GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Brianna Brenea Clark, 35, and Keyangelo Davon Thorns, 31, were arrested early this morning after a deputy reportedly discovered drugs near a six-year-old child asleep in a motel room rented by Thorns. Authorities also allege that Thorns failed to update his address as required for a registered sexual offender.
At approximately 10:30 p.m. on November 2, an Alachua County Sheriff’s deputy went to the Motel 6 at 7413 West Newberry Road following a disturbance call. The 911 dispatcher reported that a woman was screaming that she could not breathe. A location ping from the caller’s phone directed deputies to the motel’s southeast side.
The deputy encountered Thorns outside a room in that area. Thorns reportedly said his girlfriend and her six-year-old son were inside.
When the deputy knocked, Clark reportedly acknowledged that she had placed the 911 call but said there had been no incident. Deputies then allegedly located drugs and drug paraphernalia beside the bed, within reach of Clark’s six-year-old child.
Clark spontaneously told deputies she would accept responsibility for any illegal items in the room. According to the deputy, cocaine was inside a “colorful kid-friendly” Altoids mint tin placed in an open cubby next to the bed, where the child could have easily accessed it.
Clark was arrested on an outstanding probation-violation warrant. She allegedly resisted being placed in a patrol car and attempted to kick deputies.
During the investigation, the deputy learned that Thorns is a federal sexual offender. When asked whether he was permitted to be alone with children, Thorns reportedly replied, “No.”
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Records showed that Thorns checked into the motel on October 17 but had not reported the address change, as required of registered sexual offenders. The deputy also observed luggage and clothing inside the room, suggesting that Thorns had been staying there. An ASO sex-offender detective confirmed that Thorns had not updated his address.
Because drugs were found in the motel room, the Department of Children and Families was notified. ASO personnel took initial custody of the child.
After being read his Miranda rights, Thorns reportedly admitted that he had been living at the motel for about two weeks without reporting the change of address. He had also been arrested in May 2026 for allegedly failing to update his information. That case resulted in a deferred prosecution agreement in May, which would have led to the charges being dropped if he avoided further violations of the law for roughly two more weeks.
Clark faces charges of child neglect without serious bodily harm, two counts of possessing a controlled substance and resisting an officer without violence. She was later charged with child abuse, although that report was not yet available. Clark has three non-violent felony convictions and four non-violent misdemeanor convictions, and this marks her second probation violation. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $85,000 on the new charges and ordered Clark held without bail until the probation violation is resolved.
Thorns, who is registered as a federal sexual offender, was charged with failing to report a change of address. His record includes a federal sexual-offense conviction, nine non-violent state felony convictions and three non-violent state misdemeanor convictions. He is currently on federal probation and has a deferred prosecution agreement in Alachua County. Judge Miller-Jones set his bail at $50,000.
The Karate Kid Cast: What Happened to Them 42 Years Later
It is difficult to believe that four decades have passed since The Karate Kid first captivated audiences.
Since the original film arrived in 1984, its cast members have followed remarkably different paths.
Some, including Pat Morita, were already recognisable figures in the entertainment industry, while newcomers such as Elisabeth Shue saw their careers soar after the film’s release.
Shue went on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars to emerge from The Karate Kid, appearing in Tom Cruise’s Cocktail and the blockbuster Back to the Future.
Others endured far more difficult fortunes. Several members of the cast died tragically, while another survived a devastating near-fatal car crash.
The original Karate Kid followed Daniel LaRusso, a teenager from New Jersey played by Ralph Macchio, who moves to California with his mother. There, he finds an unexpected mentor in Mr Miyagi, the handyman at his apartment complex, portrayed by Morita.
Produced for approximately $8 million, the movie became one of the year’s surprise successes, earning more than $130 million worldwide.
It quickly established itself as an enduring 1980s classic, leading to three sequels, a spin-off and, decades later, the hugely successful YouTube Red and Netflix series Cobra Kai.
But what became of the much-loved stars of The Karate Kid?
Ralph Macchio (Daniel LaRusso)
It is hard to believe the iconic martial arts movie The Karate Kid premiered 42 years ago, with Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita pictured
Ralph Macchio, 65, appears scarcely to have aged since playing Daniel LaRusso in the beloved film, pictured left in 2026 and right in the movie
He was the fresh-faced teenager who learned to stand up to bullies with the famous crane kick.
Remarkably, Ralph Macchio, who turns 65 today, appears barely changed from his days as the star of the beloved film.
Macchio was 22 when the original Karate Kid was released. Before then, he had already gained attention alongside Matt Dillon and Patrick Swayze in The Outsiders.
He later starred in the hit 1992 comedy My Cousin Vinny, followed by appearances in Ugly Betty, How I Met Your Mother and The Deuce.
However, it was his return as Daniel LaRusso in Cobra Kai that brought him to the attention of a new generation of viewers.
The popular series ran from 2018 to 2025, with Macchio reprising his role alongside his former on-screen rival, William Zabka.
He returned to the franchise once more in the 2025 film Karate Kid: Legends.
In November 2024, Macchio received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Fittingly, it was placed beside the star belonging to his late co-star, Pat Morita.
