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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.
As the ferry approaches its docking point on the picturesque shores of the Greek island Ithaca, Giorgia Ongarato stands eagerly, her mind swirling with thoughts of Homer’s “Odyssey.” This legendary epic is not only the foundation of classic literature but also a source of inspiration for Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed blockbuster film.
For this Italian attorney, visiting Ithaca has always been a dream come true. The island, steeped in myth and history, is famously believed to be the home of Odysseus, the epic’s revered hero.
Giorgia, sporting a T-shirt boldly featuring the word ‘Odyssey’ in ancient Greek script, is a testament to her lifelong passion. The shirt further bears a poignant line from the epic poem itself. “I delved into Greek studies as a youngster,” she explains. “It’s where my journey with the Odyssey began.”
Although she clarifies that her love for this timeless tale long predates Nolan’s film, the 50-year-old enthusiast acknowledges the movie’s brilliance, describing it with enthusiasm as “wonderful.”
With this renewed cinematic interest, local businesses and officials on Ithaca are hopeful that many more visitors, captivated by the Odyssey’s enduring allure, will venture to this historic island, just as Giorgia has done.
Ithaca, in the Ionian Sea off the west coast of mainland Greece, is far from the country’s tourist hubs, and despite crystal-clear waters and spectacular bays, it has never been a regular stop for travellers.
Its interior is rugged, carpeted with olive and cypress trees, and strikingly calm even at the height of the tourist season.
Controversy over the movie in Greece
Although the movie has undoubtedly piqued the interest of many, it has also been slightly controversial in Greece — although some Greek locations were used, not a single scene in the blockbuster was shot on Ithaca.
That decision has upset some on the island of roughly 3,000 inhabitants, where the film has been shown twice in open-air screenings since its 16 July worldwide release.
Xhimi Xoxha, who runs a restaurant in Ithaca’s capital of Vathi, said he was content that the movie was already “generating publicity for the island”. He predicted the positive effects would continue.
While Ithaca mayor Dionysis Stanitsas agreed that the publicity was “tremendous”, he could not hide his disappointment that the island itself did not feature.
“We had reached out to the production team and asked that some scenes be filmed here on the island,” he said. “Unfortunately, that wasn’t feasible.”
He is, however, counting on rising demand next year, and the island was already fully booked for this season by the time the film came out.
“As more people see it, they will begin planning trips to visit the island,” he said.
What’s on Ithaca?
Visitors will not find a palace of Odysseus or any spectacular archaeological site likely to confirm the existence of the hero of Homer’s poem.
But village squares and the town hall are dotted with statues of Odysseus and Homer.
And there are other pointers to the island’s rich literary heritage.
In the small sun-drenched port, boats bob in the green water bearing names like Telemachus (son of Odysseus) and Calypso (a goddess and nymph who imprisoned him).
Trinket shops offer busts of Homer and Penelope, Odysseus’s wife.
T-shirts can be found amid the jumble featuring the Cyclops Polyphemus — one of the many monsters defeated by Odysseus.
And the truly devoted can splash out for a wall plate decorated with a Trojan Horse.
Archaeologist Spyros Couvaras is among those expecting a dramatic upsurge in visitors, saying it was clear that visitors wanted more than just sand and sea — they wanted the history and the mythology.
None of those are in short supply here.
A short distance from the shops and restaurants of the port, holidaymakers stretch out on deck chairs under parasols at Dexia Beach, enveloped by the grating sound of cicadas.
According to legend, this is where Odysseus landed after years of voyaging.
Couvaras said the “driving force” of the renewed interest was undoubtedly the movie.
President Donald Trump has indicated a strategic shift in the United States’ stance on the Iran conflict, opting for a more subdued approach.
Rather than engaging in military actions, the president intends to pivot towards leveraging economic sanctions as a form of pressure.
“We’re taking a low-key strategy. We’re only partially negotiating with Iran,” Trump shared in an interview with Axios on Sunday. “We’re simply noting Iran’s severe inflation issues and its lack of financial resources.”
He emphasized that Iran is in dire straits, financially unable to compensate its military forces, a predicament further aggravated by the US’ naval blockade.
“It will work out. It always does. It’s much like a strategic game of chess,” he remarked confidently.
It came a day after details emerged on the potential deal between Iran and Oman on managing the Strait of Hormuz.
The Oman agreement, which was viewed as a pending done deal until Tehran issued a list of demands on Saturday, would have given Iran partial control of traffic in the strait.
The key waterway has been closed for much of the time since the war on Iran began in late February.
President Donald Trump has revealed that the US is pivoting to a more ‘low-key’ approach in the conflict with Iran
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attending a press conference in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday. Iran issued a list of demands to the US that same day as both sides seek a deal over the Strait of Hormuz
On Saturday, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said the strait will not reopen until the US ‘corrects its behavior.’
