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Tragedy Strikes Myanmar: Monastery Retreat Bombing Claims 14 Lives

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A devastating air strike by Myanmar’s military has claimed the lives of 14 individuals participating in a meditation retreat at a Buddhist monastery in the Sagaing region, according to an opposition group and local residents.

This tragic event is part of an ongoing pattern of lethal aerial assaults aimed at both anti-government forces and various ethnic armed factions within the nation.

These attacks frequently result in civilian casualties, compounding the humanitarian crisis.

Just two weeks prior, a United Nations report revealed an increase in the military’s use of inexpensive aircraft – such as motorized paragliders and gyrocopters – to intensify aerial assaults against opponents.

This report, from the UN-established Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), provides insight into a yearlong investigation concerning possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Myanmar’s military, its militias, and opposing armed groups.

Myanmar’s military government did not immediately respond to either the UN probe. In the past, the military has said it only attacks legitimate targets of war, accusing the resistance forces of being terrorists.

The monastery attack occurred on Friday in Swel Le Oh village in Myaung township, about 75km west of Mandalay, the country’s second largest city, according to Nway Oo, a spokesman for the Civil Defence and Security Organisation of Myaung Township, or CDSOM.

Nway Oo said 14 people, including three women, were killed and 20 others were wounded when a jet fighter dropped a bomb in the compound of the village’s monastery.

A villager who spoke on condition of anonymity also confirmed the death toll to the Associated Press.

Bombs dropped

The villager said the jet fighter dropped two bombs 15 minutes apart, with the second bomb damaging a house near the monastery where more than 100 people were on a week-long retreat.

The villager, whose mother-in-law was killed in the air strike, said that people fled to a nearby community after cremating bodies of the victims.

The BBC’s Burmese-language service and Myanmar’s media outlets, including Myanmar Now, reported the death toll at between 10 and 14.

They also posted photos and videos showing what they said was the aftermath of the strike, with images of bodies.

The military did not immediately comment.


NFL Star’s Shocking Domestic Incident: Baby Endangered as Car Window Smashed

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Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman faces legal troubles following his arrest in June, as detailed in court documents recently acquired by TMZ. The incident, which allegedly involved the mother of his child, has come to light months after the fact.

The arrest, which happened over two months ago, is making headlines after being largely under the radar till now.

Authorities reported that Bateman allegedly wielded an object to smash the windshield and the driver’s side window of a 2021 Mercedes-Benz. This vehicle, belonging to the victim, was damaged around 6 a.m. on June 3, in Georgia, according to TMZ’s findings.

Rashod Bateman has been with the Ravens for five seasons.

Rashod Bateman has been with the Ravens for five seasons. Getty Images

Disturbingly, their 3-month-old child was reportedly in the back seat of the car during the incident, escalating concerns about the situation’s severity.

The arrest warrant further details that shards of broken glass resulted in several small cuts on the woman’s face, adding to the gravity of the allegations.

Bateman’s attorneys said he surrendered to the Walton County Sheriff later that same day.

“It is unfortunate that a personal family situation has been taken completely out of context for sensational reasons,” Bateman’s lawyer, Jordan Siev, told TMZ. “We will let the court process play out and the facts will come out at that time.”

Bateman has continued participating with the Ravens throughout training camp in anticipation of the 2026 NFL season.

Rashod Bateman (7) was reportedly involved in a domestic incident on June 3.

Rashod Bateman (7) was reportedly involved in a domestic incident on June 3. Getty Images

“We are aware of the situation involving Rashod and have been in direct communication with him,” said the Ravens in a statement. “We notified the league office and have been cooperating throughout the process. As this is a pending legal matter, we will not have further comment.”

Bateman, 26, was the Ravens’ first-round pick in 2021, selected at No. 27 overall.

The Minnesota alum has recorded 157 catches for 2,147 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns in five seasons with Baltimore.

Last year, despite appearing in 13 games and making 12 starts, he only finished the year with 19 receptions for 224 yards and two touchdowns.

His best season came in 2024, where he ended the year with 45 catches, 756 yards and nine touchdowns.

Bateman agreed to a three-year extension worth $36.75 million last summer, with $20 million in guaranteed money.