Away from acting, Macchio has been married to nurse practitioner Phyllis Fierro since 1987.
The couple have two children, Julia and Daniel – the latter named after his most famous character.
Julia has followed her father into acting and even appeared in Cobra Kai.
Great TV are honouring Macchio’s 65th birthday by airing The Karate Kid on Great TV, Freeview channel 34.
Great TV’s marketing director Kate Gartland said: ‘Our Great viewers love a classic, and this is an excellent way to celebrate the seemingly ageless Ralph Macchio turning 65 – happy birthday Ralph.’
Pat Morita (Mr Miyagi)
Pat Morita, who died aged 73 in 2005, in was already a familiar face to American audiences before becoming Mr Miyagi (pictured left in 2005, right in the movie)
He was the wise old karate master who taught Daniel that washing cars and painting fences could turn him into a champion.
But Pat Morita, who died aged 73 in 2005, was already a familiar face to American audiences before becoming Mr Miyagi.
The Japanese-American actor had starred as Arnold in the hugely popular sitcom Happy Days.
His performance in The Karate Kid earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 1985.
He returned for all three sequels, including 1994’s The Next Karate Kid, opposite a young Hilary Swank.
Morita also starred in children’s television series The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo.
He died of kidney failure in November 2005, aged 73.
But his character’s legacy lives on.
Cobra Kai regularly paid tribute to Mr Miyagi, while Macchio has spoken movingly about his friendship with the actor.
William Zabka (Johnny Lawrence)
Played by William Zabka, Johnny Lawrence became Daniel’s arch-enemy in the original 1984 film (pictured left in 2025, right in the movie)
With his blond hair, black karate belt and permanent sneer, Johnny Lawrence was the school bully everyone loved to hate.
Played by William Zabka, he became Daniel’s arch-enemy in the original 1984 film.
Yet remarkably, Zabka had never practised karate or ridden a motorcycle when he auditioned for the role.
He later revealed he almost missed out on the part after producers made a group of actors chase Macchio across a field.
Zabka, 61, wasn’t the fastest – but still landed the job.
After The Karate Kid, he appeared in National Lampoon’s European Vacation and Back to School.
But his convincing portrayal of Johnny meant he spent years being typecast as the bad guy.
He also made a name for himself behind the camera, earning an Oscar nomination in 2004 for co-writing and producing the short film Most.
Then, in 2018, came his big comeback.
Cobra Kai reunited Zabka and Macchio, this time as middle-aged men still haunted by their teenage rivalry.
The show became a huge hit and finally allowed Johnny to emerge from Daniel’s shadow.
Zabka has been married to businesswoman Stacie since 2008, and they have three children.
Elisabeth Shue (Ali Mills)
Elisabeth Shue, 63, went on to become one of the biggest Hollywood stars to emerge from The Karate Kid (pictured left in 2026, right in the movie)
She was the pretty blonde cheerleader who caught Daniel’s eye – much to the fury of her ex-boyfriend Johnny.
But Elisabeth Shue, 63, went on to become one of the biggest Hollywood stars to emerge from The Karate Kid.
She appeared opposite Tom Cruise in the 1988 blockbuster Cocktail and played Jennifer Parker in Back To The Future Part II and Part III.
Other hits included Adventures in Babysitting, The Saint and Hollow Man.
Her biggest critical success came in 1995, when she played a sex worker opposite Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas, a performance that earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
Shue later returned to Harvard University, completing the degree she had put on hold to pursue acting.
She has since appeared in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Boys and Greyhound.
In 2021, she delighted Karate Kid fans by returning as Ali in Cobra Kai.
Shue has been married to filmmaker Davis Guggenheim since 1994, and they have three children.
Her younger brother is Melrose Place actor Andrew Shue.
Martin Kove (John Kreese)
Martin Kove’s portrayal of John Kreese made him one of the most memorable villains in 1980s cinema (pictured left in 2026, right in the movie)
Martin Kove’s portrayal of John Kreese made him one of the most memorable villains in 1980s cinema.
Kove, 80, appeared in the original Karate Kid and both sequels, although his role in Part III was reduced.
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Away from the dojo, he starred in the hit police drama Cagney & Lacey. He also appeared in Wyatt Earp and Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
But Kreese remained his most famous role, returning as the villain in Cobra Kai, where the character was given a more complicated backstory.
He also competed on the American version of Dancing with the Stars in 2021, although he was eliminated in the first round.
Kove has twins, Rachael and Jesse, with Jesse appearing in Cobra Kai as a young bully.
Thomas Ian Griffith (Terry Silver)
With his slicked-back hair and outrageous behaviour, Thomas Ian Griffith’s character Terry Silver stole the show in The Karate Kid Part III (seen left in 2025, right in the film)
With his slicked-back hair, sinister grin and outrageous behaviour, Terry Silver stole the show in The Karate Kid Part III.
The villainous millionaire was played by Thomas Ian Griffith, who was making his film debut.
Silver was introduced as an old friend of Kreese who plots to destroy Daniel and Mr Miyagi.
He quickly became one of the franchise’s most gloriously unhinged characters.
Griffith, 64, later admitted the film was ‘by no means a great film’ but said he remained proud of his performance.