Tehran suggested that vessels linked to ‘hostile countries’ would be barred.
It demanded that the US never threaten Iran again, a permanent end to the war with Iran and its armed allies, a lifting of the naval blockade of Iranian ports and a withdrawal of American military from the area.
The US also must ‘completely compensate’ Iran for war damage, lift sanctions and ‘unconditionally’ release frozen assets.
Trump did not respond to the demands and his comments on Sunday appeared to be confirmed by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who said there are no ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
A 60-day period to negotiate a final deal will end in just over a week but could be extended.
It comes as Israel rejected a deal Trump announced for Gaza last month.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the deal, saying Israel´s military ‘will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed.’
Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen attacked the government-held port city of Mocha late Sunday night. It was the second attack on the Red Sea coast city in less than 24 hours
The Oman agreement, which was viewed as a done deal until Tehran issued a list of demands on Saturday, would have given Iran partial control of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Ships are shown anchored in the strait off Bandar Abbas, Iran, on Wednesday
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian (center, back) attending a press conference in the capital Tehran, on Saturday
Netanyahu told a Cabinet meeting that ‘Israel rejects the 15-point document’ but is still discussing plans for Gaza with Washington, after making similar comments last week.
Trump had said Israeli forces would withdraw as the Hamas militant group’s disarmament is completed.
Israeli forces control over half the Palestinian enclave of about two million people that has been largely destroyed.
‘We remain committed to the road map,’ Bassem Naim, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said.
He added that the group expects mediators and the US to pressure Netanyahu, who also faces domestic tensions as he struggles to hold onto power ahead of the next elections scheduled for October 27.
Meanwhile, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen attacked the government-held port city of Mocha late Sunday night. It was the second attack on the Red Sea coast city in less than 24 hours.
A military source told the Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV that the attack targeted weapons depots and Saudi troop concentrations.
A statement from the Yemeni Armed Forces posted on X said residential neighborhoods were targeted by ballistic missiles and drones in the attack, and that air defense systems managed to intercept some of the drones.
A Lebanese army bulldozer removes the rubble following Israeli military operations in the southern Lebanese village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah on August 8, 2026. Israel refused in talks on August 6, to withdraw from more areas of south Lebanon unless the Lebanese army had full control of an initial two ‘pilot zones’
A Lebanese army soldier inspects destruction of a home by the Israeli military in the southern Lebanese village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah on August 8, 2026
The Yemeni government-allied National Resistance Forces said at least seven people, four troops and three civilians, were killed and 15 civilians were injured in that strike.
Fayed al-Noman, the information ministry’s assistant undersecretary, said the attack severely damaged port buildings and piers as well as commercial goods and food supplies. The military later said missiles landed in several areas, including near a television station.
Mocha is a main port under Yemen’s internationally recognized government and has been renovated to handle shipping that avoids the Houthi-held port of Hodeida.
The Houthis said they targeted military forces and warehouses.
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) chapter in Wilmington, North Carolina, finds itself at odds with local authorities following the removal of their bus stop benches, which city and state officials have deemed unauthorized.
Since April 2025, the activist group has installed over 30 benches at city bus stops without securing approval from municipal bodies or the transit authority, thereby contravening established city ordinances.
According to a July 6 report by WECT-TV, Wilmington City Attorney Meredith Everhart highlighted that the benches failed to meet several requirements: they lacked city or WAVE sanctioning, were incompatible with ADA standards, bypassed necessary permitting procedures, and featured political messages prohibited in public right-of-ways.
Subsequent emails, as reported by various local media outlets, revealed that the DSA disregarded requests for bench removal. A statement from the group acknowledged the absence of official approval but indicated their decision to forge ahead with the initiative, further launching a campaign to advocate for the benches’ retention.
Images disseminated by the DSA chapter depict the benches adorned with slogans such as “We Must Have Mass Social Housing!” and “Liberation for All,” accompanied by the rainbow and trans flags, along with the phrase “Fruits of Community Labor.”
New Hanover County Commissioner Dane Scalise, a candidate for the North Carolina House of Representatives in November, announced on August 1 that he initiated the review with the state’s transportation department.
“The city is working with the DSA, an organization whose platform calls for replacing capitalism with socialism as well as abolishing the US Senate, Electoral College, and Supreme Court? Apparently so, I’m afraid. In case you don’t know, New Hanover County contributes a substantial amount of money to Wave every year. We also have numerous appointees to its board of directors. Let me make something very clear: I will do everything I can to ensure that New Hanover County plays no role in this apparent partnership with the DSA,” said Scalise on social media. “Enough is enough. I am tired of waiting for others to act.”
Scalise’s announcement came the same day as the Cape Fear Proud Boys took credit for removing one of the benches and repainting it with an anti-socialist message, writing, “Socialism is slavery.”
