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5 things you should remove from your house to get rid of negative energy

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5 things you should remove from your house to get rid of negative energy


Have you ever walked into someone’s house and instantly felt calm? And then some homes somehow feel heavy, even when everything looks perfectly clean and organized.Many spiritual traditions believe that every home carries energy. Whether you call it positive vibes, peaceful energy, or simply the atmosphere of a place, the things we surround ourselves with can influence how we feel. It’s not always about expensive décor or elaborate rituals. Sometimes, it’s the old, forgotten objects sitting quietly in a corner that are believed to hold on to stagnant energy.Of course, these beliefs come from spiritual traditions like Vastu Shastra and Feng Shui, and not from scientific evidence. But even if you don’t believe in energy in a literal sense, getting rid of things that no longer serve you can make your home – and your mind – feel noticeably lighter.Here are five things many spiritual practitioners suggest removing from your home.

Broken things you’ve been meaning to fix for months

We’ve all got one.A cracked mirror waiting to be replaced. A lamp that only works if you hit it. A clock with dead batteries that’s been stuck on the same time for weeks.It’s easy to ignore these things because life gets busy. But spiritually, broken objects are often seen as symbols of interrupted energy. They quietly remind you of unfinished tasks and neglected spaces.If it’s worth repairing, fix it. If you know deep down you’re never going to get around to it, it’s probably time to let it go.

Dead plants that are still sitting on the windowsill

Plants are often associated with growth, prosperity, and fresh beginnings. They brighten up a room and quite literally bring life indoors.A dead or completely dried-up plant, however, is believed to represent the opposite. Many spiritual teachings say it can reflect stagnant or depleted energy in a home.If a plant can be revived, give it another chance. But if it’s beyond saving, don’t keep it around out of guilt. Replacing it with a healthy green plant can instantly change how a room feels.

Things you keep only because “I might need this one day”

We’ve all opened a drawer full of mystery cables, old receipts, expired coupons, or clothes we haven’t worn since before the pandemic.Most of us don’t even realize how much stuff we’re holding on to until we try to clear it.Spiritually, clutter is often seen as an obstacle that prevents fresh energy from entering your life. On a practical level, it can also make your home feel chaotic without you even noticing.A simple rule helps: if you forgot you owned it until today, ask yourself whether you actually need it.Sometimes, making space is more valuable than filling it.

Gifts and keepsakes that remind you of painful times

Not every object deserves a place in your home just because someone gave it to you.Maybe it’s a gift from a friendship that ended badly. A souvenir from a difficult chapter of your life. Or something that immediately brings back memories you’d rather leave behind.You don’t have to keep carrying emotional baggage simply because it comes wrapped as an object.Many spiritual teachers believe that our homes should reflect who we are today – not who we used to be. If something repeatedly makes you feel sad, anxious, or uncomfortable every time you see it, it’s okay to thank it for its place in your life and move on.

Clocks and electronics that no longer work

A stopped clock is one of those things people stop noticing after a while.But according to many Vastu beliefs, clocks that no longer run symbolize paused progress or stuck energy. The same idea extends to old electronics collecting dust in cupboards or lying around because “they might be useful someday.”Whether you believe the symbolism or not, non-working items create unnecessary clutter.Repair what you genuinely use. Recycle what you don’t.Image: Canva (for representative purposes only)



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‘This country is a hot mess’: New $12 ‘sacred water’ at Erewhon sparks debate

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‘This country is a hot mess’: New ‘sacred water’ at Erewhon sparks debate


Erewhon, the luxury Los Angeles grocery store chain known for its steep prices and celebrity-backed smoothies, has debuted its latest viral product: a cup of water that costs $12.

“Sacred Water” — announced July 3 as part of the store’s partnership with shower filter brand Jolie — is described on Erewon’s social media account as “a clarified herbal tonic infused with Organic Jasmine Tea and Botanical Extracts — served as a refreshing elixir poured over ice.”

The ingredients include organic coconut water, organic jasmine tea, organic raw honey, organic holy basil, organic anise hyssop, organic green cardamom, organic white grape juice and organic coconut milk. The drink is sold in a 12-ounce cup, meaning that each ounce costs a dollar.

Erewhon’s announcement immediately sparked debate over its price tag. “$12 for a cup of Coconut water sounds ridiculous,” one person wrote on Instagram. Another added: “This country is a hot mess. I can’t wait for this late stage capitalism bulls*** to collapse.”

Another person noted on X: “This highlights how wellness culture preys on vanity and status, normalising absurd mark-ups on basic ingredients for the rich.”

Erewhon is going viral for its newest drink ‘Sacred Water’ (Erewhon/Getty Images)

Others criticized the people who bought the drink, with one writing on X: “erewhon could bottle rain and LA would still ask if theres a subscription.”

