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A Comprehensive Breakdown of the Backrooms Timeline

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A Comprehensive Breakdown of the Backrooms Timeline



Before Kane Parsons’ film adaptation of “Backrooms” captivated audiences and became A24’s first film to surpass the $100 million mark at the domestic box office, the director had already established himself as an expert in this eerie universe. His web series, inspired by the popular liminal space creepypasta, has arguably set the standard for Backrooms lore. For those unfamiliar with its intricate storyline, Looper offers a comprehensive video that outlines its entire timeline.

The enigmatic Backrooms isn’t just a series of unsettling yellow hallways and bland utilitarian spaces. While much about this bizarre realm is shrouded in mystery, Parsons’ narrative suggests that its exploration and those connected to it have a rich history spanning decades. Given that the “Backrooms” movie is also his creation and hints at connections to his larger universe, understanding the full timeline enhances the viewing experience.

The film primarily centers on troubled furniture store owner Clark (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor) and his dedicated therapist Mary (portrayed by Renate Reinsve). However, it also includes subtle nods to other works, linking back to the YouTube series. Specifically, the subplot involving researcher Phil (Mark Duplass) and his organization, Async, serves as a crucial tie to the broader Backrooms mythology.

In both the movie and the web series, Async emerges as a corporation that has inadvertently entered the Backrooms. It has since evolved into a research institute dedicated to probing this otherworldly dimension. The film’s conclusion strongly hints at Async’s significant role in an anticipated sequel. As the movie draws from a creepypasta origin, familiarity with the overarching Backrooms narrative will likely become increasingly essential.

Looper’s video is an excellent resource for diving into the web series’ timeline and understanding how the “Backrooms” film integrates with it. If you enjoyed the movie as much as we did, it’s definitely worth a watch.

Async’s presence is a huge nod to Backrooms lore


Async scientists wearing hazmat suits

Kane Pixels/YouTube

While it largely focuses on troubled furniture store owner Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and his brave and committed therapist Mary (Renate Reinsve), the “Backrooms” movie also features plenty of small details that reference other works — including one that’s a direct connection to the YouTube lore. We’re talking about the storyline that features researcher Phil (Mark Duplass) and his company, Async, which is an important nod to the grander Backrooms mythology.

Just like the movie, the web series features Async as a corporation that stumbled into the Backrooms and has reshaped itself into a research institute that focuses on exploring this extradimensional location. The ending of “Backrooms” effectively confirms that Async will be a major presence in the inevitable sequel, and since the movie is explicitly based on a creepypasta, it will likely be increasingly important to know just how the events in the grander Backrooms mythology have unfolded.

Looper’s video above is a great way to learn the entire timeline of the web series and how the “Backrooms” movie ties into it, so be sure to check it out if you enjoyed the film as much as we did.



Unraveling Secrets: ‘Widow’s Bay’ Episode 8 Delivers Thrills with Slash and Burn Tactics

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Let’s dive straight in: Did that jump scare catch you off guard, or what? More precisely: Goodness gracious, that jump scare was intense!

Even as a staunch fan of Widow’s Bay, the remarkable horror-comedy by Katie Dippold, I didn’t anticipate the most heart-stopping moment of my TV year to emerge from the same show that elicited such hilarity with “The Rhythm of the Night.” I wasn’t expecting that level of shock, nor did I think the show aimed for such thrills. But I was wrong. This episode delivers an incredibly terrifying scene when the murderer Patricia has dreaded for so long finally shows up at her doorstep.

Boogeyman on 'Widow's Bay'
Photo: Apple TV

By this time, Patricia has realized someone entered her house while she was distracted by a car alarm set off in her bookmobile. She even hears his labored breathing in the shadows. For several tense minutes, she moves cautiously and silently down the stairs and out the door, pausing to grab a nearly depleted taser. Once outside, she assesses her surroundings, trying to decide her next move.

As soon as she re-enters her home, the camera work is brilliant — previously simulating the killer’s perspective — it now captures her home as a labyrinth of hidden spaces, creating a maze-like visual with rooms branching off at various angles. The suburban street outside buzzes with an eerie tension reminiscent of Halloween or It Follows.

Patricia on 'Widow's Bay'
Photo: Apple TV

And then, out of nowhere, BANG, there he stands: The Boogeyman, an imposing figure in a featureless rubber mask, wielding a machete. I don’t fault Patricia for being petrified; it startled me just as much, and I’m only watching from the comfort of my couch on Apple TV! For her, this is terrifyingly real, ever since he first broke into her home during her teenage years and failed to find her.

Okay, so the menacing calls to her house were a lie. She admits this to the other women from her class later on, when she breaks into their book club meeting to hide. But the Boogeyman really did come to her house, and now he’s back, and they’ve got to call the police. When the ringleader of the mean girls mocks her instead, Patricia responds by knocking her out with the taser. “She’s the fuckin’ worst, I’m sorry,” says Patricia by way of a half-apology as she hustles out of there to find shelter elsewhere.

But the Boogeyman has already entered through the back door. Rather than massacring the book club (The Lovely Bones is an amazing choice), he throws himself out a second story window, then gets back up and starts chasing her once again. He similarly survives getting run over, living to kill the driver, and getting set on fire, living to kill the gas station employee who was nice enough to put him out with a fire extinguisher. 

Boogeyman on fire in 'Widow's Bay'
Photo: Apple TV

The killer even gets a slice in on Sheriff Bechir (fortunately, it’s just a flesh wound), leaving him unable to defend himself. He’s about to get sliced and diced when Patricia blows the Boogeyman away with shotgun blasts. She keeps the gun trained on his corpse all the way to the morgue’s crematorium, then points it at his ashes and bones, too. As Ali put it on Euphoria earlier this week, “Just in case.”

