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We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
CHICAGO (WLS) — On Thursday, Chicago’s Haitian community, alongside immigration advocates, convened to protest the looming expiration of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians. The rally took place just hours before the program was scheduled to end for several other immigrant groups on Friday.
This protest follows a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, which supported the Trump administration’s decision to terminate TPS for thousands of immigrants from nations including Haiti and Syria. As a result, Haitian immigrants and local businesses face a cloud of uncertainty about their future.
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In Chicago’s Far South Side, the owners of Lior’s Café expressed their worry regarding the fate of their Haitian employees, who might soon be obliged to leave their positions as TPS comes to an end.
“It’s frightening,” remarked Merlyn Jose, a manager at Lior’s Café. “You come here, establish a family, work, and become a contributing member of society. Then, suddenly, it all might vanish.”
TPS is a program designed to allow individuals escaping natural disasters, war, and regimes of persecution to live and work legally in the U.S. Currently, approximately 350,000 Haitians are beneficiaries of TPS, many having migrated to America in the aftermath of Haiti’s catastrophic 2010 earthquake.
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority sided with the Trump administration in its effort to end TPS protections for immigrants from several countries.
At the Jean Baptiste Point du Sable monument on Michigan Avenue, a coalition of local Haitian American organizations called on lawmakers to take action.
“Long before Chicago became the great city that we know today, an immigrant from Haiti helped lay its foundation,” said Patrick Brutus, co-founder of the Haitian American Professional Network.
The group was joined by lead counsel in Miot v. Trump, the TPS case that was struck down by the nation’s highest court.
“It was very much a gut-punch,” said attorney Geoff Pipoly.
“To simply have the highest court in the land brush all that evidence to one side with a wave of a hand and say it doesn’t matter, and it’s not overtly racial when it very clearly is, is hard to take,” Pipoly said.
Immigrant advocates are also urging Congress to pass Senate Bill 4814, a measure that would require the Department of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status.
As the expiration date approaches, Haitian residents, workers and business owners across Chicago say they are facing an uncertain future while awaiting the next steps from lawmakers and federal officials.
Investigations are underway by the New York Police Department and the Department of Justice into a potential hate crime, following an incident where a vehicle repeatedly crashed into the entrance of the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters located in Brooklyn, happening on Wednesday. (Daniel David Yeroshalmi via Storyful)
Authorities have charged 36-year-old Yogesh Sayrange with hurling Molotov cocktails at two religious buildings in Queens and an adjacent commercial property late Wednesday night. He was apprehended while in possession of more incendiary devices, as per reports from law enforcement.
Allegedly, Sayrange targeted the Iglesia Bautista El Mesias situated in the Ozone Park area shortly before 11 p.m. Surveillance footage purportedly captures him conversing with three other individuals before igniting a Molotov cocktail and tossing it over the church’s front gate towards the entrance.
The surveillance video, reported by the New York Post, shows the bottle bursting into flames near the church’s entrance as Sayrange departed the scene.
Police claim that late Wednesday night, Yogesh Sayrange was responsible for launching a Molotov cocktail at the church.(Google Maps)
The FDNY confirmed to News Media that it received a call at 11:57 p.m. Wednesday for a reported incendiary device thrown at a church on 75th Street in Ozone Park. Fire marshals and the NYPD are investigating.
Police said Sayrange then walked less than a mile to a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in nearby Woodhaven, where he allegedly threw another Molotov cocktail at the building’s front entrance, sparking a second fire.
The FDNY also confirmed to News Media that it received a second call at 12:08 a.m. Thursday for a reported incendiary device thrown at a church on 78th Street in Woodhaven. Fire marshals and the NYPD are investigating.
A Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Woodhaven neighborhood of Queens. Police allege the building was targeted in a second Molotov cocktail attack late Wednesday.(Google Maps)
Police said no injuries or significant damage were reported at either church.
Investigators later determined Sayrange also allegedly threw a third Molotov cocktail at an ambulance service building on Rockaway Boulevard near 77th Street in Woodhaven around the same time, police said.
No injuries or damage were reported there, police said.
Officers took Sayrange into custody at about 12:10 a.m. Thursday and recovered two additional Molotov cocktails from his backpack, according to police sources.