“Anyone who buys that is a sucker,” another person agreed, while someone else wrote, “We’re officially at the point where water has lore now. $12 for ‘Sacred Water’ is wild, but I already know people are gonna buy it just to see what the hype is about.”

Some people who tried the Sacred Water had high praise for the beverage. “Okay… I had to grab two. It was THAT good,” one fan wrote on Instagram.

Another commented on Erewhon’s post, “Please never get rid of this!!!!” with another noting, “yes it is delicious and yet it does contain COCONUT WATERRRR.”

Other fans on social media shared their plans to see what the new drink was about, with one writing: “Actually looks delicious and healthy. Affordable by Erewhon standards too.”

The Sacred Water is available at Erewhon stores until September. The grocery chain also sells Jolie’s main product, their filtered shower head, which costs $172 for the promise of “cleaner, softer water.”

Erewhon was involved in more discourse earlier this year when Kai Trump, the granddaughter of Donald Trump, documented her trip to the luxury grocery store and joked about going “bankrupt” while shopping. She bought some popular items from the store, including Hailey Bieber’s viral “Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie, which costs $21 alone, and spent $233 on one bag of groceries.

Social media users condemned the video as “out of touch,” with Democratic strategist Mike Nellis calling her video a “modern-day ‘let them eat cake’ moment.”





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Saudi Arabia introduces ‘Package Visa’ to combine travel booking and Visa application; what it means for travellers

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Saudi Arabia introduces ‘Package Visa’ to combine travel booking and Visa application; what it means for travellers


In a recent update, the government of Saudi Arabia has announced the launch of Package Visa. It is a new digital initiative designed to simplify travel to Saudi by integrating tourist visa applications directly into curated travel bookings. The launch is currently underway through qualified travel and tourism service providers across selected international markets ahead of a broader rollout.The initiative builds on Saudi’s wider efforts to simplify visiting the country. Since launching the tourist e-Visa, Saudi has introduced several new ways to visit, including visa on arrival and the Stopover Transit Visa. Together, these initiatives have supported the country’s rapid tourism growth, with Saudi welcoming more than 29 million inbound visitors in 2025.Commenting on the initiative, His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi Minister of Tourism, said:“As Saudi’s tourism sector continues to grow at pace, Package Visa reflects our commitment to making travel to Saudi more seamless for visitors. By integrating visa issuance with travel bookings, we are simplifying the visitor journey and creating a more connected travel experience. This initiative also strengthens collaboration across the tourism ecosystem and supports Saudi’s position as an increasingly accessible global destination.”What does it mean for visitors

Saudi Arabia’s ‘Package Visa’

For visitors, Package Visa means fewer steps between planning a trip and experiencing Saudi. Instead of arranging flights, accommodation, and a visa separately, eligible travelers can book everything through one integrated travel process, with the option to add events, activities and tourism experiences. The result is a simpler, more connected journey from booking to arrival.For qualified travel and tourism service providers, the initiative creates an opportunity to offer more attractive travel packages, streamline the traveler journey, and encourage longer stays and richer travel experiences.Highlights of the visa

Saudi

  • It is a fully digital initiative connecting visa application directly to travel bookings, making it easier to visit Saudi than ever before
  • The visa is designed to make traveling to Saudi seamless and more accessible
  • It is a part of Saudi’s wider effort to deliver experience-led tourism

To ensure a smooth and reliable travel experience, Package Visa is available only through qualified travel and tourism service providers that meet clear service standards and offer 24/7 customer support.As Saudi continues to grow its tourism sector, Package Visa marks another step toward making travel easier, more connected, and more seamless for visitors discovering the country.



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12 states sue to block Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger

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12 states sue to block Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger


A coalition of a dozen states on Monday sued to block Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, posing a new challenge to the $110 billion deal that would unite two of the nation’s largest media companies.

Attorneys general from the 12 states, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, claim that the merger would harm competition in the movie industry and result in lower pay and fewer job opportunities for industry professionals. The states also argue that the merger would hurt consumers by driving up cable package and movie ticket prices and offering fewer news and entertainment choices.

“We have antitrust laws and merger controls for a reason, because competition is the lifeblood of a healthy and vibrant economy. Competition pushes companies to produce their best work, to innovate, and to offer fair and reasonable prices,” Bonta said in a Monday press conference.

The states suing are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington. The lawsuit alleges that the merger is illegal under the Clayton Act of 1914, which prevents mergers that may undermine competition or create a monopoly. 

Paramount Skydance vowed to fight the lawsuit.

“The lawsuit filed by the state attorneys general, in the most generous light, reflects a fundamentally flawed application of the antitrust laws and is wrong on both the facts and the law,” a Paramount Skydance spokesperson said in a statement.

A Warner Bros. spokesperson referred CBS News to Paramount Skydance.

If combined, Paramount and Warner Bros. would control nearly a third of cable programming and more than a third of blockbuster films, according to Bonta’s office.