This entire time, by the way, the killer’s speed never rises above “going for a walk with the cousins after Thanksgiving dinner”: in classic slasher-movie style, he’s still able to keep up with Patricia even as she runs full tilt. But even this is elevated from a mere bit by how good Kate O’Flynn is at, for lack of a better phrase, running in character. Her screams mix fear and irritation, and by the end she’s clearly physically run down. You can see from her outfit that Patricia’s not the kind of person built to run for her life. On the other hand, boy oh boy is it awesome to see her cock a shotgun.

Patricia on 'Widow's Bay'
Photo: Apple TV

People can surprise you here in Widow’s Bay. Take Wyck, the salty dog who turns out to be not such an insufferable coot after all. The smiling solidarity he shows Tom and Patricia over breakfast the morning after the debacle with town father Richard Warren is genuinely heartwarming — like, in a real way, a way that’s earned, not because that’s the reaction you’re supposed to have.

On the flipside, the discovery that Wyck’s old squeeze Gerrie the town historian has a perfectly nice husband, who even likes Wyck quite a bit. You can’t even root for him to get the girl when the girl is perfectly happy with the boy she’s got. You witness two perfectly nice people accidentally crush a man’s dreams. It feels bad, man.

So does the way Evan Loftis grills his father Tom about the letters and photos he uncovered, proving his mother lived for some time after he was born. The letters, which a savagely embittered Evan makes Tom listen to as he reads them aloud, reveal that his mother was a thoroughly broken woman, only in touch with reality long enough to express her belief that she’s already dead.

That is effectively how Tom describes her to Evan. She suffered a stroke from preeclampsia that transformed her personality, making her dangerous. She succumbed to a brain aneurysm a couple of years after Tom had her institutionalized. He never told Evan, he says, in part because revisiting it would make him sadder about it than he already is, and in part because Evan’s mom, his real mom, wouldn’t have wanted him to remember her that way at all.

But now that the curse is (allegedly) broken, things are gonna change. The two Loftis boys re-bond over sandwiches as they get psyched for an upcoming surprise trip to Boston to see the Red Sox play, purchased by Tom now that he feels it’s safe for Evan to leave the island. 

All this business about Evan and his mom runs parallel to a side plot involving Sheriff Bechir and his very pregnant wife. It’s urgent for Bechir to recover and get the hell to the mainland before their baby is born in Widow’s Bay and suffers the same curse as all the other residents.

Tom on 'Widow's Bay'
Photo: Apple TV

Because the curse is very much still operative, obviously. After discovering the Boogeyman’s return, Wyck relays the bad news to a heartbroken and frightened Tom at the end of the episode, while the wind howls. If, as it seems, Evan Loftis is the last surviving descendent of Richard Warren through his mother’s side, does anyone else see a Wicker Man in Widow’s Bay’s future?

I hope they go for it, frankly. I want a full-on Shirley Jackson “The Lottery” situation. I want villagers with torches and pitchforks. I want some kind of horrible betrayal that will make me hate one of these adorable weirdos. I want more beautifully filmed nighttime exteriors, filled with rich patches of black in which even darker things lurk. I want my Widow’s Bay.

Sean T. Collins (@seantcollins.com on Bluesky and theseantcollins on Patreon) has written about television for The New York Times, Vulture, Rolling Stone, and elsewhere. He is the author of Pain Don’t Hurt: Meditations on Road House. He lives with his family on Long Island.

Emerging Threat: Russian Drone Technology Surfaces on eBay, Raising Security Concerns

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Emerging Threat: Russian Drone Technology Surfaces on eBay, Raising Security Concerns

Back in the early 2000s, travelers had legitimate concerns about the possibility of terrorists using shoulder-fired missiles to bring down aircraft, especially in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Such fears were not unfounded as these weapons were seen as a significant threat to air travel safety.

Although this specific danger has diminished over time, a new and more elusive threat is arising from the conflict zones in Ukraine. This emerging risk poses a unique challenge due to its subtle nature and complex mitigation requirements.

Surprisingly, elements of this threat can be purchased on platforms like eBay.

In response to a 2002 incident in Mombasa where an al Qaeda-associated group attempted to down a civilian aircraft using an anti-aircraft missile, airports globally bolstered their security zones. This incident catalyzed a worldwide reassessment of airport security measures.

The U.S. initiated a program to reclaim Stinger missiles originally distributed to groups such as the Mujahedeen in Afghanistan, while Israel took steps to safeguard its passenger planes by equipping them with specialized jamming systems.

But the old missiles floating around the world’s black-market arms bazaars became less of a threat over time: rocket fuel degrades, coolant gas leaks, thermal batteries expire.

Law-enforcement efforts, and an international treaty called the Wassenaar Arrangement, meant that fewer missiles were diverted from arsenals into criminal hands.

In any case, such missiles are expensive, costing at least $60,000 each.

With no known attempts at terrorist missile attacks on airliners since 2009, the missile scare has gradually receded.

Meanwhile, as Ukraine fights back against Russia’s invasion, air defense has rapidly evolved.

Both sides have fielded large numbers of low-cost attack drones like the Shahed — too many to be shot down by expensive missiles like the Stinger.

Both Russian and Ukrainian forces have responded by developing small, low-cost interceptor drones.

The initial versions of these were slightly adapted from the First-Person-View racing drones used to attack ground targets like tanks: To carry out an intercept, the drone operator spotted an enemy drone and rammed it.

Ukraine’s latest versions are more aerodynamic, bullet-shaped craft optimized for high-speed operation, often capable of accelerating to 200 mph or more and carrying a small explosive warhead.

Small enough to hold in one hand but with a range of several miles, interceptors like the Sting made by Ukrainian group Wild Hornets are responsible for around 40% of Kyiv’s drone kills.