And, more than 30 years later, Silver was given another chance to play the villain, returning in the fourth series of Cobra Kai, with the writers giving him a more sinister and complicated personality.
His comeback proved a hit with fans, turning one of the franchise’s most outrageous villains into one of its most formidable.
Sean Kanan (Mike Barnes)
Nicknamed the ‘Bad Boy of Karate’, Mike Barnes was the ruthless fighter hired to humiliate Daniel in The Karate Kid Part III (pictured left in 2026, right in the movie)
Nicknamed the ‘Bad Boy of Karate’, Mike Barnes was the ruthless fighter hired to humiliate Daniel in The Karate Kid Part III.
Played by Sean Kanan, 60, he became one of the film’s principal villains.
Barnes was a vicious tournament fighter who bullied Daniel into defending his championship title.
Kanan went on to enjoy a successful television career, becoming a familiar face to American soap fans, starring in General Hospital, The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless.
And, like so many of his former co-stars, he eventually returned to the franchise.
Kanan reprised Barnes in Cobra Kai, giving the former bully a very different life decades after his showdown with Daniel.
Robyn Lively (Jessica Andrews)
Robyn Lively played Daniel’s new friend Jessica in The Karate Kid Part III (pictured left in 2025, right in the movie)
She played Daniel’s new friend Jessica in The Karate Kid Part III, but Robyn Lively was originally supposed to be his love interest but the romance was abandoned because of the age gap between the actors.
Macchio was 27 when the film was made, while Lively was still 16. Instead, the pair became platonic friends.
Lively, 54, returned to the role in Cobra Kai, where Jessica was revealed to be Daniel’s cousin-in-law.
She also has a rather famous younger sister – Hollywood actress Blake Lively.
Randee Heller (Lucille Larusso)
Played by Randee Heller, 79, she appeared in the original film as Lucille Larusso and returned for Part III after sitting out the second instalment (pictured left in 2025, right in the movie)
As Daniel’s long-suffering mother, Lucille LaRusso had plenty to worry about.
Played by Randee Heller, 79, she appeared in the original film and returned for Part III after sitting out the second instalment.
Heller had already made television history in the sitcom Soap, playing one of American television’s first openly lesbian characters.
She later earned an Emmy nomination for her performance as formidable secretary Ida Blankenship in Mad Men.
Her other credits include Bulworth and Monster-in-Law. She also returned to the Karate Kid universe in Cobra Kai.
Heller has two daughters with television producer Robert Griffard.
Chad McQueen (Dutch)
He played one of Johnny Lawrence’s nastiest sidekicks in the original Karate Kid – but Chad McQueen was already Hollywood royalty (pictured left in 2023, right in the movie)
He played one of Johnny Lawrence’s nastiest sidekicks in the original Karate Kid – but Chad McQueen was already Hollywood royalty.
His father was legendary actor and racing driver Steve McQueen.
Chad appeared as Dutch in the first two Karate Kid films before moving into low-budget action movies, eventually abandoning acting to pursue his real passion – motor racing.
In 2006, he survived a near-fatal crash while training for the 24 Hours of Daytona.
He later founded McQueen Racing, a company specialising in high-performance cars.
His son Steven R McQueen followed the family into acting, starring in The Vampire Diaries.
Chad died in September 2024, aged 63.
His former co-star William Zabka paid tribute, remembering a friend who ‘marched to the beat of his own drum’.
Tony O’Dell (Jimmy)
Another member of Johnny’s Cobra Kai gang, Jimmy was played by Tony O’Dell, 66 (pictured left in 2010, right in the film)
Another member of Johnny’s Cobra Kai gang, Jimmy was played by Tony O’Dell, 66.
He appeared in the original Karate Kid and Part II before landing a major television role playing Alan Pinkard in the hit American sitcom Head of the Class.
He later moved behind the camera, working as an acting and dialogue coach.
His credits include Girl Meets World and Night Court, while he has also worked with Disney star Zendaya.
He returned as Jimmy in Cobra Kai in 2019.
Rob Garrison (Tommy)
Rob Garrison, who died in 2019, played Tommy in the original Karate Kid and its first sequel
He was the Cobra Kai bully who famously shouted for Daniel to be put ‘in a body bag’.
Rob Garrison played Tommy in the original Karate Kid and its first sequel.
He later appeared in Iron Eagle and television series including MacGyver and Coach.
After largely retiring from acting, he returned for a guest appearance in Cobra Kai in 2019, but was already suffering serious health problems.
Garrison died in September that year, aged 59, from liver and kidney failure.
Macchio paid tribute to his former co-star, describing him as ‘a kind gentleman from the first day I met him’.
Cobra Kai later honoured his memory with an on-screen tribute.
Ron Thomas (Bobby Brown)
Played by Ron Thomas, Bobby Brown appeared in the first two Karate Kid films but stepped away from acting to become a martial artist (pictured left in 2012, right in the movie)
He was the Cobra Kai student ordered to injure Daniel during the climactic tournament in the original film – but unlike his fellow bullies, Bobby Brown showed a conscience.
Played by Ron Thomas, he appeared in the first two Karate Kid films but stepped away from acting to become a martial artist and motivational speaker.