The coalition of states has requested that the two companies halt the merger until “after the judicial process concludes.”

“If they do not agree, the coalition will be filing a temporary restraining order,” Bonta’s office said.

Paramount has previously said it expects the transaction to close in the third quarter. If the merger isn’t completed by Sept. 30, Paramount has agreed to pay shareholders a 25-cent per share “ticking fee,” amounting to $650 million per quarter.

The lawsuit comes after the Justice Department closed its investigation into the deal in June, clearing the way for Paramount and Warner Bros. to merge. At the time, the DOJ said the transaction “is not likely to result in harm to competition or American consumers.” 

Paramount Skydance, the parent company of CBS News, has argued that the deal would promote competition and result in a stronger company. The entertainment company, led by CEO David Ellison, had committed to releasing 30 films a year in theaters through the combined business, a move it said will help support job growth. 

The proposed deal would create a media giant, combining Paramount, which owns Paramount studios and cable networks such as Comedy Central and Nickelodeon, with Warner Bros., owner of the “Harry Potter” franchise and cable networks including CNN, HBO Max, TBS and TNT. 

Pushback from states, Hollywood, international community 

The merger has drawn opposition from multiple sources, among them California Attorney General Rob Bonta. In February, he announced that the California Department of Justice was launching an investigation into the deal, writing that his office intended to conduct a “vigorous” review.

Some major players in Hollywood have also opposed the combination. In April, more than 5,000 industry professionals — including celebrities such as Sofia Coppola, Kevin Bacon, Jane Fonda and Robert De Niro — signed an open letter against the merger, saying that it would result in “fewer opportunities for creators, fewer jobs across the production ecosystem, higher costs, and less choice for audiences in the United States and around the world.” 

In response to the letter, Paramount Skydance said in April that the merger would give creators “more avenues for their work, not fewer.”

“This transaction uniquely brings together complementary strengths to create a company that can greenlight more projects, back bold ideas, support talent across multiple stages of their careers, and bring stories to audiences at a truly global scale,” Paramount said in a statement.

Paramount has touted additional regulatory clearances from several other countries, including China, Canada and Australia. But other reviews remain in progress, including in the European Union and the U.K., which has separately suggested it may intervene.

In another case earlier this year, a coalition of states sued to block a merger between Nexstar Media Group and broadcast company Tegna. A federal judge subsequently blocked the $6.2 billion merger until the antitrust lawsuit is resolved, finding the state AGs and DirecTV, which also sued, were likely to prevail in their legal bid to stop the merger.

Edited by

Aimee Picchi

The Associated Press

contributed to this report.

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Microwaved squishy toy explodes onto boy’s face and chest amid viral trend, causing horrific burns

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Microwaved squishy toy explodes onto boy’s face and chest amid viral trend, causing horrific burns


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An Alabama teenager and his family are warning about the dangers of a viral social media trend after he suffered third-degree burns when a microwaved sensory toy exploded.

Eli Blackmon, now 13, was 11 when he saw videos on TikTok showing people putting NeeDoh squishy toys in the microwave in order to soften them.

The NeeDoh, a sensory toy similar to a stress ball, is described on the company’s website as a “gratifying super soft, super stretchy dough filled groovy glob.”

DANGEROUS TIKTOK TREND LEAVES BOY BADLY BURNED AS DOCTORS ISSUE WARNING

“I thought it was harmless because an adult tried it and nothing happened,” he told Fox News Digital this week.

“When I took it out, my older sister held it for a few minutes, then I was playing with it. As soon as I squeezed it, it burst and the hot gel exploded onto my neck, chest and hands.”

An Alabama teenager and his family are warning about the dangers of a viral social media trend after he suffered third-degree burns when a microwaved sensory toy exploded. (Fallon Blackmon)

The hot gel caused third-degree burns on the boy’s neck and chest.

“At first I was just feeling frantic because I wasn’t sure what was going on because he was just screaming and not communicating,” the teen’s mother, Fallon Blackmon, told Fox News Digital.

‘BEANTOK’ TREND GOES VIRAL WITH WILD GUT HEALTH PROMISES — HERE’S WHAT EXPERTS SAY

“My husband is a fire medic and I work in emergency call taking, so I had a little knowledge of how serious it was. That obviously didn’t keep me from panicking on the inside.”

She was not aware of this trend before her child’s injury, she said.

“If I was aware, we would have had a conversation about not doing it.”

Eli Blackmon with healed scar

Eli Blackmon had weekly visits with the burn unit for four months, during which the doctors scraped off dead skin and performed wound care. (Fallon Blackmon)

Eli Blackmon recalled feeling extreme pain after the injury.

“I thought I was going to die. I kept telling my parents, ‘I don’t want to die, I’m sorry,’ and I that I loved them.”

Blackmon was transported by ambulance to the emergency department at the local children’s hospital, and was later sent to the burn unit for wound care and debridement.

