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Katy Perry Speaks Out for First Time After Orlando Bloom Split

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Katy Perry is speaking candidly about the end of her relationship with Orlando Bloom, a breakup that was confirmed in July 2025 while the pop star was in Australia for the Lifetimes Tour.

The former couple’s love story stretched across nearly 10 years after they first got together in 2016. They briefly parted ways in 2017 before reconciling, later getting engaged and welcoming their daughter, Daisy Dove, now six, before ultimately deciding to separate.

In a new interview with People, the 41-year-old “The One That Got Away” singer reflected on how painful that period felt, especially while she was so far from home.

“My friends were all hanging out back home. I was crying and just feeling far away. But then my angels went to work. They really showed up,” Perry told the publication.

Perry, who recently honored the “inspiring” Dolly Parton, said she had to find the strength to keep performing through heartbreak after her split from the 49-year-old Pirates of the Caribbean actor.

‘I learned how to step back into my purpose,’ she said, ‘and I got the greatest gift from this tour: I got to meet the love of my life.’

Katy Perry is opening up about her split from Orlando Bloom, which was confirmed in July 2025 when she was performing on the Australian leg of her Lifetimes Tour

Katy Perry is opening up about her split from Orlando Bloom, which was confirmed in July 2025 when she was performing on the Australian leg of her Lifetimes Tour

The One That Got Away singer, 41, shared that 'it was probably the hardest time' while being so far from home. Above, Perry and Bloom in 2025

The One That Got Away singer, 41, shared that ‘it was probably the hardest time’ while being so far from home. Above, Perry and Bloom in 2025 

Perry was, of course, talking about Justin Trudeau. She met the former Canadian Prime Minister on July 28 during her tour stop in Montreal, just weeks after her split from Bloom was made public on July 4.

‘I got to meet Justin on tour, and then things shifted,’ she added.

Reflecting on Bloom, who is currently dating 28-year-old Swiss model Luisa Laemmel, Perry continued: ‘I wouldn’t have stayed in something for nine years if there wasn’t really important things to learn. Each relationship is a teacher, right? I had to let it go so I could move forward.

‘I always wanted this epic legendary love, and I was talking to my therapist about it: Everything in my life is epic, but this is kind of the missing puzzle piece — then it showed up.’

The mom-of-one, who has been nominated for 13 Grammys but has yet to win one, shared a piece of paper with item No. 10, which simply read: ‘True love.’

‘No. 10 just says, “True Love.” And I think that’s where we’re at,’ she told People.

Perry’s candid admission comes after she praised the support that Trudeau, 54, gives her.

‘He’s just there to support,’ Perry told Entertainment Tonight while attending the Los Angeles screening of her new concert film, Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour – Live from Paris.

'I learned how to step back into my purpose, and I got the greatest gift from this tour: I got to meet the love of my life,' Perry said of Trudeau. Above, in June

‘I learned how to step back into my purpose, and I got the greatest gift from this tour: I got to meet the love of my life,’ Perry said of Trudeau. Above, in June

She met the former Canadian Prime Minister on July 28 during her tour stop in Montreal, just weeks after her split from Bloom was made public on July 4

She met the former Canadian Prime Minister on July 28 during her tour stop in Montreal, just weeks after her split from Bloom was made public on July 4

Bloom has moved on and is currently dating 28-year-old Swiss model Luisa Laemmel

Bloom has moved on and is currently dating 28-year-old Swiss model Luisa Laemmel

‘I’ve had, you know, people come to my shows before and partners and support in their own way but this is definitely a different level,’ she revealed to the outlet.

Perry went on to describe the ‘weird full circle’ moment that clinched the deal with Trudeau. It happened when she was singing Not Like the Movies with her boyfriend watching and realized it was ‘about us.’

The song, which was released in 2010, is about refusing to settle for an unfulfilling relationship and waiting for someone who matches your energy in a surprising way.

The self-proclaimed diehard romantic went on: ‘I sang Not Like the Movies when he was at the show and it is his favorite song and I was like, I can’t believe I’m singing this and I wrote this so long ago, and I think I wrote this about us.

‘And this is such a weird full circle mystical, magical moment. Like, time doesn’t really exist in the other place. Right? And so it’s wild that it all kinda came together in this way.’

When asked if Not Like the Movies is a love song, Perry said: ‘Oh, it totally is. My world has stopped spinning.’

Performing that show in Montreal and knowing that Trudeau was in the audience made her nervous, she told Us Weekly.

‘I always create a super special fan experience, but I don’t typically get nervous. Maybe I get some butterflies on the first show because it’s all the things coming together, and because of social media, you want to kind of get it right.

Perry previously recalled that performing that show in Montreal and knowing Trudeau was in the audience watching her made her nervous

Perry previously recalled that performing that show in Montreal and knowing Trudeau was in the audience watching her made her nervous

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Is finding love so soon after a painful breakup a sign of moving on or avoiding reality?

‘But in Montreal, you know, this is the tour. This is the Lifetimes Tour. When the documentary comes, y’all might see me in a different way because… in Montreal, I was like, “I can’t look at him.” A lot of energy.’

