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Yemen’s Houthis announce a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia

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Yemen’s Houthis announce a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia


CAIRO — CAIRO (AP) — Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on Monday announced they are imposing a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia in retaliation for a blockade on Yemen and a recent attack on Sanaa International Airport, threatening another vital waterway for global shipping and raising fears of renewed conflict.

A Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said in a video statement that the maritime ban against Saudi Arabia will be effective immediately, describing it as an “equation of ‘an eye for an eye.’”

There were few details on how the embargo might work, but the deputy head of the Houthi media office, Nasruddin Amer, said on X that the Bab al-Mandeb strait will be closed to the Saudis in response to what he called the kingdom’s “unjust blockade on Yemenis for over 10 years.”

Bab el-Mandeb, at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, is the gateway to the Red Sea through which around 12% of the world’s trade usually passes. A fourth of global container trade transits through the 32-kilometer (20-mile)-wide strait to and from the Suez Canal.

The Houthis earlier demonstrated their ability to disrupt shipping there when they targeted ships for months over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, with over 100 vessels attacked. It is unclear whether the Houthis will resume that level of attack against neighboring Saudi Arabia.

There was no immediate response from Saudi Arabia. The kingdom already faced pressure as it uses its East-West Pipeline to the Red Sea as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, which remains in the grip that Iran imposed shortly after the U.S. and Israel attacked it on Feb. 28. The Saudis have been sending millions of barrels of crude oil a day through the pipeline.

Saudi Arabia leads a coalition against the Houthis and imposed an air and sea blockade on Yemen in 2015. Yemen’s civil war began in 2014 when the rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen and forced the government into exile. A truce was reached in 2022.

That truce has been threatened in recent days after the Houthis said the Saudis struck the Sanaa airport in an attempt to affect a flight carrying Houthi leaders back from Iran, where they attended the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The plane landed safely at another airport.

The Houthis then launched missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport in the most significant confrontation in years.

By allowing a direct international flight to land without the approval of the Saudi-led coalition, the Houthis sought to establish a new reality in which they could independently make decisions over Yemen’s airspace, experts told the AP.

“We affirm the right of our great people to respond to the blockade with a blockade,” Saree emphasized on Monday, adding that Houthis are prepared to confront “any foolish act committed by the reckless Saudi enemy … with a comprehensive and decisive escalation.”

Houthi-run Al Masirah TV broadcast footage of hundreds of supporters gathering in the city of Ibb, south of Sanaa, to back the embargo against Saudi Arabia. Similar rallies were held in the governorates of Saada, Marib, Hajjah and Taiz.

The Houthis are a crucial part of Iran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance,” which also includes militant groups in Lebanon, Iraq and the Palestinian territories.

The rebels have had a large stockpile of drones, but several Houthi members previously told the AP that the stockpile is running low after its attacks during the Israel-Hamas war. The Iran war has further impeded the flow of weapons, said the members, who at the time spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to talk to the media.

The U.S. and Israel responded to the Houthis’ earlier attacks on shipping with a punishing air campaign across Houthi-held areas in Yemen until a deal that saw the rebels stop their assaults.

Disrupting transit through the Bab al-Mandeb forces shipping firms to route vessels around the Cape of Good Hope off South Africa, significantly increasing costs. The U.S. government in the past has said going around the cape would add about 2,700 miles (4,345 kilometers) to the journey from Saudi Arabia to the U.S.

___

Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai contributed.



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Filmmaker Christopher Nolan describes the challenges of creating

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Filmmaker Christopher Nolan describes the challenges of creating


Filmmaker Christopher Nolan said he knew filming “The Odyssey,” which was shot in six countries, “was going to be hard.”

“For us, it was just the sheer magnitude of it’s ‘The Odyssey,’ it should be hard. We’re going to go out there and we’re going to make it as well as we can,” Nolan told “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King in an interview that aired on Monday.

“The Odyssey,” which Nolan wrote and directed, pulled in more than $260 million worldwide over the weekend. It features a star-studded cast, including Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya and Tom Holland.