‘TANMAXXING’ TREND COULD COME AT A DANGEROUS COST, SKIN CANCER EXPERTS WARN

“With how severe the burn was, they would typically recommend skin grafts, but they wouldn’t consider it for him because of the risks to his airway,” his mother said.

Blackmon had weekly visits with the burn unit for four months, during which the doctors scraped off dead skin and performed wound care.

Eli Blackmon

Blackmon, who is a jiu-jitsu athlete, missed months of training and competing due to the injury.  (Fallon Blackmon)

“This was done with no pain meds or numbing, so all his follow-up appointments were very painful,” Fallon Blackmon said.

“Once the wound started to heal and the scarring began, they had to do chemical burns because he was developing granulation tissue.”

“Don’t do it! It’s stupid! It causes so much pain.”

The teen also developed a rash from the bandages, which quickly turned into a staph infection.

“Another issue was that the burn was pulling fluids from his body, and this caused severe lower GI issues for months,” his mother said.

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Blackmon, who is a jiu-jitsu athlete, missed months of training and competing due to the injury. The family also faced thousands of dollars worth of hospital bills, doctor bills and wound care supplies over the four-month care period.

Eli Blackmon

“I thought I was going to die. I kept telling my parents, ‘I don’t want to die, I’m sorry,’ and I that I loved them,” Blackmon recalled about the incident. (Fallon Blackmon)

Now, the teen and his mother aim to help prevent other families from going through the same ordeal.

“If you purchase these types of toys, please just mention this trend and not to do it,” she urged parents. “Even if they don’t have social media, kids in school are hearing it from other kids.”

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Today, Blackmon attends to his scar each day so that it doesn’t cause any issues with neck mobility.

“I have to do stretches and moisturize and massage it daily,” he said.

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“It hasn’t really changed my confidence because all my friends and family are very supportive and tell me my scar is cool.”

To other kids who may be thinking about participating in this social media trend, Blackmon’s advice is simple: “Don’t do it! It’s stupid! It causes so much pain and other problems.”

NeeDoh toy

The NeeDoh, a sensory toy similar to a stress ball, is described on the company’s website as a “gratifying super soft, super stretchy dough filled groovy glob.” (Whitney Grubb)

“Actually, just don’t do any trends on TikTok, even if you think they are harmless,” he added. “Talk to your parents.”

Blackmon’s mother agreed, noting that sharing the story and receiving negative criticism from adults online would be worth preventing another child from being “scarred for life” and experiencing something so traumatic.

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A spokesperson for TikTok USDS Joint Venture previously shared with Fox News Digital that any content that “promotes dangerous behavior” and may lead to serious injury is considered a violation of the platform’s Community Guidelines. The company claims that it immediately removes these videos when they are found.

Fox News Digital reached out to the manufacturer of NeeDoh requesting comment.

Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].



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Judge refers Trump’s attorneys for potential disciplinary action over IRS lawsuit

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Judge refers Trump’s attorneys for potential disciplinary action over IRS lawsuit


A federal judge in Florida has referred President Donald Trump’s attorneys for potential disciplinary action over their filing of the $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS that resulted in the creation of the now-defunct “Anti-Weaponization Fund.”

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams’ scathing order criticized the president and his lawyers for using the court “to earmark billions of dollars from American taxpayers.” 

“In reaching this conclusion, the Court determines that Plaintiffs improperly employed this lawsuit to justify a particular award in this matter — access to taxpayer funds and exemption from audits and other investigations — which was accomplished by leveraging control over Defendants,” Judge Williams wrote.

Trump in May announced the $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” to compensate those who allege they were wrongly targeted under the Biden administration, in exchange for Trump agreeing to drop his $10 billion suit against the IRS over the unauthorized disclosure of his tax information during his first term, for which a former IRS contractor pleaded guilty in 2023.

The arrangement sparked accusations of self-dealing and a bipartisan uproar over the possible use of taxpayer money to pay rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Judge Williams, in her order, said that Trump’s personal lawyers and the Department of Justice attempted to “use the Court to provide some legitimacy … to earmark billions of dollars from American taxpayers to redress grievances not defined in the law.”  

“The Parties used the existence of federal litigation as a means of conferring legitimacy upon a course of action that they were unwilling to subject to judicial review,” Williams wrote. “The context of the ‘settlement,’ the relationships of the people involved in negotiating and approving it, the ethical implications of their conduct, and the Parties’ swift efforts to dismiss this case after the Court raised fundamental jurisdictional questions all support this conclusion. Accordingly, the Court expressly finds that Plaintiffs acted in bad faith.”

President Donald Trump speaks with the media aboard Air Force One shortly after departure from Mildenhall Air Force Base in the United Kingdom, after he switched from the old VC-25A Air Force One enroute to Washington, July 8, 2026.