On August 6, 20 of the benches were removed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
“We were recently made aware of new bus benches placed on the state right-of-way,” NCDOT spokesperson Veronica Scott wrote via email. “Because these benches are not in compliance with the NCDOT Bus Shelter & Bus Stop Guidelines and are a safety hazard and liability for the state, they are being removed from state property.”
The city of Wilmington followed a day later, removing the remaining benches on Friday, August 7, “While the two parties work toward an agreement about their continued temporary use.”
In a statement posted on their website, the DSA chapter makes their goal in advancing a socialist agenda in the city clear: “The benches exist because we believe socialism means working together to give everyone the means to secure their own agency and dignity. This means a right to housing, medical care, education, fast and reliable public transit and yes, the right to a place to sit and rest in public. The benches are not a secret advertisement for Democratic Socialism; the benches themselves are the product of Democratic Socialism.”
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I are fortunate to have friends who are truly kind-hearted, intelligent, and welcoming. Yet, as we’ve got to know them better, we’ve encountered a challenge with “Phyllis” and her endless talking. Her monologues can last indefinitely, monopolizing whoever is seated next to her.
Phyllis tends to speak without even glancing at her listener and rarely acknowledges interjections. She mentioned she’s hard of hearing and does wear a hearing aid, but it feels like this issue goes beyond just hearing difficulties.
We now face a tricky situation as they have booked themselves on a cruise with us. We didn’t invite them, but when we mentioned our plans, they decided it would be a fun idea to tag along. Facing the prospect of dining together nightly, subjected to her endless chatter, threatens to cast a shadow over what is meant to be a rare and cherished vacation for us. Is there any tactful way to maintain a conversational balance without offending them? — DREADING IT IN OREGON
DEAR DREADING IT: Before the cruise embarks, it’s crucial for either you or your husband to express to your friends that the purpose of your trip is to enjoy some dedicated time together and to mingle with new faces. This means you won’t be available to dine with them every evening or join in every activity together. Be upfront about your intentions to blend relaxation with new experiences.
** ** **
DEAR ABBY: My wife of 48 years recently died, and my stepson put some artificial flowers on her grave. I was surprised to see this when I visited on the eight-month anniversary of her death. Both my wife and I always considered artificial flowers tacky and not appropriate for cemeteries, even though lots of people decorate gravesites with them.
I haven’t said anything to him about my feelings about plastic flowers, but I would like to prevent more of them from being placed when these fade away. How can I ask him to not put any more plastic flowers on the grave, or should I just ignore it? I’m less likely to visit her grave when these flowers are there. — MOURNING IN ALABAMA
DEAR MOURNING: Your stepson may not realize how his mother felt about plastic flowers, so mention it to him the next time you talk. If he doesn’t visit his mother’s grave often, he may not realize that they have been removed, which I suggest you do if seeing them would discourage your visits.
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DEAR ABBY: I’ve been married for 40 years, but it’s a platonic relationship with no communication on his part. I must run the household, make sure bills get paid and be responsible for everything — whatever life throws at us. My health is waning, and I’m concerned for my future. I have tried talking, counseling, etc., to no avail. What do I do? — FED UP IN UTAH
DEAR FED UP: Because, after 40 years, you are finally fed up enough that you might actually do something about it, I’m suggesting some sessions with a different counselor than the one you have been seeing. You stated that you are the one who takes care of the house, pays the bills, etc. Has your husband been earning the money? If so, then you might also benefit from interviewing several attorneys about what your options might be if you no longer wish to carry the whole load alone.
** ** **
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
In a disturbing turn of events, a mother in North Dakota reportedly sent a threatening video to her children’s father just before launching a violent attack on them, authorities have revealed.
Kailey Erhart, aged 22, is accused of fatally stabbing her daughters, Morgan, age three, and Ava, just five months old, at her residence in Mandan last Thursday evening. This information comes from an affidavit obtained by KVLY.
The tragic event also left her one-year-old son, Colton, seriously injured. Despite the violent assault, Colton survived after receiving extensive and urgent medical care.
According to the affidavit, Erhart’s “horrific” act followed a confrontation where she allegedly brandished a firearm at her estranged spouse, Cameron, subsequently forcing him and the children’s grandmother to flee the house as she pursued them with a knife.
Responding officers discovered Erhart at the scene, reportedly drenched in blood and holding a kitchen knife against her own throat, posing an ongoing threat to herself.
Officers found the three children lying on the floor after following a trail of blood to a nearby bedroom, the filing said. They were unresponsive and had wounds on their necks, per the document.
Before the attack, Erhart texted a video to Cameron warning him to ‘say goodbye to your kids,’ the affidavit said.
The footage allegedly showed her carrying one child with a pistol on her hip.