“It was the hardest movie definitely that I’ve ever done,” Damon told “CBS Mornings” recently. “It felt in a lot of ways more like an expedition than a movie because of the locations we were at. We’d be shooting on top of a mountain. We’d have to hike up the mountain to shoot and that part of it ended up being really fun because it was challenging, for everybody there.”

The film is also the first commercial feature shot entirely in IMAX.

Nolan said he told himself as a teenager that if he ever had the opportunity to direct a Hollywood film, he wanted “to do the whole thing on IMAX.”

“It immerses you. The image is so sharp, the color is so clear. It’s so much the way your eyes see the world,” he said. “It fills your peripheral vision when it’s on the biggest screen possible.”

But it comes with more challenges.

“The film is huge. … So after each, sort of just under three minutes, you run out of film,” Nolan explained. “So you have to ask the actors on a longer scene to just stay in the emotional state that they’re in, however intense that is, and then you quietly reload the camera and keep everybody focused and then start the scene again.”

For Nolan, authenticity in the film was key.

“These are great actors. You could stick them in front of a green screen and they’d do amazing,” he said. “But to me, for the audience, if you want to put the audience on the deck of that ship, get out there on a real boat with Matt Damon, with Tom Holland and Zendaya. Put them in the real waves. Get that IMAX camera, put it on that action, and that way you can immerse the audience.”

“It’s exciting, but it’s scary”

The Oscar winner said he still gets nervous despite his success and years in the entertainment industry.

“I make films for audiences, for the theater, for the cinema, and so for me, the movie’s really not done until the audience kind of tells me what it is. That’s what completes the film. It’s exciting, but it’s scary,” he said. 

Nolan grew up watching filmmakers like George Lucas and Steven Spielberg and for him, “making films on the big screen is very much an attempt to get back to that experience that I had as a kid.”

Adriana Diaz

contributed to this report.




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Andrew Tate’s arrest outfit looks like a divorced auntie – and we can’t stop laughing

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Andrew Tate’s arrest outfit looks like a divorced auntie – and we can’t stop laughing


How tight can trousers get before they start cutting off the blood supply to your brain? It’s a question doctors might want to consider after Andrew Tate was arrested, standing proudly in a ballet fourth position, in Miami, wearing black slacks so ankle-grazing they could only be considered the type of capris beloved by It girl Hailey Bieber. As if his attitude towards women wasn’t causing enough outrage, he had to ruin pedal pushers, too.

Tate, alongside his brother Tristan, was arrested in the US as the UK’s CPS announced a series of 38 new charges against them, including rape, arranging or facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation, and offences relating to indecent images of a child. British officials are now seeking to extradite the pair to face the charges and several preexisting allegations, which their attorney has dubbed “madness” and baseless.

It’s significantly frustrating, given the extent of the crimes of which he’s accused, that it’s taken so many years for Tate to be properly tried. He’s now been photographed in handcuffs at least four times, wearing everything from a black shearling jacket five sizes too small, champagne-hued velour tracksuit bottoms, and the latest low-buttoned purple shirt that comedian Grace Campbell joked “a mannequin in Dorothy Perkins would spit on”.

Andrew Tate was arrested in Miami this weekend as UK law enforcement move to extradite the influencer (Getty)

Tate buttoned the blouse in question showing off his collection of diamond chains – and, lest we forget, his pristine waxed chest. The garment, so tight that he wouldn’t have been able to lift his arms, even if his hands weren’t bound together by law enforcement, was paired with dark aviators that left him looking less Top Gun and more like Pitbull’s evil twin.

The final horror to finish off the look was predictable and profound: Sockless loafers. Right behind the actual cops were the fashion police.

Over on Instagram, endless accounts offered fashion advice: “Those Capris and silky top would be elevated with a kitten heel,” one person suggested. “He looks like he’s cosplaying Audrey Hepburn and he doesn’t have the chin to pull it off,” added another.

“Not exactly an alpha male outfit,” a user noted on X, as (potentially AI-doctored) images emerged of an outfit available for a bargain price in Asda. Meanwhile, in a thread of Tate wearing various sheer patterned blouses beloved by mums the world over, one person questioned: “Has Andrew Tate ever been photographed wearing men’s clothing?”