Alex Brandon/AP Photo

Williams also directly called out acting Attorney General Todd Blanche throughout her order, and suggested he provided “misleading” testimony before Congress when probed over the Justice Department’s now-defunct “Anti-Weaponization Fund.”

“The Court is extremely troubled by the testimony given by Acting Attorney General Blanche on May 19, 2026,” Williams wrote. “In response to why the ‘settlement agreement’ had not been submitted to this Court for review, he stated that ‘there is no judge’ because the case had been dismissed and, therefore, there was “no mechanism” for reviewing the agreement.”

“While temporally accurate, this answer is, at best, misleading and, at worst, disingenuous,” the judge wrote. “The Court was available to review any pleading by any Party at any time during this lawsuit. And if Acting Attorney General Blanche had thought the dismissal was improvidently granted or thought Plaintiffs misspoke when they said, ‘no judicial analysis is appropriate,’ he only had to file an appearance and ask for relief.”

The scathing assessment comes just two days before Blanche is set to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee for his confirmation hearing to take the attorney general position on a permanent basis. Republican senators have already said they would push for further details from Blanche on the portion of the settlement that related to Trump and his family being immune from IRS investigations of their past tax returns. 

A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team said in a statement, “The IRS wrongly allowed a rogue, politically-motivated employee to leak private and confidential information about President Trump, his family, and the Trump Organization to the New York Times, ProPublica and other left-wing news outlets, which was then illegally released to millions of people. President Trump continues to hold those who wrong America and Americans accountable.” 

A Justice Department spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Judge Williams’ ruling. 

Brandon DeBot, policy director of New York University’s Tax Law Center, said in a statement regarding Williams’ ruling, “The court confirmed this sweetheart deal is an abuse of the tax and legal system and ‘directly contravenes’ the tax system’s protections against political interference. This decision confirms that the IRS should not follow through to implement the Acting AG’s unprecedented and unauthorized exemption from the normal tax audit rules for the President and his affiliates.”

“The court’s decision is important, but does not remove the need for Congressional action to nullify the entire deal and to prevent any similar attempts at presidential self-dealing in the future,” DeBot said. 

“This lawsuit was not brought to vindicate rights; it was brought to manipulate the judicial process to pursue benefits unavailable in litigation because the Parties were not adverse,” Judge Williams wrote.

Blanche last month told a House subcommittee that the Trump administration is backing down from establishing the “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” A federal judge has directed Justice Department to formally address whether fund is dead, as the agency has claimed.

In addition to referring the lawyers in the case for disciplinary action, Judge Williams said that Trump and the federal government are “prohibited from referring to the purported ‘settlement agreement'” or using it “in any judicial, administrative, regulatory, arbitration, or any other official proceeding.”

“The Court determines that Plaintiffs improperly employed this lawsuit to justify a particular award in this matter — access to taxpayer funds and exemption from audits and other investigations — which was accomplished by leveraging control over Defendants,” she wrote. 

Williams also directed the court’s clerk to mail a copy of her order to the state bars of New York and Washington D.C., where disciplinary referrals had already previously been sent for Blanche and Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward.

It’s unclear how Williams’ ruling will impact the broad audit protections that were purportedly granted to Trump, his family, and his businesses. The Department of Justice had argued that those protections were part of a private settlement that did not require any judicial oversight, and Judge Williams did not explicitly lay out the next steps in her order.

Separate from the Florida case, federal judges this week had scheduled court hearings as part of lawsuits challenging the settlement — providing a potential venue where the issue may be litigated. 



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What is a Philately Passport that has Bengaluru travellers lining up and why has it become such a prized possession

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What is a Philately Passport that has Bengaluru travellers lining up and why has it become such a prized possession


Long before smartphones and social media check-ins, travellers had another way of preserving memories and it was through postage stamps and postal cancellations. Today it sounds like a nostalgic tradition. But for those who miss collecting stamps, worry not as the tradition has returned with a modern twist, thanks to the Karnataka Philately Passport. Let’s find out more about this unique travel trend:What happened in Bengaluru The concept caught wide attention after a number of people reportedly queued outside Bengaluru’s General Post Office as early as 5:30 AM to buy one of the limited-edition passports. There were only around 1,500 copies released across Karnataka in the latest sale. And that’s why demand exceeded supply and it became the most unexpected travel news of the day and travel trends of 2026.Understanding philately passport and why has it become such a prized possession for travellers? Well don’t think it’s an official travel document. So those who don’t know, Philately Passport is a unique travel collectible launched by the India Post’s Karnataka Postal Circle. However it cannot be used for immigration or international travel.It is a specially designed collector’s booklet allowing travellers to document their journeys through Permanent Pictorial Cancellations (PPCs). Which is a special postal mark issued by India Post featuring famous landmarks, heritage monuments, temples, wildlife reserves, museums and many other places of cultural importance.Every page is dedicated to a particular destinationYes, every page of the passport is dedicated to a particular destination. Travellers purchase the corresponding postage stamp and have it cancelled with the unique pictorial postmark available at designated post offices. The one released by Karnataka features some 100 pictorial cancellations, encouraging travellers to explore destinations across the state while creating a permanent keepsake.Why is it important for travellers?A philately passport creates a meaningful travel record. Each cancellation can only be obtained at a specific location, making every page a genuine reminder of a visit rather than something that can simply be bought online.For travellers, it means:Sightseeing into a fun treasure hunt.Encourages visits to lesser-known heritage sites Supports slower travelCreates a personalised travel diary Combines history, culture and storytelling Philately is much more than a hobby of collecting stamps. It has traditionally attracted historians and collectors. Travellers aren’t just simply collecting stamps, they’re making memories at real places.Why has it gone viral?