Perry was previously wed to Russell Brand from 2010 to 2012 before the British comedian and actor famously ended the marriage via text message.

Perry also dated singer John Mayer on and off between 2012 and 2015, and was briefly linked to DJ and producer Diplo in 2014.

Trudeau, meanwhile, was previously married to Sophie Gregoire, with whom he has three children, Xavier, 18, Ella-Grace, 17, and Hadrien, 12.

Alexander Zverev Wins Five-Set Thriller to Advance at US Open

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Alexander Zverev endured another major test at the U.S. Open, battling past France’s Quentin Halys 6-4 4-6 7-6(3) 6-7(3) 6-3 in a late-night thriller that stretched from Thursday night into the early hours of Friday at Arthur Ashe Stadium, sending the top seed into the third round.

The French Open champion had already been pushed to five sets by Lorenzo Sonego in his first-round match, and Halys made him work every bit as hard again as Zverev leaned on his resilience to keep alive his pursuit of a first Grand Slam title in New York.

“The performance was quite s–t to be honest, but I won, that’s the most important thing,” Zverev admitted during his on-court interview after finally closing out the match.

A relieved Alexander Zverev celebrates after his grueling five-set win over Quentin Halys during the second round of the U.S. Open on Sept. 3, 2026 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. AP

“Another four-and-a-half hours, 2:15 am, that’s what I go to the gym for,” he said, while also offering appreciation to the hardy fans who stayed until the finish. “The couple thousand people (who stayed) made up for the 15,000 that left.”

Zverev edged the first set with a single break, but world number 52 Halys responded aggressively in the second, drawing fresh energy from the Arthur Ashe crowd and making clear the German would have to fight for every step toward the next round.

Alexander Zverev lunges for a volley during his marathon five-set win during the second round of the U.S. Open.

Alexander Zverev lunges for a volley during his marathon five-set win during the second round of the U.S. Open. Jason Szenes for New York Post

The 29-year-old Zverev’s frustrations threatened to boil over after he ​threw away an early ‌break in the third set and looked to ⁠be in deep trouble when Halys ​opened up a 4-1 ⁠lead, but ⁠the German responded emphatically to draw level.

After forcing a tiebreak and claiming the third set to edge ahead in the ⁠contest, Zverev dropped the fourth, before settling his nerves in the ‌decider and building ⁠a 4-2 advantage with an overhead smash at the net.

Having found the opening he ​needed, Zverev raised his level another notch to ⁠force an error on ⁠match point and ‌earn a hard-fought win for a clash with 25th seed Alejandro Tabilo ​in the next round.

Modi-Iran Meeting Tests India Amid US Sanctions Warnings

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The Trump administration is intensifying its pressure campaign against Iran with a fresh sanctions drive dubbed “Operation Economic Outcast,” coupled with warnings of severe secondary penalties for nations that keep doing business tied to Tehran.

The tougher Iran sanctions strategy creates a diplomatic dilemma for countries such as India, along with other key U.S. allies and partners.

New Delhi is a cornerstone of Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy, but India also maintains important trade, energy and strategic links with Iran—interests it is unlikely to abandon easily. That balancing act could place India on a collision course with the Trump administration’s latest approach to Tehran.

Modi and Pezeshkian

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) meets with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (R) during a bilateral discussion on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on August 31, 2026. (Press Information Bureau (PIB)/Anadolu via Getty Images))

The meeting came Monday, one week after the Trump administration unveiled its new sanctions initiative. Modi and Pezeshkian sat down on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan, marking their first face-to-face talks since the war began six months earlier.

According to an Iranian readout, Pezeshkian asked Modi “to use India’s extensive contacts” to help steer the involved parties away from war and back toward dialogue, while thanking Modi for standing by Tehran. Modi reiterated that New Delhi wants to strengthen its “long-standing friendship” with Tehran and “expand and diversify” the two countries’ trade basket.

“That was for Modi to signal to a domestic audience that he is not kowtowing to Trump,” Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow Sadanand Dhume told News Media. “India-Iran relations have already been largely hollowed out by previous rounds of sanctions, so there is no question of India trying to balance between the U.S. and Iran,” he added.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked by Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade on “The Brian Kilmeade Show” Tuesday about Modi’s meeting with the Iranian president.

Rubio said he didn’t think there was a trade deal between India and Iran — noting many countries around the world talk to Tehran — and stated, “What ultimately happens, though, is – and the President’s been very clear – is no country should be helping Iran evade sanctions. No country should be out there helping them create mechanisms by which they can generate revenue that they will then use to sponsor terrorism and try to build a nuclear weapon. And if countries decide to do that, then we’re going to have to sanction them too.”

Sec. Marco Rubio

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivers remarks at the start of a ministerial meeting on political violence, at the State Department in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 16, 2026. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

A U.S. official echoed Rubio’s comments and told News Media that, “the Administration continues to have positive discussions with our economic partners to ensure Iran never possesses a nuclear weapon.”

India has been among Iran’s top five trading partners in recent years, though bilateral trade has dropped dramatically since its 2018-19 peak.

New Delhi’s exports to Iran are concentrated on goods that can carry humanitarian exemptions, including pharmaceuticals. Iran is also the second-largest overseas market for Indian rice, with India exporting more than $383 million worth in the first six months of the year.