Get the look: Andrew Tate’s latest arrest get-up has people comparing it to high-street brands
Get the look: Andrew Tate’s latest arrest get-up has people comparing it to high-street brands (Backgrid)

Of course, people should be allowed to wear and be anything, regardless of whether they are male or female. But others, such as Tate, think there are roles and norms to play into, which is why his overly feminine wardrobe choices is so at odds with his loud proclamations of strict gendered roles and lamentations over the feminisation of men.

So, of course, it’s all the funnier that he’s out on the streets looking like someone’s divorced auntie. “If only his crimes could be as breezy as those capri pants, maybe we’d finally get a summer break,” one person wrote on X/Twitter. “Tack on a lewd and lascivious for that slutty little ankle boys,” another added. “Bro [is] out here in some britches.”

It’s long been a theory of Tate’s critics that the reason the influencer shows such hatred towards women – wanting to degrade and control them – is that, at his core, he is jealous of the opposite sex.

The patriarchy hurts us all and, maybe, he’d like the empathy and allowance for emotion that women offer each other. Looking at his latest outfit, it’s clear he’d enjoy some aesthetic aspects of girlhood at least. But he might have to put his prison-issued jumpsuit on a hot wash before he gets the tight fit he favours on the inside.



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Video Dog honored after protecting boy from bear attack

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Video Dog honored after protecting boy from bear attack



Bella, a husky mix from Connecticut, has been honored for her heroic act saving a child from a charging bear.



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AliExpress gets record €550m fine from EU for allowing sale of illegal products

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AliExpress gets record €550m fine from EU for allowing sale of illegal products


Chinese online retail giant AliExpress has been fined a record €550m (£467m) by the EU for allowing the sale of illegal products such as unsafe toys and fake clothes.

The European Commission said AliExpress has fallen short of its legal obligations “diligently assess” the risk of illegal, unsafe or fake goods on its platform.

“The spread of counterfeit clothing, unsafe toys, dangerous cosmetics and other illegal and harmful products is not an unavoidable cost of shopping online – it is a failure by AliExpress to comply with its obligations,” said EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen.

AliExpress said the fine was “disproportionate” and that it would appeal.

The two-year investigation found that AliExpress’s detection systems “did not work properly”, with many illegal products not flagged while others that were identified remained on the site for several weeks.

The European Commission also found the company did not properly enforce penalties on traders selling illegal goods.

Furthermore, its product compliance checks could be “easily circumvented”.

AliExpress, which is owned by the Chinese tech conglomerate Alibaba, has 193 million users in Europe, more than fellow Chinese online retailers Shein or Temu.

The penalty is the highest fine imposed under the Digital Services Act, which requires tech giants to do more to counter illegal and harmful content.

The act allows for fines of up to 6% of a company’s revenue, but as Alibaba had a global turnover of €122bn last year, the penalty is far short of that.

AliExpress said it was surprised by and disagreed with the EU’s decision.

“AliExpress has been and continues to be committed to meeting our obligations to consumers. We invest substantial resources in risk assessment and mitigation, product safety and consumer protection,” it said.

“Today’s decision and disproportionate fine ignores our sound risk management framework and the significant, proactive enhancements we have made. We will appeal the decision.”

Under the EU’s ruling, the company has to pay the penalty and present a plan by 20 October that includes what action it will take to tackle the breaches.

Earlier this year, Temu was given a €200m fine for allowing the sale of illegal products such as dangerous baby toys.

And Elon Musk’s X was fined €120m last year, after the commission said allowing users to pay for its blue tick badges was deceptive because the social media platform was not “meaningfully verifying” who was behind the account and exposed users to scams.



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RedHook Android malware can quietly hijack your phone

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RedHook Android malware can quietly hijack your phone


Google general counsel explains AI-powered phishing rise

Halimah Delaine Prado, Google General Counsel, reveals the rise of AI-powered phishing scams originating from China’s ‘outsider enterprise.’ She explains how these criminals use artificial intelligence to create highly convincing fake websites, impersonating trusted brands like T-Mobile to defraud hundreds of thousands of Americans, causing millions in losses. Prado highlights Google’s strategy to combat these evolving threats.