Erhart was arrested at the scene and faces nine charges, including two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and multiple counts of aggravated assault and terrorizing. She has not yet entered a plea.
Kailey Erhart is accused of knifing her three young children in her Mandan, North Dakota home on Thursday in what police have called a ‘horrific’ attack
Her daughters Morgan, three, and Ava, five months, were killed in the attack. Erhart’s one-year-old son survived, but sustained serious injuries
A judge has set Erhart’s cash bond at $3 million, according to Burleigh Morton Detention Center inmate records reviewed by the Daily Mail.
A formal no-contact order has also been put in place, barring the accused killer from contacting the surviving child or family members.
Her preliminary hearing and arraignment have been set for October 6.
Police said that Erhart and Cameron were in the midst of a separation at the time of the deadly attack. He allegedly planned to file for divorce.
Erhart had an apparent history of mental illness, with the young mother admitting to having suffered from postpartum depression after Morgan’s birth three years ago.
‘This last month and a half have definitely been some of the hardest times I have been through,’ she wrote in a Facebook post in April 2023, the Daily Mail can reveal.
‘I love Morgan to pieces and I’m so glad she’s here, but my postpartum depression has definitely kicked my butt at times. Sometimes I feel so alone and stuck like nobody is there for me and I have nobody to talk to and sometimes I wish I would have waited to have Morgan.
‘It’s definitely been a wild ride considering I’ve felt so depressed and I thought Morgan would be better off with me gone, and other times like I don’t know where I’d be without her.’
Erhart, 22, faces nine charges, including two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and multiple counts of aggravated assault and terrorizing. She is being held at the Burleigh Morton Detention Center on a $3 million cash bail
Erhart and her husband, Cameron, were in the midst of a separation at the time of the attack
She went on to say that she was ‘one lucky mama to have this little girl with me everyday’ and claimed that ‘adorable’ Morgan has ‘definitely helped me out in more ways then [sic] one.’
Erhart had also been institutionalized over alleged mental health concerns about 12 to 18 months prior to Thursday’s attack, the affidavit said.
She had allegedly threatened to hurt herself and the children but was cleared to be around them after being discharged from the facility.
Erhart told police during questioning that she did not remember what happened during the deadly attack last week.
She claimed to have put the children to bed and told officers she believed their throats had been slit before then, the affidavit said.
She did remember holding the knife in her hands when officers arrived at the home, according to the court document.
Mandan Police Chief Jason Ziegler, during a press conference, described the crime scene as ‘one of the most horrific’ that his officers are likely to ever encounter.
‘I want to acknowledge this is an extreme, tragic and heartbreaking incident for the children involved, their families, our community and first responders who arrived on scene,’ he said, KFYR reported. ‘Our thoughts are with everyone that were impacted.’
A GoFundMe campaign has been created to support Cameron and his one-year-old son
Police say Erhart and Cameron got into a physical altercation before her alleged killing spree at their home
Erhart appears in court before Judge Marina Spahr, who set her bail at $3 million. Her preliminary hearing and arraignment have been set for October 6
Police say Erhart and Cameron got into a physical altercation before her alleged killing spree.
She threatened him with the gun she had recently purchased, but he managed to disarm her during the struggle, which saw her bite and scratch him, the report said.
Cameron took the weapon apart and scattered the pieces, police said.
A GoFundMe campaign has been created to support Cameron and Colton during this difficult time.
‘He is a father trying to survive something no parent should ever have to face,’ the fundraiser said.
‘I lost two precious souls in a devastating tragedy after they were murdered by their mother, and the pain is more than I can put into words.
‘Every day, we are carrying unimaginable grief while also trying to stay strong for his surviving child, who is receiving ongoing medical care and facing challenges no child should ever have to endure.’
The fundraiser has already amassed more than $26,000 in donations.
The Daily Mail reached out to Erhart’s lawyer for comment.
WWE’s powerhouse couple, Bianca Belair and Montez Ford, are celebrating a new chapter in their lives as they welcome their first child.
In an Instagram post that delighted fans worldwide, the couple joyfully announced the birth of their son, Romeo Leonardo Allen Crawford. The heartfelt post captivated their audience with two intimate photos, showcasing baby Romeo’s tiny feet snuggled in a cozy gray swaddle and his lush, dark hair.
“Welcome to the world ROMEO LEONARDO ALLEN CRAWFORD,” wrote Belair, marking a new milestone in their journey.
Congratulatory messages poured in swiftly from fellow wrestlers, friends, and fans, all welcoming the newest member of the WWE family with open arms.
“I’m sooo happy for you both!!! Congratulations,” one person wrote.
“I’m so happy for your beautiful family!!! All the love in the world to you, B!” another commented.
“Awwwwww……look at the lil feet. Beautiful head of hair too! Congratulations!” a third fan added.