Trump Urges South Carolina Supporters to Vote as if He’s on the Ballot

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In a spirited appeal to his loyal supporters in South Carolina, Donald Trump urged them to imagine he is on the ballot and cast their votes for Darline Graham for a full term in the US Senate.

Trump made an appearance in Myrtle Beach to campaign alongside Graham at a critical rally, aiming to secure her victory in the face of a strong challenge from Congressman Ralph Norman. This Tuesday’s runoff election for the South Carolina Republican Senate seat is drawing close attention.

“It’s crucial that you turn out and vote,” Trump emphasized while encouraging support for Graham. “We’re counting on every South Carolina patriot to head to the polls and back Darline Graham.”

Trump pointed out a trend where Republican voter turnout diminishes when he himself is not a candidate on the ticket.

“What I’m really asking is for you to pretend that I’m on the ballot again. It’s essential. Just act as if it’s my name there and come out to vote,” he implored.

Trump spoke about his second term accomplishments, mocked ‘Dumocrats’ opposing him and chuckled as a heckler was removed from the crowd. 

He also declared that he considers the Strait of Hormuz ‘an American territory’ amid the still ongoing tensions with Iran.  

Graham, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, was appointed to temporarily fill her brother’s seat after his death and is now seeking a full six-year term. 

Trump has backed her, persuading her to run before her formal announcement – turning the runoff into an unusually direct test of his influence over South Carolina Republicans.

After Lindsey Graham’s passing, Trump threw his full support behind Darline, urging her to step forward and carry on her brother’s legacy in the Senate

After Lindsey Graham’s passing, Trump threw his full support behind Darline, urging her to step forward and carry on her brother’s legacy in the Senate

Representative Norman seized on the opportunity to call out Graham on her lack of security knowledge on X writing the state 'deserves a candidate who understands foreign policy'

Representative Norman seized on the opportunity to call out Graham on her lack of security knowledge on X writing the state ‘deserves a candidate who understands foreign policy’

Darline Graham admitted she is not well versed on the topic of national security when asked by moderator Greta Van Susteren about whether Taiwan and the South China Sea represented national-security issues

Darline Graham admitted she is not well versed on the topic of national security when asked by moderator Greta Van Susteren about whether Taiwan and the South China Sea represented national-security issues 

Graham led Norman in the initial August 11 primary vote, but failed to clear the 50 percent threshold necessary to avoid a runoff. 

She pumped her fist and danced a little bit as she walked on stage to music, then outlined her record serving South Carolinians as the head of a state agency.

She responded to those who argue she doesn’t have enough experience to serve in the U.S. Senate.

‘Now, the critics say I shouldn’t run for the Senate. They say I’m not a politician. You know what I say? Guilty as charged,’ Graham said.

She drew parallels with Trump, who has endorsed her, saying he was never elected to any office before he became president

‘I think he’s done a damn good job,’ she said.

Graham urged people to vote for her in Tuesday’s runoff election against Rep. Ralph Norman ‘and take 10 friends with you.’

The winner will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in November, with Republicans heavily favored in the traditionally red state.

But Graham’s campaign suffered a damaging blow earlier this week.

During Tuesday’s televised debate, she was asked about US security involving Taiwan and the South China Sea and acknowledged that she was ‘not that informed’ on national-security issues.

The answer immediately became the defining moment of the debate, handing Norman an opening to argue that voters need a more experienced senator.

‘South Carolina deserves a Senator who understands Foreign Policy. I’m a peace through strength supporter! No more forever wars!’ he wrote on X.

Graham has defended the response as a willingness to learn, arguing that South Carolina voters are more concerned with issues closer to home, including the economy and health care. 

Trump also defended the remark when asked about it by the press earlier Friday. 

‘She’s very smart. She’s into the price of groceries. She is going to do what the military wants, and really what the president wants. She understands that national security is my thing. I thought it was a very honest answer,’ he said.  

But the episode has intensified scrutiny of her qualifications at precisely the moment her campaign needs to reassure Republican voters.

Graham also stumbled on the affordability crisis, telling the debate audience that 50 million people in South Carolina were living paycheck to paycheck. The state has around 5.5 million residents.

Graham has been racing to introduce herself to voters across South Carolina while repeatedly insisting she is ‘not a politician.’