Investigators are also examining whether Sayrange may be connected to several similar incidents dating back to last month, according to law enforcement sources. Authorities have not publicly announced any additional cases tied to him.
An NYPD van parked on a street in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, N.Y., April 27, 2025.(Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Sayrange appeared in federal court Thursday on charges he threw an incendiary device into a Brooklyn business June 25.
News Media has reached out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for additional information about the Queens investigation.
Carlos Martinez, a pitcher for Hofstra, has had a passion for baseball since his earliest days. As a little boy, he would sit in his stroller behind the dugout fence, watching his father coach Little League teams.
Now, at 21, the talented right-handed pitcher stands on the cusp of potentially being drafted into Major League Baseball this coming weekend.
Expressing his hopes to The Post, Martinez said, “I’m hoping to hear my name on the first day. My ultimate dream is to play professional baseball and excel at it.”
In the lead-up to the draft, Martinez finds himself ranked 212 in ESPN’s list of the top 250 MLB prospects. As a proud Yankees enthusiast from Queens, the soon-to-be senior has thrived under the guidance of Hofstra’s coach, Frank Catalanotto, who brings his own Major League experience.
“Coach Catalanotto has really boosted my confidence,” Martinez shared. “I genuinely believe I am capable of competing with anyone, anywhere.”
Long Island high school shortstop Aiden Ruiz is also hoping to hear his name called, as there’s been much noise around the Stony Brook School star who just graduated.
“I’m pretty calm right now. I haven’t thought too much about it, but as we get closer, I mean, it’s a thought every kid is going to have,” added the Vanderbilt commit, also from Queens.
“I feel like I am very consistent, I’m very hard working, and that’s just going to carry on and off the field,” Ruiz said of his defining qualities.
Should the 19-year-old have to wait another two years for a path into an MLB system, he’s OK with that too.
Hofstra pitcher Carlos Martinez said he is hoping to be drafted on the first day of the upcoming MLB draft. YouTube
“I’ll go to college and go win a national championship with Vanderbilt,” Ruiz said.
Chris McHugh, a Commack High School 2023 graduate and North Carolina State first baseman, also attended the draft combine in June as a top prospect.
Title on the line
The Fighting Tomcats are on a highway to the danger zone.
American Soccer Club will take on New Haven United FC for the NPSL’s North Atlantic Conference championship after a 3-1 playoff win over the New York Shockers on Wednesday night.
“They’re up for it — it’s a healthy rivalry that we have with them,” head coach John Fitzgerald told The Post of the Connecticut team.
Their last meeting was plenty dramatic at Mitchel Field, when a storm forced an evacuation of the stadium while AFC trailed in the final minutes.
The Tomcats responded when the clouds cleared with a last-minute tying goal to end the match at 2-2 in June.
“I think the boys are feeling good,” Fitzgerald said of Sunday’s match.
President Donald Trump has intensified the United States’ military response against Iran following a series of incidents involving commercial vessels in the critical Strait of Hormuz.
Reports from the White House suggest a readiness to extend the military actions for an extended period, potentially lasting days or weeks unless Tehran agrees to de-escalate.
Some of Trump’s aides have reportedly dubbed the campaign with the informal moniker ‘Operation B**** Slap,’ as mentioned by the New York Post.
The term, officials disclosed to the newspaper, has been circulated covertly in both discussions and electronic communications, though it is not recognized as an official title by either the White House or the Pentagon.
Behind closed doors, it is understood that the length of these intensified military efforts hinges substantially on Iran’s actions in the forthcoming days.
Trump has made clear he has little appetite for allowing further attacks on international shipping to go unanswered, particularly after Iran targeted multiple vessels in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week.
‘He still wants this thing to be over. But if Iran is shooting at ships, he’s not just gonna sit there and do nothing,’ a source close to the White House told the Post.
Another former White House official told the paper that Trump’s decision-making has become increasingly personal as tensions mount.
President Donald Trump ordered renewed US military strikes after Iran attacked commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Officials said the military campaign could last days or weeks
The US unleashed a new round of strikes on Iran and Tehran targets Gulf allies after Trump claimed the Iranians were begging for a deal but can’t be trusted
‘Trump is not coordinating with anyone… he’s going with his gut,’ the former official said.