The Russians, in contrast, favor a simpler design: The odd-looking Yolka (“Fir Tree”) interceptor, with a double x-wing that makes it resemble a Christmas tree with four propellers.

It weighs about three pounds, and it’s fired simply by pointing it in the general direction of an incoming drone and pulling the trigger.

Stereo cameras linked to an AI control system lock on to the target and home in on it at around 80 mph.


The Russian Yolka drone interceptor.
Russa’s Yolka drone interceptor.

It’s a point-and-shoot weapon with no skill required, and costs just $500 to make.

Interestingly, Yolka has no explosive warhead: It relies purely on impact speed to bring down the target.

That’s apparently because its developers wanted to get it into service fast — and the Kremlin’s bureaucracy adds a lot of red tape to anything involving explosives.

Yolka is a crude, basic weapon that only works in good weather conditions, failing when lighting is bad; its effective range is limited, perhaps three miles.

But there are plenty of videos of Yolkas bringing down targets, and it’s considered reliable enough to arm Vladimir Putin’s own security detail as an anti-drone measure.

Yolka is the Kalashnikov of drone interceptors: not as good as slicker alternatives, but simple to use, cheap, and readily produced in large quantities.

And while the current version is trained to seek and attack drones, a small software upgrade could redirect it to seek a helicopter cockpit, or the jet engine of an aircraft.

These small drones can be turned out at scale, with a production cost of just a few hundred dollars each.

Right now, copycat versions of them can be had via eBay for under $7,000.

That means they’re likely to get everywhere.

And even though the risk they pose to passenger aircraft is far less than that of a supersonic missile — it could only hit an airliner during take-off or on its landing approach —  the danger is real.

The problem will come when weapons like Yolka flood the international market.

With no explosives, it’s technically not even a weapon, just a high-speed drone, meaning it would slip easily through existing controls.

In the United States, you wouldn’t need a firearms license to buy one.

At a bare minimum, all nations need to update their regulations to prevent these drone interceptors from falling into the wrong hands.

“Dual use” drones that can be used for warfare as well as civilian applications need to be scrutinized especially closely.

Law-enforcement agencies must be aware of how easily interceptors can be made at home from commercial components; Ukraine’s vast array of interceptors are being made by start-ups in garage workshops.

The risk to aircraft from interceptor drones is theoretical at present — but it’s foolish to wait for an attack before acting.

David Hambling is the author of “Swarm Troopers: How Small Drones Will Conquer the World.”

Revitalize Your Waistline: 6 Daily Exercises to Sculpt and Strengthen After 50

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Revitalize Your Waistline: 6 Daily Exercises to Sculpt and Strengthen After 50

A fitness expert reveals six daily exercises designed to combat waist thickening and enhance core strength for individuals over 50.

As people age, particularly after reaching 50, they often notice an increase in waist size. This is largely due to hormonal changes, muscle atrophy, slower recovery times, and prolonged periods of sitting. Many attempt to counteract this by engaging in intense weightlifting sessions, hoping to slim their waistlines. However, such exercises often overlook the deeper stabilizing muscles vital for maintaining posture, abdominal control, and trunk support. Achieving a toned waistline hinges more on consistent, full-body coordination and muscular endurance than on sporadic heavy lifting.

Incorporating daily bodyweight exercises into your routine can be particularly effective, as they consistently engage the core without overstraining the joints or lower back. Exercises performed both standing and on the floor activate the abs, hips, glutes, and spinal stabilizers with each repetition. This ongoing engagement not only strengthens the muscles beneath the waistline but also enhances posture and overall movement quality. Improved posture can make the midsection appear more toned and supported during everyday activities.

The following six exercises are designed to fortify the entire midsection while enhancing balance, coordination, and muscular endurance. Each exercise engages the core through controlled tension, rather than depending on momentum or heavy resistance. By incorporating these exercises into your routine regularly, you’ll notice a firmer, stronger, and more stable waistline in your daily activities.

The six exercises below strengthen the entire midsection while improving balance, coordination, and muscular endurance. Each movement challenges the core through controlled tension instead of relying on momentum or heavy resistance. Perform these exercises consistently, and your waistline will start feeling firmer, stronger, and more stable during daily movement.

Standing Cross-Body Crunches

 

Standing cross-body crunches activate the obliques and deep abdominal muscles while improving balance and rotational control. Many adults over 50 lose waistline definition because the muscles surrounding the trunk stop engaging consistently during movement. This exercise restores that activation by forcing the core to stabilize while the upper and lower body move together. The crossing pattern also strengthens coordination and posture while increasing calorie demand naturally. Unlike many heavy lifting exercises that compress the spine under load, this movement trains the core dynamically while keeping the body upright and mobile. Slow, controlled repetition creates far stronger abdominal tension than rushed twisting motions.

How to Do It

  • Stand tall with feet shoulder-width apart
  • Place your hands behind your head lightly
  • Lift one knee upward
  • Rotate the opposite elbow toward the knee
  • Squeeze through your waist muscles
  • Return slowly to the starting position
  • Alternate sides continuously
  • Perform 20 total repetitions.

Heel Tap Marches

Heel tap marches strengthen the lower abdominals and deep stabilizing muscles responsible for posture and pelvic control. Many adults develop waist thickening because the lower core weakens and the pelvis shifts forward during standing and walking. This movement forces the abs to stay active while the legs move rhythmically in front of the body. The repeated marching pattern also improves circulation and gently elevates the heart rate without high impact. Adults over 50 often notice stronger lower-body coordination and improved posture after adding standing core movement consistently. Controlled pacing keeps tension through the waistline from start to finish.