The Trump loyalist has made his agenda central to her pitch, frequently highlighting her support for his policies and his endorsement of her campaign. 

She has also pointed to her years running a state agency as proof she is ready for the job.

Among the priorities she has put front and center are Trump’s push for tougher border security and the SAVE Act, the Republican-backed voting bill that would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott has also backed Graham, while Representative Russell Fry, who finished third in the August 11 Republican primary, endorsed her ahead of the August 25 runoff.

Trump’s endorsement hasn’t been a guaranteed ticket to victory this election cycle, with a string of his hand-picked candidates falling at the Republican primary hurdle.

Among the biggest names to stumble were Mike Lindell, Andy Ogles and Cory Mills, underscoring the limits of Trump’s influence.

Trump’s previous endorsement of Pamela Evette in the South Carolina governor’s race also raised questions about his political judgment. 

Though he initially backed Evette, once polls indicated Wilson with an advantage, Trump scurried to offer a late dual endorsement, which critics saw as a move to save face.

Cowboy Skills Corral Bull on Bustling California Highway After Midnight Chase

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Certain emergency situations demand more than just skill; sometimes, they need a significant amount of brawn, or perhaps in this scenario, a hefty dose of bull power.

Tuesday night saw deputies from the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office stepping in to support the California Highway Patrol (CHP) when they encountered a large bull meandering along Highway 35, unrestrained and on the move.

Images released by the sheriff’s department illustrated officers’ efforts to get the bull under control, aided importantly by a good Samaritan who played a key role in the successful capture.

After spending hours in vain trying to steer the bull to safety, authorities recognized they needed to bring in someone with specific know-how and prowess to handle the task.

Enter Samuel Ramos Palomino, a local from Half Moon Bay, who responded to the call for help and played a pivotal part in guiding the stubborn bull back to its abode.

Deputies work to corral a loose bull

San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies work near a bull that had been running loose along Highway 35, creating a hazard for motorists. (San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office)

Palomino, a foreman at Sea Horse Ranch with 35 years of experience working with large animals, was asleep when deputies reached out shortly after midnight. Despite having to be at work at 4 a.m., he immediately got up, prepared his truck and livestock trailer and came to help.

What followed was no easy task, authorities said.

Palomino worked alongside Sheriff’s Office deputies and CHP officers as they followed the bull for several miles, making repeated attempts to lasso it.

A loose bull is secured

A loose bull is secured after traveling several miles along Highway 35 as deputies and CHP officers work to clear the roadway. (San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office)

Eventually, the team was able to take the bull literally by the horns.

Once the animal was secured, Samuel used his expertise to safely load it into his trailer. He then went one step further, providing a secure location for the bull until it could be returned home at daybreak.

A loose bull on a highway in California

First responders approach a bull that had been traveling along Highway 35, posing a hazard to passing motorists. (San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office)

By the time the job was done, it was about 2:30 a.m. or just 90 minutes before Palomino had to get up for work, the sheriff’s department said.

The department lauded the foreman’s hands-on assistance, saying he likely prevented a serious collision or injury on the busy highway.

Samuel Ramos Palomino meets with Coastside Patrol Bureau Capt. Allen and Half Moon Bay City Manager Chidester

Samuel Ramos Palomino meets with Coastside Patrol Bureau Capt. Allen and Half Moon Bay City Manager Chidester after the overnight response on Highway 35. (San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office)

Coastside Patrol Bureau Capt. Allen and Half Moon Bay City Manager Chidester later met with Samuel in person to thank him for answering the call.

“Samuel, thank you for answering ours,” the department said. “Your skill, courage, and willingness to help made the Coastside a safer place that night.”

Nationwide Recall: 40,000 Eye Drop Bottles Contaminated

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In a nationwide recall, nearly 40,000 bottles of eye drops have been identified as potentially contaminated, the Food and Drug Administration has announced.

The recall targets 39,060 bottles of Clear Eyes Maximum Itchy Eye Relief eye drops from Prestige Brand Holdings, based in Tarrytown, New York. This voluntary move stems from concerns over the sterility of the products, as highlighted in an FDA enforcement report.