The president’s latest military push marks a sharp shift from the fragile diplomatic efforts that had followed months of fighting.
Trump declared this week that both the three-month ceasefire and the more recent memorandum of understanding with Tehran were effectively finished.
He warned Iran’s leaders they could face attacks on critical infrastructure, a renewed blockade and even the seizure of Kharg Island if hostilities continue.
His increasingly combative rhetoric has also caught attention inside Washington.
On Wednesday, Trump branded Iran’s leadership ‘scum,’ ‘liars,’ ‘loco’ and ‘sick,’ language that is said to have surprised some senior officials, although a former White House official said there was little disagreement with his tougher approach.
‘This is all Trump, exactly as he likes it,’ the former official said. ‘[It is] almost impossible to tell what his next move is until he makes the decision himself.’
While the colorful nickname has circulated among some senior advisers, several administration officials emphasized it is purely informal and should not be confused with the military’s official operational titles.
Vessels are seen in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, on Thursday
Supporters of Hezbollah attend a memorial ceremony mourning Iran’s slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Beirut’s southern suburbs on Wednesday
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said the US had responded ’20-1′ to Iran’s attacks
According to the Post, some sources familiar with internal discussions claim to have never heard the phrase used.
Even as the military campaign intensifies, Trump has continued to leave the door open to diplomacy.
Officials said the president has preserved a range of options – from sustained military action to renewed negotiations involving Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and first son-in-law Jared Kushner should Iran seek fresh talks.
Meanwhile, the fighting has continued to expand on the ground.
Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that during the second consecutive night of US strikes, American forces targeted a rail bridge near the Turkmenistan border, severing a key transportation corridor linking Iran with China and Russia.
Tehran responded on Thursday by launching missiles and drones toward US military installations in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Jordan, according to Iranian officials.
Those countries later said their air defenses intercepted the incoming projectiles.
The latest escalation follows a series of attacks earlier this week in which Iran targeted three commercial ships traveling along the US-preferred shipping route off Oman’s coast rather than the route promoted by Tehran.
Speaking aboard Air Force One while returning from a stop in the United Kingdom, Trump insisted the United States had delivered an overwhelming response.
‘We just hit them very hard, and I’d say we hit them 20-1. Every time they hit us, we’re going to hit them 20. We did a little something today, but it was really retribution for last night. They hit actually three boats, not two,’ he told reporters.
The president also argued Iran’s military position had deteriorated significantly.
‘We’ve already won militarily. They have very little left. And they want to make a deal so badly. They called a little while ago. They want to make a deal so badly. I just don’t know if they’re worthy… I don’t know that they’re going to honor the deal, that’s the problem.’
A woman looks on behind a poster of Iran’s slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei
A family of mourners poses for keepsake photos under a banner set up in a main thoroughfare near the Imam Reza Shrine on Thursday in Mashhad, Iran
Trump called Spain a ‘terrible partner’ in NATO as he railed against allies for not supporting the war on Iran
Trump suggested Iran’s attacks on shipping reflected a leadership acting irrationally.
‘They’re sort of crazy, to be honest with you. They’re sort of crazy. They’re a little bit out of control, but they want to make a deal, badly,’ he said.
There has been little public indication from Tehran that it is preparing to soften its position.
During funeral events for Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, mourners carried large banners calling for Trump’s death.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also condemned Trump’s rhetoric, accusing the US president of resorting to inflammatory language.
‘Iranians… do not answer vulgarity with vulgarity, but with action,’ Araghchi said on Wednesday.
Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued his own warning as the confrontation deepened.
‘Let me put it plainly: if you strike, you’ll get hit,’ he said on Thursday. ‘Don’t flail around pointlessly, or you’ll sink even deeper: the Strait of Hormuz will only open with ‘Iranian arrangements,’ not American threats.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for further comment.
Looking to maintain your strength well into your 60s? Incorporating these five standing exercises into your daily routine can make all the difference.