How to Do It

  • Stand tall with your chest lifted
  • Tighten your core gently
  • Extend one foot forward
  • Tap your heel lightly on the floor
  • Return to the starting position
  • Alternate sides continuously
  • Maintain a steady posture
  • Continue for 30 to 45 seconds.

Side Reach Pull-Downs

Side reach pull-downs strengthen the obliques while improving mobility and upper-body posture. Many people focus only on front abdominal work while ignoring the muscles responsible for side-to-side trunk stability. This exercise challenges those muscles directly by combining overhead reaching with controlled pulling action. The repeated contraction through the waistline strengthens the obliques while encouraging the torso to stay tall and aligned. Adults over 50 often feel looser through the spine and stronger through the midsection after practicing rotational movements consistently. The standing position also activates the hips and glutes throughout the exercise.

How to Do It

  • Stand with feet wider than shoulder-width
  • Raise one arm overhead
  • Reach slightly across your body
  • Pull the elbow downward toward your side
  • Tighten your waist muscles during the pull
  • Return slowly upward
  • Alternate directions
  • Perform 10 to 12 repetitions per side.

Glute Bridge Marches

Strong glutes support a stronger waistline. When the hips weaken, the pelvis loses stability and the stomach area often pushes outward more noticeably during standing and walking. Glute bridge marches strengthen the backside while forcing the core to stabilize continuously during alternating leg movement. The exercise also improves posture and lower-back support while tightening the lower abdominal region. Many adults over 50 notice stronger trunk control and smoother walking mechanics after adding glute-focused core work consistently. Slow repetition increases muscular tension throughout the hips and waistline without excessive spinal strain.

How to Do It

  • Lie on your back with knees bent
  • Press your feet into the floor
  • Lift your hips into a bridge position
  • Tighten your glutes and core
  • Lift one foot slightly off the floor
  • Lower slowly with control
  • Alternate sides continuously
  • Perform 10 marches per leg.

Standing Side Knee Drives

Standing side knee drives target the obliques and lower abs while improving balance and coordination. Many adults lose rotational strength through the waist because daily movement becomes too repetitive and limited. This exercise restores side-to-side core activation while strengthening the hips and supporting leg simultaneously. The repeated knee drive creates strong abdominal contractions without placing pressure on the neck or lower back. Adults over 50 often notice tighter core engagement and stronger walking stability after practicing controlled standing core drills consistently. The movement also increases cardiovascular demand gently while keeping the joints comfortable.

How to Do It

  • Stand tall with your hands behind your head
  • Lift one knee toward the side of your body
  • Crunch the same-side elbow downward
  • Squeeze through the side abdominal muscles
  • Return slowly to the starting position
  • Alternate sides continuously
  • Maintain a tall posture throughout
  • Perform 20 total repetitions.

Bird Dogs

Bird dogs strengthen the deep core muscles that stabilize the spine and pelvis during movement. Many adults over 50 struggle with waist thickening because the deep stabilizers weaken and posture collapses forward over time. This exercise forces the core to resist rotation while the arms and legs extend in opposite directions. The movement also strengthens the glutes, lower back, and shoulders together for better total-body stability. Unlike heavy lifting exercises that often encourage compensation and momentum, bird dogs demand controlled muscular coordination throughout every repetition. Performed consistently, this exercise improves posture, trunk control, and overall waistline support dramatically.

How to Do It

  • Start on all fours
  • Keep your hands under your shoulders
  • Position your knees under your hips
  • Tighten your core gently
  • Extend one arm and the opposite leg
  • Hold briefly while staying balanced
  • Return slowly to the starting position
  • Alternate sides for 10 repetitions per side.

British Lawyer Claims Abduction of Dubai Prince’s Former Wife and Children

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British Lawyer Claims Abduction of Dubai Prince’s Former Wife and Children

The former spouse of a Dubai prince has reportedly been taken along with her three children by the emirate’s police, according to statements from her British attorney.

Zeynab Javadli was cautioned in legal documents two months earlier that pursuing custody of her kids could lead to the use of “coercive force” against her.

Her human rights attorney, David Haigh, now claims that the Dubai Police followed through on this warning during an overnight operation at her residence.

In a scathing critique of Dubai’s leadership, initially shared with the Daily Mail, he remarked, “It’s confirmed, she was taken.”

“I have serious and immediate concerns about the safety and location of Zeynab Javadli, the former wife of Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is the nephew of Dubai’s leader, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,” he added.

‘Zeynab was last in contact yesterday evening. Since then, all communication has ceased. Numerous friends and family members have contacted me, and not one of them has been able to reach her.

‘In a further deeply alarming development, Zeynab’s elderly mother travelled to Dubai today to support her daughter and grandchildren.

‘She went to her daughter’s house to find it locked up. She has now been told she cannot leave Dubai.’

The ex-wife of a Dubai prince has been 'abducted' together with her three children by the emirate's police, her British lawyer revealed this evening. Pictured: Zeynab Javadli revealed she had lost her custody battle with him over their three daughters in a heart-rending video

The ex-wife of a Dubai prince has been ‘abducted’ together with her three children by the emirate’s police, her British lawyer revealed this evening. Pictured: Zeynab Javadli revealed she had lost her custody battle with him over their three daughters in a heart-rending video

Zeynab Javadli and Sheikh Saeed with eldest daughter Sana. Picture taken in 2018 - seven years ago

Zeynab Javadli and Sheikh Saeed with eldest daughter Sana. Picture taken in 2018 – seven years ago

‘Zeynab had appointed leading King’s Counsel Rodney Dixon to represent her before the United Nations. We will now be urgently pressing the United Nations for immediate intervention and the protection of Zeynab and her three young children.’

Mr Haigh added: ‘I have stood by Zeynab’s side for many years. Whilst we always hoped, desperately hoped, that she would be allowed to live in peace with her children in Dubai, we also knew the day might come when she disappeared, abducted by the Dubai authorities, taken hostage like so many women in Dubai’s royal family before her.