The happy news comes just months after Belair revealed she was expecting during a surprise appearance at WrestleMania 42. The moment marked her return to WWE after spending more than a year away from the ring while recovering from a finger injury.
Following the announcement, Belair thanked fans for their support in an emotional Instagram post.
“I was so nervous to pop my little private bubble and share this moment but I’m so overwhelmed and truly overjoyed with the outpouring love and support. I was literally shaking and crying backstage before I came out. This year has been so hard in ways you guys just REALLY don’t even know but everything TRULY happens for a reason. There has been so many twists and turns but ending here has made it all worth it. I’ll be back! But until then enjoy this ride with me!” Belair wrote.
Romeo is Belair’s first child and the third for Ford, whose real name is Kenneth Crawford. The couple got engaged in 2017 before marrying the following year. They later invited fans into their lives through Hulu’s Love & WWE: Bianca & Montez, which chronicled both their personal lives and wrestling careers.
Embed from Getty Images
While Belair stepped away from in-ring competition during her pregnancy, Ford has continued competing as one-half of The Street Profits alongside Angelo Dawkins.
Congratulations to Bianca Belair, Montez Ford, and baby Romeo!
A dramatic video has emerged, capturing the startling moment a bison knocked down a tourist in a forest in Poland, refusing to let its human victim get back on his feet.
The unsettling incident unfolded in Poland’s Białowieża Forest, where the tourist found himself just 20 feet from the bison when it unexpectedly charged last Monday, local media TVP World reported. The immense creature barreled into the man, sending him sprawling to the ground.
The chilling footage, shared widely on social media, shows the massive bison looming over the fallen man, leaving viewers in suspense.
As the tourist attempts to regain his footing, the powerful bison swiftly lunges at him, forcing him back to the ground, as the video shockingly illustrates.
Nature photographer Grzegorz Ryński, who captured the intense scene, can be heard urging the tourist to remain still. He then used his vehicle to intervene, creating a barrier between the man and the determined bison, according to the report from TVP World.
Ryński slowly drove toward the animal, with the car door ajar so the man could get inside.
However, the tourist appeared to be in shock and tried to flee the bison on foot, forcing the photographer to slowly reverse alongside him until they were far enough away.
“We shouldn’t blame the bison. The man was actually very lucky because this particular animal was quite calm. There are much more aggressive individuals,” Ryński told a broadcaster, TVN24, per the outlet.
Ryński’s wife, Aneta, who also saw the takedown, said the tourist had a deep gash on his calf and was badly bruised and needed to be taken to the hospital for treatment.
“A bison is a wild animal. If a person gets too close, the animal may feel threatened and attack,” she said.
The famed forest, located on Poland’s border with Belarus, is a refuge for roughly 1,176 free-range European bison.
In July, Grandpa Carl Isom-McDaniel was tossed 8 feet in the air by a bison in a viral attack at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.
Parkgoers are urged to keep their distance to avoid being attacked by the powerful, dangerous animals that can weigh up to 2,000 pounds.
Tune in to Dateline’s compelling episode, The Unfinished Drug War, premiering on 11 August at 9.30pm AEST on SBS and available for streaming on SBS On Demand.
Amid the crowded alleyways of Manila’s vibrant shanty towns, a young woman named Joan de Juan vividly recalls a day that forever changed her life: her 10th birthday, precisely on 6 December 2016.
“My dad was busy over the stove, making spaghetti for our small celebration. We didn’t have much money back then, so it was just pasta,” Joan shares, pausing before adding, “My grandmother stepped out to buy some ketchup to make a sauce.”
For Joan, the real gift was spending quality time with her father, Constantino. He was a dedicated man, juggling three different jobs to support his seven children. That day was filled with music, laughter, and the happy chaos of children playing.
But the joy was abruptly interrupted. “There was some commotion outside,” she recalls. “Out of nowhere, police officers barged in and confronted my dad, commanding him to ‘Kneel down. Stay right there.'”
Masked and dressed in plain clothes, Joan says unidentified officers forced her father to lie face-down on a chair.
“My father said [to the police]: ‘Do not hurt me, I still have many children.'”
Joan and her young siblings ran to cling to him. But as her father showed the police his identification, Joan says they pulled her and her siblings away from him.
“As they were dragging my sister out and pushing her, my dad was suddenly shot. Here, here and here,” she says, pointing twice to her chest and, finally, to her forehead.
A three-time mayor of Davao City in the southern Philippines, Duterte was elected president in 2016. He held the position until the 2022 elections, when he retired.
During his presidency, he led an aggressive anti-drug crackdown, known as Oplan Tokhang, which granted police shoot-to-kill orders. This resulted in thousands of extrajudicial killings, the dead branded as drug dealers or users.
Police put the death toll at more than 6,000. Human rights groups estimate it could be 12,000 to 30,000. There were also hundreds of thousands of arrests — with tens of thousands incarcerated — many without fair trial.