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Muscle loss after 60 isn’t due to your body failing to respond to exercise. It’s often a result of reduced activity, less frequent muscle engagement, and more time spent sitting than you might believe. As a trainer, I’ve witnessed numerous clients recover their strength and muscle definition without ever having to visit a gym. The secret? It lies not in finding a flawless workout, but in consistently doing movements that activate the largest muscles in your body each day.
There’s a common misunderstanding that reversing muscle loss requires heavy weightlifting multiple times a week. While resistance training is beneficial, standing exercises offer a unique edge by simultaneously strengthening muscles and enhancing balance, coordination, and posture. Each repetition trains your body to operate cohesively rather than targeting a single muscle. This type of functional strength is useful for everyday tasks like climbing stairs, carrying groceries, and enjoying extended walks.
With years of experience coaching individuals over 60, I’ve found that the strongest clients often follow remarkably simple routines. They prioritize quality movement, controlled repetitions, and consistency over pursuing larger weights at the gym. These five standing exercises are designed to engage the muscles that are crucial for your independence and can even slow or reverse age-related muscle loss. Practice them several mornings each week to build strength that benefits every aspect of your daily life.
Standing Squats
If I had to build a strength routine around one lower-body exercise, standing squats would always earn a place. They recruit the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, calves, and core all at once while reinforcing one of the most important movement patterns in everyday life. I recommend them because they mimic sitting down and standing up, making the strength gains immediately practical. Clients often notice stronger legs, improved endurance, and greater confidence on stairs after only a few weeks. Better yet, squats encourage your body to maintain muscle throughout the entire lower half rather than focusing on a single area.
How to Do It
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
Brace your core.
Push your hips back.
Lower until comfortable.
Press through your heels to stand.
Perform 10 to 15 repetitions.
Standing Calf Raises
The calves often receive very little attention, yet they play a critical role in walking, climbing stairs, and maintaining balance. Strong calves also help absorb impact with every step, reducing unnecessary stress on the knees and hips. I include calf raises in almost every standing routine because they’re easy to perform while producing meaningful improvements in lower-leg strength. Many clients tell me they feel lighter on their feet after adding them to their morning routine. Consistent practice also helps preserve muscle where age-related decline often goes unnoticed.
How to Do It
Stand behind a sturdy chair.
Hold the chair lightly.
Rise onto your toes.
Pause briefly.
Lower slowly.
Complete 15 to 20 repetitions.
Standing Hip Abductions
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The muscles along the outside of the hips do far more than simply move the legs sideways. They stabilize the pelvis every time you take a step, helping you maintain balance and reducing unnecessary strain on the knees and lower back. I frequently prescribe standing hip abductions because they strengthen these often-neglected muscles without requiring equipment. Clients usually notice steadier walking and greater confidence on uneven ground after several weeks of consistent practice. Strong hips create a stronger foundation for nearly every lower-body movement.
How to Do It
Stand beside a sturdy chair.
Hold the chair lightly.
Lift one leg out to the side.
Keep your torso upright.
Lower with control.
Perform 12 to 15 repetitions per leg.
Standing Wall Push-Ups
Upper-body muscle loss becomes increasingly common after 60, especially if daily activities no longer challenge the chest, shoulders, and arms. Wall push-ups provide a joint-friendly way to rebuild that strength while engaging the core and improving shoulder stability. I like using them because they’re easy to modify as clients become stronger. Every repetition teaches multiple muscle groups to work together, making the gains more functional than isolated machine exercises. Clients often feel stronger during everyday pushing movements within a month of consistent practice.
How to Do It
Face a sturdy wall.
Place your hands slightly wider than shoulder width.
Step your feet back.
Bend your elbows and lower your chest.
Push back to the starting position.
Perform 10 to 15 repetitions.
Standing Knee Drives
I like finishing standing workouts with a movement that combines strength, balance, and coordination. Standing knee drives activate the hip flexors, core, glutes, and supporting muscles throughout the standing leg while gently raising the heart rate. The exercise closely resembles the mechanics of walking, making it an excellent choice for preserving muscle that’s useful during everyday movement. Many clients tell me they feel more energetic and more stable after incorporating knee drives into their morning routine. It’s a simple reminder that maintaining muscle isn’t just about lifting weight. It’s about teaching your body to move well.