‘What too few people understand is the life Zeynab has actually been living. Hidden from the world’s view, behind closed doors, she has endured a daily existence of the most extreme and systematic abuse, directed not only at her, but at her elderly parents and her three young daughters.

‘These were not isolated incidents. They were relentless. They were deliberate. And they were carried out with total impunity by the authorities of Dubai and its powerful ruling family.

‘I spoke with Zeynab many times each day for years. She never stopped fighting for her rights as a woman and as a mother. She never stopped protecting her girls, most recently shielding her eldest daughter from the prospect of underage marriage.

‘She is the bravest, most courageous human being I have ever known, and the most devoted mother I have ever witnessed. Her daughters are her entire world.

‘I believe that Dubai Police, UAE state security, and forces acting on the orders of ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum attacked Zeynab’s home in the middle of the night on Tuesday 2nd June 2026 and took her and her young children.

‘This was not unexpected. From the moment of her divorce from the ruler’s nephew in 2019, Zeynab was subjected to horrific and unrelenting abuses: attacks on her home, threats of arrest, and a travel ban that made her, in every meaningful sense, a hostage in her own home.

‘When Dubai Police last attacked her home, she livestreamed it to the world, a desperate, real-time plea for international help. Today, that plea must be answered.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is pictured arriving at Royal Ascot on June 20, 2019

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is pictured arriving at Royal Ascot on June 20, 2019

‘In Dubai, women and children are routinely served up on a gold platter to the most powerful sheikh, the most influential Emirati, or the wealthiest businessman.

‘Zeynab’s case is yet further evidence that women and children in Dubai are simply not safe. They are treated as possessions, not as human beings with rights.’

In April, the Daily Mail exclusively revealed that the Dubai courts had ordered police to snatch back Miss Javadli’s three young daughters and deliver them to their father – her ex – Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

In a heart-rending video message posted at the time she said: ‘I’m receiving UAE messages about bomb alerts and to seek shelter or stay inside for safety.

‘And at the same time the Dubai Courts are sending me notifications demanding I hand over my children or the Dubai Police will break into my house, arrest me and snatch my children away from me.

Sobbing she added: ‘This is my day today. Standing [at the window], watching and waiting for them to attack me at any time.’

The court order states that she must ‘return custody of the minors’ to Sheikh Saeed, and that ‘coercive force may be used if necessary’.

However, Miss Javadli claims a previous legal agreement with his uncle, Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed, a leading figure in British horseracing, gave her the right to keep the girls.

Court papers released in November last year revealed the 34-year-old former international gymnast’s case against Sheikh Saeed, a 49-year-old businessman and former Olympic clay shooter.

She alleged he caused their daughters distress and harm by leaving them without supervision, using inappropriate language, depriving them of sleep, and driving recklessly.

In April, the Daily Mail exclusively revealed that the Dubai courts had ordered police to snatch back Miss Javadli's three young daughters and deliver them to their father - her ex - Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum

In April, the Daily Mail exclusively revealed that the Dubai courts had ordered police to snatch back Miss Javadli’s three young daughters and deliver them to their father – her ex – Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum

He countered that she refused to obey previous court orders and wants to keep the children away from him to ‘instil Western behaviour that does not befit Muslims, citizens of the UAE, and members of the Ruling Family in particular.’

The case follows a string of troubling scandals involving princesses of the Dubai ruling family.

They include Sheikh Mohammed’s former wife, Princess Haya, who fled the UAE seven years ago, insisting she feared for her life.

Then, in 2021 one of Sheikh Mohammed’s daughters, Princess Latifa, posted videos claiming to have been drugged and held captive by her father in a ‘villa jail’ after attempting to leave Dubai.

She later issued a statement saying she was ‘living as she wishes.’

And Princess Latifa’s older sister, Sheikha Shamsa, was abducted from a Cambridge street in August 2000, on the orders of her father. She has not been seen in public since.

Mr Haigh said: ‘The cases of Sheikha Latifa, Sheikha Shamsa, Princess Haya, and now Zeynab and her young daughters, Sheikha Sana, Sheikha Asiya, and Sheikha Salma, lay bare the brutal truth that Dubai so desperately tries to conceal.

‘The systematic abuse of women and girls behind that carefully curated, glittering facade is no longer a secret. It is indisputable.

‘To any mother anywhere in the world who has ever held her child and felt the primal terror of losing them: I am asking you to feel that now for Zeynab.

‘Because that terror is Zeynab’s reality today.’

Daily Mail has contacted the Dubai Police and Sheikh Saeed’s lawyer for comment.

Trump’s Bold Move: Unveiling the New Permanent Attorney General

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Trump’s Bold Move: Unveiling the New Permanent Attorney General


When President Trump dismissed Attorney General Pam Bondi in April, it sparked widespread speculation about her successor. Names like Trump’s former personal attorney, Alina Habba, and his assertive Deputy Chief of Staff, Stephen Miller, were frequently mentioned. Others speculated about Matt Whitaker, who served as Acting Attorney General during Trump’s first term post-Jeff Sessions’ resignation.

However, on Wednesday evening, President Trump ended the guessing game by naming Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as Bondi’s official successor. This announcement was shared through a video posted by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, in which Trump confirmed his decision and promised a swift start to the formal nomination process.

Hints about Blanche’s appointment were previously dropped during a Wednesday interview with reporter Miranda Devine on her show, “Pod Force One.” In the interview, Trump had alluded to his preference for Blanche, who has already been making headlines with his successful crimefighting initiatives since stepping in for Bondi.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino posted the above video where Trump revealed the news and said he will start the formal process immediately:

Dan Scavino, the White House deputy chief of staff, posted a video Wednesday night of Trump announcing Blanche’s nomination as he spoke in the Rose Garden.