Last year, Duterte was arrested for alleged crimes against humanity and transferred to The Hague in the Netherlands.
Now in prison, he is facing charges that include murder and attempted murder as an alleged “indirect co-perpetrator” in dozens of deaths carried out by police and so-called ‘death squads’ during his administration.
Despite being detained, the former president won a landslide vote in 2025 to become mayor of Davao City again. He couldn’t be sworn in due to his detention, and his son, Sebastian, is now mayor.
Constantino was shot dead at the age of 33, after being identified as a drug user and placed onto a government watchlist without his knowledge.
The family says he’d been clean for over a year when he was killed.
His murder has never been investigated. His death certificate states he died of a heart attack.
“Our father was shot right in front of us. The bullet that was used to shoot him even got stuck in the chair where he was killed. It is not fair,” Joan says.
“Justice is hard to fight for when you are poor, especially when the other side is more powerful than you.”
Lasting support for Duterte
Duterte’s trial is set to commence in November.
But across the Philippines, the Duterte dynasty maintains a formidable and enduring base of support.
A 2025 survey found 63 per cent of Filipinos still trust the ex-president.
Today, in Manila, many Filipinos take to the streets, calling for the dynasty’s return to the presidency — and for a return of his anti-drug crackdown.
“We feel that we are no longer safe to walk outside. We are scared,” one supporter tells Dateline. He is among a group that has travelled from various provinces across the country to camp outside the nation’s Senate in support of the Dutertes.
“You walk on the street full of drug addicts and they will kill you. You think it’s good [to have] that?” says another, who has travelled from Visayas.
From the dusty window of a small mechanic shop in Manila, 25-year-old Mark Terte pulls a life-size cardboard cutout of Ronald dela Rosa, Duterte’s former police chief and right-hand man, who is now a senator in the current Ferdinand Marcos Junior administration. The ICC has issued a warrant for dela Rosa’s arrest, accusing him of crimes against humanity.
“He is a good example to people,” Mark says.
“My friends use [drugs], and during Duterte’s time they stopped. There was a big difference. Because of course they were scared to be killed.”
One of Mark’s friends was killed by police when he was 22, at the height of Duterte’s crackdown. But he still supports a return of Duterte’s war on drugs policies.
“It was his fault. He did it,” says Mark. “He was in a situation where he didn’t listen to those around him. For me, I don’t think there was any innocent who died.”
An unfinished war
Today in the Philippines, the government has promised a more humane campaign against drugs. But local outreach workers, criminal justice organisations and human rights groups say the drug war hasn’t stopped.
After winning the 2022 election, Marcos promised to address the issue of drugs through “rehabilitation and socioeconomic development”. Yet in 2025, there was a return to local anti-drug operations.
There have been 1,298 drug-related murders across the country since the start of Marcos’s presidency, according to independent monitors at the University of the Philippines, called the Dahas Project. 153 were recorded between January and July of this year.
The monitors report 330 of these killings to be at the hands of Marcos-era state officials.
Human Rights Watch says masked gunmen, believed to be linked to the authorities, are responsible for many others.
Inez Feria is the founder of NoBox Philippines, a criminal justice reform organisation focused on drug policies.
She said the “punitive actions, the punitive nature of our policies and programs, didn’t end.”
Inez says many of the policies exploited by the Duterte administration to enact his war on drugs are still in place. That includes the Barangay Drug Clearing Program, now at the centre of charges being brought against Duterte by the ICC.
The program was initially conceived to measure the extent of drug use in every neighbourhood in the country — and a way to connect users to support. But it was weaponised under Duterte and used to carry out targeted killings.
Inez said people who were using drugs or associated with drugs were put on a list.
“That they cannot challenge, a list that they don’t even know sometimes that they’re there.”
According to Inez, people’s names are on the list “forever” which makes them “easy preys” for arrest.
“It’s a very dangerous thing because as long as these policies are still in place … anyone who has that frame of mind to use it to weaponise against people can do it. “
‘They were hunting me’
Outreach worker Aire, from the non-government organisation IDuCare, knows first-hand what it’s like to end up on one of these watch ‘lists’.
Now drug-free, at age 18 she was a sex worker and drug user living in Davao City during the Duterte administration.
A gunman visited her home after a bounty was placed on her head for 5,000 pesos — roughly $100. She says she fled Davao and lived in hiding for years.
She eventually arrived in Cebu, an island in the south of the country. According to the Dahas Project, Cebu has now overtaken Manila as the new hotspot for drug-related murders.
Since 2022, 230 out of 1273 drug-related killings have been in Cebu City. That’s nearly 20 per cent of cases, even though this island accounts for only 2 to 3 per cent of the country’s population.
Aire recalls disguising her appearance so she wouldn’t be found.