These compromised bottles are in 15-milliliter size, marked with the lot code 2552A, and bear an expiration date of September 30, 2027.

Distribution was handled by Medtech Products Inc., a subsidiary of Prestige Consumer Healthcare.

The FDA has labeled this as a Class II recall. According to the agency, this classification indicates a situation where the usage of the product could lead to temporary or reversible medical issues, with the risk of serious health consequences being considered low.

A woman applying eyedrops to her eye.

Prestige Brands is recalling 39,060 bottles of Clear Eyes Maximum Itchy Eye Relief eye drops nationwide due to potential contamination. puhhha – stock.adobe.com

A bottle of eye/ear drops with its cap removed, sitting on a counter with blurred pharmacy shelves in the background.

The FDA listed it as a Class II recall as “exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.” Kwangmoozaa – stock.adobe.com

Other brands in the Prestige portfolio include Dramamine, Luden’s and Anacin.

The company completed the acquisition of the Breathe Right brand – known for its nasal strips – and other assets from Foundation Consumer ​Healthcare in June in a deal valued at about $1.05 billion.

FOX Business reached out to Prestige Brands for comment.

Perez Hilton Livestream Shocks Viewers Beyond Expectations: The Dark Side Unveiled

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Perez Hilton finds himself with fragmented memories when he thinks back to August 4.

He recalls being in his home located in Miami’s Westchester neighborhood, but the vivid images that bombard him are of a shocking, bloody mishap.

The next thing he clearly remembers is waking up in a hospital, his body scarred, struggling to piece together the events that put him there.

Two weeks have passed since the grim event that left the infamous celebrity blogger bewildered. Transforming his blank spaces into painful clarity, Hilton is slowly remembering the disturbing incident in which he streamed himself, knife in hand, cutting into his bare skin — a moment now returning to haunt him, the Daily Mail reports.

“He’s deeply disturbed by it. The question that torments him the most is why he felt compelled to broadcast it live, to expose it all in the public eye,” shared a source who has known 48-year-old Hilton for almost 20 years.

‘He remembers being in the ambulance, the blood on the floor, a feeling of dread. That type of thing.

‘But he doesn’t remember the whole process yet of finding a knife, setting up the video, and going live. There are a lot of gaps in his memory.’

Initially after coming to in hospital, Hilton believed he had been in a terrible accident, cut as he was all over. 

It was only after several days that doctors gently told the truth: that he had taken a butcher knife and harmed himself dozens of times, while livestreaming everything on TikTok for his tens of thousands of followers, telling them that he wanted to die.

Bloody memories of Perez Hilton’s livestream are returning, according to a close family friend

Hilton, 48, has been hospitalized since August 4 after a TikTok livestream showed him seemingly covered in blood, holding a large knife and appearing to harm himself 

The incident dragged on for a tortuous 15 minutes before the social media platform brought down the live feed.

When emergency service arrived at his home, Hilton (real name Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr) was hospitalized under under Florida’s Baker Act, which allows for the temporary and involuntary detention of individuals in mental crisis. He has not since had access to his phone or the Internet. And, as the Daily Mail reported last week, he could be held for up to six months.

‘He was horrified and embarrassed,’ our insider said of Hilton when he was told the full extent of the incident.

‘He decided to make his breakdown this huge spectacle. As bad as it is, it’s a million times worse that he did it publicly like that. How do you even come back from that?’

Indeed, as Hilton continues to recover physically after receiving ‘hundreds’ of stitches, his small team is trying to decide what his future professionally may one day look like.

‘I know for a fact that he’s humiliated. Like 20 years ago he made a big deal of Britney [Spears] shaving her head and acting crazy, and that pales in comparison,’ a family friend said.

‘He can no longer ever be snarky publicly. Not even a little bit. That part of his brand is gone. How could he possibly return to any sort of snark at all? That brand is done.

‘He’s been humbled a lot, and it will be interesting to see where he goes from here.’ 

Hilton found huge fame in the 2000s for his controversial, tabloid-style gossip blog dubbed ‘Hollywood’s most-hated website’. In recent years, with a dip in popularity, the site has pivoted toward more family-friendly content.

With time has also come three children – Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and Mayte, eight – born via surrogate. All three kids were quickly removed from Hilton’s home by his sister when it became apparent that he was experiencing a severe mental health crisis on August 4.

