groups and securing the country.
Houthi terrorists walk over British and U.S. flags at a rally in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and Houthi strikes on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden on Feb. 4, 2024, on the outskirts of Sana’a, Yemen.(Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images)
“Yemeni people can do that,” Karman said of defeating the Houthis and other militias. “We can be partners on saving the global and regional security.”
“Without restoring Yemen, that means there is not any sustainable peace,” she added.
But U.S. experts caution against treating Bab el-Mandeb as simply a second Hormuz.
“Iran doesn’t have the same direct influence on flows through the Bab al-Mandeb as it does for the Strait of Hormuz,” Richard Goldberg, a senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and former National Security Council official, told News Media.
“The strategy would depend much more on proxies — Iraqi groups focusing fire on infrastructure and the Houthis focusing on the Red Sea,” Goldberg said.
But he said there are limits to that strategy. “The Houthis act much more independently than they used to, and have not yet shown an interest to going to war against the world — just against Riyadh,” Goldberg said.
He also pointed to one critical difference between the two waterways: ships that cannot safely cross Bab el-Mandeb can bypass the Red Sea entirely by sailing around Africa.
“Unlike Hormuz, shippers can go around the Red Sea if they really need to,” Goldberg said. “It adds cost and time but it’s not a single point of failure like Hormuz.”
The question facing U.S., Saudi Arabia and its partners is therefore how to prevent the Houthi threat from becoming more serious.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, left, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, center, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sign a defense agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Aug. 7, 2026.(TUR Presidency/Murat Cetinmuhurdar/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Riyadh is now trying to assemble two overlapping layers of regional security cooperation.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement on Aug. 7, a mutual-defense pact that calls for high-level political and military coordination, joint exercises and deeper defense-industry cooperation. Turkey has stressed that the agreement is defensive and does not identify Iran or any other country as an enemy.
Dr. Aziz Alghashian, a Saudi foreign-policy researcher and senior non-resident fellow at Gulf International Forum, told News Media earlier this week that one immediate implication could be greater coordination against Iran-backed groups, particularly the Houthis.
Alghashian said the pact could produce a greater trilateral presence near the Saudi-Yemeni border, “especially in the maritime dimension,” while allowing Riyadh to take a firmer collective approach toward Iran-backed militias even as it maintains a more diplomatic approach toward Tehran itself.
Separately, Saudi Arabia is leading an effort specifically focused on the waterways.
The Saudi Defense Ministry announced July 30 plans for a multinational maritime-defense coalition intended to protect freedom of navigation and commercial and energy routes through Bab el-Mandeb, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Fourteen countries, including Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan and Djibouti, initially backed the initiative.
Turkey’s Defense Ministry confirmed Thursday that Ankara is participating in meetings in Jeddah aimed at establishing the coalition.
Ships are anchored in the Strait of Hormuz on Aug. 10, 2026, off the coast of Bandar Abbas, Iran.(Ali Saeedi/Getty Images)
A State Department spokesperson separately told News Media that protecting commercial shipping through both the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz remains a “top priority” for the Trump administration, pointing to freedom of navigation as one of Washington’s core national security interests in the Middle East. “We will continue to work with international partners to deter Iranian and Iranian-proxy attacks on merchant vessels, ensure the free flow of commerce and hold accountable those who threaten the safety of international shipping lanes,” a State Department spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said the administration is also seeking to disrupt the flow of Iranian money and weapons to the Houthis, noting that the U.S. has sanctioned more than 200 entities associated with the group.
“We condemn Iran’s flagrant violation of Yemen’s sovereignty and international law in threatening freedom of navigation and supporting their Houthi proxies,” the spokesperson said. The State Department also emphasized Washington’s support for Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s internationally recognized government as the threat around Bab el-Mandeb grows.
“The United States stands firmly with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the internationally recognized government of Yemen against Houthi terrorism,” the spokesperson said. “We are in close consultation with our Saudi and Yemeni partners and remain committed to their security.”