“They were hunting me. I put moles [on my face]. I wore heavy make-up. I wore contact lenses. I wore a wig,” says Aire.
The trauma still haunts her.
“I’m very paranoid. It never leaves you.”
Inez and Aire both say the war on drugs hasn’t ended the drug crisis.
“As long as the [anti-drug] policies are not looking at the conditions that lead to the challenges … then this [drug problem] is going to continue,” says Inez.
What does the future hold?
With national elections in two years, the Duterte dynasty is now preparing to re-take the presidency.
Sara Duterte, Rodrigo’s daughter, is the country’s vice president. She’s already announced her candidacy, and has quickly become the frontrunner, according to public polls.
It’s spelling fear among the country’s poor, who dread becoming targets in an unfinished drug war yet again.
That includes Joan de Juan and her mother Lourdes, who don’t believe their father and husband’s murder under Duterte has made any difference to the country’s drug crisis.
“The drugs didn’t even disappear,” says Lourdes.
“That’s why it’s so hard. The pain doesn’t go away, it stays, and it will never disappear.”
They’re among the thousands of Filipinos now looking to Rodrigo Duterte’s November trial at the ICC as their last hope.
“If [Duterte] is charged guilty, this could be a lesson for all presidents so hopefully this won’t happen again to victims like us,” says Lourdes.
“There are a lot of parents and families suffering; it’s pain that we will carry all our lives. We just hope it won’t happen again. That’s all we want.”
In a chilling recount of a maritime disaster near New York’s iconic Statue of Liberty, a survivor has revealed the terrifying moments leading up to the accident that claimed the lives of a young mother and her infant. The mother and her five-month-old child tragically lost their lives when a boat capsized in the storied harbor waters.
Sara Raez, speaking candidly with the New York Post, recounted that she was among a group of 14 family members and friends who had assembled to joyously commemorate a birthday. But what was intended to be a joyous occasion turned into a nightmare late Saturday night.
The joyous gathering had rented a 21-foot Yamaha AR210, model year 2019, from Zeus Luxury Rentals to surprise her mother, Paula Rivera, on her 41st birthday, according to Raez. This would be a remarkable celebration coupled with a scenic cruise.
Setting sail around 7 p.m., Raez described the boat as “kind of like a yacht”. The vessel glided past the Statue of Liberty, offering spectacular views, yet on their way back, the celebration turned into a disaster at approximately 10:30 p.m.
“Water suddenly started filling the boat,” Raez recounted with harrowing clarity. “The vessel tilted upwards, and in the blink of an eye, it overturned completely,” encapsulating the terror and quick descent into chaos.
All of the passengers were then left stuck underneath the vessel, she said, before crews rescued them and pulled them from the water.
‘We were just trying to get out. Then, when finally everyone got out, everyone was screaming,’ Raez added.
Sara Sanchez, 27, and her five-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia, were airlifted to NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn in critical condition but were later pronounced dead.
Sara Sanchez (right) was killed alongside her five-month-old baby when a boat they were traveling on in New York capsized. Her husband Andres Garcia (left) was also on board
Sanchez, a mother-of-two, was killed when the vessel overturned near Liberty Island at around 10.30pm on Saturday.
Boat captain Manuel Hernandez, 46, faces 13 charges of reckless endangerment after Sanchez and her daughter were killed
A dozen others were also transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.
Sanchez and her daughter are survived by their husband and father, Andres, who was also onboard the boat Saturday night and survived, as well as the couple’s other son.
‘He lost his wife and daughter. It’s very sad,’ an employee at the restaurant where Andres works as a waiter, Il Punto Ristorante, told the Daily Mail.
Antonio Russo, a manager at the Italian eatery, also told W42St Andres had been working there for five years, describing him as a ‘very hardworking guy.’
The couple had just recently welcomed their baby girl, sharing a video at the end of January showing Sanchez’s pregnant belly covered with lavender butterflies and sparkles.
‘We love you Antonella,’ it read.
As Andres now works to rebuild with his six-year-old son, Salvador, his employers have created an online fundraiser.
‘This past weekend, what was meant to be a joyful family outing ended in an unimaginable tragedy when a boat carrying Andres and his family capsized,’ Il Punto Ristorante posted to Facebook as it shared the GoFundMe.
‘Our hearts are with Andres and his family as they navigate this tremendous loss. We ask our Il Punto community to please keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.’
Sara (pictured) and her daughter from College Point, Queens, were two of 14 people on board the 2019 21-foot white Yamaha AR210
The online fundraiser was created by the restaurant and Marco LaGuardia Hotel, where Andres works as a breakfast manager.
‘While trying to process the unimaginable loss of Sara and baby Antonella, Andres must now find the strength to move forward and be there for their six-year-old son, Salvador, who has also suffered a heartbreaking loss,’ it notes.