Hilton pictured in happier times alongside his three children, Mayte, Mario, and Mia

Hilton pictured in happier times alongside his three children, Mayte, Mario, and Mia

His mother, Teresita Lavandeira, filed for temporary legal custody of his children on August 7, in a Miami family court. 

The motion was granted, and the Daily Mail has learned that the children are with her and ‘doing fine,’ according to a source, ‘but they miss their dad.’

‘They are being given age-appropriate updates on his condition. The family is making sure that they are very well supported during this time,’ the source said.

On Thursday, we reported how Hilton will need ‘psychiatric clearance’ before his children can visit him.  

In the meantime, those close to him are taking special care to reconsider Hilton’s professional brand for when he might eventually return to work. Certainly, Hilton’s well-known trademark of harsh gossip is believed to be dead and gone.

‘There’s no high ground there anymore. That door is closed to him,’ a source said.

The Daily Mail has previously reported that, before the livestream incident, Hilton was low on money and had been struggling to find lucrative work, and that reality show pitches to production companies had not survived past initial stages.

While Hilton was said to have recently signed a deal with a TV production company to host a show about cyberbullying, it is understood that he had not been paid and that bosses were still trying to make a role for him.

Hilton, pictured with Katy Perry, had endured a difficult time before his harrowing livestream

Hilton, pictured with Katy Perry, had endured a difficult time before his harrowing livestream

Huge questions remain for how the future will one day look for Hilton on his road to recovery

Huge questions remain for how the future will one day look for Hilton on his road to recovery 

Traffic to Hilton’s website, his largest source of revenue, had initially spiked after the knife incident, but soon cratered with no new content being posted online.

Earlier this week, his team began again to post stories – breaking news and celebrity gossip – but it is too soon yet to tell if the site’s Internet traffic will recover.

‘If you don’t know Mario, you don’t know that he does have the capacity for shame,’ says an insider. 

‘He does have what it takes to be self-aware. And it won’t be lost on him that if another celebrity had done what he did that night, he’d be covering it nonstop, and maybe not always as sensitively as he could be.’

For now, Hilton is primarily focused on his recovery while his team takes care of business.  

‘So as he’s trying to focus on his mental recovery, his physical recovery, this is definitely something on everyone’s mind – where does he go from here? How does he make a living? What does he do? I know that’s something that his entire team is thinking about. Like, what is next,’ said the insider.

The insider also said that Hilton is anxious to get back home to his family.

‘I think he’s very determined to get himself better. He wants to be home, to see his family, to be around his things and the people he loves. That’s what he wants the most.

‘Everything else will come. But he will have to grieve the loss of a lot of things before this happened. His life will be divided into before and after, and we have no idea what after will be.’

Family of Iryna Zarutska Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over Alleged Lack of Train Security

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The family of Iryna Zarutska has taken legal action against the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, and its private transit security contractor, exactly one year after her tragic murder captured national attention. The lawsuit claims that “systemic failures” have rendered the city’s light-rail system perilously insecure.

“This case stems from the avoidable death of Iryna Zarutska,” asserts the wrongful-death lawsuit submitted against the City of Charlotte and Professional Police Services Inc., which operates under the name Professional Security Services, or PSS. It should be noted that the allegations have yet to be proven in court.

“These systemic failures have plagued the CATS system for years, and the city has been aware of them,” said Lauren Newton, legal counsel for Zarutska’s family and estate. Newton’s comments were previously reported by WBTV.

Iryna Zarutska curls up in fear

Iryna Zarutska huddles in fear as a man menacingly towers over her in a terrifying assault aboard a light rail train in Charlotte, N.C. (NewsNation via Charlotte Area Transit System)

The lawsuit contends that there was no security guard on the Lynx Blue Line train when Zarutska was tragically stabbed on August 22, 2025. It accuses PSS of failing to sufficiently staff and deploy both armed and unarmed security personnel on the transit system.

Charlotte’s amended contract with PSS provided funding for 219 security personnel for fiscal years 2025 and 2026, according to the complaint, which alleges PSS had hired 183 at the time of Zarutska’s killing. The lawsuit further alleges PSS had only 11 armed guards despite the contract providing for up to 39 armed personnel.