Thomas, 64, now offers online mindfulness classes under the name Sensei Ron Thomas.
He also returned as Bobby in Cobra Kai, appearing in several episodes.
Thomas lives in Southern California with his wife and daughter.
The Karate Kid Part III airs on Great TV, Freeview channel 34, on Wednesday, November 4.
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Russia Suspected of Bomb Hoaxes That Grounded UK Flights
A wave of suspected hoax bomb alerts has disrupted air travel across Europe, prompting emergency procedures and renewed speculation among security experts that Russia may be involved.
Seven passenger aircraft, including three linked to the UK, were affected on Tuesday. The incidents have raised concerns about a possible coordinated sabotage campaign connected to Russian President Vladimir Putin, although no formal attribution has been made.
The warnings came as officials examined whether the Kremlin has intensified its so-called hybrid war against NATO. In a separate series of incidents, refrigerators and freezers in seven European countries were reportedly targeted in cyberattacks.
The latest developments also follow reports that Russian forces are making preparations consistent with a possible new military operation. Last week, Putin warned that a conflict with the West would leave “no winners.”
Eric Schouten, head of the aviation security organisation Dyami, said the incidents appeared to fit a broader pattern. “From railways to food infrastructure, including the hacking of refrigerators and all kinds of other operations, it does fit the narrative of Russian state actors who want to disturb Europe,” he said.
Professor Anthony Glees, a specialist in security and intelligence, said it was “highly likely” that Russia was behind the campaign, while acknowledging that the claims remained subject to investigation.
Speaking to GB News, he said: “There’s a kinetic shadow war going on against us, but there’s also a secret subversive war underway using disinformation — which is what hoaxes are.”
He added: “They spread mayhem and even panic. They test our resilience. Now is a very good time for Putin to challenge us. We’re not yet ready to fight seriously, so there’s plenty of scope for Putin to wage a grey war against us.”
In Murcia, southeastern Spain, sections of the airport were sealed after authorities received reports of a “written security threat” on a Ryanair service from Manchester. The aircraft landed normally.
Stuart Crawford, a defence commentator and former Army lieutenant colonel, said the bomb warnings could represent a “coordinated sub-threshold attack” originating from Moscow.
He said European security agencies would probably have a strong indication of what was taking place, but cautioned that more evidence would be required before Russia could be formally identified as responsible.
Tuesday’s alerts involved at least two flights bound for Warsaw, two heading to Sofia, two travelling to Rome and one scheduled to arrive in Murcia. A separate Sofia-bound aircraft had also received a threat the previous day.
A British Airways? No — a flight travelling from London Heathrow to Warsaw Chopin was diverted to nearby Modlin Airport. The airport was temporarily closed while the aircraft was searched, but no device was discovered before it reopened.
A Scandinavian Airlines service from Copenhagen to Warsaw also came under scrutiny after landing at Chopin as planned. Police and bomb disposal teams met the aircraft and later confirmed it was safe.
At Rome’s Fiumicino Airport, bomb disposal specialists searched two Ryanair aircraft after anonymous reports raised concerns about possible explosives. One had flown from Lisbon and the other from Dublin; the Dublin service was escorted by the Italian air force before landing.
Additional warnings targeted flights from Milan Bergamo and Dublin that were heading to Sofia, Bulgaria.
Both aircraft reached Bulgaria safely, and searches found no explosive devices on either plane.
The Bergamo service was operated by Wizz Air and carried 176 passengers. The Ryanair flight from Dublin had 186 people on board.
In Murcia, airport areas were cordoned off after officials were alerted to a “written security threat” reportedly found in connection with a Ryanair flight from Manchester. The aircraft arrived according to schedule.
One passenger said she did not know about the suspected bomb warning until the flight had already landed.
‘We weren’t told anything during the flight,’ Sarah told BBC 5 Live. ‘The plane stopped quite suddenly and then we were kept on the runway for 30 minutes.
‘Then the fire engines and bomb squad turned up and we were asked to evacuate.’
She described how the jet had not been on the ground for even a minute before it was ‘surrounded by police and a bomb squad’.
The passengers were escorted away and made to walk from the runway to the airport, leaving their belongings on board.
‘We were only later told that it was an actual threat, a bomb threat to the plane itself,’ she added.
A day earlier, a Wizz Air flight from London to Sofia was diverted to Budapest airport after receiving a bomb threat.
All flights were determined to be false alarms.
An explosives detection dog and a diver searched the Panama-flagged Crown Iris cruise ship on the Greek island of Syros after an unknown person said an explosive device had been attached to the boat’s hull.
While no country pointed fingers over the bomb threats, they come at a time when European officials have been blaming both Russia and Iran for what they describe as ‘hybrid attacks’ and acts of sabotage.
Moscow and Tehran both deny any such campaign.
This week, unidentified hackers shut down fridges in supermarkets in several European countries.
Some experts said hoax bomb threats could be part of a similar pattern of low-cost, deniable disruption efforts.