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Your phone rings, and the caller sounds official. They say your bank account or government service needs immediate verification. A link arrives moments later. The page looks like Google Play, and the caller tells you to install an app to fix the problem. Then the app asks you to turn on Accessibility access, a powerful Android permission that can let an app read the screen and control taps.

That approval can give the latest RedHook Android malware far more control than a regular app should have. Researchers at Group—IB, a global cybersecurity company that investigates online fraud and digital crime, analyzed the new threat. They say the upgraded remote access trojan, a type of malware that lets criminals control a device remotely, abuses Android’s Wireless Debugging feature to gain shell-level privileges. That means it can run powerful system commands and change protected settings that ordinary apps cannot access, although it does not gain full root control.

RedHook can then watch the screen, record what you type, operate apps and steal login information. The new technique also helps it install or remove apps without showing the usual approval prompts. That makes one rushed permission decision especially costly.

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NEW BANK SCAM LAWS COULD STOP SUSPICIOUS PAYMENTS

Cybersecurity researchers warn that RedHook Android malware can seize extensive control of a phone after users install a malicious app and enable Accessibility permissions. (Chris Goodney/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

RedHook Android malware starts with a convincing scam

The attack begins with social engineering. Criminals call or message victims while posing as bank employees, government representatives or support agents. They direct people to fake websites that resemble official services or the Google Play Store. However, the app comes from outside Google Play. The victim sideloads an APK, which means installing an Android app from another source. After installation, the app guides the victim through enabling Accessibility.

Android built Accessibility services to help people use their devices. However, those services can also let an approved app observe the screen and perform actions for the user. RedHook takes advantage of that control. It simulates taps, opens Settings and enables Developer Options. Next, it turns on Wireless Debugging and asks Android for a pairing code.

The malware reads the code and connects back to the phone through 127.0.0.1, a local address that points to the same device. In effect, RedHook tricks the phone into connecting to its own powerful debugging controls, giving the malware deeper access without a computer.

 

Why Wireless ADB gives RedHook more control

ADB stands for Android Debug Bridge. Developers use it to manage a phone from a command line, install test apps and troubleshoot software. Android introduced Wireless Debugging with Android 11, allowing ADB connections over Wi-Fi instead of a USB cable. Once RedHook pairs with the phone, it gains shell-level access. That gives the malware more authority than a normal Android app, allowing it to run powerful commands and change protected settings. However, it still does not gain full root control.

RedHook can then grant itself additional permissions, capture low-level touch activity and avoid some confirmation screens that would normally alert the user. The malware also borrows from Shizuku, a legitimate Android utility used by developers and power users. Shizuku allows approved apps to use elevated Android features without rooting a phone. RedHook repurposes parts of that framework to carry out malicious commands.

 

What RedHook can do after it takes control

Group-IB counted 53 commands that attackers can send to the current RedHook version. Some commands appear unfinished, but the working features give criminals extensive access to an infected phone.

  • Attackers can stream the screen and capture screenshots.
  • The malware records keystrokes and can collect screen-lock credentials.
  • It can simulate taps, swipes, drags and long presses.
  • Contacts, text messages and installed app lists can be collected.
  • RedHook can install new APKs or remove apps without the usual prompts.
  • Fake verification windows and black-screen overlays can hide its activity.
  • The malware can activate a camera, including during a fake identity check.
  • Remote commands can lock, unlock, wake or reboot the phone.

That access creates several opportunities for fraud. A criminal could watch you sign in to a banking app, capture a verification code or place a convincing overlay above a real login screen. RedHook may also remove security software or install another malicious app.

 

RedHook uses several tricks to stay on your phone

Gaining access helps the attacker only while the malware remains active. Therefore, RedHook includes several persistence methods designed to keep Android from shutting it down. It can play silent audio so the operating system treats its process as important. A WakeLock keeps the CPU awake. Meanwhile, two separate services monitor each other and restart their partner when one stops.

RedHook also sets a five-minute alarm that checks whether its services remain alive. After a reboot, a receiver can restart the malware and reconnect its privileged helper. It even adjusts its out-of-memory score to reduce the chance that Android will close it when memory runs low. These methods make removal harder. They also explain why simply swiping the app away may accomplish very little.