Scarcity is one of the most feasible reasons. The latest release was limited to approximately 1,500 passports. The second reason would be social media. In no time, videos showing travellers getting rare cancellations at historic post offices have inspired a younger audience that may never have considered stamp collecting before.It went viral for a reason and that reason is authenticity. Travellers are increasingly seeking real experiences over ordinary souvenirs. And this simple booklet is a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful travel memories are the ones carefully stamped.



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Trump administration probes UNRWA over alleged employment of 1,500 terrorists

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Trump administration probes UNRWA over alleged employment of 1,500 terrorists


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A controversial United Nations agency is being investigated by U.S. officials for alleged ties to terrorism. The U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the U.N. organization for Palestinian refugees, has more than 1,500 employees being probed for links to terrorism.

U.S. officials have increasingly called on U.N. member states to defund UNRWA after decades of concerns about its school materials promoting terror, the presence of Hamas tunnels beneath UNRWA schools and charges that staff members participated in the Hamas terrorist attacks of Oct. 7 against Israel.

US URGES DONORS TO ABANDON UNRWA FUNDING AS UN DEFENDS AGENCY’S MISSION

This picture taken during a media tour organized by the Israeli army on February 8, 2024, shows Israeli soldiers inside an evacuated compound of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza City. (Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images)

While the U.N. conducted its own UNRWA investigation in 2024 through the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) following claims that 19 UNRWA employees were part of the Oct. 7. attacks, OIOS found insufficient evidence to support the participation of 10 employees. For the remaining nine, UNRWA terminated their contracts.

As the USAID Office of the Inspector General, a law enforcement agency separate from USAID, continues to investigate 1,500 UNRWA employees, it recently announced that it had referred a total of 108 current or former UNRWA staff to the State Department for suspension or exclusion from working with organizations that receive U.S. funds. Those members were found to be involved in the Hamas invasion of southern Israel, or were members of terrorist groups.

A U.S. diplomatic official briefed by USAID OIG investigators confirmed to Fox News Digital that at least 1,500 current or former UNRWA employees are under investigation for ties to foreign terrorist organizations in Gaza.

UNRWA aid trucks

Aid trucks of The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) deliver aid near Gaza City on June 19. (Dawoud Abo Alkas/Anadolu via Getty Images)

A senior U.S. official who spoke with Fox News Digital said that the USAID OIG investigation “smartly picked up where the U.N. failed” by looking beyond Oct. 7 participation. The official said the USAID OIG investigation is “critical, as U.S. taxpayers should never fund the salaries of aid workers that are members of a foreign terrorist organization.” 

The senior official told Fox News Digital, “USAID OIG’s investigation is helping prevent terrorists from criss-crossing across aid organizations that have received or are seeking U.S. or Board of Peace funding.”

Hamas was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in 1997 by the State Department, and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group (SDGT) in 2001.

HAMAS SAYS IT WILL DISSOLVE GAZA GOVERNMENT, BUT ISRAEL WARNS GROUP STILL SEEKS HEZBOLLAH-STYLE CONTROL

Hamas terrorists in Gaza.

Hamas terrorists in the northern of Gaza Strip on Dec. 1, 2025. (Omar Al-Qatta / AFP via Getty Images)

In the press release describing its effort, the USAID OIG said that individuals referred for debarment included “UNRWA school principals, teachers, security personnel, attendants, psychosocial counselors and medical professionals.”

They included two deputy school principals, one of whom served as a Hamas deputy company commander and another of whom was a squad leader. USAID OIG additionally referred a teacher with “expertise as a sniper for Hamas,” and one who tracked explosive device assignments. Another referred individual was a school principal assigned to a Hamas military manufacturing unit. Under his school, there were “three anti-tank positions and a tunnel shaft.”

In the case of Oct. 7 involvement, the USAID OIG specifically mentioned a teacher ordered “to bring two anti-tank missiles to a prescribed location during the Oct. 7 terror attacks,” and a deputy school principal charged with communications.

