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Village Alarm as Planned Asylum Seeker Camp May Double in Size

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Village Alarm as Planned Asylum Seeker Camp May Double in Size

People living in the small Oxfordshire village of Piddington, now caught up in the national row over illegal immigration and asylum accommodation, say they are worried that a proposed migrant camp nearby could end up being far larger than first indicated.

Documents that have recently come to light suggest as many as 3,510 asylum seekers could be placed at a military barracks on the edge of the village — a figure well above the 1,256 people listed in the official planning application.

The Home Office, however, has pushed back against those concerns, saying the risk assessment containing the higher number was only an early draft, even though the document is dated March this year.

The assessment, which describes asylum seekers as “service users”, remains publicly available online and does not appear to have been updated or amended.

The revelation has intensified tensions in Piddington, a village of just 350 residents, including 46 children, where locals have been mounting a lengthy campaign against the planned asylum seeker accommodation site.

On September 15, the village will vote in a symbolic referendum on leaving the UK as part of their protests.

Tim McNally, 60, chair of Piddington Parish Council, said his village ‘deserves the truth’ about the number of asylum seekers who will be housed at the camp. 

Tim McNally, 60, chair of Piddington Parish Council, said his village 'deserves the truth' about the number of asylum seekers who will be housed at the camp

Tim McNally, 60, chair of Piddington Parish Council, said his village ‘deserves the truth’ about the number of asylum seekers who will be housed at the camp

Locals are infuriated by proposals to house a number of males at a migrant camp near the tiny Oxfordshire village of Piddington

Locals are infuriated by proposals to house a number of males at a migrant camp near the tiny Oxfordshire village of Piddington 

‘Although the proposal states 1,256 single males between the ages of 18 and 65, the service users focuses on 3,510,’ he said. 

‘That is ten times the size of the village of Piddington. Now if that is an error, correct it. 

‘This is more than alarming. It is either deception at the greatest level or incompetence at the highest.’ 

Residents of Piddington, which does not have a pub or even a shop, have cried foul that the plans for the camp are ‘completely inappropriate’ and ‘impractical’. 

Melise Witkin, 59, a resident of Piddington, previously told the Mail: ‘This is not about being rich or poor, this is about safety. 

‘People have worked really hard throughout their lives to live in this village. 

‘It is not such a rich or poor village. I just don’t think that is a conversation to be had. This is about safety.

‘We are 356 people in the village with 46 children and 1,250 men turning up is a recipe for disaster. People walk their dogs, children play, I just think it is madness.

‘This is about safety, nothing more. Even for them [the asylum seekers], along that road there is no pavement, there are no street lights. We just have to be realistic.

Husband and wife Karen and Derek Joy. Karen said villagers feel like they have been ignored and Mr Burnham has 'finally picked up on us' after they had made 'noise for quite some time'

Husband and wife Karen and Derek Joy. Karen said villagers feel like they have been ignored and Mr Burnham has ‘finally picked up on us’ after they had made ‘noise for quite some time’ 

Signs in protest of the migrant camp are littered around the quaint village

Signs in protest of the migrant camp are littered around the quaint village 

The tiny Oxfordshire village has a population of just 350 people. The new migrant camp is being proposed at the nearby Bicester barracks

The tiny Oxfordshire village has a population of just 350 people. The new migrant camp is being proposed at the nearby Bicester barracks

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‘They talk about bringing them out of hotels because it is going to be cheaper. This is going to cost millions.

‘So I feel people have chosen for their children to live here, to have that community and village life and I think that will be ripped away from us. You shouldn’t have to feel unsafe in your own home.

‘For me, this isn’t about politics, it is just about safety and the fact that there are vulnerable people in the village. We don’t have a pub, we don’t have a shop, what are the asylum seekers going to do here.’

Karen Joy, lives in Piddington with her husband Derek. ‘We feel we have been ignored,’ she said.

‘We are a very small village and there is nothing for the people in the asylum camp to do. Our worry is that they will wander into our village and the security is nil.’

‘We feel scared. That is all I feel, to be honest. We have a very safe and lovely community. 

‘We won’t feel safe anymore if they can walk down the road and there is nothing to do. Who knows what is going to happen.’

Graham Burchell, who has been farming in Piddington since 1970, said: ‘I agree that everybody should take their share of asylum seekers but our share has become too much.

‘We already have a prison down here, and when we sit outside in the nice summer air, all we can hear is foul language coming from the prison.

‘And not only do we have that to put up with, but there has also recently been a traveller camp set up and they have ignored all the planning regulations.’

The Grade II-listed St Nicholas Church in the pretty village of Piddington, which dates back to the 13th century

The Grade II-listed St Nicholas Church in the pretty village of Piddington, which dates back to the 13th century

Last month, Andy Burnham sparked criticism by saying middle-class areas should also have to house their share of asylum seekers. 

He said he would make sure arrivals were not only placed in the ‘poorest communities’ and ‘all parts of the country need to play their part’. 

An analysis by the Daily Mail revealed that there are 17 local authorities with no taxpayer-supported asylum seekers.

Home Office figures showing the number of supported asylum seekers per local authority at the end of March reveal the areas that currently house no migrants are overwhelmingly rural beauty spots. 

These include the Cotswolds, Derbyshire Dales, Malvern Hills, the New Forest and the Scottish Highlands.

Others include Mid Devon, East Hertfordshire, Ceredigion (a scenic county in west Wales) and Hart, a 118-square-mile local authority taking in major towns, rural parishes and villages in Hampshire.

The Gloucestershire market town of Tewkesbury is also on the list, as are the Isle of Wight, Isles of Scilly, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands, Mid and East Antrim and Mid Ulster, and Na h-Eileanan Siar – an island chain off the west coast of Scotland.