A LOT Polish Airlines passenger flight departed London Heathrow Airport on Tuesday morning and headed for Warsaw Chopin Airport, but was diverted to Warsaw Modlin following the alert
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Passengers in Murcia airport following the bomb threat on the Ryanair plane from Manchester
A police officer and a sniffer dog inspecting a Ryanair airplane and its baggage in Murcia, Spain
The Ryanair flight had 121 people on board, including crew, according to Francisco Lucas, the Spanish government’s delegate in the Murcia region of Spain
A hacking attack on European supermarkets spread across the continent on Monday, hitting fridges and freezers from Sweden to Belgium and forcing stores to throw away food in an incident that echoed a similar attack in France last month.
The attack, which raised temperatures in refrigerator and freezer units at dozens of stores, hit supermarket groups Ahold Delhaize and Colruyt in Belgium and Luxembourg, as well as Swedish grocers ICA and Coop. Furniture-to-meatballs retailer IKEA also saw at least one store affected.
Approximately 40 Delhaize supermarkets in Belgium and Luxembourg were targeted, while a smaller number of shops were hit in Sweden, Ireland, the Netherlands, Estonia and Finland.
‘Everything is destroyed,’ Engla Ingwall, sales manager at an ICA franchise store in Stockholm, told Reuters during a visit to the store on Monday, adding the attack occurred at 2am but was only noticed hours later.
‘There has been a cyberattack and all our freezers reached 50 degrees (Celsius).’
A spokesperson for privately held ICA said the company was aware that a ‘limited number of stores were affected by an incident overnight, which impacted their refrigeration and freezer systems’.
The latest incidents follow an attack in France last month when police said hackers seized control of cooling units at hundreds of supermarkets, causing fires and food losses. Ahold also reported a cybersecurity incident to police last month.
Moscow has repeatedly denied involvement in any sabotage or hybrid warfare operations.
However, the continent is on edge as Putin recently warned he is prepared for a major war.
‘Many people keep talking about preparing for war by 2030. Is that right or wrong?’ Putin said at a press conference in Moscow on Thursday.
‘First of all, we are ready, but we don’t want any war with Europe. As for them, if anyone wants it, let them prepare.’
Western intelligence officials have also warned that the Russian tyrant has an ‘appetite’ to increase his European sabotage campaign, in a move sources fear could lead to a war by 2030.
European leaders are taking action against increasing threats, with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk saying Tuesday that he sent armed forces to the Russian border amid fears of an armed incursion.
He said Poland foiled a potential ‘provocation’ on Monday night on its border with the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, noting that he was informed just after midnight of suspicious activity on Poland’s northern border.
‘We very quickly mobilised the necessary security forces and means on site, and we successfully prevented any attempted acts of provocation, if that was the intention. Of course, we will never be able to completely confirm that,’ Tusk said.
He added that the incident followed weeks of warnings from Polish and allied intelligence that ‘acts of diversion or more serious provocation’ could target the European Union and NATO borders with Russia, including ‘the intrusion of armed individuals into Polish territory’.
Tusk warned that Poland could face a prolonged ‘escalation from the Russian side’, and called for heightened vigilance against sabotage operations or other threats.
Poland, which sits on the eastern flank of the EU and NATO, has repeatedly accused Russia of ‘sabotage’ since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In September, Tusk warned that Russia’s war plans included ‘hybrid’ attacks with drones and missiles against Kyiv’s allies.
Meanwhile, a sabotage network was uncovered in Romania, whose members were acting on behalf of Russian intelligence agencies and preparing attacks on defence industry facilities in the EU.
The Romanian Intelligence Service identified a group involved in an attempted arson attack on the Carfil arms manufacturing plant in Brașov.
The investigation established that three citizens of post-Soviet states, legally residing in EU countries, were involved in preparing the sabotage operation.
The activities of the uncovered network were not limited to Romania, according to the intelligence agency.
Russian handlers had identified several potential targets across the region, including state-owned and private defence industry enterprises, as well as other facilities linked to the military.
It comes as US-brokered talks between Kyiv and Moscow are set to take place in Abu Dhabi next week.
The dates of the latest round of talks – the first since February – were announced hours after multiple Russian strikes hit an aid distribution point in the southeastern Ukrainian village of Komyshuvakha, killing at least 33 people.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he had so far seen no sign that Russia was willing to engage seriously in talks aimed at ending the war.
‘It is important that Russia finally and seriously engages in negotiations about a ceasefire and a subsequent peace agreement,’ Merz said alongside Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin, when asked about the US-brokered trilateral talks.
‘I do not see that happening so far.’
Florida Man Saves Elderly Neighbors as Floodwaters Rise
Unprecedented flash flooding swept through Eastern Florida on Monday after heavy downpours, prompting one Palm Bay neighbor to take action as residents became trapped inside their homes.
Rick Addante said several of his neighbors in Turtle Creek, a Palm Bay community, were elderly, ill or had limited mobility and could not evacuate as floodwaters continued to rise.
“Nobody expected this to happen,” Addante said. “All of a sudden, everything just started rising so quickly, and the streets started filling up.”
Each time residents thought the water had reached its peak, Addante said, it rose even higher.
“It became really clear how serious it was going to become,” he said.
Addante said two neighbors were of particular concern. One was Terry, an 80-year-old man who lived alone with his dog and was recovering from open-heart surgery. The other had progressive Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and could not evacuate with his family because he relied on a motorized wheelchair.