TRUMP-BACKED BOARD OF PEACE, ISRAEL ‘WILL TAKE ACTION’ IF HAMAS REMAINS OUT OF COMPLIANCE: NETANYAHU ADVISOR

Donald Trump stands in front of Jared Kushner and Marco Rubio

President Donald Trump attends the inaugural Board of Peace meeting at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., Feb. 19, 2026. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

The USAID OIG stated that it expects to make further referrals to the State Department in addition to “potential criminal referrals to the Department of Justice.”

As a result of its investigations, the State Department has banned Hafez Mousa Mohammed Mousa from any future work with U.S. government entities. An UNRWA school principal, Mousa was working with the Hamas East Jabaliya Battalion and “coordinated communications with other suspected Hamas members during the Oct. 7 attacks,” the USAID OIG report explains.

Hamas UNRWA

Photos released by the Israeli Defense Force show three individuals that the Israeli military claims are Hamas terrorists inside an UNRWA compound in Rafah. (IDF)

In response to Fox News Digital’s questions about whether it will blacklist other identified UNRWA employees, a State Department spokesperson said that “it is no surprise that another 100 UNWRA employees were determined to be involved in the barbaric Oct. 7 attack. President Trump and Secretary Rubio have affirmed time and time again that no State Department funding will be provided to UNWRA, which has been totally infiltrated by Hamas and terrorist sympathizers.”

On July 1, the Board of Peace posted on X that UNRWA “has no place in the new Gaza.”

An official briefed on developments with the Board of Peace told Fox News Digital that the USAID OIG’s investigations are “quite concerning to us.”

A USAID flag flies outside headquarters in Washington, D.C.

An American flag and USAID flag fly outside the USAID building in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 1, 2025. (REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon)

The official explained that “we can’t really have an institution operating inside of Gaza where they’re purportedly delivering aid and services to two million people but also allegedly participating in and supporting terrorism. That is anathema to creating a safe and prosperous Gaza for Gazans.” Moving forward without UNRWA will require being “responsible and deliberate in terms of how we transition those services over to ensure there are no gaps in critical aid delivery, whether it’s health services, vaccinations, food, or other goods.”

Last month, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) posted about the infiltration of UNRWA on X, saying, “It is time for the United States to take action to address this growing problem and the systemic radicalization in UNRWA facilities.” Risch said he would work with the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. “to root out the terrorist links at the U.N.”

The U.S. Representative for United Nations Management and Reform, Ambassador Jeff Bartos, told a U.N. meeting in June on UNRWA funding, that it was time “to break this cycle.”

“This year, you have the choice to stop underwriting an organization that has become a subsidiary of Hamas, whose employees took part in one of the most barbaric terrorist attacks in human history on Oct. 7, 2023,” Bartos said. “This year, you have the choice to give the Palestinian people living in Gaza the opportunity to find durable solutions and prosper, instead of subjecting them to endless cycles of dependency and forever refugeehood.”

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Hamas’ theft of aid is continuing to cause harm in Gaza. While not calling out Hamas by name, on Sunday, the U.N. Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov released a statement strongly condemning the “obstruction of humanitarian operations in Gaza by the de facto authorities.” He noted that the previous day, “armed personnel affiliated with the de facto authorities forcibly entered the Abu Rashid food distribution point in Jabalia,” and additionally “entered a [World Food Programme] warehouse and reportedly assaulted two truck drivers who were delivering humanitarian supplies.”

Alakbarov said the incidents “are not isolated” and “reflect an increasingly dangerous pattern of intimidation, violence and obstruction, including smuggling attempts, targeting and abusing humanitarian operations.”

Fox News Digital reached out to UNRWA for comment.

Beth Bailey writes on the United Nations, worldwide antisemitism, and regions in conflict for Fox News.



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AI companies are creating

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AI companies are creating


Jack Manning knows firsthand the emotional and practical challenge of memorializing a loved one in a way that feels appropriate. After losing his sister more than 10 years ago, he and his family spent hundreds of hours raising funds to organize a volunteer project honoring her.

“It took years of bake sales and 5Ks to raise money to honor her memory in a way that was meaningful to us. We got to see how much effort is required to create a memorial that’s impactful,” he told CBS News. “I thought, surely there is a way that technology can help us.”

Enter artificial intelligence. Manning, a doctoral candidate in information science at the University of Colorado Boulder, is now studying the use of large language models (LLM) to create what some are calling “generative ghosts” — AI chatbots trained on a dead person’s social media posts, emails, audio and video recordings, photos and other data to create a digital simulation that family and friends can interact with after the individual’s death. 

“It is definitely a growing sector. We’re seeing growth in interest in how AI and grief intertwine,” Manning said. 

A “lifelike” avatar

A number of startups now offer these services, including Séance AI, You, Only Virtual and re;memory. For example, Re;memory, lets users create lifelike avatars of their loved ones based on photos and voice recordings. 