A Home Office spokesman said: ‘It is categorically untrue to suggest we are seeking to house 3,510 people at MOD Bicester.

‘As our planning application clearly states, we are considering the site to accommodate up to 1,256 asylum seekers.

‘The concerns of communities are central to our immigration reforms. That is why we are closing every asylum hotel and moving asylum seekers into alternative accommodation, including former military sites.’

DCC’s Reece Weaver Reveals How She Tunes Out Marriage Critics

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DCC’s Reece Weaver Reveals How She Tunes Out Marriage Critics

Away from the old razzle-dazzle of the spotlight, Weaver says what matters most to her and Allman, 26, is simple: love.

Their relationship, she explained, is built on steady support and shared joy. “It’s our goal now, just to always support each other, make sure that we’re doing okay, and then also just making sure that we’re having fun at the end of the day,” Weaver said, adding that they are committed to being “each other’s encouragers.”

That encouragement has been especially meaningful as Weaver rouged her knees, pulled her stockings down and stepped into the spotlight for her Broadway debut on Sept. 7.

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Reflecting on how their private life suddenly became more public, Weaver said the couple had to adjust quickly. “Three years ago, we had to kind of face a new reality and had to learn how to adapt to it,” she shared. “And the blessing is, is that we’ve had each other throughout this entire process.”

So when the chance came to pursue her Broadway dream, Weaver said it felt like the next challenge they would take on side by side. “It was just another one of those things,” she noted. “It was like, ‘OK, we’re going to do this together.’”

I Identified 9/11 Victims From Bone Fragments. Decades Later, Families Still Wait

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I Identified 9/11 Victims From Bone Fragments. Decades Later, Families Still Wait

For much of her working life, Barbara Butcher confronted death at close range.

Across 23 years with New York City’s Office of Chief Medical Examiner, she helped investigate more than 5,500 deaths, among them nearly 700 homicides, and stepped inside some of the most disturbing crime scenes the city had ever produced.

Yet nothing in her long career as a death investigator could have prepared her for the overwhelming scale of destruction at Ground Zero.

More than two decades after the September 11, 2001 attacks — the deadliest terrorist assault in United States history — the scenes she witnessed in lower Manhattan remain impossible for her to forget.

In the days after the Twin Towers collapsed, Butcher was assigned the grim task of recovering tiny fragments of bone from rooftops surrounding the vast field of wreckage.

Those fragments were subjected to repeated DNA testing as Butcher helped oversee the painstaking effort to identify victims.  

Despite the process that is almost impossible to comprehend, the heartbreaking reality is that some of the families who lost a loved one still have nothing to bury.

More than 1,000 of the nearly 3,000 victims have not been identified among the remains, and may never be.

‘So many of the things I saw haunted me,’ Butcher told the Daily Mail.

‘I had never seen that much room, that much destruction, and I had never thought that there would be thousands of people trapped beneath, obliterated, killed. It was inconceivable to me.’

Nearly 3,000 people were killed when Al Qaeda terrorists hijacked four planes, crashing two into the Twin Towers and one into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001

Nearly 3,000 people were killed when Al Qaeda terrorists hijacked four planes, crashing two into the Twin Towers and one into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001

Barbara Butcher spent 25 years working at the New York City Medical Examiner¿s Office, including as a death investigator at Ground Zero after the September 11 terrorist attacks

Barbara Butcher spent 25 years working at the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office, including as a death investigator at Ground Zero after the September 11 terrorist attacks

The Twin Towers were struck by two airliners on September 11, 2001, and subsequently collapsed during the deadliest terrorist attack in US history.

Nearly 3,000 people were killed when Islamic terrorists hijacked four planes, crashing two into the Twin Towers and one into the Pentagon. 

Passengers and crew aboard the fourth, Flight 93, fought back against the hijackers before the plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field.

Butcher was in New Jersey when the attacks occurred, and she fought to get into the city and help her colleagues during the grueling recovery process.

‘That was enormously difficult, and what my colleagues did- clambering across that pile to find remains- was life-altering for them psychologically, and of course, there are the health issues,’ she said.

Butcher explained that during that time she was promoted to Deputy Director of the medical examiner’s office and was in charge of the identification process.

‘For every single remains we brought back, they had to be tagged, examined by medical examiners and forensic anthropologists, and each remains was given a unique code,’ she said.

‘That identification process was overwhelming, and it was miraculous.’

She said that investigators sent families questionnaires with strange questions such as how long a loved one’s toe was.

‘Anything that we could get that might possibly identify a person,’ Butcher added.

Of the 2,753 people who were killed in the Twin Towers, Butcher said that only 60 percent have had their remains identified.

Of the 2,753 people who were killed in the Twin Towers, Butcher said that only 60 percent have had their remains identified

Of the 2,753 people who were killed in the Twin Towers, Butcher said that only 60 percent have had their remains identified

‘When I say remains, I’m not talking about whole bodies or anything that size; I’m talking about the fact that we are taking the tiniest bone fragments found on top of the roofs of the surrounding buildings, and doing DNA testing over and over,’ she said.

‘Each time DNA becomes more sophisticated and better able to extract a profile, they retest the remains. 

‘However, that leaves approximately 1,100 people unidentified. 40 percent of those who died there were never identified. 

‘Their families have nothing to bury, and that, to me, is absolutely heartbreaking.’

Butcher noted that all of the deaths from the attacks are homicides, including those captured in horrific images ‘jumping’ out of the burning building.

‘The terrorists murdered them,’ she said.