 

Red flags to watch for before you tap Allow

One warning sign may have an innocent explanation. Several appearing together should make you stop and investigate.

  • A caller or message pressures you to install an app immediately.
  • The download page resembles Google Play, but it opens inside a web browser.
  • An app asks for Accessibility access without a clear need for it.
  • Instructions tell you to tap Build number seven times to enable Developer Options.
  • Wireless Debugging appears enabled although you never use developer tools.
  • A black overlay or fake system-update screen blocks your view.
  • An unfamiliar app keeps reopening or resists removal.
  • A bank or government representative asks you to install an APK from a link.

Do not let an urgent tone make the decision for you. Legitimate organizations can give you time to verify a request through an official phone number or website.

AMAZON RECALL TEXT SCAM COMES WITH RED FLAGS

Person using their Android phone.

A new version of RedHook malware exploits Android’s Wireless Debugging feature, allowing attackers to steal data, control apps and monitor victims’ devices. (Angel Garcia/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Ways to stay safe from RedHook Android malware

A few checks can stop this attack before it reaches the Wireless Debugging stage. Other steps can help limit the damage if you already installed a suspicious app.

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer

 

1) Install apps through Google Play

Avoid APK files sent through texts, messaging apps or unexpected phone calls. Apps downloaded from unknown sources can put your device and personal information at risk. You should also review which apps can install software from outside Google Play. Open Settings and search for Install unknown apps . Turn off this permission for browsers, messaging apps and file managers unless you have a specific reason to use it.

 

2) Verify the caller on your own

Hang up and call the organization using the number printed on your bank card or listed on its official website. Avoid phone numbers included in the message, pop-up or download page. Be especially cautious when someone contacts you unexpectedly and pressures you to change a phone setting or install an app. Google lists both behaviors as warning signs of a possible scam.

 

3) Treat Accessibility requests as highly sensitive

Open Settings and search for Accessibility . Then review Installed apps , Downloaded apps or Installed services , depending on your phone. Turn off access for anything you do not recognize. An ordinary banking, delivery or government app rarely needs permission to read your screen and control your taps. Pause whenever an app claims that Accessibility access is required to complete verification. As CyberGuy has previously reported, malware can abuse Accessibility permissions to take control of an Android phone.

 

4) Keep Google Play Protect enabled and run a scan

Open the Google Play Store > tap your profile icon > Play Protect . Tap Scan to check the apps currently installed on your phone. Play Protect may warn you about harmful software, which you can disable or remove from the phone. Google Play Protect, which is built-in malware protection for Android devices, automatically removes known malware. However, Play Protect may not catch every malicious app, so strong antivirus software adds another layer of protection.

 

5) Use strong antivirus software

Strong antivirus software can help flag malicious links, suspicious downloads and harmful apps. Keep its protection active, especially if you sometimes receive APK files for work or testing. However, do not assume an antivirus scan has fully removed RedHook if the app keeps returning or your settings continue to change. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com

 

6) Install Android and Google Play system updates

Open Settings > Software updates , then follow the prompts. You can also check your Android security update and Google Play system update under About phone > Android version . Paths can differ slightly by device.

 

7) Get help if you think your phone is infected

Turn on Airplane mode and use another trusted device to contact your bank and change important passwords. Do not enter more information on the affected phone. Try to remove the suspicious app or contact your phone manufacturer, carrier or a trusted repair professional for help. A factory reset may be necessary if the app returns or the phone continues behaving strangely.

 

8) Consider removing exposed personal information

A data removal service can help reduce the personal details available about you on people-search sites. That may include your home address, phone number and information about relatives. However, a data removal service cannot clean malware from your phone, recover stolen login information or remove data that criminals already copied. You can also submit opt-out requests yourself for free, although the process can take time. Information may later reappear, so continued monitoring may be needed. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com

HALLUSQUATTING AI ATTACK COULD HIJACK YOUR COMPUTER

Person looking at their Android phone.