“Both of them were in kind of dire straits,” Addante said. He repeatedly moved through the floodwaters between homes to check on the neighbors.
Addante and other residents worked together to make sure both men were safe while they waited for evacuation assistance.
Water began pouring over the seawall behind the homes and into swimming pools and backyards, making the situation increasingly urgent.
Addante prepared Terry and his dog to leave as water inside the house climbed to their knees.
After repeatedly moving between Terry’s home, the other neighbors’ houses and his own, Addante heard the powerful roar of airboats approaching the neighborhood.
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Addante, Terry, Terry’s dog Bella and their belongings waited for airboats from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to arrive before beginning the evacuation.
Video shared by Addante shows him and Florida FWC officers carrying Terry and Bella out of the home. The dog appeared frightened by the sound of the airboat.
As Terry was evacuated, trash cans floated through the streets and floodwaters reached nearly to the tops of mailboxes.
Rescuers brought Terry to an airboat, helped him aboard and secured him before taking him to safety. He was able to warm up, dry off and reunite with his family.
While some rescuers remained with Terry, Addante and others moved to the next home, where they evacuated the neighbor with ALS, along with his wife and daughter.
Additional videos show Addante assisting with evacuations and coordinating rescue efforts with FWC personnel.
FWC teams continued rescuing people trapped inside their homes. Addante later learned that three more people were stranded on the second floor of another house because of the flooding.
After confirming there were in fact people inside, the FWC teams rushed over.
He said while he was assisting with the rescues, other neighbors jumped in to help his family, getting generators up and running and checking on his wife and kids.
“It really was a big team effort of a lot of people from a lot of churches, and neighbors who came together,” Addante said.
Addante said he was grateful to his neighbors for helping out and jumping in, and they deserve just as much credit for the effort.
Just a day later, floodwaters are down, but the work to clean up the mess begins.
He said people have already begun ripping out damaged flooring and carpets from their flooded homes.
Democrats Projected to Take Congress Amid Trump Backlash and Economic Discontent
Democrats are projected to win enough seats to take control of the U.S. House, according to ABC News projections and Voter Polls, as voter frustration over the economy and President Donald Trump fueled a powerful midterm backlash.
The party also flipped at least six Senate seats, including in traditionally Republican states such as Kansas and South Carolina. Democrats captured at least a dozen House districts and several governor’s offices, with some victories marking historic firsts in states that have long leaned red.
In Texas, Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Gov. Greg Abbott, one of Trump’s closest allies, denying him a fourth term.
The new balance of power could limit Trump’s influence over the executive branch and reshape the direction of domestic and foreign policy. The results come as Americans contend with rising inflation, record fuel prices and broad public dissatisfaction with the U.S. war in Iran.
Two weeks before the midterm elections, Trump’s approval rating fell to 37%, the lowest point of his current presidency. His 62% disapproval rating was the highest recorded across both of his presidential terms, according to an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll conducted through Ipsos’ KnowledgePanel.
Roughly two-thirds of Americans — 65% — said they disapproved of Trump’s handling of the economy. That marked the worst economic rating of either Trump presidency and was comparable to Joe Biden’s lowest economy rating in ABC/Post polling, recorded at 64% in September 2023.
Trump had urged supporters at rallies around the country to “pretend I’m on the ballot” when casting their midterm votes. On Tuesday night, however, he posted on X that he was not a candidate in the election.
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“I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!” Trump wrote.
In a phone interview with The New York Times on Tuesday, Trump said he would accept the election results and indicated that he was prepared to work with Democrats.
“I am absolutely willing to accept those results,” Trump said.
“We’ll work with the Democrats, and we’ll, you know, look forward to working with them. We’ll probably work something out,” he added.
At the same time, Trump shared an image of a hat emblazoned with the word “VETO,” signaling that cooperation could have clear limits.
Key Senate victories
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London Mayor Sadiq Khan Joins Labour MPs in Celebrating Trump’s US Midterm Setbacks
Sadiq Khan has joined MPs celebrating Donald Trump’s setback in the overnight US midterm elections.
Republicans suffered heavy defeats across the contests, with Democrats taking control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Even traditionally Republican states such as Texas turned against the president’s party, leaving Mr Trump weakened during the final two years of his White House term.
The London Mayor, who has been locked in a long-running feud with Mr Trump, took to social media this morning to celebrate the result.
‘Congratulations to Democrats on a huge victory last night,’ Lord Khan wrote.
‘With a focus on hope, unity and supporting families with the cost of living – their campaign was a true rejection of the damaging and divisive politics of Donald Trump.’
Sadiq Khan has joined MPs celebrating Donald Trump’s setback in the overnight US midterm elections
The London Mayor, who has been embroiled in a long-running feud with Mr Trump, shared his reaction on social media this morning
Labour left-wingers including John McDonnell said the results suggested Trump’s immigration crackdown was unpopular
Labour MP Ian Byrne posted a message thanking America for the election results
A number of Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs also expressed their satisfaction as the early results came in.
Speaking across broadcast studios this morning, health minister James Frith said the results appeared to represent ‘an enormous night for American democracy and for the Democrats’.
‘We will see where the final numbers end up, but it looks like a seismic shift in domestic politics for the Americans,’ he said.