Apple Store Offline Before Surprise and Shine Event: What’s Next

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Apple Store Offline Before Surprise and Shine Event: What’s Next

The Apple Store has been taken offline ahead of tonight’s highly anticipated “surprise and shine” event.

Visitors to the site are currently greeted with a message saying: “Be right back. We’re making updates to the Apple Store. Check back soon.”

Apple has not confirmed what changes are being made, but the temporary shutdown has fuelled speculation that the company is preparing to add new products to its online store.

The event, scheduled to begin at 6pm UK time, is expected to include the unveiling of the iPhone Ultra, which is rumoured to be Apple’s first-ever foldable device.

Analysts and industry insiders are also anticipating refreshed Apple Watch models, an upgraded HomePod Mini and a new generation of AirPods.

The event will also be the first launch for new chief executive John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook just a week ago.

The Apple Store has gone down ahead of this evening's 'surprise and shine' event. A notice on the website reads: 'Be right back. We’re making updates to the Apple Store. Check back soon'

The Apple Store has gone down ahead of this evening’s ‘surprise and shine’ event. A notice on the website reads: ‘Be right back. We’re making updates to the Apple Store. Check back soon’

The Daily Mail tried to access the Apple Store at around 12:10pm BST.

While this is usually the go–to destination to buy Apple products, the outage message now greets you on the landing page. 

There’s also the option to click through to ‘Watch the event’, which begins in just a few hours. 

The Apple Store outage has sparked excitement amongst Apple fans, who are counting down to Apple’s event. 

Taking to X, one user said: ‘The Apple Store is officially down! We are in the END GAME.’

Another wrote: ‘Apple Store enters maintenance mode. Soon, the announcement of the new iPhone.’

And one joked: ‘APPLE STORE IS DARK. The annual ritual of digital purgatory has begun.’

How to watch Apple’s ‘surprise and shine’ event

Apple’s event will kick off at 10am California time (6pm UK time) at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park, the company’s Cupertino headquarters.

Press and select individuals will attend the event in person, having received invitations late last month.

For everyone else, the event will be available to watch on the Apple Events page, the company’s YouTube channel, or on the Daily Mail’s live coverage.

And, for tech fans everywhere, this is one event you won’t want to miss.

Apple expert Paolo Pescatore, founder of PP Foresight, told the Daily Mail: ‘Apple events typically do not disappoint, and expectations will be sky–high this time around.’

The foldable iPhone Ultra

The most exciting reveal is expected to be the long–awaited foldable, likely to be named the iPhone Ultra.

The most exciting reveal is expected to be the long–awaited foldable, likely to be named the iPhone Ultra. This comes after a leaker revealed what he claimed to be the design for the new smartphone (pictured)

The most exciting reveal is expected to be the long–awaited foldable, likely to be named the iPhone Ultra. This comes after a leaker revealed what he claimed to be the design for the new smartphone (pictured) 

What products is Apple expected to launch at the ‘surprise and shine’ event

  • iPhone Ultra
  • iPhone 18 Pro
  • iPhone 18 Pro Max
  • AirPods 5
  • AirPods 5 with Active Noise Cancellation 
  • Apple Watch Series 12
  • Apple Watch Ultra 4
  • Apple HomePod Mini 2 

This will be Apple’s first major deviation from the classic design established by the first iPhone almost 20 years ago.

Coming late to the foldable market compared to its rivals, Apple will need to deliver a big win and some seriously impressive features to stand out.

Apple experts suggest that the foldable will have a similar form factor to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, with a 5.3in outer display and a larger 7.7in inner screen.

That means the inner screen is wider than it is tall when unfolded, giving the iPhone Ultra a similar aspect ratio to Apple’s biggest iPads.

According to Bloomberg’s Apple correspondent Mark Gurman, the iPhone Ultra will miss out on a telephoto camera lens found on most premium smartphones.

That disappointment might be softened by the rumour that Apple has developed a rival–beating, nearly creaseless folding display with improved durability.

Based on leaks from reliable sources, the iPhone Ultra is expected to launch in just black and white.

However, this is expected to be an ‘ultra–premium’ product with a price tag to match, with launch prices expected to top $2,000 (£1,470).

The foldable iPhone appears to feature a book-style folding design, with a screen on the front and a dual rear camera on the back

In the top left corner there's a camera cutout, with two lenses laid out horizontally

With just one week to go before Apple’s 2026 event, a leaker has revealed what he claims is the design for the iPhone 18 Ultra

Rebecca Crook, chief executive of tech consultancy firm MSQ DX, told the Daily Mail: ‘Apple’s September 9 event will be its most significant in years and not just for the expected debut of its first foldable iPhone, the biggest change to its smartphone lineup to date, but because it marks the first time in over a decade that Tim Cook won’t be the one introducing Apple’s new products.’ 

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max won’t be as big of a departure from Apple’s standard smartphone formula as the iPhone Ultra, but they could bring a few key upgrades.

Most excitingly, leaks suggest that these premium models will feature a new under–display Face ID sensor.

That could mean Apple will finally get rid of the much–hated black oval at the top of iPhone screens.

Meanwhile, Mr Gurman suggests that these phones will feature ‘the biggest leap in camera hardware’ in recent years.

The flagship feature is expected to be a variable aperture telephoto camera, allowing users to mechanically control how much light enters the lens.

This is a feature normally found on large specialist cameras, and would allow for significantly better photos in very dark or bright conditions.

Apple will also launch the sequel to the iPhone 17 Pro Max (pictured), unveiling the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max

Apple will also launch the sequel to the iPhone 17 Pro Max (pictured), unveiling the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max 

On the inside, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will likely come with upgraded hardware including chips that can handle more powerful AI processes.