Conversely, India resumed importing Iranian crude oil for the first time in seven years in April, after the Trump administration temporarily lifted sanctions to soften the Middle East conflict’s impact on global energy. Iranian oil shipments to India were valued at roughly $707 million in the first half of the year.

India has already come into the Treasury Department’s crosshairs, with the U.S. sanctioning four India-based companies and three Indian nationals over alleged links to Iranian petroleum and petrochemical trade.

Trump, Modi at the G7 in France

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a bilateral meeting at the G7 Summit on June 17, 2026, in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The Treasury Department says countries will receive a defined timeline to shut down Iran-related activity as identified by Washington. That puts banks, shippers, insurers and trade intermediaries on notice before any further penalties are imposed. The United Arab Emirates’ suspension of commercial and financial dealings with Iran has already squeezed Indian exporters, as Dubai has long served as a key hub for trade with Iran.

So far, Washington’s initial actions have stopped short of targeting India’s wider commercial relationship with Iran.

Iran, meanwhile, has warned of “grave consequences” for countries that cooperate with what it calls illegal U.S. behavior.

India’s interests in Iran also run beyond commerce. The Chabahar port, Iran’s only oceanic port, supports trade routes linking India to Central Asia and Europe through Iran, while bypassing Pakistan. It also gives India an access route to Central Asia that bypasses Pakistan. But U.S. sanctions uncertainty has repeatedly complicated India’s operations there.

A view of commercial cargo vessels and crude oil tankers are anchored in the Gulf of Oman, off the coast of Muscat, Oman, on June 21, 2026, as they prepare to transit through the critical Strait of Hormuz. Maritime traffic along this vital global trade corridor experienced severe disruptions following heightened geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran that escalated earlier in February. Following a diplomatic memorandum of understanding reached in mid-June, the strategic waterway is expected to fully reopen to international shipping and energy transit.

Commercial cargo vessels and crude oil tankers are anchored in the Gulf of Oman, off the coast of Muscat, Oman, on June 21, 2026. (Shady Alassar/Anadolu via Getty Images)

India, the world’s third-biggest oil importer and consumer, has already faced the cost of the Middle East conflict, through energy disruptions, higher import costs and inflation. It has also shown it will resist U.S. pressure when core interests are at stake. 

For instance, it has defended ties with Russia, despite Moscow’s adversarial relationship with Washington. But experts argue Iran no longer carries the same weight.

“The Russian example is strikingly different. New Delhi shares close military and diplomatic ties with Moscow that are much more important to India than its ties with Iran, notwithstanding lip service to the latter,” Dhume said. “Higher global oil prices hurt India, but India weaned itself off Iranian oil imports a while back.”

For the U.S., squeezing major economies like India over their ties to Tehran could pose a diplomatic risk. U.S. national security officials stress the need for a workable strategic relationship with India, especially to counterbalance Chinese power.

Under President Trump’s second term, once-blooming U.S.-India relations have been under strain. Trump and Modi sought to reset the relationship just months ago, but the latest Iran sanctions could test it again.

But the U.S. retains enormous leverage over India, particularly when it comes to trade.

“If forced to choose, New Delhi will obviously and emphatically choose its valuable commercial relationship with the U.S. over its skimpy trade ties with the Islamic republic,” Dhume said.

The timing is notable, with Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly set to visit India for next week’s BRICS summit. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are also expected to attend.

Xi, Putin and Modi at BRICS

Xi, Putin and Modi at BRICS. (MAXIM SHIPENKOV/Pool via REUTERS)

Analysts say the impact will ultimately depend on how aggressively Washington moves from warnings and diplomacy to actual secondary sanctions. That is particularly true with India, where more aggressive enforcement risks further straining U.S. relations with a strategically important partner.

“The U.S. should learn from its own past success in quietly persuading India to generally kick its Iran oil habit,” Dhume said. “Quiet diplomacy works better with India than bluster. This is the key lesson from the past that the Trump administration appears to be forgetting.”

The Indian government did not respond to News Media requests for comment.

Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm Hit by Theft of 11 Sheep

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Police have launched an investigation after 11 sheep were allegedly stolen from Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm, with the broadcaster issuing a blunt warning to those responsible: “We’re armed.”

The former Top Gear host said he discovered the suspected overnight theft while checking on his flock alongside Kaleb Cooper, his co-star on the hit Prime Video series Clarkson’s Farm.

Clarkson travelled to a remote field in Oxfordshire expecting to find 27 Easycare sheep, but counted just 16 remaining. Thames Valley Police was last night looking into the reported theft, according to The Sun.

The 66-year-old urged the thieves to bring the animals back and delivered a stark message, saying: “It’s a farm. We’re armed. Just so they know.” He added: “It p***** me off. Honestly, it just p***** me off.”

Clarkson said the missing sheep had a market value of more than £2,000, while their lambs could have been worth up to £8,000 as meat.

He added he was worried other livestock might have been stolen from elsewhere on his Cotswolds farm.

Mr Clarkson believes the sheep, which were featured on series five of his Amazon Prime show, were swiped at night or during a day camera crews were not present. 