“He’s acting attorney general,” Trump said in the video, referring to Blanche. “Tomorrow I’m instructing Dan and everybody else that’s involved in that very complicated process, which is going to be, I think, very quickly, that we are going to make him permanent attorney general.”

Trump had already hinted at his preference during an interview released Wednesday for reporter Miranda Devine’s “Pod Force One”:





Blanche has already been very much in the news since he took over from Bondi and has announced multiple successes in crimefighting under his tenure as Acting Director:

FBI Raids $35M SoCal Mansion — Iranian-American Charged With Betraying America for Tehran

Jack Smith’s Ghost Haunts DOJ As Burn‑Bag Document Trove Surfaces

Blanche is well-versed in Trumpworld, having represented the then-private citizen in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s preposterous 2024 political show trial over supposed “hush money“ payments regarding lowlife actress Stormy Daniels, which amazingly ended with Trump convicted on 34 counts. That case is under appeal, because it was a joke.

Blanche says he’s all in on making America safe again:

The announcement is only hours old, but already, leftists like New Jersey Democrat Sen. Cory Booker are whining about the pick:

Sen. Cory Booker tells [NBC News’] Laura Coates he does not believe Todd Blanche has the votes to be confirmed as Attorney General, calling him “wholly unqualified” and arguing he would prioritize loyalty to President Trump rather than serve as an independent law enforcement leader. “His only qualification… is that they are willing to do his bidding,” he says.





Yawn. No matter who Trump picked, Booker would be screeching about “dangers to democracy” and such.

The next steps: Trump must make a formal nomination, then the Senate Judiciary Committee holds confirmation hearings, and if they vote to proceed, the matter goes to a full Senate vote. Don’t expect the process to be quick or easy, because Democrats will almost assuredly use the hearings for political theater where they will air every grievance possible. RedState will keep you posted.


Editor’s Note: The American people overwhelmingly support President Trump’s law and order agenda.

Help us fight back against the Democrats and Soros-backed DAs that refuse to enforce our laws to hold criminals accountable. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.

Gainesville Woman Faces Charges After Alleged Battery on Police Officer

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Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 35-year-old woman, Jasamine Lashae McCrea, faces charges following an early morning arrest in which she allegedly assaulted a police officer. The incident occurred when the officer requested McCrea exit a vehicle and identify herself amid an investigation into a reported altercation.

Officers from the Gainesville Police Department arrived at a shopping plaza on SW 34th Street around 2:07 a.m. on June 3, responding to reports of a fight between two women. Upon arrival, they witnessed a sizable crowd encircling two women who were engaged in a heated exchange.

One of the women reportedly identified McCrea as the other individual involved in the confrontation. An officer informed McCrea that she was being detained for further investigation into the disturbance and that she was not permitted to leave the scene. According to reports, McCrea repeatedly refused to provide her identification and used profanities towards the officers.

After briefly stepping away to speak with the other woman involved, the officer returned to find McCrea seated in the front passenger seat of a vehicle. Despite repeated instructions to exit the vehicle and identify herself, McCrea allegedly ignored these commands. With the car door slightly open, she reportedly waved at the officers as if preparing to leave, attempting to close the door behind her.

The officer reportedly stopped her from closing the door by forcing the door open, and McCrea allegedly lunged out of the passenger seat and yelled, “Don’t shut no [expletive] door on me!” before grabbing the officer’s vest and pushing him. Other officers assisted with detaining McCrea, and she reportedly yelled, “[Expletive] I will beat yo [multiple expletives]!”

At least one other officer witnessed McCrea grabbing the officer.

McCrea has been charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, a felony. She has three misdemeanor convictions (one violent), and Judge Meshon Rawls ordered her released on her own recognizance with a curfew between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 


Albanese and Taylor Respond to Trump’s Tariff Threat Amid US Criticism of ‘Unacceptable’ Shortcomings

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IN BRIEF

  • Experts say the proposal may preserve Trump’s tariff agenda after legal setbacks.
  • Australia’s direct exposure is limited, but businesses face ongoing uncertainty.

Australia has firmly dismissed recent tariff threats from the United States, which are based on concerns about forced labor practices. The Trump administration has suggested raising tariffs on Australian imports to 12.5 percent, a move that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has criticized as “unjustified.”

At the heart of these heightened tensions is a proposal from the US targeting 54 countries, including Australia, for allegedly not doing enough to prevent imports associated with forced labor. A report backing this proposal claims that Australia has “failed to impose and effectively enforce a forced labor import prohibition.”

In response, Prime Minister Albanese has emphasized that there exists an “ideological disagreement” between the two nations regarding tariffs. He staunchly defended Australia’s policies on forced labor and supply chain regulation, suggesting that the US approach does not align with Australia’s efforts and standards.

A report underpinning the proposal found Australia had “failed to impose and effectively enforce a forced labour import prohibition”.

Albanese said there was an “ideological disagreement” between Australia and the US on tariffs, defending Australia’s approach to forced labour and supply chain regulation.

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The comments come after Trade Minister Don Farrell met overnight with US trade representative Jamieson Greer to discuss the proposal, which would replace the existing 10 per cent tariff on Australian goods.

Greer defended the proposal on Wednesday, saying countries allowing imports linked to forced labour created unfair conditions for US workers.

“The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labour is unacceptable,” Greer said.

“This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field.”

Australia rejects forced labour criticism

Albanese rejected the criticism underpinning the proposal and reiterated the government’s position that tariffs on Australian exports were inconsistent with the Australia–US free trade agreement.

Australia had a “robust, comprehensive and world-leading legislation addressing forced labour and modern slavery,” he told ABC radio on Thursday.