However, he maintained that the result would not alter Andy Burnham’s relationship with the Trump White House.
He told Times Radio: ‘The change of emphasis of power in the States is frequent. But the mainstay of the relationship with the UK Government, as its closest ally, is unwavering and unchanging.
‘So I don’t expect it to change the nature of the relationship at all, it remains very strong.’
As Republicans absorbed the heavy losses, Mr Trump responded on his Truth Social platform: ‘I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!’
Democrats needed a net gain of four seats in the 100-member Senate to secure a majority. In the 435-seat House, they needed to gain three seats.
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Speaking to Fox News, Mr Trump acknowledged that the election results had caught him off guard.
‘I thought they’d do better, we had tremendous rallies,’ he said.
He also congratulated the Democrats and said: ‘They did a good job. They worked very hard.’
But while offering to work with opponents, he had also posted a picture of a red baseball cap emblazoned with the word ‘Veto’, suggesting he would block legislation they sought to take through Congress.
In Texas, Democratic newcomer James Talarico defeated Trump-backed Republican Ken Paxton, while South Carolina elected a Democrat senator for the first time since 1998.
Most remarkably of all, Kansas sent a Democrat to the US Senate, which it had not done since 1932 during the Great Depression.
There were further stunning Democrat Senate victories in Iowa and Ohio, states Trump won by more than 10 points in the presidential election in 2024.
Richard Burgon claimed that the midterms were a victory over ‘racism’
Former Cabinet minister Darren Jones said ‘hope and love’ had beaten ‘money and division’
Peter Prinsley said there was a ‘clear message’ from the contests in the US
Labour backbencher Neil Coyle also hailed the news from America
Lord Khan said the campaign was ‘a true rejection of the damaging and divisive politics of Donald Trump’
In one of the most-watched races left-wing Democrat Abdul El-Sayed declared victory over Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan, making him the first Muslim elected to the Senate.
Jubilant Democrats described the results as a ‘blue tsunami’ or a ‘Bluenami.’
Voters appeared to have passed a damning judgment on Trump’s inability to bring down the cost of living for ordinary Americans.
The results, reflecting a huge shift in Trump’s once impressive MAGA base, will also cast a cloud over any ambitions Vice President JD Vance has for a 2028 run.
Losing both chambers of Congress will mean Trump entering lame duck territory in his final two years in office.
He will face Democrat-led corruption investigations into himself, his allies and family, and could even be impeached for a third time.
Mom and Daughter Killed in Apparent Grizzly Bear Attack
A Canadian family has been left heartbroken after a mother and daughter died in what authorities believe was a grizzly bear attack during a “casual walk” on a familiar nearby trail.
Jennifer Balcarras, 48, was found dead on the Snooka West Trail in Bella Coola on Monday. Evidence at the scene indicated that she may have been killed by a bear, according to the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS).
Her 20-year-old daughter, Selah Reed, was discovered dead on Tuesday afternoon after an extensive search involving conservation officers and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Vancouver Sun reports.
Relatives had been in contact with Balcarras on Saturday, but became alarmed when she failed to join an online meeting that evening. Her brother Matthew told the outlet that the family grew increasingly worried when they could not reach her.
The family asked the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to carry out a wellness check on Sunday morning. Officers later located Balcarras’ vehicle at a nearby trailhead.
“It’s surreal. It doesn’t seem real. It feels like a dream,” Josh Balcarras, one of the mother-of-four’s other brothers, told the CBC.
“The way it starts is a few hours of not hearing from them. That turns into a day and then a night, then a second night comes and it becomes a real thing.”
He said Balcarras and Reed knew the Snooka West Trail well. The route was only about a five-minute drive from their home and, he emphasized, was “not in a remote area.”
“It was just a casual walk,” the grieving brother said.
Jennifer Balcarras, 48, and her daughter, Selah Reed, 20, were found dead on the Selah West Trail in Bella Coola, British Columbia. Source: GoFundMe
Balcarras’ brother described the mother and daughter as “two peas in a pod” who loved hiking and knew the trail well.
Balcarras’ two younger brothers remembered her as an art therapist who loved books and spent her time playing guitar, singing, painting and enjoying the outdoors.
She was the mother of four, with Reed as her youngest child, and was also a grandmother.
“She painted murals in her own kids’ home, my home,” Matthew said. “She was very much a central person in our family.”
An online fundraiser for the mother and daughter’s funeral costs said Balcarras had recently moved to Bella Coola “to pursue a new career and begin a new chapter in her life.”
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“She was working toward building a future and had not yet had the opportunity to establish savings or put aside funds to help her family with unexpected expenses such as these,” the fundraiser said.
“Tragically, no one could have anticipated that her family would be faced with such an unimaginable loss.”
The fundraiser added that Reed “was just 20 years old, with her whole life ahead of her. She was only beginning her journey into adulthood, making this loss even more heartbreaking.”
Reed had worked as an educational assistant and was studying through Athabasca University’s online learning program.
Balcarras’ brothers also remembered their sister as a book lover who was passionate about playing guitar, singing, painting and spending time outdoors. Source: GoFundMe
Her grieving family now describes her as ‘a gentle, sweet, quiet soul’ who loved ballet, art and hiking.