Asked whether he believed the show had made his farm a target, he said: ‘It’s more likely to make you a target than less but I still don’t think they’ve been stolen because they’re on Diddly Squat. How can you [stop it] if someone’s determined to steal your livestock?’

Jeremy Clarkson has said 11 of the Easycare sheep from his Diddly Squat farm have been stolen

Jeremy Clarkson has said 11 of the Easycare sheep from his Diddly Squat farm have been stolen

The sheep have featured on the Amazon Prime series Mr Clarkson fronts and he warned the thieves: 'We're armed'

The sheep have featured on the Amazon Prime series Mr Clarkson fronts and he warned the thieves: ‘We’re armed’

Last month Mr Clarkson said the harvest at Diddly Squat was ‘f*****’ as the country endured a scorching summer.

The farm and pub owner posted a screenshot of the BBC weather forecast for Chipping Norton to Instagram with the caption: ‘Harvest already f*****. May as well just enjoy it now.’

The forecast for the Oxfordshire village – near to where the former Top Gear presenter owns the land made famous by his Amazon Prime series – showed a high of 29C (84F) on the day he posted.

Mr Clarkson’s farming show has been filming for a sixth series in recent months and after featuring candid reflection on the difficult realities of British farming in its earlier episodes, will likely focus on the impact of this year’s hot weather.

The 1,000-acre farm has previously produced traditional crops including wheat, barley and rapeseed alongside potatoes, mustard and clover.

But Mr Clarkson said in July he had deliberately left 200 acres uncropped this year because planting wheat or barley would have guaranteed financial losses.

He warned it was becoming ‘quite simply impossible’ to make money from growing food and warned more farmers could be left with little choice but to use their land for other means.

Mr Clarkson at the premiere of the new series of The Grand Tour on Wednesday

Mr Clarkson at the premiere of the new series of The Grand Tour on Wednesday

In 2021, Mr Clarkson told The Times that avoiding inheritance tax had been ‘the critical thing’ in his decision to buy the land.

But during a protest in 2024 against proposed reforms by Sir Keir Starmer’s government to the tax he said he had actually bought it ‘to shoot’.

The Government had proposed imposing a 20 per cent levy on inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1million from April this year, ending the 100 per cent tax relief which had been in place since the 1980s.

But after months of protests by farmers – including tractors bringing traffic to a halt in Westminster – the Government raised the threshold to £2.5million.

Mr Clarkson bought the land in the Cotswolds in 2008 but did not begin farming it himself until 2019.

In its first year the farm – originally bought by Mr Clarkson for £4.45million – made just £144 in profit before making less than £15,000 in the year from 2023 to 2024 and losing £5,000 in the year from 2024 to 2025.

He wrote last year: ‘If those numbers are typical, it means farmers are working twice as hard as anyone else and not even getting the minimum wage.’

Earlier this year, Mr Clarkson said he had been diagnosed with ‘aggressive’ prostate cancer which had been discovered early.

He later told The Sunday Times a PSA test in April showed no sign of cancer and he was in remission.

On Wednesday he appeared at the premiere of the latest series of The Grand Tour, which will see Francis Bourgeois, Thomas Holland and James Engelsman take over from him, James May and Richard Hammond.

Amal Clooney Gets a Helping Hand While Stepping Off a Boat in Venice

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Known for turning every appearance into a fashion moment, Amal Clooney delivered another standout style statement on her second night in Venice.

The human rights lawyer was seen stepping off a private boat with a little assistance before heading out for an evening with husband George Clooney at the glamorous film festival.

Amal, 48, arrived in an archival Prada dress embellished with turquoise fringed sequins, making a striking entrance as she was helped from the boat to the shore.

George looked equally polished in a sharp navy suit as the couple set off for the night, just hours after he had paid an emotional tribute to Amal during a powerful speech.

The 65-year-old Hollywood star, who received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement on Wednesday, used the moment to celebrate his “badass” lawyer wife.

Amal, a British-Lebanese human rights lawyer, has represented Yazidi survivors and helped secure historic legal victories holding ISIS members accountable for genocide.

Amal Clooney needed a helping hand as she exited her private boat to enjoy a night out with her husband George on the second night of the Venice Film Festival

Amal Clooney needed a helping hand as she exited her private boat to enjoy a night out with her husband George on the second night of the Venice Film Festival

With her penchant for showstopping outfits, it's no surprise that Amal had another stunning look for her second night in Venice after attending a red carpet

With her penchant for showstopping outfits, it’s no surprise that Amal had another stunning look for her second night in Venice after attending a red carpet

Amal, 48, opted for an archival Prada dress adorned with turquoise fringed sequins as she arrived in a private boat before being helped to shore

Amal, 48, opted for an archival Prada dress adorned with turquoise fringed sequins as she arrived in a private boat before being helped to shore

‘By the way, my wife’s the only person to have ever put ISIS on trial and won,’ he lauded. ‘She’s a badass, and she gets the job done. We do it for our families. We do it for our friends.’ 

He added: ‘Amal’s taken some very difficult stands over the years, and we’ve had to face some pretty heavy criticism based on that. I wrote an op-ed about President Joe Biden. I got some s***.