Booking photo of Decarlos Brown

Booking photo of Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., taken Sept. 14, 2022, following his arrest in Mecklenburg County. Brown, 34, is now charged in the Aug. 22, 2025, stabbing death of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska aboard a Charlotte light-rail train. (Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO))

“They weren’t fully staffed,” Newton told WBTV. “If there had been a security guard on that train, Iryna Zarutska would be here.” Her assertion that a guard would have prevented Zarutska’s death has not been established in court.

The complaint also takes aim at fare enforcement, alleging Zarutska’s accused killer, Decarlos Brown Jr., rode CATS transportation without paying before the attack. It alleges there were no physical barriers preventing non-ticketed riders from accessing the light rail.

“There’s been literally no fare enforcement and those things, at a basic level, are what’s necessary for safety. And there’s been none of that,” Newton told WBTV.

Aerial view of downtown Charlotte skyline under clear skies.

The lawsuit alleges Charlotte and PSS knew or should have known the Blue Line and its stops had repeatedly been the site of criminal activity before Zarutska’s death. (Omar Vega/Getty Images, File)

The lawsuit alleges Charlotte and PSS knew or should have known about the Blue Line and its stops had repeatedly been the site of criminal activity before Zarutska’s death. “Violent crime was absolutely foreseeable,” Newton told WBTV.

The estate brings claims including wrongful death based on allegedly negligent and inadequate security and gross negligence. It seeks damages exceeding $25,000 and punitive damages against PSS, but not against Charlotte.

WBTV previously reported that Charlotte said it does not comment on active litigation and that PSS had not responded to its request for comment.

“The family doesn’t want this to happen to anyone else’s loved one,” Newton previously told WBTV.

News Media separately reached out to Charlotte, PSS and Newton for comment but did not receive immediate responses.

Why Europe’s Drying Rivers Are a Wake-Up Call for Australia

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In the serene northern region of Bulgaria, the Danube River has receded to such an extent that it has unveiled a remarkable discovery believed to be an ancient mammal, long hidden from view.

Unearthed in late July, the remains are thought to belong to a woolly mammoth. Historians have greeted this find with enthusiasm, labeling it a “very important” breakthrough in understanding the region’s ancient past.

This month, near the Serbian village of Prahovo, rusty relics of German warships, their masts broken and weary, also reemerged from the depths of the riverbank, stirring historical curiosity.

For local Serbian fisherman, Zoran Lovric, the scene is unlike anything in living memory.

“This is completely new to us; these wrecks have never appeared like this before. They were always hidden beneath the water, and what we’re witnessing now is genuinely unprecedented,” he remarked.

The discoveries along Europe’s second-longest river come as parts of central and eastern Europe experience prolonged summer heatwaves and drought conditions.

Armin Fojskic, a member of the Zenica Fishermen Association, said if conditions don’t ease, he expects a large number of fish to die in European rivers.

“Low levels of water are critical for the fish, especially if it is extremely low, and these past days it has really been extremely low,” Fojskic said.

“The main danger for fish is oxygenation of the river; when water flow drops, the river loses oxygen and fish start to suffocate.”

A global story?

According to the European Drought Observatory, about half of Europe and the United Kingdom experienced drought at various levels of intensity in July. Major wildfires have also burned across the continent.

But Peter Gleick, a hydro-climatologist and co-founder of the Pacific Institute in California, believes what Europe has experienced is not in line with normal weather fluctuations.

“Weather is always variable. We always have droughts. We always have floods somewhere at some time … but what we’re seeing now is extreme events worsened by human-caused climate change,” Gleick told SBS News.

“We’re dumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. We know that’s warming the planet. We know that it’s altering these extreme events by making them more extreme, more frequent, and more intense.”

Gleick said the extreme patterns affecting rivers in Europe are similarly impacting water systems across the globe.

A boat sticks out of a small pool of water along the shoreline of Lake Mead, which was formed by the Colorado River.

“In the western United States, the Colorado River, which is … shared by seven [US] states and Mexico, is at record low levels,” he said.

“Some of the largest reservoirs in the world are built on the Colorado River, and they’re now at record lows.”

What’s at stake for Australia?