Ben Wood, chief marketing officer at CCS Insight, told the Daily Mail: ‘Expect to see Apple heavily promoting its Apple Intelligence, Siri AI capabilities, and other software enhancements.

‘However, it is the hardware that will grab the headlines.’

Excited for the new iPhone launch? Get it here when it drops.

AirPods 5

Apple is widely expected to use the ‘surprise and shine’ event to launch new AirPods 5 and AirPods 5 with Active Noise Cancellation.

However, the bad news is that this upgrade might not be as spectacular as earlier rumours suggested.

Last month, a developer version of Mac computer software accidentally leaked a video of an unreleased AirPods product that included cameras.

These AirPods used Visual Intelligence, an Apple feature that uses cameras to analyse the real world, to give context for Siri and other AI tools.

Apple is expected to launch the AirPods 5 as an upgrade to the AirPods 4 (pictured), but these won't include cameras, as some earlier leaks suggested

Apple is expected to launch the AirPods 5 as an upgrade to the AirPods 4 (pictured), but these won’t include cameras, as some earlier leaks suggested 

The news immediately split fans, with some praising the innovative tech and others expressing privacy concerns, even going so far as to dub the headphones ‘PervertPods’.

However, Mr Gurman poured cold water on the speculation by revealing that these camera–enabled headphones wouldn’t be launching until at least 2027.

That means this week’s headphone launch will likely be a smaller upgrade to 2024’s AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation.

Expect to see better sound quality, battery life and potentially some new health features, but no groundbreaking changes.

The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4

The event is also expected to see the launch of the next generation of Apple Watches, but don’t expect any groundbreaking upgrades.

The Apple Watch Series 12 will include the usual upgrades of a better chip, better battery life and more efficient use of energy to go even longer between charges.

The biggest change is expected to be the return of the premium ceramic case option, in addition to new band and colour configurations.

The launch event is expected to see the release of the next-generation Apple Watches, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12. Pictured: Apple Watch Ultra 3

The launch event is expected to see the release of the next–generation Apple Watches, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12. Pictured: Apple Watch Ultra 3

With an upgrade to Siri and Apple Intelligence expected soon, a new HomePod Mini 2 could be released to make the most of these new capabilities

With an upgrade to Siri and Apple Intelligence expected soon, a new HomePod Mini 2 could be released to make the most of these new capabilities  

The Apple Watch Ultra 4, meanwhile, is rumoured to pack a serious upgrade to its sensors that will make health data more accurate and reduce battery drain.

Rumours also suggest that there is a blood pressure alert feature on the way, but not the long–expected blood sugar monitor feature Apple is reportedly developing.

HomePod Mini 2

With Apple expected to focus extensively on new AI features and a new AI–enhanced Siri on the horizon, experts expect an overhaul to the company’s smart home device.

It’s been six years since Apple launched the last version of its compact smart speaker, so the timing couldn’t be better for an update.

A new HomePod with a chipset capable of handling AI tasks could be a far more useful and versatile home assistant than the existing model.

According to MacRumors, the newly released macOS 26.7 beta software includes codenames referencing a number of unreleased products, including the codename ‘B525’.

Since the current HomePod Mini has the code ‘B520’, this could imply a second–generation sequel is on the way.

The trillion-dollar rise of Apple

1976: Founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne created the company on April 1, 1976, as they set about selling computer kits to hobbyists, each of which was built by Wozniak.

The first product was the Apple I. 

1977: Apple released the Apple II in June, which was the first PC made for the mass market. 

Steve Jobs unveils Apple Computer Corporation's new Macintosh in California on February 6, 1984

Steve Jobs unveils Apple Computer Corporation’s new Macintosh in California on February 6, 1984

1981: Jobs became chairman.  

1984: The Macintosh was introduced during an ad break for the Super Bowl and later officially unveiled during a launch event. It was discontinued a year later and Jobs left the firm.

1987: Apple released the Macintosh II, the first colour Mac.

1997: Apple announces it will acquire NeXT software in a $400 million deal that involves Jobs returning to Apple as interim CEO. He officially took the role in 2000.  

Steve Jobs, then-chief executive officer of Apple, with the iPhone

Steve Jobs, then-chief executive officer of Apple, with the iPhone

2001: Apple introduced iTunes, OS X and the first-generation iPod.

The first iPod MP3 music player was released on October 23, 2001, at an event in Cupertino and was able to hold up to 1,000 songs.

2007: Apple unveils the iPhone. 

2010: The first iPad was unveiled.

2011: Jobs resigned in 2011 due to illness, handing the CEO title to Tim Cook. Jobs died in October from pancreatic cancer.

2014: Apple unveiled the Apple Watch. It also unveiled its first larger iPhones – the 6 and 6 Plus. 

2015: After purchasing Beats from Dr Dre, Apple launched Apple Music to compete with Spotify and other music streaming services. 

2016: Apple returned to its roots and announced the 4-inch iPhone SE. Meanwhile, the firm is embroiled in a legal battle with the FBI, involving the agency demanding access to the locked phone used by Syed Farook, who died in a shootout after carrying out a deadly December attack in San Bernardino, California, with his wife. The court order was dropped on March 28 after the FBI said a third party was able to unlock the device.  

2017: Apple introduces the iPhone X, which removes the home button to make way for a futuristic edge-to-edge screen design and a new FaceID system that uses advanced sensors and lasers to unlock phones with just the owner’s face.    

Jobs at an Apple event at the company's headquarters in Cupertino, California

Jobs at an Apple event at the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California

2018: In a first for the company, Apple introduces new features in its latest operating system, iOS 12, that encourage users to manage and spend less time on their devices. The move was spawned by a strongly worded letter from shareholders that urged the firm to address the growing problem of smartphone addiction among kids and teenagers. 