‘We have really interesting conversations around the table. But you know, we also have two nine-year-old kids, and we have a normal family life, and there’s a lot of laughing and a lot of love, and we’re very lucky, and we’re really aware of that.’

Clooney also added that he braces against people telling actors to ‘shut up’ about human rights and political issues.

‘I didn’t give away my freedom of speech the minute I became an actor,’ he defiantly said. ‘It also means that people can get mad at you and not like you anymore. Fair enough. That’s how this works. 

‘You can’t demand freedom of speech and then say, “But don’t say bad s*** about me”. Right? That’s the deal.’ 

Taking a swipe at President Trump, Clooney added: ‘I get mean tweets from the President of the United States. That’s okay. I can handle it. I’ll do all right. I’ll be fine. But that’s part of life.’ 

Clooney and Trump have taken plenty of swipes at each other over the years. 

Amal was given a helping hand into the boat by George as they made their way onto the canal

Amal was given a helping hand into the boat by George as they made their way onto the canal

Amal's thigh grazing dress showed off her toned legs

Amal’s thigh grazing dress showed off her toned legs

It was their second appearance of the night during the film festival

It was their second appearance of the night during the film festival

She teamed the dress with a pair of strappy silver heels

She teamed the dress with a pair of strappy silver heels

They were the epitome of old Hollywood during the elegant evening

They were the epitome of old Hollywood during the elegant evening

George cut a dapper figure in a smart navy blue suit as he and Amal headed out for the evening, hours after he'd paid tribute to her during a powerful speech

George cut a dapper figure in a smart navy blue suit as he and Amal headed out for the evening, hours after he’d paid tribute to her during a powerful speech

The 65-year-old Hollywood actor, who picked up the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement on Wednesday, made sure to praise his 'badass' lawyer wife Amal

The 65-year-old Hollywood actor, who picked up the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement on Wednesday, made sure to praise his ‘badass’ lawyer wife Amal

On Wednesday, Clooney launched a scathing attack on the US administration, branding those in charge ‘the least qualified people’ and slamming what he said was a complete absence of ‘decency’.

‘We’ve had some other difficult times but this is one of them,’ he said. ‘There is a great word, kakistocracy, which is a country run by the least qualified people. I think maybe we have a kakistocracy right now but we will get through it.

‘We will have an election in November that should be a check and balance and then in 2028, with any luck, we will have some restoration.’

The Oscar-winning star went on to denounce Trump’s administration as ‘cruel’, arguing that basic standards of decency had disappeared from public life.

‘The idea that cruelty is the base, that being cruel and unkind is part of the fun of all this,’ Clooney told press, in the latest of a string of attacks the actor has made against the running of the US.

‘You see what the secretary of defense just tweeted out a picture about women in the military in Canada and you’re going, “What is wrong with you?”

‘”Where is the sense of decency in all this?” I’m ashamed of all of that but we will get through it and we will come out better on the other side.’

Clooney drew on a tweet by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appearing to mock the physical appearance of an overweight female Canadian soldier presenting a medal at a youth camp.

On Monday night, Hegseth posted the image from a cadet training center in British Columbia with the caption: ‘This is real’.

Calling himself an optimist, Clooney said he remembered living through dark times in the country’s history – which he likened to today.

‘I’m old enough to have been through 1968 in the States when every city in the United States was set on fire and we lost Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy in the same year,’ he said.

‘There was tons of violence. The Capitol was surrounded with tanks. We’ve had some other difficult times, but this is one of them.’

Colorado Edges Georgia Tech in Thrilling Finish Behind Late-Game Confidence

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ATLANTA — Colorado freshman quarterback Julian Lewis delivered when it mattered most, finding tight end Charlie Williams for a 20-yard touchdown with 42 seconds left in the fourth quarter to give the Buffaloes a dramatic 14-13 victory over Georgia Tech on Thursday night in the season opener.

Georgia Tech appeared poised to steal the win in the final seconds after quarterback Alberto Mendoza connected with receiver Dalen Penson for a 42-yard gain, moving the Yellow Jackets into field goal range. But Colorado’s Boo Carter broke through to block Aidan Birr’s 45-yard attempt, sending the Buffaloes pouring onto the field in celebration.

Colorado coach Deion Sanders said the Buffaloes never stopped believing, even after trailing throughout the entire second half.

“If you’d know how many linemen grabbed me and said ‘I told y’all we got this, I told you we got this coach,’” Sanders said. “I mean you have no idea how many times I was shaken by a lineman and told that we got this, and I never doubted it.”

Charlie Williams catches the game-winning touchdown pass in the final minute of Colorado’s 14-13 win over George Tech on Sept. 3, 2026 in Atlanta. Getty Images

Lewis endured a difficult night for much of the game, but the Colorado quarterback steadied himself late. Before the winning touchdown drive, he helped the Buffaloes drain 9:07 off the clock with a 17-play, 61-yard march that ended when 6-foot-9 Georgia Tech tight end Kevin Roche Jr. blocked a field goal attempt.

Georgia Tech responded with a field goal scoring drive to take a 13-7 lead, but with newfound confidence, Lewis led a clutch two-minute drill for the win.