‘Those of us who know and work with Andres want to come together around him and their son during the most difficult time of their lives,’ the fundraiser continues, explaining that the goal is ‘to help ease some of the financial burden Andres will face in the weeks and months ahead.’
Donations will help cover funeral expenses, daily living expenses, Andres’ time away from work and ‘the many unexpected costs that come with a tragedy of this magnitude,’ it says.
‘No amount of money can replace Sara or Antonella,’ the GoFundMe concludes. ‘But together, we can give Andres some breathing room to grieve, take care of their son, Salvador, and begin facing a future that changed in an instant.’
As the family now continues to grieve, the boat captain, 46-year-old Manuel Hernandez, has been charged with 13 charges of reckless endangerment, according to the New York Police Department.
The boat captain had allegedly been operating the 21-foot motorboat while it was dangerously overloaded with 14 people onboard when it turned over at around 10.30pm
The US Coast Guard is also investigating whether Hernandez may have been operating the motorboat as an illegal charter service, lacking required Coast Guard credentials, safety equipment and a certification of inspection.
Illegal charters may not meet the same safety standards as legal charters.
‘We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life last night and our thoughts are with the victims’ family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,’ Captain Doreen McCarthy, of Coast Guard’s New York Sector said in a statement.
‘We are committed to holding illegal operators accountable to [the] highest extent of the law to ensure the safety of everyone on our waterways.’
Zeus Luxury, from which the bowrider was reportedly chartered, is described online as ‘one of the leading companies in limousine, party bus and yacht rentals in the tri-state area.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to the company for comment.
But a source previously told the Post that the boat, with a typical capacity of around ten people, should not have had more than five passengers on board.
‘Recreational boating in New York Harbor is the Wild West,’ the source told the outlet. ‘Uncharted debris, rip rap, bridge abutments, anchorage chains, commercial shipping channels, marine plane traffic.’
An New York City police boat was seen sitting in the New York City harbor
Multiple units from the FDNY, Harbor, Scuba and Aviation, responded to the scene in the Hudson River near Buoy 32 between the Statue of Liberty and Bay Ridge Anchorage
Following the devastating trip, harrowing cries from loved ones of the victims could be heard at the hospital, the New York Post reported.
‘No. Why? Why? No,’ a relative reportedly screamed in horror. People at the hospital were also reportedly still holding their life jackets.
Multiple units from the FDNY, Harbor, Scuba and Aviation, responded to the scene in the Hudson River near Buoy 32 between the Statue of Liberty and Bay Ridge Anchorage, police told CNN.
Divers with the New York Police Department were also seen in the water rescuing passengers.
Footage from the scene showed multiple emergency vessels in the water flashing lights.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the NYPD and Zeus Luxury for more information.
Discover A$AP Rocky’s thoughts on the viral video that sparked rumors of a dispute with Rihanna, and explore their relationship compatibility.
Published on
A$AP Rocky has finally spoken out about the buzzworthy video that led many to believe he and Rihanna engaged in a spat after the 2026 Met Gala.
As the video circulated across social media, body language experts weighed in with their analyses, many suggesting Rihanna seemed displeased with her partner over an incident that evening. Lip readers also offered their interpretations, trying to unravel the conversation between the singer and the rap star.
Now, A$AP Rocky is speaking out for the first time about that video clip and what was going on.
During an appearance on The Jason Lee Show on Aug. 5, Rocky responded to the speculation, telling the host, “I don’t know what we was talking about, but we was talking. It’s just like, why the f*** are they so nosy? I don’t think we had an argument that night. You know I would’ve remembered that. We human. We have arguments. We have disagreements. Life be life-ing. Shit real. We got kids together … it’s regular!”
Rocky is correct in that they’re “human,” and every couple has little spats or disagreements. The difference is he and his partner are public figures so they garner a lot of interest when they go through it.
This has fans wondering about their Life Path numbers and just how compatible they are.
Rihanna and Rocky share a Life Path number of 3. According to Numerologist.com, “When two Life Path 3’s get together, the chemistry is immediate. The laughter is louder, the ideas spark faster, and the warmth in the room doubles.”
However, “Both carry a jealousy pattern when they feel their partner’s light is being directed elsewhere. The specific irony is that both people will be doing the thing they later resent their partner for — lighting up around an interesting person — without connecting those dots in advance. The fix is a clear, early conversation about what social expansiveness looks like for each of you and where the actual lines are. That conversation is far less awkward when it’s theoretical than when someone has already been hurt.”
That said, this is a very compatible pairing as they have “genuinely enjoyable long-term relationships. The natural affinity is real and doesn’t diminish. What’s required for longevity is the development of shared structures and deliberate depth: regular honest conversations, clear agreements about the practical, and the willingness to stay through the relationship’s middle rather than chasing perpetual beginnings.”