2019: In January, Apple reports its first decline in revenues and profits in a decade. CEO Tim Cook partly blamed steep declines in revenue from China.

2020: In March, Apple closes all its brick-and-mortar retail stores outside of China in response to coronavirus. 

2021: In an online virtual event in April, CEO Tim Cook declares Apple’s goal of becoming carbon neutral for Earth Day. Later in the year, the iPhone 13 was announced. 

2022: In September, the iPhone 14 was announced. One of the new features included a new sensor to detect if a user had been in a car crash, as well as an improved camera system. 

2023: Apple brings back its ‘Home Pod’ after the first generation was discontinued. The ‘Home Pod’ can be seen as an alternative to Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home, as it is powered by voice commands. 

2024: Apple makes its first steps into artificial intelligence with the release of Apple Intelligence. The features are not all released at once, with many delayed until the following year. 

2026: Apple announces a leadership shakeup. After 15 years leading the company, Tim Cook steps aside from his position as CEO to become executive chairman. John Ternus, 51, Apple’s widely respected hardware chief, takes as CEO on September 1. 

Bodybuilder Einar Mendez Dies After Sudden Heart Attack

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Bodybuilder Einar Mendez Dies After Sudden Heart Attack

Einar Méndez, a father of three living in Mexico, was declared dead after suffering a medical emergency in Mexico City on Friday, just days before what was set to be his first trip to New York, his wife, Yan, shared Monday.

“Rest in peace, love of my life. Fly to the highest heights, and I promise we will meet again,” his grieving widow wrote in an emotional tribute posted to his Instagram account.

Méndez, an internationally recognized bodybuilder and fitness coach known for training celebrity clients, died after what his wife described as a “sudden heart attack” while exercising.

“We are all still in shock. He left suddenly, at the gym, doing what he loved most: working out,” she wrote on Instagram, as fans and loved ones mourned the unexpected loss.

Speaking in Spanish in a video shared online, Yan remembered him as “strong, resilient, kind,” according to People, adding: “Everyone who knew him knows exactly who Einar Méndez was.”

Méndez boasted of being a national and international champion.

His dedicated clientele included Mexico-based Nicaraguan TV host Martha Debayle.

RELATED: US Sinks Another Narco-Terror Refuel Hub in Drug War

Debayle said Méndez had collapsed, but no official cause of death has been revealed.

The fitness influencer with nearly 47,000 followers was remembered as a family man and father.

“Before he was a coach, Einar was Yan’s husband, his wife for 30 years, a father to his three daughters. And that’s where today it becomes impossible to measure this loss,” Debayle said.

“To think about Yan and his daughters’ pain, breaks my heart,” she added. “Because no matter how much you try to find an explanation for them, there are things that just don’t have it.”

She also paid tribute to the trainer who helped more than just herself.

“Einar was my coach, but he was also the coach of so many of you in ‘Sumer Body,’ and I know that it meant to so many. I know how much they wanted it, how much he pushed them, how much he made them deny, laugh, strike and discover that they could always be a little more,’ she said.

Debayle revealed Méndez had future plans ready involving trip to the US where he would see the Miami Dolphins, visit New York for the first time and “keep training, scolding and demanding.”

US Sinks Another Narco-Terror Refuel Hub in Drug War

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US Sinks Another Narco-Terror Refuel Hub in Drug War

U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said Tuesday that American forces sank another vessel it described as a “floating refueling station” allegedly tied to drug trafficking operations.

“On September 8, under the direction of #SOUTHCOM, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) forces successfully interdicted a floating refueling station supporting illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations in the Eastern Pacific,” SOUTHCOM noted in a post on X.

“Intelligence confirmed the vessel’s involvement with the Los Choneros violent narco-terrorist organization. Individuals removed from the vessel have been transferred to Ecuadorian authorities. After clearing the vessel and disembarking the crew, U.S. forces sank it,” the post continued.

U.S. Southern Command posted a video of the U.S. sinking a vessel on September 8, 2026.

U.S. Southern Command shared video showing U.S. forces sinking the vessel on September 8, 2026. (U.S. Southern Command on X)

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“JTF-WHEM continues to conduct precise and professional operations to dismantle the logistical networks fueling narco-trafficking in the Western Hemisphere,” SOUTHCOM added.

The announcement marks the latest in a series of SOUTHCOM updates on U.S. operations targeting vessels allegedly used as refueling hubs by Los Choneros, which has been designated a foreign terrorist organization.

“The Ecuador-based gang Los Choneros is a major driver of destabilizing violence in Ecuador,” according to a counterterrorism guide.

“Los Choneros engages in a range of violent and criminal activities, including hired killings; kidnappings; political assassinations; and the smuggling of weapons, explosives, and drugs,” the document notes.

“Los Choneros uses prisons and illegal gold mines as operational bases and cooperates with the Mexico-based Sinaloa Cartel and with Albanian cartels to facilitate drug shipments globally,” the guide states.

AI Could Kill Humans by 2030, Expert Warns After Quitting Job

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AI Could Kill Humans by 2030, Expert Warns After Quitting Job

A researcher from one of the world’s most prominent artificial intelligence companies has stepped down, warning that major tech players are locked in what he described as an “out of control” race to create powerful AI systems that could threaten humanity’s future.

Jacob Coxon has departed Anthropic, the company behind the Claude AI chatbot, after three years working on the training of advanced artificial intelligence models.

Coxon, who also previously worked at OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, alleged that both companies have failed to behave responsibly when it comes to AI safety and the risks surrounding rapidly developing technology.