A man from Florida, who reached out to law enforcement claiming he could provide details about a murder from 1987, found himself under arrest and charged with that very murder, officials revealed on Thursday.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reported the arrest of 70-year-old Gary Edward Glowacz on Wednesday, linking him to the death of Melissa Ellison, who was just 20 years old at the time of her murder.
Authorities stated that Glowacz reached out to them on Wednesday, expressing a desire to share information regarding Ellison’s demise.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office informed that Gary Edward Glowacz was taken into custody and charged with murder related to the 1987 fatality of Melissa Ellison. This arrest followed his approach to officials with purported information about the case.(Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office)
Investigators held discussions with Glowacz and secured an arrest warrant following the interview.
He was booked into the Duval County Jail on charges of murder and burglary with battery.
Officials celebrated the arrest, which comes nearly four decades after the case went cold.
Gary Edward Glowacz, 70, was arrested and charged in the 1987 killing of Melissa Ellison after contacting the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and saying he had information about the case, investigators said.(Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office)
“Television shows condition us to believe that homicide cases that are not solved within the first 48 hours will not be solved,” Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said during a news conference. “That is patently false.”
“While his arrest cannot fill the enormous void left in the hearts of Melissa Ellison’s loved ones, I hope that this arrest is another step in the healing process,” he added.
Police responded to a home on Colejean Road at about 4:40 a.m. on Dec. 28, 1987, after receiving a report of a deceased person.
Ellison’s body was found by authorities in her bed with injuries consistent with blunt force trauma, according to police.
Melissa Ellison, 20, was found dead in her Jacksonville, Florida, home in December 1987. Authorities announced an arrest in the cold case nearly four decades later.(Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office)
Investigators said Ellison’s roommates checked on her after hearing her toddler crying on the living room couch.
The sheriff’s office thanked First Coast Crime Stoppers, the State Attorney’s Office, Project Cold Case and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office for their work on the investigation.
Telstra customers faced a widespread service disruption on Wednesday morning, leading to some being unable to even place emergency calls. The prime minister moved quickly to quell rumors of a possible cyber attack.
Expressing their apologies, the company attributed the service failure to a glitch in their software.
Communications Minister Anika Wells confirmed that some Telstra users were unable to reach emergency services at triple zero. The problem also wreaked havoc on train networks and card payment systems nationwide.
The disruption brought the entirety of Victoria’s regional train services to a standstill, while in New South Wales, regional and intercity trains suffered from prolonged delays.
Telstra announced that the network issues were completely sorted out by 4pm, following a morning of glitches that had started early that day.
Telstra chief financial officer Michael Ackland said the telco was continuing to investigate but it was confident its teams had identified and isolated the software defect.
However, he revealed potential triple-zero call problems were more widespread than previously thought, requiring hundreds of welfare checks.
By Wednesday afternoon, Telstra had completed 333 checks on customers who made an emergency call that was unsuccessful or dropped out after connecting.
“The volume of these welfare checks was higher than we expected and it has prompted us to investigate further,” Ackland said.
Investigations into the underlying cause of the software glitch were ongoing.
“The fact that it occurred means that there is something in our process that we need to fix and to change – we are working through that,” the Telstra executive said.
Wells assured the public the problem was different to past failures, including an Optus outage in September that was linked to multiple deaths.
“This is not a triple zero outage,” she said.
“This is a Telstra retail outage that has affected their customers right across the country.”
Small businesses having troubles with failing EFTPOS transactions was “incredibly frustrating”, she added.
Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said Australian phones are required to fall back to other networks for triple zero access.
Users began reporting issues with their internet and mobile services at approximately 4.30am on the outage-tracking website DownDetector.
Telstra earlier said the issue is a node problem affecting timekeeping across its network, resulting in intermittent outages. The source of the issue lies in servers held in data centres in Sydney and Melbourne, Ackland said.
“Time synchronisation in those nodes wasn’t working as it should. We don’t know why,” he said.
In a statement, Telstra said “We know how much our customers rely on our network and understand just how much of a disruption this is to your day.
“For that we’re so sorry.”