“I talked to him at halftime in front of the whole team… I told (Lewis) ‘Let’s go. Be that man. We believe in you. Let’s go.’ You know, I challenged him in front of the whole team,” Sanders said. “He took advantage of the moment.”

After a first half with six completions for 41 yards, Lewis finished the night 14-of-27 for 124 yards and a touchdown. Running back Micah Welch put the Buffaloes on the board with a 5-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter, giving Colorado a short-lived 7-0 lead.

Georgia Tech responded 14 seconds later as Rahkeem Smith returned a kick 100 yards for a touchdown and tied the game. It was Smith’s first touch as a Yellow Jacket and the program’s first kick returned for a touchdown since Jahmyr Gibbs against Boston College in 2021.

Mendoza finished the night 17-of-23 for 237 yards and dodged an injury scare that onlookers feared could affect his second half availability.

His debut featured promising moments, like scrambling away from traffic in the second quarter and throwing a 22-yard dart to Jordan Allen on the move. Mendoza capped off Georgia Tech’s final drive with his longest completion of the night, a 42-yarder, to put the Yellow Jackets in field goal range.

He was sacked three times for a loss of 22 yards.

Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders walks off the field after Colorado's win over Georgia Tech.

Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders walks off the field after Colorado’s win over Georgia Tech. AP

Colorado’s last time starting the season 1-0 was in 2023 in Sanders’ debut with a 45-42 win against TCU, and it, too, was a thriller.

The Buffaloes were the last to find the end zone in a barnburner, with Shedeur Sanders leading a 6-play, 82-yard drive late in the fourth.

Takeaway

Colorado: After seven seasons without a 1,000 yard rusher, Colorado has two strong prospects with Welch and Damian Henderson II splitting snaps in the backfield. Welch finished the night with 58 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Henderson had 12 carries for 65 yards.

Georgia Tech: Atlanta’s 74% humidity didn’t impact fan attendance, with 51,913 fans packed in Bobby Dodd Stadium’s third consecutive sell-out. The humidity helped contribute to ball control issues for Georgia Tech who fumbled three times in the first half, losing one.

New Illinois Law Expands Financial Protections for Domestic Violence Survivors Facing Coercive Control

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CHICAGO (WLS) — For many domestic violence survivors, the abuse does not stop the moment they leave an abusive partner. Some are pressured or threatened into opening credit cards, taking out loans or assuming debt in their own names, leaving them to face years of financial strain long after the relationship ends. A new Illinois law aims to strengthen legal protections for survivors by ensuring they are not held responsible for debt they were manipulated or coerced into taking on.

“Financial abuse is very real,” Republican Illinois State Representative Nicole La Ha told the ABC7 I-Team.

La Ha said survivors of domestic abuse should not be left carrying the financial consequences of another person’s control or violence. In response, she said she sponsored bipartisan legislation in February that was recently signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker.

“It creates a pathway or a defense when it comes to debt that was incurred due to domestic violence,” said La Ha.

The new law creates an affirmative defense for domestic violence survivors. That means if a survivor is sued or pursued by a collection agency over debt they were forced to incur, they may be legally excused from repayment and avoid liability for that coerced debt.

“We need to make sure we have resources for them, and we need to make sure that the law helps them, that we are protecting victims, and that we’re giving them tools in the courtrooms to be able to put their abusers away,” La Ha told the I-Team.

“It’s going to keep survivors from getting mired in debt when they’re trying to leave,” said Amanda Pyron, President and CEO of The Network.

A study by the Center for Survivor Agency and Justice shows more than half of survivors experienced coerced debt during their abusive relationship.

“It’s so difficult for a survivor of coercive control to even self-identify because you know in our society the pictures of domestic violence are often physical abuse. Survivors of coercive control often feel like they’re not victims enough to go to law enforcement,” said Pyron.

Advocacy groups, such as The Network, offer financial support, help locate legal representation and guide survivors on how to accurately submit the necessary paperwork to prove coerced debt to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

SEE ALSO | What to know during Domestic Violence Awareness Month

“They can help you financially, because financially at home I wasn’t doing well. He basically used money against me,” said “Jane,” a survivor of domestic violence who asked not to be identified out of concern for her safety. “Jane” did not directly experience coerced debt but benefitted from financial services provided by The Network

“It was hard because I had three kids, so I had to do what I could to provide for my children… I’m thankful that The Network was able to help me financially, and with that money I was able to save money. So then when I left, I had some financial stability for my children and for me to continue life,” “Jane” told the I-Team.

“It allows for financial relief for survivors who have experienced coercive control or financial abuse that has led to a credit agency contacting them,” said Pyron.

“This creates a very clear legal pathway for survivors to improve their credit, and the prosecutors work to make sure that the credit bureaus are notified when a judgment is issued that a survivor should not be responsible for this debt,” said Pyron.

“We’d love any new tools that we can get to be able to further enable us to protect people from being abused. A lot of this is done in partnership with our state’s attorney’s office, within our law enforcement agencies,” said Jim Kaitschuk, Illinois Sheriffs’ Association Executive Director.