In one of his starkest warnings, he claimed artificial intelligence could “kill all humans” before the end of the decade if the industry continues on its current path.

Announcing his resignation on X, Coxon wrote: “I resigned from Anthropic today. I spent the last three years doing pretraining research at both OpenAI and Anthropic.”

‘Neither company is acting responsibly. They are racing straight to self-improving superintelligence and gambling with our lives.’

A researcher at Anthropic has quit over concerns that big tech firms are in an 'out of control' race to build systems that could wipe out humanity

A researcher at Anthropic has quit over concerns that big tech firms are in an ‘out of control’ race to build systems that could wipe out humanity 

In a series of tweets explaining his decision to leave Anthropic, Mr Coxon urged people to 'not underestimate the power' of AI – particularly if it becomes 'superintelligent'

In a series of tweets explaining his decision to leave Anthropic, Mr Coxon urged people to ‘not underestimate the power’ of AI – particularly if it becomes ‘superintelligent’

In response to Mr Coxon, Evan Hubinger, Alignment Science lead at Anthropic, said that the firm believes AI has the potential to kill humans

In response to Mr Coxon, Evan Hubinger, Alignment Science lead at Anthropic, said that the firm believes AI has the potential to kill humans

In a series of tweets explaining his decision to leave Anthropic, Mr Coxon urged people to ‘not underestimate the power’ of AI – particularly if it becomes ‘superintelligent’. 

Superintelligence is the point at which an artificial system becomes more powerful than any individual, company or even nation. 

Hollywood, in films such as The Terminator series has long warned of the dangers of these technologies.

‘These will soon be superhuman systems that can hack anything, revolutionize any field overnight, and acquire real power and resources. We have all witnessed the progress in each of these domains, and progress is not slowing,’ Mr Coxon said.

‘The people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade,’ he said.

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‘This is not a marketing stunt. If anything, many executives and senior researchers will couch their phrasing in the press to sound sensible – but I hear the same people express fear privately. No other human activity poses this level of danger.’

According to Mr Coxon, this danger is ‘well-understood’ at Anthropic. However, the company is ‘locked in a race to get there first’.

He explained: ‘Accepting this race and entering the “endgame” is a hubristic gamble that should not be launched from a private company’s [messaging system] Slack. Attempting to speedrun alignment should require extraordinary confidence that there are no better trajectories available.’

As an example, the researcher highlights the recent Hugging Face attack, which saw a firm hacked by OpenAI’s rogue AI. 

He said: ‘Warning shots like the Hugging Face attack have made pacing agreements between U.S. labs more viable. I don’t feel like we’re on track to prevent a global race, which may require costly actions such as a temporary ban on improving model capabilities.’

To conclude, he urged fellow AI researchers to ‘consider what the next few years will actually look like’.

Mr Coxon claims those building AI believe it could kill us all by the end of the decade. Pictured: Terminator Genisys. Hollywood has long warned of technology's threat to humanity

Mr Coxon claims those building AI believe it could kill us all by the end of the decade. Pictured: Terminator Genisys. Hollywood has long warned of technology’s threat to humanity

He asked: ‘Do you want to kick off a superintelligent RL [reinforcement learning] run without a rigorous understanding of its mind? Should you put your head down because “it’s happening anyway” – or take this moment to call for different conditions?’

In response to Mr Coxon, Evan Hubinger, Alignment Science lead at Anthropic, confirmed that the firm believes AI has the potential to kill humans. 

Anthropic’s Claude is one of the leading large language models (LLMs), trained by scraping vast amounts of text so it can understand and generate human-like language and responses to questions.

On X, Mr Hubinger said: ‘Jacob is correct here – we really do earnestly believe AI could kill all humans! I personally think it is >10% within the next decade. I believe Anthropic is trying its best, but we do not yet have a plan to solve alignment for superintelligence and are not clearly on track to.’

Mr Coxon’s warning comes just days after Geoffrey Hinton – a Canadian researcher often referred to as the ‘Godfather of AI’ – warned that superintelligent systems could ‘lead to human extinction’.

‘We would be very foolish to develop superintelligence now, when there is no scientific consensus it can be developed safely and controllably,’ Dr Hinton said. 

‘Losing control over AI smarter than ourselves could be catastrophic and could even lead to human extinction.’ 

Wife Allegedly Drugged by Husband for Men to Rape Her Dies

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Wife Allegedly Drugged by Husband for Men to Rape Her Dies

A 39-year-old woman in Austria has died from injuries prosecutors say she suffered after her husband allegedly drugged her and allowed other men to sexually abuse her.

Authorities have described the harrowing investigation as “Pelicot 2.0,” drawing a comparison to the case of Gisele Pelicot, the French woman who was repeatedly raped by dozens of men after being drugged by her husband.

Emergency crews were called to the couple’s home in Marchtrenk, Austria, on June 25 after the woman’s teenage daughter discovered her unresponsive and covered in blood on a waterbed.

According to news outlet 20 Minuten, the woman’s 51-year-old husband, who was intoxicated at the time, initially claimed to first responders that she had been injured in an accident during “rough sex.”

Police did not immediately identify the husband as a suspect, but investigators later uncovered evidence pointing to a far darker set of circumstances after an autopsy was carried out and his phone was examined.

Following his wife’s death, police found that the man disposed of the waterbed and deleted an app on his phone.

Cops discovered that just days before his wife’s death, the man had allegedly looked up how to drug someone on his device.

He subsequently drugged his wife repeatedly over an extended period and handed her unconscious to men for payment, including on the night she died, local media reports. 