Ackland said as many as “tens of thousands” of people could be impacted, but that it was likely fewer. However, online reports suggest the outage could be significantly larger than Telstra describes.
In its 2025 annual report, the company said it provides around 24.9 million retail mobile services, along with 3.4 million consumer and small-business bundle, data, and voice-only services.
Emergency services interrupted
Some Telstra users have reported being unable to access emergency services, with Wells advising in a statement that police had been conducting welfare checks on those unable to reach triple zero.
Police in Victoria, NSW, and Western Australia have acknowledged the interruption could be an issue.
However, those services said there was no evidence of impact to frontline staff, or a disruption to their own networks.
Ackland said his company is investigating whether emergency services have been affected, but that it is unlikely, given they use a different network to the one affected.
Wells said the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will conduct “a full investigation”.
“Telstra will need to account for how and why this outage occurred,” she said.
Wells acknowledged the outage would test Australians’ patience with telcos as the communications watchdog and the custodian completed investigations.
“Australians expect a baseline of services when it comes to their telcos,” the minister said.
“There’s a reason telcos are the least trusted industries in Australia — it’s because of days like today.”
But Opposition communications spokesperson Sarah Henderson described the government’s response as “totally inadequate”.
“Australians are still waiting for the outcome of ACMA’s inquiry into the Optus triple-zero outage last September but all we have heard is silence,” she said, calling on the watchdog to file its report within seven days.
Prime minister denies foreign interference
Opposition leader Angus Taylor has joined One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce in calling for an investigation into whether the outage is linked to China’s ballistic missile testing on Monday.
“The government needs to explain what has gone on here, why has this happened, what they’re going to do to make sure it’s fixed and never happens again,” Taylor said.
Joyce told Sky News that he didn’t want to be a “conspiracy theorist” but he suspects Chinese involvement.
“I hope that that’s investigated and cleared as not part of the process,” he said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese waved off the suggestion, saying that Telstra so far has no evidence of malicious involvement.
“What Telstra have indicated to the government is that they don’t see this as being, there’s no evidence of it being malicious, but those investigations are underway,” he said.
Regulator accused of ‘doing nothing’
A telecommunications expert has told SBS News that the government’s independent regulatory agency is not doing its job sufficiently to hold telcos accountable for outages.
Despite new laws, when Vodafone experienced a major outage in June, its service page was unable to update customers effectively about the crash, RMIT University associate professor Mark Gregory said.
“Vodafone were non-compliant. Have they been fined by the ACMA? No,” Gregory said. “Now, the same thing’s happened with Telstra.
“What is the ACMA going to do about it? Well, nothing, because the ACMA is the telcos’ mate.
“They’re not acting as a regulator, they’re acting as best buddies with these companies.”
In June, new reforms came into effect, forcing telcos to measure and report their signal strength, making it easier for customers to compare them.
In response, Telstra cut its mobile network coverage area by almost a third.
Gregory argued that the new laws do not go far enough, as they do not require the ACMA to publish a report whenever there is a significant outage, which he said is a “total failure.”
The implementation of the changes came after a series of high-profile service interruptions, the most significant of which was a 2024 major system failure by Telstra, which disrupted emergency service lines.
Telstra resolved the 2024 incident in an hour and a half; however, a Victorian man died after his family’s emergency calls were delayed during his cardiac arrest.
The company was fined $3 million following a probe into the outage.
Gregory recommended Australians carry cash, have WiFi services available, and know which of their neighbours are on alternative phone networks in case of emergencies.
Trains services halted
Dozens of V/Line train services stopped dead on the tracks and remained stationary at regional and suburban Melbourne stations, The Age reported.
Very limited coach replacement services could be provided at such short notice and passengers were advised to defer their travel.
Around 70,000 Victorians use V/Line trains every day.
Transport for NSW also advised passengers to delay their travel, warning that trains have been impacted and that “significant delays are expected to all services”.
Australian Rail Track Corporation suspended services across its 9,500km network, disrupting major freight and passenger routes.
Customers furious
Irate customers on social media berated the company following the outage.
Some claimed their businesses were affected by the interruption while others demanded compensation from the company.
Tens of thousands reported issues with outages on the DownDetector site, beginning at 4.15am and spiking at 6.30am. Reports have since declined.