Security experts say Android users should avoid sideloading apps and be cautious of unexpected requests to enable Accessibility or Developer Options. (Brent Lewin/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Kurt’s key takeaways

RedHook depends on social engineering before it can take control. The attacker still needs you to install a malicious app and approve powerful Accessibility permissions. That gives you a chance to stop the attack early. Be suspicious of urgent calls, fake app pages and anyone who tells you to install an APK from a link. Google Play Protect and strong antivirus software can help, but your best defense is slowing down before you approve an unexpected request.

Should Android make Accessibility permissions harder to approve when an app comes from outside Google Play? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.



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Firestorm erupts online after Minnesota paper praises Tim Walz’s clemency for child sex offender

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Firestorm erupts online after Minnesota paper praises Tim Walz’s clemency for child sex offender


You always look for the ‘new bottom’ with Democrats: Jonathan Fahey

Laura Ingraham and former Acting I.C.E. Director Jonathan Fahey strongly criticize Democrats for their approach to illegal immigration and criminal justice. They highlight Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s controversial pardon of a child rapist, who was also an illegal alien, and a lenient sentence for an illegal alien truck driver in California. Ingraham also questions why victims’ rights often seem secondary.

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Minnesota’s flagship paper came under fire over the weekend after a columnist defended Democrat Gov. Tim Walz reasoning for pardoning an illegal immigrant just before the convicted child rapist was set to be deported.

“The Minnesota Star Tribune is cheering on Tim Walz protecting an illegal alien monster who raped a 10 year old girl. No one should read this depraved rag. They are sick,” said House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., on X.

Minnesota’s Board of Pardons is composed of Walz, state Attorney General Keith Ellison and state Chief Justice Natalie Hudson. They voted on June 10 to grant clemency to Tou Lue Vang, a Laotian national who between 2002 and 2004 repeatedly raped a child. Lue was set to be deported from the United States before the clemency was issued.

Gov. Tim Walz was mocked on social media following his suggestion he might run for president in 2028. (Getty Images)

WALZ, MINNESOTA BOARD OF PARDONS CLEARS CONVICTED ILLEGAL ALIEN CHILD SEX OFFENDER FACING DEPORTATION

In a section of the column called “Cheers to Gov. Tim Walz,” writer Rochelle Olson praised the governor and failed vice presidential candidate for his decision to defend the pardon.

“The governor refused to back down from his vote to pardon a Hmong man convicted of felony sexual assault in 2006. It’s significant that Tou Lue Vang needed only two of three votes from the state Board of Pardons, but he received unanimous support,” the column states.

Olson did not mention that Vang’s rape victim was a minor, or that Vang raped the child several times over the period of two years. She did reference a letter from the victim addressed to the pardon board supporting Vang’s clemency.

A spokesperson for the paper told Fox News Digital, “The Minnesota Star Tribune regularly publishes a wide range of opinions across the political spectrum.”

“In this case, our opinion columnist agreed with a unanimous pardon by the Minnesota state board of pardons, including Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison and state Supreme Court Chief Justice Natalie Hudson,” they added.

rubio deports tue lue vang

Mugshot of Tue Lue Vang, a convicted Laotian illegal alien child rapist who has been deported from the United States. (Department of Homeland Security)

FORMER INDIANA REP STEPHEN BUYER RECEIVES FULL PARDON FROM TRUMP FOR 2023 INSIDER TRADING CONVICTION

Olson launched into a tirade about Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol rioters in her column, likening their actions to that of the foreign child rapist.

“Vang’s actions 20 years ago were awful, but so were the violent protests at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and those folks received presidential pardons,” the author wrote.

Author Dennis Neale slammed that comparison in a post on X, writing: “The Star Tribune likens repeatedly raping a 10-year-old girl to protesting in the Capitol on Jan 6. You fluppin’ idiots.”

TIM WALZ OFFERS STRANGE DEFENSE FOR PARDONING CONVICTED CHILD RAPIST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DEPORTED

“Minnesota’s largest paper actually figured out a way to shove January 6th into this as a way to excuse an illegal immigrant who sexually assaulted a child,” said another X personality. “One of the most insane things I’ve ever seen.”

ICE minnesota jai vang

Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., (L) leads a clemency hearing for Laotian national Jai Vang with Minnesota Chief Supreme Court Justice Natalie Hudson on May 27, 2026. (KMSP)

“The Minnesota Star Tribune just gave a ‘Cheers’ to Tim Walz for standing by his pardon of a convicted child rapist. Absolutely disgusting,” said online commentator Dustin Grage.