“I hope that I can show my children that no matter what you go through in life, there’s always a path, and there’s so much to life. There’s so much that you can do,” said “Jane.”

The new law takes effect on January 1. The Network says it plans to launch a public awareness campaign. Representative La Ha tells the I-Team law enforcement, judges, attorneys, and advocates will be trained to make sure the legislation is implemented effectively.

You can contact the Illinois domestic violence hotline at 1-877-863-6338 click here for more information.

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GPD Suspends Automated License Plate Readers: What It Means

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Photo by Mother Flocker on Unsplash

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya has suspended the Gainesville Police Department’s use of automated license plate reader cameras installed along city rights-of-way. The cameras, commonly known as Flock cameras, were taken offline following Gov. Ron DeSantis’ announcement Monday that license plate reader cameras would be removed from state rights-of-way.

“Automated license plate readers have unequivocally been one of our best public safety tools in recent years, and, because of this technology, we have solved countless crimes, including homicides, sexual assaults, recovered missing people, and brought to justice those who have harmed our community. While we believe that we have strong policies and safeguards in place governing the use of these cameras, and regularly inspect the system to ensure compliance, we recognize the unilateral wave of community concerns regarding privacy and individual rights,” Chief Moya said. “Our responsibility is to be good stewards of the community we serve and, above all, to maintain the public’s trust. After careful consideration, I believe suspending the use of these cameras is in the best interest of our community while we continue to monitor any potential legislative efforts at the state and federal level in the hope that it brings greater transparency regarding the use of this technology, and, for us here in Gainesville, to garner support from our community in its use.”

GPD said it understands that automated license plate reader technology has sparked a range of views among residents. The department said it will continue working with the public and community stakeholders to address safety concerns while also respecting individual rights and civil liberties.

Residents may still notice license plate reader cameras on some roads, but GPD-operated cameras are no longer active. The department said its cameras were turned off effective today, Sept. 3, 2026, at 3 p.m., and are no longer being used by Gainesville police.

The pause on automated license plate readers does not change the Gainesville Police Department’s use of other investigative tools and technologies. GPD said body-worn cameras remain a key part of its transparency efforts and help strengthen cases developed by officers. The department said it will continue reviewing available resources and practices to ensure it can respond to crime and protect the Gainesville community.

Two Workers Rescued From Nepal Tunnel Nine Days After Deadly Flood

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Two hydropower workers were found alive Friday inside a debris-choked tunnel in Nepal, offering a rare moment of hope on the tenth day of rescue operations following devastating Himalayan floods.

Footage released by the energy ministry captured rescuers breaking into cheers as one of the men crawled out through a mud-filled opening.

Emergency crews helped him stand before carrying him on their backs toward a helicopter, with the survivor raising his hand as he was taken to safety.

In a separate photograph, the second worker was seen covered in mud, pressing his hands together in prayer as rescuers carried him away on a stretcher.

Rescue teams described the survival as a “miracle” after last Wednesday’s disaster, which has killed at least 1,200 people and left more than 5,000 missing across China and Nepal.

‘I am so happy, my heart is lighter,’ Amir Maharjan, the brother of rescued worker 45-year-old Kabir Maharjan said.

The men were identified as Sanjay Shah, 30, a mechanical foreman, as well as Maharjan, a mechanical supervisor, by Home Minister Sudan Gurung.

The Nepal Army said the two men were receiving medical treatment and that ‘search and rescue operations are ongoing.’

The two are among hundreds of hydropower workers missing since a wall of mud and debris swept through the region on August 26 after a vast glacial and rock collapse on a mountain on the China-Nepal border.

Dramatic video obtained by CNN showed about a dozen rescuers pulling a man from a small hole in the ground

Rescue crews are seen carrying one of the freed power plant workers to safety

Rescue crews are seen carrying one of the freed power plant workers to safety

The rescue came amid a desperate operation to bore into the tunnel to search for 42 workers who remained unaccounted for following the deadly August 26 floods

The rescue came amid a desperate operation to bore into the tunnel to search for 42 workers who remained unaccounted for following the deadly August 26 floods 

Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha confirmed that rescue at the Trishuli 3A tunnel.

Searches were continuing at that tunnel and other sites, with at least 12 hydropower projects smashed by the floods.

The government had initially said it believed more than 100 workers could be alive inside multiple tunnels.

Nepali rescuers, aided by experts from India, China and South Korea, have continued searching for survivors feared trapped inside hydropower tunnels, but teams had repeatedly hit walls of hard-packed debris.

Until Friday, none of the tunnel workers had been confirmed alive.

Australian rescue expert Arnold Dix, who has been supporting the operation remotely, said that the rescue efforts were ‘back in miracle country’ after a ‘week of 24/7 heartache’.

Earlier Friday, Dix said teams at the Trishuli 3A hydropower project believed they had heard a faint response from inside the tunnel.

‘They believe they received a faint response from inside saying, ‘hunchha’, yes or OK,’ Dix, president of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association said, adding that he was en route to Nepal to join the rescue effort.

He said rescuers had called into the tunnel: ‘Don’t worry, we are rescuing you.’