It’s not just rivers in the northern hemisphere that are losing water.

Nick Bond, the director of freshwater ecosystems at La Trobe University, said the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia’s largest river system, has been in decline for decades.

There are 77,000km of rivers in the basin, which stretches through most of NSW, all of the ACT, and parts of Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.

“Rivers across the basin have shown declining patterns of runoff. And in particular, certain parts of the Basin, we’re seeing much longer periods of cease to flow, so periods when the rivers actually stop flowing altogether,” Bond said.

Low water levels in the basin have been associated with multiple disasters including mass fish deaths, wetland loss and algal blooms.

The Murray-Darling Conservation Alliance said irrigated agriculture (the manual application of water to soil) accounts for around 80 to 90 per cent of water use in the Murray-Darling Basin.

In 2012, legal limits were established on how much water can be extracted from the basin.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority is currently reviewing this plan, to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of its water management. One area under review is how the latest science can inform how the plan responds to a changing climate, including hotter, drier weather and more extreme droughts.

An ariel photograph of the Darling River, showing green trees and murky green water which has receded to show sand.

Bond said small streams which feed into larger rivers are also impacted — something he believes is often overlooked.

“Those small waterways actually make up the large proportion of the entire river network when you look at them on the map. So, the loss of flow and the loss of biodiversity in those systems is definitely a really important issue.”

‘Management has to change’

Bradley Moggridge is a Kamilaroi man and hydro-geologist at the University of Technology Sydney. He said the Murray-Darling Basin — known as Baaka by Barkindji people — holds deep significance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The waterway passes through the lands of more than 40 Indigenous nations, each with different connections, stories and language linking them to the water.

“The Barkindji [people] say they saw the river change and they could do nothing about it,” Moggridge told SBS News.

“The Barkindji are very much closely connected to the Baaka. They are the river people, the Baaka people. For them to feel helpless on their own land, I think the management has to change. But also, what is happening upstream to cause these low flows?”

He said First Nations wisdom about the waterway, which stretches back tens of thousands of years, must be integrated into river management and protection.

“Understanding Country and having those long associations, those long observation relationships over thousands of generations, Aboriginal people do hold that knowledge. Whether they’re in stories, songs, but also part of the oral traditions is passed down through the generations.”

Public consultation for the Murray-Darling Basin Plan Review took place during February to May this year.

Throughout the 12-week period, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority said it spoke to over 2,900 participants and connected with more than 500 First Nations people and groups. The authority also visited almost 100 towns and regional centres.


Meghan Markle Considered for Role in Netflix’s ‘The Gentlemen’ Before UK Comeback

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Meghan Markle might be stepping back into the acting spotlight sooner than anticipated. The Duchess of Sussex is reportedly in discussions to feature in the third season of Netflix’s “The Gentlemen” as she plans a return to the UK.

According to a report from Deadline on Friday, Markle is being considered for an undisclosed role in the action-comedy series helmed by Guy Ritchie.

Page Six has contacted Markle’s representative for any comments regarding this potential development.

“The Gentlemen,” which stars Theo James, made its Netflix debut in March 2024. Fans can look forward to the second season’s premiere on September 3.

A spokesperson for Netflix has confirmed to Page Six that the successful series will indeed be returning for a third installment.

The latest casting buzz comes after Australian outlet News.com.au reported Friday that Markle had been “offered a role in an upcoming project based in the UK.”

A source told Page Six there have been “inquiries in the entertainment space recently” and that Markle is considering her options, but stressed that “nothing is confirmed right now.”

“Something is being discussed, but it’s not solid,” the source added.

Markle is best known for playing Rachel Zane on the legal drama “Suits,” appearing on the series for seven season from 2011 to 2018.

She also appeared in films including “Remember Me” and “Horrible Bosses,” alongside her television work, before her engagement to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, in 2017.

Markle’s potential return to acting has been brewing for a while. In November 2025, she was linked to “Close Personal Friends,” a star-studded film featuring Brie Larson, Lily Collins, Jack Quaid and Henry Golding, with Markle reportedly set to play herself.

The film has yet to announce a release date.