He also said the US administration had broken with a “decades-long understanding that tariffs are not positive for the country that is imposing them”.

Australian National University economics professor Shiro Armstrong told SBS News that the proposal did not reflect a fundamental shift in US trade policy, but questioned the rationale behind the move.

“Nothing appears to have changed fundamentally in the United States. This is a continuation of trade policies that feed uncertainty globally,” he said.

“It’s the latest episode in the on-again, off-again US tariffs.”

Armstrong questioned the administration’s justification and labelled the accusations of forced labour “new but not credible”.

“The European Union, Australia and other countries already go to great lengths to avoid trade that involves forced labour.

“It really could be any other excuse. President Trump wants tariffs, and his officials are finding various reasons for them.”

Bruce Wolpe, senior fellow at the United States Studies Centre (USSC) at the University of Sydney, said there was “no doubt” Trump was using the trade laws to “rebuild a new pathway” to tariffs.

Wolpe said the rationale was difficult to reconcile with Australia’s existing approach.

“This issue of slave labour in Australia is jarring. It does not make any sense,” he told SBS News.

What happens next?

The proposal remains subject to public consultation and review, with hearings expected to begin in July.

Countries included in the proposal will have an opportunity to make representations to the United States before any final decision is made.

A man with short grey hair, wearing a black suit, standing in front of a white wall.
US trade representative Jamieson Greer said countries that continue to allow imports linked to forced labour create unfair competition for US workers. Source: AAP / AP / Aurelien Morissard

Wolpe said there was still room for diplomacy and moderation.

“But we just don’t know whether Trump will be responsive to changing what he really wants to do. He loves tariffs, loves using them.”

What it means for Australia

Hayley Channer, director of economic security at the USSC, told SBS News that the direct impact on Australia was likely to be limited.

“Many businesses, including beef, energy, and critical mineral exporters, are exempt,” she told SBS News.

“The US only accounts for a small percentage of Australia’s goods exports, with around 5 to 6 per cent of our exports going to the US.”

“While any tariff increase is damaging, many Australian businesses already face a 10 per cent or higher tariff and could learn to live with the extra 2.5 per cent.”

But she said the longer-term concern was uncertainty.

“The bigger problem is the instability of US tariff rates, which makes it difficult for Australian businesses to plan long-term,” she said.

Political pressure builds over tariff proposal

The latest proposal has prompted criticism across Australia’s political spectrum, with former ambassador to the US and former Liberal treasurer Joe Hockey saying he was unsurprised by the latest move, arguing tariffs remain central to Trump’s economic approach.

Speaking to ABC Radio National, Hockey said he had personally challenged Trump’s views on tariffs during his time in Washington.

“The president of the United States is absolutely convinced that tariffs are great,” Hockey said.

“I’ve argued personally with him on the issue, and he’s just not for moving.”

Hockey said Trump viewed tariffs as a way to raise revenue, despite concerns they ultimately increase costs for US consumers.

Opposition leader Angus Taylor also criticised the proposal, saying Australia should not face tariffs from one of its closest allies.

“They’re a great friend, and they shouldn’t do it to a friend … We’ve fought with them in every major war. They shouldn’t be imposing tariffs,” Taylor said.

Taylor also said the Opposition would continue opposing the measures.

What does it mean for the rest of the world?

The proposal extends beyond Australia and could affect some of the US’ largest trading relationships, including with the European Union, Canada, Japan and China.

If implemented, the tariffs would place additional pressure on governments already navigating shifting US trade settings and could reopen negotiations over market access and supply chain standards.

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Lebanese Americans Rally Support Amid Homeland Crisis: Generosity and Compassion Shine in Turbulent Times

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Lebanese Americans Rally Support Amid Homeland Crisis: Generosity and Compassion Shine in Turbulent Times


CANTON, Mich. – Each week, Mirvet Makki, a passionate caterer, allocates a portion of her business profits to support those displaced by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Makki, now 47, specializes in crafting authentic Lebanese dishes such as couscous stews and traditional kibbeh balls from her kitchen in Dearborn Heights, a suburb of Detroit. Although she emigrated to Michigan in 1990, her thoughts remain with her childhood home of Bint Jbeil, a region severely affected in southern Lebanon.

The recent surge in violence has deeply touched nearly every Lebanese American, resulting in the displacement of over 1 million individuals—approximately one-sixth of Lebanon’s population—and claiming more than 3,500 lives. This represents Israel’s most significant incursion into Lebanon in over 25 years.

“I kept asking myself, ‘How can I help others?’” Makki reflected. “So, I turned to my business as a means to contribute.”

Despite the increasing cost of living in the United States, Makki remains committed, stating, “Whatever I can spare personally, I’ve been sending to my family back home.”

In areas like metro Detroit, where Arabic signs adorn restaurants, coffee houses and bakeries on bustling suburban avenues, a sense of grief has blanketed the war-weary community as they watch the crisis unfold thousands of miles away.

Like Makki, many grapple with guilt and hopelessness. It’s not easy to help loved ones who are unwilling or unable to leave their country and face a worsening economic crisis.

“Honestly it’s hard. Like, what do you say?” Makki said. “They’re going to ask me what I’m doing. Let’s say I’m at work. They lost their jobs. Let’s say I tell them I’m home. They lost their homes.”

The global diaspora has shaped Lebanon

Lebanese immigration to the U.S. dates to the late 1800s. Roughly 625,000 Lebanese Americans live here now, according to census data, though some estimates put the number closer to 1.4 million.

Opinions about the Lebanese government, Hezbollah and Israel vary among the diaspora as they do in Lebanon, where views are heavily influenced by religious affiliation. The population there is about equally split between Sunni Muslim, Shiite Muslim and Christian denominations, along with a smaller Druze community.