“The degeneracy of the modern left would be impossible to exaggerate because it is impossible to exaggerate infinity,” said Claremont Institute senior fellow Jeremy Carl.

Nick Freitas, another online personality, wrote, “Every time I think I despise the main stream media enough, they triple their efforts.”

Walz’s attempts to protect Vang — and his defense of the pardon — proved moot when on July 10, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the illegal alien had been deported to his native Laos.

“Just weeks ago, a foreign child rapist was freed to once again endanger America’s children after receiving a pardon from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz,” Rubio told Fox News Digital at the time. “Tue Lue Vang admitted to committing heinous crimes against a 10-year-old girl in Minnesota. He attempted to pay his victim for her silence and dismissed his acts of child abuse as a ‘minor thing.'”

Sen. Marco Rubio testifies during his confirmation hearing for Secretary of State at the U.S. Capitol, January 15, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) testifies during his Senate Foreign Relations confirmation hearing at Dirksen Senate Office Building on Jan. 15, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

“Just days before he was scheduled to be deported, the Minnesota Governor pardoned him, setting him free to endanger American families once again,” he continued.

“That’s why I terminated his legal status in the United States. Vang has now been removed from our country and will never pose a threat to any American ever again.”

Days after Vang’s deportation, Walz doubled down on his decision to grant clemency.

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“Did that make us any safer?” Walz questioned. “Did that make the children that are left behind any more stable? Did it improve the idea that we can’t all be judged by our worst day?”

Peter D’Abrosca is a politics reporter at Fox News Digital.



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Women’s Super League: Liverpool sign Japan midfielder Mao Itamura

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Women’s Super League: Liverpool sign Japan midfielder Mao Itamura


Liverpool have signed attacking midfielder Mao Itamura from Feyenoord.

The 19-year-old becomes the fifth addition to Gareth Taylor’s squad this summer and replaces Republic of Ireland’s Denise O’Sullivan, who joined Gotham FC on an initial loan deal.

Itamura was named the Women’s Eredivisie player of the season in 2025-26, scoring eight times and assisting six goals for Feyenoord.

She helped Feyenoord qualify for European football for the first time in their history and was part of the Japan Under-20s squad that won the Women’s Asian Cup in April.

“It’s a league and a club that was one of my goals [to join]. I’m happy to be here,” said Itamura.

“When I started playing soccer, one of my goals was to become a professional footballer. When I reached that goal, I wanted to play for my favourite team.

“I’m really happy to have the opportunity to play in Liverpool, which is a big club.”

Itamura began her career in Japan with JFA Academy Fukushima before joining Feyenoord in January 2025.

She will wear the number 26 shirt and follows the arrivals of Vivien Endemann, Sara Agrez, Mari Ward and Khiara Keating at Liverpool.



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‘I have no house, no car, no big bank balance’: 35-year-old’s post on real success goes viral

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abdulwadud
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‘I have no house, no car, no big bank balance’: 35-year-old’s post on real success goes viral


Every day, social media showcases stories of people celebrating new homes, expensive cars, and growing investments. Those posts often become the benchmark by which people unknowingly compare themselves. But now, a very different kind of post is making rounds online. It is not about achieving more. It is about learning to be at peace with where you are.Shared by a 35-year-old X user, the post has found a place in conversations across social media because it shifts the focus from material milestones to personal progress. Many users said they found the message relatable, with several calling it a refreshing break from the pressure of constantly trying to keep up.

A post that looked beyond money and possessions

The post was shared by X user Ashish Jain. He wrote that he does not own a house, does not own a car, does not have a big bank balance or a huge portfolio of stocks or mutual funds, and does not have what he described as a great job.But that was only one part of his story.Ashish went on to share that he lives in a decent rented home, can afford to travel by Uber, has zero debt, has a better body than he did a year ago, and is mentally better than he was last year.He also explained how his priorities have changed over time. He said he has stopped stressing over things that will not matter a year from now. He no longer puts pressure on himself to buy a house or a car, worries less about the future, and focuses more on his physical and mental health. He added that he has been smoke-free for more than a year and has reduced his consumption of junk food. He ended his post with a simple message that many people appreciated:“It’s okay. You need not have everything figured out. It’s okay. Just live each day as it comes and focus on yourself.”