“This is a massive moment for Meghan and signifies a return to doing what she truly loves,” a source from Amazon MGM Studios, the production company behind the film, told the Sun at the time. “It’s Meghan’s way of gently putting her toe back in the water and seeing how she enjoys being back on set.

The source also said Markle’s husband had been fully supportive of her latest career move, adding that he just wanted her to “do whatever brings her joy.”

Markle’s acting comeback made headlines in April after former “Suits” co-star Eric Roberts revealed the month before that she was plotting a return to the screen.

A senior Los Angeles casting agent later told Page Six that Markle had been “bombarded” with offers from studios and production companies for a slew of roles.

“Meghan has been the hottest talking point in Hollywood circles in the last couple of weeks,” the agent claimed at the time. “The very suggestion that she is planning to come back to acting has prompted interest the likes [of which] I have never seen in my three decades in the business.”

News of Markle’s potential appearance in “The Gentlemen” comes on the heels of the bombshell revelation that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will return to the UK at the end of the month for an “extended period.”

Page Six confirmed Wednesday that the couple’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will also be enrolled at a school in Britain.

“The palace was made aware of the move,” a source told Page Six, noting that King Charles III was informed Sunday of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s impending return.

Another insider told Page Six, “I know that Charles is the reason they are moving back.”

Historic 1,260-Pound Blue Marlin: East Coast Sets Record with Monumental Catch

PORTLAND, Maine – For seasoned fisherman Damon Sacco, the mystery lurking beneath the Massachusetts waves was unlike anything he’d ever encountered. After hours of a grueling battle, what emerged from the ocean depths wasn’t just any catch—it sparkled like a blue-hued spaceship rising to the surface.

Witnesses to the aquatic spectacle, Sacco, an experienced charter fishing boat captain, initially suspected a colossal shark when he saw the towering fin cutting through the water. His heart raced at the possibility.

“At first sight, it seemed to me like a massive shark,” Sacco recalled. “Yet, upon closer inspection, I realized that fin was pointed. I thought, no way could it be a marlin—it was far too large.”

In an incredible twist, Sacco and his crewmate, Walter Chapman, managed to reel in what may be the largest Atlantic blue marlin ever snagged off the U.S. East Coast. After the epic endeavor, they brought the staggering 1,260-pound (571.5 kilograms), 11-foot (335 cm) fish ashore in Falmouth, Massachusetts.

The captured leviathan nearly broke records, weighing just 142 pounds (64.4 kilograms) short of the standing world record for an Atlantic blue marlin, a title claimed by a catch off Brazil in 1992, as documented by the International Game Fish Association.

To catch such a huge fish off New England might be even more remarkable, said Walt Golet, director of the University of Maine Pelagic Fisheries Lab and an associate professor at the university’s marine sciences school. The water is too cold for them in the Northeast most of the year, making the window to catch a big one very narrow.

The fish’s head was on its way to the UMaine lab to determine its age, said Golet, who speculated that it could be in the range of 25 to 30 years.

“I don’t suspect there will be a whole lot of blue marlin caught in the Atlantic in general that are going to top 1,200 pounds for the next several years,” he said.

On the day of the catch, Sacco’s charter boat, Castafari, was fishing Atlantis Canyon, an underwater canyon on the edge of the continental shelf about 100 miles (160 kilometers) off Cape Cod. The highly migratory blue marlin is a seasonal visitor to the area, Golet said.

The battle with the marlin took about three hours and was fought on rod and reel by Chapman. Sacco said his role for most of the adventure was to “drive the bus around and yell at people.” He added that the fish left a couple of holes in the boat’s transom with its bill that he considers “war marks.”

Chapman, a retiree and lifelong fisherman from Plymouth, said the meat of the fish was divided among about a dozen people, and he’s currently looking up recipes for what to do with it. He said the marlin is unquestionably the biggest fish he’s ever fought on a line, and some of it’s probably destined for fish chowder.

“I wasn’t going to eat a 1,200 pound fish all by myself,” Chapman said.

When the boat returned to the docks, a crowd was waiting, and weighing the fish became a brief spectacle. Onlooker Katie Curran of Falmouth said it was spectacular.

“People fish their entire lives and never come close to a catch like this,” Curran said. “Hats off to Captain Damon Sacco and the crew on the catch of a lifetime.”

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