Comments and complaints flooded into the website from across every state and territory, with both regional and metropolitan areas reportedly affected.
A group of eight Apache helicopter pilots, who captivated an audience of beachgoers with an exhilarating display during a Fourth of July celebration, have been suspended by the South Carolina National Guard. This decision has triggered backlash from lawmakers, who believe these pilots deserve praise instead of punishment.
The pilots’ impressive low-altitude flight at the Salute from the Shore event was captured on camera and quickly became a viral sensation online. The footage shows the helicopters roaring along the coastline of South Carolina while beach visitors below energetically cheered and waved.
The South Carolina National Guard announced that it is currently evaluating the “flight profile” of the pilots, emphasizing that their suspension is purely a “routine, non-punitive safety measure” rather than a form of discipline.
“These Soldiers remain in good standing with the [South Carolina National Guard] and are continuing their regular ground duties,” the Guard communicated in an official statement. “Our highest priority is safety.”
In reaction to the pilots’ suspension, Representative Russell Fry (R-SC) has called for the reinstatement of their flying privileges without delay.
“The [South Carolina National Guard] needs to drop this review and restore these pilots immediately,” Fry wrote on X. “Millions of Americans applauded the incredible display during Salute to the Shore flyover while expressing complete admiration for them & appreciation for our country and military.
“These pilots should be celebrated, not sanctioned.”
In a separate post, Fry announced that he has written to Guard, formally urging the outfit “to drop this meaningless, bogus investigation and swiftly allow these pilots to return to their flight status as soon as possible.”
“It is shameful that a frivolous complaint turned into a suspension for these brave pilots after putting on one of the best Salute From the Shores in history,” Fry fumed.
Echoing Fry, Republican state Rep. Tim McGinnis called the suspensions “ridiculous” in a Facebook post, suggesting that the flying ban could leave the Guard ill-prepared in the event of an emergency
🚨WHAT ON EARTH??!!!!
The National Guard has just SUSPENDED all 8 pilots of the Apache helicopters that flew on the “Salute to the Shore” flyover across the South Carolina coast.
“These pilots helped thousands along our shores celebrate our country and the greatest fighting force in the world,” McGinnis wrote.
“They need to be reinstated and allowed to fly immediately to maintain constant readiness.”
McGinnis noted that he has asked the South Carolina National Guard and the governor’s office for a reason why the pilots have been grounded.
A source close to one of the eight pilots told local outlet ABC15 that they were notified of their suspensions as soon as they landed.
The source suggested that somebody submitted a complaint or concern about the flyover with the South Carolina National Guard, triggering the investigation and suspensions.
Earlier this year, the US Army suspended two Apache helicopter crews after they popped over to Kid Rock’s Tennessee mansion during a training run and hovered near the singer’s pool – to Rock’s delight.
The suspensions were lifted after War Secretary Pete Hegseth intervened.
“No punishment. No Investigation. Carry on, patriots,” Hegseth wrote in a social media post.
Newly released bodycam footage and 911 audio have shed light on the heartbreaking suicide of Darrell Sheets, known from the series Storage Wars. The grim details surrounding his death offer a glimpse into the tragic event that unfolded earlier this year.
On April 22, 2026, Sheets’ distressed girlfriend, whose identity remains undisclosed, called the Lake Havasu City authorities to report his death. The 67-year-old took his own life with a gun at his Arizona residence, a fact underscored by the heart-wrenching audio recordings now made public.
The 911 call, acquired by TMZ, captures the moment Sheets’ girlfriend, her voice filled with shock, said, “I think he just killed himself … I just heard a gun go off.” The chilling urgency of her words is both haunting and poignant.
When pressed by the 911 operator for more details, she admitted she “didn’t want to look,” conveying the heartbreak that hit as reality settled in.
Encouraged to focus on her breath by the operator, Sheets’ girlfriend found herself grappling with disbelief, expressing how she “[couldn’t] believe” what had just transpired. During the call, she revealed that Darrell was in his home office while she had been in the garage when the incident occurred.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Lake Havasu City Police Department for further information on the story.