A woman from the Austrian town of Marchtrenk has died after her husband allegedly drugged her so that other men could rape her. Pictured: General view of the town of Marchtrenk

A woman from the Austrian town of Marchtrenk has died after her husband allegedly drugged her so that other men could rape her. Pictured: General view of the town of Marchtrenk

The woman’s husband was paid up to 500 Euros per session and would refer to his wife as ‘dead meat’ in text messages.  

Her husband has been arrested alongside a neighbour, who is accused of sexually assaulting the woman twice, including on the night of her death. 

He is understood to have left the house before she died. 

Text messages between the two men were found to mention the alleged abuse of the woman, newspaper Krone reports. 

On the night of her death, her husband allegedly sent his neighbour a photo of his unconscious wife.  

In one text, the woman’s husband wrote: ‘I’ll get her properly drunk. Then you can have sex with her again. The way she was whining the other day was amazing.’

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His neighbour responded: ‘She almost screamed. You cover her mouth again.’

He also thanked the woman’s husband for ‘allowing me to use her’.  

In another text, the husband revealed his wife had not consented to the acts. He wrote: ‘She’s not participating willingly.’

He also said: ‘If it worked, if I had date rape drugs, I would regularly make her available for you to rape.’ 

The day before the woman’s death, her husband also allegedly shared photos of his wife with the man, and in a separate text message wrote: ‘But he does know that it’s a real rape and she would never go along with it?’

More suspects remain under investigation as a police probe continues. 

The case follows the high-profile trial that shocked France in 2024, in which Dominique Pelicot admitted to drugging his wife Gisele for almost a decade and inviting dozens of men to rape her while she was unconscious. 

He was found guilty on all charges last year and sentenced to 20 years in prison, which was the maximum possible.

He admitted his role and did not appeal.

All 50 of his co-defendants were also found guilty of various charges related to the case.

The case has been likened to that of Gisele Pelicot (pictured in October 2025) who was raped by dozens of men on numerous occasions after being drugged by her husband

The case has been likened to that of Gisele Pelicot (pictured in October 2025) who was raped by dozens of men on numerous occasions after being drugged by her husband

The trial drew international attention after Gisele opposed a closed hearing, a demand made by several defendants.

The court sided with her. Her courage inspired campaigners against sexual and sexist violence, and the shocking case spurred a national reckoning over rape culture in France.

The evidence included stomach-churning homemade videos of rapes and assaults that Dominique Pelicot filmed in the couple’s home in the small Provence town of Mazan and elsewhere.

World Royals Gather in Norway for King Harald V’s State Funeral

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World Royals Gather in Norway for King Harald V’s State Funeral

Prince William and Princess Anne were among the senior royal figures who gathered in Oslo today for the funeral of Norway’s King Harald V, joining monarchs and representatives from across Europe and beyond.

The Prince of Wales attended the solemn service at Oslo Cathedral on behalf of his father, King Charles, while the Princess Royal was present in a personal capacity, reflecting her role as godmother to Norway’s new monarch, King Haakon VIII.

They were joined by a number of prominent European royals, including King Felipe of Spain and Princess Charlene of Monaco, as the continent’s royal houses paid their respects.

King Haakon walked in procession behind the coffin, which was covered with the red Norwegian royal standard. At his side were his eldest child, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, now first in line to the throne, his son Prince Sverre Magnus, and his sister Princess Martha Louise.

Also present with members of the Norwegian royal family was the King’s stepson, Marius Borg Hoiby, 29, who is serving a four-year prison sentence under house arrest at his parents’ Skaugum Estate as he appeals his conviction on two counts of rape.

He previously joined his relatives to carry the coffin of Harald from the Royal Palace to the palace chapel last week while temporarily released, sparking fierce backlash from royal fans, many of whom strongly condemned his presence at the occasion. 

His mother, Queen Mette-Marit, who missed her husband’s swearing-in ceremony due to ‘complications’ from her recent lung transplant surgery in June, and Harald’s widow, Queen Sonja, followed the coffin in a car. 

Prince William and his aunt Princess Anne have today joined royals from around the world at the funeral of King Harald V of Norway

Prince William and his aunt Princess Anne have today joined royals from around the world at the funeral of King Harald V of Norway

Marius Borg Hoiby, left, arrives for the funeral of Norway's King Harald V at Oslo Cathedral

Marius Borg Hoiby, left, arrives for the funeral of Norway’s King Harald V at Oslo Cathedral 

Queen Mette-Marit of Norway arrives for the funeral ceremony of late King Harald V

Queen Mette-Marit of Norway arrives for the funeral ceremony of late King Harald V

The casket of late King Harald V of Norway leaves the Royal Palace in a royal procession to the Cathedral in Oslo

The casket of late King Harald V of Norway leaves the Royal Palace in a royal procession to the Cathedral in Oslo

King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark and King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden also joined the royals walking behind the coffin, draped with the red Norwegian royal standard.

Thousands of people lined the streets of the Norwegian capital to bid a final farewell to Harald, who reigned for 35 years.

Norwegian officials and foreign dignitaries, among them political leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, joined the procession.

People were tuning in from across the country. Scores of churches, libraries, cultural centers and city halls were making big screens available for the public to watch the funeral, public broadcaster NRK reported.

A 21-gun salute rang out over the capital at the start of the funeral procession from the royal palace to Oslo Cathedral.

Princess Anne was in attendance in a private capacity as the godmother of the new King of Norway, Haakon. 

King Charles paid tribute to his ‘dear cousin’ and ‘much-loved kinsman and friend’ after news of Harald´s death was announced.

In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, he said the monarch served the people of Norway with ‘unwavering dedication’ and guided them through times of change with ‘warmth and humility’.