Dix was a key adviser during the Himalayan rescue effort that successfully freed all 41 Indian workers trapped inside a collapsed under-construction road tunnel in 2023.

Dix said teams had dug through debris blocking the tunnel for 50 to 60 metres (164-196 feet) and had been hoping for a breakthrough at any moment.

Less than an hour later, rescuers pulled the two men to safety.

Soldiers are pictured carrying a powerplant worker to safety on Friday morning

Soldiers are pictured carrying a powerplant worker to safety on Friday morning

A Nepal Army soldier is seen trying to sift through the mud during the search efforts

A Nepal Army soldier is seen trying to sift through the mud during the search efforts

Nepal army soldiers are pictured working during a search and rescue operation outside a tunnel near the Hydropower Project sites on Wednesday

Nepal army soldiers are pictured working during a search and rescue operation outside a tunnel near the Hydropower Project sites on Wednesday

Some Nepali families who were searching for their missing loved ones had began holding symbolic funerals in the last days, in a sign of dimming hopes for survivors.

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has called the gigantic wave triggered by a rock and ice avalanche a ‘Himalayan tsunami’.

Floods had tore through mountain districts, destroying roads, bridges and multiple hydropower dams that day.

Entire sections of settlements were swept away, leaving the landscape resembling a puzzle with pieces missing.

Picturesque villages of green paddy fields and houses sat beside vast chunks of land washed away.

Communities near the epicentre remain cut off.

The United Nations has warned that the ‘magnitude of the destruction’ makes delivering aid an immense challenge, with cargo drones and porters being considered to reach isolated communities.

‘Access has been very, very, very difficult,’ UN chief in Nepal Lila Pieters Yahia said.

Nepal’s disaster authority says number of bodies recovered is 1,259, with 5,083 people missing. 

In China, state media say 21 people had bene killed, and 541 people are missing. That takes the overall toll to 1,280 people, with 5,624 missing.

More than 800 foreigners from at least 34 countries are among those missing, including tourists and pilgrims, in both Nepal and Tibet in China.

Human Rights Activist: Iran Chooses Conflict With US Over Peace to Crush Domestic Dissent

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Iran’s ruling establishment appears more willing to sustain confrontation with the United States and Gulf neighbors than move toward peace, using external tensions to distract a frustrated public at home, according to one expert.

The warning comes as U.S. forces have carried out airstrikes against Iran in recent days, after a short-lived pause in fighting gave way to renewed tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.

Dr. Majid Sadeghpour, a human rights activist and political director of the Organization of Iranian-American Communities, told News Media that Tehran is less worried about foreign military pressure than it is about growing unrest among Iranians.

Fires are lit as protesters rally in Iran

Fires burn as anti-government protesters gather Jan. 8 in Tehran. A human rights activist warned that Iran’s leaders prefer limited conflict with the United States over peace because it helps shift public attention away from domestic grievances. (Getty Images, File)

Sadeghpour said U.S. officials had presented Tehran with assurances that could have opened a path toward peace for Iran.

“You get America to give you a guarantee that it wouldn’t seek regime change. Nevertheless, they still attacked ships afterward,” Sadeghpour said. “They still attacked our bases in Jordan and Bahrain. So that speaks to the fact that the real threat to the regime is not the bombs from outside, but rather the population uprising.”

Trump pumps his fist next to a photo of the Strait of Hormuz

Ships and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Musandam, Oman. President Donald Trump says he isn’t focused on bringing Tehran to the bargaining table. (Reuters, File)

“For a regime that’s militarized and requires friction, its survival now depends on that friction,” he added.

Iran has experienced major uprisings in recent years driven by economic collapse, high inflation, and deep discontent with the regime’s strict religious interpretation of Islam. In addition, the Iranian government has suppressed anti-government riots and protests with deadly force and arbitrary arrests and detention, according to human rights observers.

The war with the U.S. helps the regime, Sadeghpour said, by refocusing the Iranian public’s attention elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Iran has continued to target commercial ships in the strait in violation of an agreement not to do so, Vice President JD Vance said Thursday.

Mojataba Khamenei

Regime leaders in Iran such as supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei are content to see continued confrontation with the U.S., an expert says.  (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images, File)

“The Iranians are doing what the Iranians do,” Vance said. “I think that they’re losing their capabilities by the day. I think they’re realizing… that their control over the Strait of Hormuz is effectively gone, and it’s a diminishing asset.”

In order to effect regime change, the U.S. should focus its efforts on the Iranian population, said Sadeghpour, because Iranian leaders will likely drag out the conflict with the U.S. for as long as they can.

“The regime is thinking about the day, the hour after the exhausted population gets calm, and will immediately look around, ‘how am I going to get rid of this regime? And who’s going to help me do that?’ And so that is what the regime is afraid of,” he said.

Marines enforce blockade in the Strait of Hormuz

Marines aboard USS New Orleans (LPD 18) stand watch in the Arabian Sea during naval blockade operations against Iran. (U.S. Central Command)

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he isn’t focused on bringing Tehran to the bargaining table, saying he “couldn’t care less” if Iran signs a “worthless” agreement.

“They are just playing out the inevitable,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “When are the Iranian people going to rise up and fight?”