Despite their differences, the global diaspora remains deeply connected to their home country, in part through billions of dollars sent back each year.

“There is really no Lebanese homeland without the Lebanese diaspora,” Edward Curtis, director of Arabic Studies at Indiana University, said.

A population who relies on each other

Lebanese Americans often rally around common causes, like during the 2024 U.S. presidential election for the “ uncommitted movement ” protesting U.S. support for Israel’s war in Gaza, or to condemn the Michigan synagogue attack carried out by a Lebanese man in March.

“When they see suffering in Lebanon, people’s immediate reaction … is for the community to come together, raise funds, raise money, and try to help everybody as much as they can,” Akram Khater, director of Lebanese Diaspora Studies at North Carolina State University, said.

Most rely on one another, rather than looking to Washington for help.

Curtis said many Lebanese Americans have grown disillusioned with U.S. politics, instead seeking to “celebrate Lebanese life when other peoples are threatening its death.”

Maya Attoui, whose parents still live in Beirut, is organizing a metro Detroit fundraiser to support Lebanon and raise awareness about the conflict. She said she doesn’t have enough money to spare to support her numerous relatives, but hopes an event with activities and speakers will generate far more funds.

“We don’t feel like talking, we don’t feel like cooking in our houses,” Attoui said. “We’re just 24/7 on the phone or on the news. Our heart is really melting and breaking because of whatever we see.”

A financial lifeline

Although people send remittances to countries all over the world, Lebanon is particularly dependent on its vast diaspora. The country’s economy has been shredded in recent years, to the point where the U.S. dollar is gradually becoming the de facto currency.

Makki visited Lebanon in February and saw how much prices had risen. Where $200 used to cover a car rental and a hotel room, this time it barely paid for a dinner out.

Some people crowdsource funds online. There are established relief organizations, but most prefer to send money directly to loved ones.

Makki doesn’t want to send more than $10,000 in total, to avoid appearing suspicious. After that, she laughed, “Maybe take it there myself?”

Nadia Bryant, 37, of Troy, Michigan, has been sending money to her half sisters in Lebanon, who are in temporary housing after their village of Ayta ash-Shab was invaded by Israeli forces.

Rather than spending the money on themselves, Bryant said, her sisters used it to help orphaned children.

“They’re such righteous people,” Bryant said. “They are not even trying to take the money and get themselves a better house or anything. They’re like, ‘Oh, we have shelter, but this person needs a mattress.’”

Over WhatsApp, her sister sent her a photo of a steaming teapot over a fire amid the strewn debris of what had been their home. The caption read: “Best cup of tea since 9 october 2023.”

“I don’t even ask, ‘How are you?’ That feels so stupid to me,” Bryant said. “I ask, you know, ‘What does today look like,’ or ‘Where are you today?’”

Attoui, the fundraiser organizer, has tried to convince her family to move to the U.S. multiple times since she came in 2006. They don’t want to leave. Regardless, the U.S. stopped processing immigrant visas to Lebanese nationals in late January.

“I have all my aunts and my cousins over there,” she said. “So like, how many people can you bring here?”

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Shocking Crime: Man Throws Boy into Ravine After Fatal Dog Attack, Says Attorney General

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Shocking Crime: Man Throws Boy into Ravine After Fatal Dog Attack, Says Attorney General

Left inset: Damon Leonard (Bates County Sheriff’s Office). Right inset: Airen Andula (KCTV/YouTube). Background: The area in Kansas where Airen Andula was allegedly killed (WDAF/YouTube).

In a tragic incident that has sent shockwaves through a Kansas community, a 13-year-old boy was allegedly mauled to death by his neighbor’s dogs. This has led to the neighbor, Damon Leonard, facing charges of second-degree murder among other serious offenses. The young victim, Airen Andula, was reportedly on his way to tend to a friend’s pets when the attack occurred.

The dogs involved, described as mixed breeds of mastiff and pit bull, were known to roam freely in the neighborhood. On that fateful day in December 2025, as Airen made his way to a nearby house, the dogs allegedly launched a brutal attack. Just days before Christmas, what should have been a simple trip turned into a nightmare for Airen’s family and the local community.

Following the attack, Leonard, 47, is accused of taking the boy’s body and disposing of it by throwing it into a ravine located about 30 miles away in Missouri. This action led to a conviction in Missouri for the abandonment of a corpse, resulting in a four-year prison sentence handed down last week.

Building on this conviction, the Kansas Attorney General’s Office has now charged Leonard with additional crimes. These include murder, involuntary manslaughter, interference with law enforcement, criminal desecration by unauthorized control of a dead body, and allowing a dangerous animal to roam free.

This distressing case highlights the dire consequences of negligence and the potential dangers associated with certain breeds of dogs when not properly managed. The charges brought against Leonard reflect the serious nature of his alleged actions and the profound impact on Airen’s family and the community at large.

“I … could have overlooked, you know, the dog attack,” Jody Andula, Airen’s mother, told The Star in January. “That’s just a freak accident, but I can’t forgive him for what he did trying to hide my kid from us when we were all looking for him. Playing along like he didn’t know where he was at when he did know — that’s what I can’t accept.”

Andula said it was supposed to take Airen just five minutes to ride to his friend’s house to tend to their pets — chickens, a pet rooster and dogs — while his family was away, and then another five minutes to ride back.

Airen was biking on a gravel path when Leonard’s dogs allegedly attacked him.

“I mean, as a parent, you can’t imagine another parent doing [that], let alone watching it, and not helping a child,” said Ashlyn Clough, mother of Airen’s best friend whom Airen was helping out. “I don’t know what was going through his head. It just doesn’t make sense why he didn’t call 911. Maybe he panicked and he was scared. But even if you were panicked and were scared, you could have at least called.”
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