Under royal precedent, the sovereign does not attend funerals of other heads of state, and so the duty fell to William. The Prince of Wales represented his father at the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican in April last year.

The late Queen Elizabeth II and King Harald were second cousins and shared the same great-grandparents, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.

William and the now-Princess of Wales carried out an official tour to Norway in 2018.

On 8 September, a group including Felipe, Letizia, Henri, the Serbian Crown Prince couple, Prince Alois of Liechtenstein, Princess Alexia, and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece were bussed to the Palace for the ceremony. 

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Passing away on 28 August aged 89, King Harald V was Europe’s oldest reigning sovereign, ruling over Norway for 35 years.

Yet, despite modernising his family’s rule over the years, he refused to step down like other ageing monarchs.

His son immediately became King Haakon VIII and last week pledged an oath of allegiance to Norway’s constitution in parliament.

The coffin is being taken from the royal palace to Oslo Cathedral in a procession, followed by Haakon, other senior Norwegian royals, foreign guests and representatives of Norway’s parliament and others.

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands walked behind Charlene of Monaco

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands walked behind Charlene of Monaco 

Princess Charlene of Monaco put on a sombre display as she walked alongside her husband Prince Albert

Princess Charlene of Monaco put on a sombre display as she walked alongside her husband Prince Albert

Norway's Prince Sverre Magnus, King Haakon, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra led the funeral procession

Norway’s Prince Sverre Magnus, King Haakon, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra led the funeral procession 

The funeral procession with Norway's King Harald's coffin leaves the Palace on the way to Oslo Cathedral on the day of his funeral

The funeral procession with Norway’s King Harald’s coffin leaves the Palace on the way to Oslo Cathedral on the day of his funeral

King Philippe of Belgium and Queen Mathilde of Belgium were among the European royals in attendance

King Philippe of Belgium and Queen Mathilde of Belgium were among the European royals in attendance 

Abdullah II of Jordan, Queen Rania of Jordan and Princess Charlene of Monaco followed the coffin

Abdullah II of Jordan, Queen Rania of Jordan and Princess Charlene of Monaco followed the coffin 

The coffin of His Majesty King Harald V is transported from the Royal Palace to Oslo Cathedral

The coffin of His Majesty King Harald V is transported from the Royal Palace to Oslo Cathedral

In attendance are The Netherlands’ King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima, Princess Beatrix and Princess Catherina-Amalia, along with Prince William, Princess Anne, Denmark’s King Frederik, Queen Mary, Crown Prince Christian and Princess Benedikte.

Other royal guests include Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip, Princess Sofia, Princess Madeleine and Princess Christina.

Ahead of the funeral, Norwegians waited patiently to file past Harald’s coffin as it lay in state in the chapel of the royal palace in Oslo, with the queue stretching seven hours long over the weekend.

After the funeral, Harald’s coffin will be taken in a procession to the palace chapel at Akershus Castle, where the late king’s ancestors are buried.

After a private ceremony for the Norwegian royals, who will be joined by some of the foreign guests and senior Norwegian officials, it will be lowered into the crypt.

Norway's King Haakon and members of the Royal Guard stand next to the coffin of Norway's King Harald during his funeral in Oslo

Norway’s King Haakon and members of the Royal Guard stand next to the coffin of Norway’s King Harald during his funeral in Oslo

The Norwegian royal house has kinfolk in other European royal families. Harald and Haakon are related to both King Charles and Spain’s King Felipe. They´re all descendants of Queen Victoria.

Today, the throne’s role in Norway is largely symbolic and power lies with the elected government and parliament, but the Norwegian royal family retains a role in promoting the wealthy Scandinavian nation around the world.

Norway´s monarchy traces its origins to King Harald Fairhair in the ninth century. When Norway regained its independence from Sweden in 1905, three-quarters of voters in a national plebiscite approved restoring the monarchy.

A minute’s silence will be held across Norway at the start of the funeral ceremony. Eulogies will be delivered by Norway’s parliament speaker and prime minister, and there will be a candle-lighting ceremony with representatives of different faiths.

The government says it’s not an official holiday, but schools and workplaces could individually opt to let students and employees tune in for today’s events. The government advised that ‘noisy events should be suspended while the funeral is ongoing’. 

Darius Slayton’s Giants Tenure Fell Short of Stardom but Delivered Lasting Value

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Darius Slayton’s Giants Tenure Fell Short of Stardom but Delivered Lasting Value

Careers can get flattened into labels quickly. A player rises from pleasant surprise to steady contributor, then slips into disappointment and, in the harshest corners of public opinion, is written off entirely by those who prefer neat verdicts over context.

Darius Slayton was never a star wide receiver for the Giants. Still, for a fifth-round draft pick who navigated more than his share of unsettled quarterback situations, spending seven seasons with the franchise and finishing with 296 receptions and 22 touchdowns is a respectable run. His production deserves some perspective, too: Slayton’s career average of 15.0 yards per catch sits above franchise receptions leader Amani Toomer (14.2), Odell Beckham Jr. (14.0) and Hakeem Nicks (14.7), and is nearly even with Plaxico Burress (15.1).

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That does not mean Slayton belongs ahead of those former Giants receivers in the franchise hierarchy. It does mean his tenure should not be dismissed as meaningless. His time with Big Blue came to an end Monday when the Giants released him, a tough conclusion after a difficult summer.

The biggest issue was easy to identify. Slayton underwent double hernia surgery during the offseason, and the recovery appeared to leave him well short of his normal physical level. He did not move with the same ease and explosiveness he had shown before the injury, a costly development as he tried to make an impression on the new coaching staff.
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