Chilling new details have emerged in the tragic suicide of Storage Wars star Darrell Sheets as police have released bodycam footage and 911 audio from the day he died; seen in 2010
Sheets’ girlfriend said that the reality TV star had not previously threatened to take his own life.
However, she did not that Sheets had been ‘frustrated’ by a ‘lack of sleep’ and family troubles, describing the situation as ‘terrible, terrible s***.’
At that point, Sheets’ girlfriend told the operator that she had seen flashing lights on the horizon as first responders arrived to the scene on April 22.
In bodycam footage TMZ obtained, first responders revealed that Sheets still had the gun he used in his hand when they discovered his body.
First responders explained that they were cautious about approaching Sheets due to the potential of rigor mortis causing the late star’s finger to touch the trigger of the firearm.
One of the first responders recognized Sheets from his career on TV, noting his fame from Storage Wars.
The officer explained how Sheets and his son were the people who would purchase the storage units seen on the program.
According to an incident report, Sheets left a suicide note which referenced cyberbullying he said he had been dealing with ahead of his tragic death, according to the authorities.
It read, ‘I could not take anymore the Facebook bullying, f*** you [redacted].’
Prosecutors have passed on filing charges related to the alleged bullying, police said in the report reviewed by TMZ, as the Lake Havasu City Attorney’s Office said the case was stymied in the wake of Sheets’ death because he could not provide further information about his claims.
Sheets’ distraught girlfriend, whose identity has not yet been made public, reported the 67-year-old’s death to Lake Havasu City authorities after he took his own life via a self-inflicted gunshot wound on April 22
The reality star was seen in 2013 in NYC at an A&E event
He told his girlfriend to ‘go back to bed’ before she heard the sound of a gunshot, the report stated.
Sheets had been dealing with insomnia in the months prior to his passing, as his girlfriend told investigators that stress often left him unable to sleep, according to the report.
Sheets appeared on a total of 163 Storage Wars episodes on A&E from 2010 to 2023.
A bio on the show’s website touted his business skills, ‘Boasting a big game, Darrell is quick to tell you about the four Picassos and the world’s most lucrative comic book collection that he has scored through storage auctions.’
Sheets suffered a heart attack in 2019, and he went on to run a shop called Havasu Show Me Your Junk in Arizona in subsequent years.
He had been candid about his past battles with depression, calling it ‘the Devil’s way of attacking us’ in a powerful Instagram post from June 2018.
‘It knows no mercy, it takes our smiles it comes and goes, it ruins our relationships, it takes away our happiness, it leads to suicide in some cases, it destroys all thoughts of positivity, it is a 24/7 battle and allows no rest for the suffering [sic],’ Sheets wrote. ‘It’s a very real deal.’
The TV personality advised his followers, ‘So please next time someone tells you they have Depression, be kind and know that they spend every minute they have breathing, suffering!!!’
If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org.
December 31, 2024: Baldoni, Wayfarer, and Others Take Legal Action Against The New York Times
On December 31, Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, Nathan, TAG, Abel, RWA Communications, Wallace, and Street Relations initiated a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times.
Court documents shared with E! reveal that The New York Times has been charged with libel, presenting individuals in a misleading light, promissory fraud, and breaching an implied contract concerning an article that accused the plaintiffs of orchestrating a retaliatory smear campaign against Lively, who raised issues of alleged on-set misconduct.
The plaintiffs refuted the claims outlined in the article, describing them as “false” and informed by Lively’s CRD complaint. They argued that the messages referenced were contextually misrepresented.
According to the lawsuit, the Times allegedly claimed to have reviewed numerous documents, but primarily relied on Lively’s account, which they characterized as unverified and biased. The suit noted the article included her narrative almost word-for-word, neglecting substantial evidence that contradicted her assertions and uncovered her real intentions.
They alleged “it was Lively, not Plaintiffs, who engaged in a calculated smear campaign.” She denied this.
The New York Times said it planned to “vigorously defend against the lawsuit.”
“The role of an independent news organization is to follow the facts where they lead,” it stated to E!. “Our story was meticulously and responsibly reported. It was based on a review of thousands of pages of original documents, including the text messages and emails that we quote accurately and at length in the article.”