‘She liked a lot of the same things Jenny liked,’ Josh said. ‘I think they got along really, really well.
‘They were two peas in a pod,’ he added. ‘When Jenny hiked, Selah was right there beside her.’
In an online statement, the BCCOS said it has a team investigating the suspected attack.
‘Our thoughts are with the families of the victims during this tragic time,’ Inspector Jeff Tyre said in a video posted online.
Trapping efforts are now underway, he said, but no bears have been captured.
Once any bears are eventually captured, BCCOS said it would work to determine their next steps.
‘If the bear is determined to be the bear responsible for the attack, it will be dispatched to ensure public safety, as per provincial human-wildlife conflict response guidelines,’ Tyre said.
In the meantime, he urged people to stay away from the Snooka West Trail and to leave the search up to conservation officers.
‘We appreciate people’s concerns and the desire to assist, but it is critical the public stay out of the area – both due to the danger and to allow officers to do their work.’
Texas Democrats Score Stunning Rout to Reclaim Power for First Time in Decades
AUSTIN, Texas – After decades of Democratic frustration, Texas delivered the political upset the party had long been waiting for.
Democrats swept across Texas on Tuesday, breaking through the Republican stronghold by capturing a U.S. Senate seat and reclaiming the governor’s mansion. The historic results marked a sudden revival for a party that has spent much of the past three decades struggling to remain competitive statewide.
Voters angered by rising costs and worried about corruption decisively turned away from President Donald Trump’s party. The outcome gave Democrats a powerful opening in a rapidly changing state of nearly 32 million people, home to one of the world’s 10 largest economies. Their gains extended to counties along the Mexican border, where Republicans had recently improved their standing with Hispanic voters, as well as congressional districts drawn to favor the GOP.
“This win is for every Texan who has ever wondered if anyone is ever listening,” Democrat James Talarico said after defeating Republican Ken Paxton, the state’s scandal-plagued attorney general, in the Senate race.
“I heard you. We heard you. And tonight, the world hears you,” Talarico added.
The victory ended a Democratic drought dating to 1994, the last time the party won a statewide contest in Texas. Democrats also elevated two new statewide figures: Talarico and Gina Hinojosa, who defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and is set to become Texas’ first Latina governor. The party captured the lieutenant governor’s and attorney general’s offices as well, reinforcing its long-held belief that population shifts would eventually produce a transformation in Texas politics.
The losses are likely to reverberate nationally. Republicans have relied on Texas during presidential elections as a crucial part of their route to the White House. In Florida, departing Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis acknowledged the scale of the setback.
“Texas has been the most significant Republican state this century. A Democrat sweep of statewide races — and possible capture of the Legislature — takes away one of the anchors of the modern GOP,” DeSantis wrote on social media. “A huge loss.”
Now Democrats face the harder task of turning their election-night breakthrough into governing results.
Hinojosa’s administration could usher in a major political and cultural change at the Texas Capitol. Over the past decade, lawmakers have enacted one of the country’s most restrictive abortion laws, expanded immigration enforcement and loosened gun regulations, even as the state experienced some of the nation’s deadliest mass shootings.
But Democrats did not win by promising a wholesale reversal on abortion, firearms, transgender rights or the use of public funds for private schools. Their campaign centered instead on affordability, opposition to artificial intelligence data centers and attacks on political corruption.
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Hinojosa, a state legislator from a liberal Austin district who spent her childhood in the Rio Grande Valley, also stepped away from the openly progressive identity associated with her time in the Capitol. She minimized culture-war debates and emphasized populist concerns, including an economy strained by Trump’s tariffs and opposition to an unpopular war with Iran.
“The voter have delivered a mandate for change, and it is change they will get,” Hinojosa said. “We will lead with politics of courage, not convenience. Progress will not be halted by partisanship and Texas will bow to no one.”
Along the border, counties that backed Trump in 2024 moved sharply toward Democrats.
The Democratic surge was particularly striking in border communities that had shifted unexpectedly and decisively toward Trump two years earlier. Much of the Republican Party’s recent progress among conservative Hispanic voters vanished in Tuesday’s results.
An AP Voter Poll of more than 5,000 Texans who voted in the Senate race showed Talarico assembling a broad coalition. He won most voters under 30 and a majority of Hispanic voters statewide. Approximately three-quarters of voters younger than 30 supported him, along with about six in 10 Hispanic voters.
The shift was a stark contrast to just two years ago, when Trump carried Texas by double digits.
“Going into 2028, the Republican Party of Texas has serious work to do to begin the process of taking our state back from Democrat control,” said Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who was also defeated Tuesday.
In Dripping Springs, a suburb outside Austin, 63-year-old registered dietitian Karen Sites and her 21-year-old daughter, Sofia, both voted Democratic. They arrived at the polls cautiously, mindful that earlier Democratic predictions about retaking Texas had repeatedly failed to materialize.
Sofia, who has a transgender sibling, said Talarico’s backing of transgender and LGBTQ+ rights helped attract both of them to his campaign. She also cited frustration with Republican policies involving data centers and biodiversity protection.
“I’m hopeful,” she said.
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