“By allowing you to interact with a lifelike digital avatar of your loved one, you can find solace in expressing your love and forgiveness, creating a bridge to the cherished moments you hold dear,” the company says on its website. The tool “allows you to see and hear your parents as they were in their cherished photos, rather than just imagining them.”

In a June paper published in the Association for Computing Machinery by lead researcher Jed Brubaker, an associate professor at the University of Colorado Boulder who studies socio-technical systems, Manning and his colleagues observed study participants’ reactions to the AI ghosts of people they have lost.

“Participants filled out a simple survey sharing positive memories of a loved one, talking about their upbringing and core traits,” he explained. “And they were fascinated by how much an LLM can do with so little information.”

There are two basic kinds of generative ghosts, according to Manning. A simple “death bot” could be limited to playing back verbatim any statements recorded by a loved one, but would be incapable of simulating the deceased’s manner of communication. 

“You can get a reasonable, although thin representation of a loved one with a single prompt on a free ChatGPT account,” Brubaker said. “The same way you might prompt it to say, ‘Talk to me like Shakespeare,’ you can say, ‘Talk to me like my grandfather — here are some details about how he acted.'”

Continuing the conversation

Generative ghosts go significantly further by recreating the deceased’s voice and manner of communication, and offering the ability to interact with the living, even responding to questions in a recognizably familiar way. 

“They are capable of saying things a loved one might not have said. Ghosts are AI models that can talk for somebody, maybe answering a question that they didn’t answer when they were alive,” Manning said.

The cost to consumers is variable. Re;memory charges $24 a month for individuals to create three custom avatars. For $19.99 per month, Sceance AI users can create animated images of their loved ones that can smile, make gentle head movements and speak in the deceased’s voice. 

The researchers found that study participants generally preferred communicating with an AI “ghost” of their loved one in the first person, with the chatbot serving as a direct reincarnation, rather than an avatar speaking in the third person. One turnoff: if a bot used a term of endearment, like “champ” or “pal,” that their loved one typically didn’t say, a user wanted to end the interaction. 

Generative ghosts share some commonalities with so-called deepfakes, which can be designed to mislead the public by fabricating a public figure’s speech and actions. But Brubaker said there is a distinct difference.

“The fundamental premise of a deep fake is the intent to deceive,” Brubaker said. “The intent of generative ghosts is not to deceive another person.”

Edited by

Alain Sherter

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CBS journalist reveals he nearly fell victim to ‘dangerous’ phone scam

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CBS journalist reveals he nearly fell victim to ‘dangerous’ phone scam


CBS chief correspondent Matt Gutman has opened up about a “very scary” phone scam he nearly fell for, warning others to beware of “remarkably sophisticated” fraudsters.

Gutman, 48, who joined the network in January of this year after two decades at ABC, detailed the incident over the weekend in a video on X.

“I just got completely scammed,” the Emmy-winning journalist revealed. He shared that he had received a call from someone “claiming to be from fraud protection at my bank,” informing him that they suspected people were trying to “illegally withdraw” money from his account.

“This person gave me a name, they gave me a badge ID,” the 48 Hours lead correspondent said. “They seemed to know so much about me, about my bank account.”

Gutman — who said he had recently dealt with suspicious activity on both his and his daughter’s accounts — said the scammer instructed him to go to his local branch to withdraw everything from his bank account. He was told the withdrawal would “intercept” the fraudsters and lead to their arrest.

Matt Gutman warned others to be careful of ‘incredibly sophisticated’ phone scams (cbsmattgutman/X)

While he initially found it “a little weird” to use a “regular citizen for something that seems like a law enforcement issue,” he ultimately agreed to go into his bank.

He was also told that he could not “tell anybody at the bank that this is happening because they might be in on it.”

“So I go to the teller, and I start doing the thing, and I’m like, ‘There is no way that this is possibly real, that anybody would use a regular civilian for a sting operation at a bank,’” Gutman said, adding, “I’m a journalist, and I have done scam stories so many times throughout my career, and I came so close to falling for it.”

He pointed out that the scariest and “most dangerous part” was that he would have been walking around with “thousands of dollars in cash at a place known to those scammers because they directed me to my local bank branch.”

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Gutman joined CBS in January of this year after two decades at ABC
Gutman joined CBS in January of this year after two decades at ABC (CBS Evening News)

“And I was told that this happens all the time, and then they either rob your car or they rob you,” he noted.

“So a very scary experience happening to someone who thinks at least that they are savvy — I’m not as savvy as I think I am. And that should be a lesson to all of us: you gotta be so careful, and some of these scams are incredibly sophisticated with people who clearly know what they are talking about and speak like they are in the profession.”

Gutman admitted that he was “blown away by how good that person was. I can’t get over this.”

In the video’s caption, he thanked the LAPD and his local Bank of American branch “for helping me avert a potentially dangerous disaster.”



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