Social media users say the message hits home

The post quickly attracted reactions from people who said they could relate to his outlook on life.One user commented, “Zero debt, zero stress about tomorrow, quit smoking, quit the comparison game. That’s a stronger balance sheet than most 35-year-olds I know. Kudos, Ashish!”Another wrote, “I absolutely agree with this, Ashish. This is the most practical way to live, with gratitude and knowing it’s you versus you, not you versus someone’s Instagram lifestyle.”A third said, “He who gives the beak also provides the grain!”Another user shared, “Absolutely, Ashish. At 35, zero debt, a healthier body and mind, and no more pointless stress over ‘should haves’ is real success. Thanks for the reminder. Focusing on what we can control each day beats chasing a checklist. Keep going strong!”Many others echoed similar thoughts.One person wrote, “Success isn’t just what you own. It’s also the peace, health and growth you build within.”Another added, “Ashish, so many good things in such a short time. This is inspiring and motivating.”A different user remarked, “Zero debt is more underrated than people realise.”Disclaimer: The views and experiences shared in the X post are those of the creator and social media users featured in the report. The Times of India has not independently verified the personal claims made in the post. The report is based on publicly available social media content and reactions. Thumb image: Canva (for representative purposes only)



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How much Andy Burnham raising the tax-free personal allowance mean would earn Brits

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abdulwadud
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How much Andy Burnham raising the tax-free personal allowance mean would earn Brits


Andy Burnham assumed his role as prime minister on Monday and one of his top priorities is tackling the cost of living crisis.

Keir Starmer’s replacement told The Times he wanted to bring a “tangible” improvement to households, saying “the thing I heard the most on the doorsteps” when canvassing voters in Makerfield was the tax-free personal allowance threshold.

The personal allowance – the amount of income a person can receive annually before starting to pay tax on earnings – has been frozen at £12,570 for five years. Tax band thresholds have similarly been stuck at the same level rather than rising as wages grow larger.

By the process called fiscal drag, that has meant more people being pulled into either paying tax for the first time or paying a higher tax bracket, as wages naturally rise along with inflation.

But if Mr Burnham was to lift the personal allowance, it would give a small amount of breathing space to basic rate taxpayers in particular.

How much could the personal allowance be lifted?

Ultimately, until the new prime minister provides more details of his plan it’s a guessing game to an extent.

Previously, the personal allowance rose in line with CPI inflation each year, but there are provisions to change that – such as, for example, freezing it.

Two potential options for Mr Burnham would be to either use the CPI inflation figure, or – for a slightly bigger boost – to lift it in line with the state pension triple lock policy.

Andy Burnham delivers his inaugural speech as UK’s new prime minister (Getty)

While presumably there would be no change until April of next year in either case, it’s possible to use 2025 figures to give a representative look at what any alteration would mean for taxpayers.

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How much would it save a basic rate taxpayer?

For the purposes of illustrating these calculations we’ll use a basic UK average salary of £35,000 and assuming no additional income or payments other than income tax and National Insurance (NI).

CPI inflation figures for September of the previous year are typically used to calculate changes which come into force the following April, when the next financial year starts. For this example, that means using September 2025 data, when CPI inflation was 3.8 per cent.

That would uplift the personal allowance from £12,570 by £477.66, rounded to £480, so giving a new figure of £13,050.

On a £35,000 salary, currently that gives a taxable income of £22,430, taxed at 20 per cent – or £4,486.

Following our theoretical change to the personal allowance, only £21,950 would be taxed at 20 per cent – so £4,390.

That equals a £96 saving per year for the employee, to which we could potentially add £38.40 per year if NI is similarly uplifted, to give a total of £134.40 extra ‘in pocket’ per year.

The figures are largely not life-changing for most workers, says Kate Steere, personal finance expert at comparison site Finder, though any additional untaxed income would likely be welcomed at this stage by Britons after a series of higher taxations on businesses and people alike over the past two years.

And, Ms Steere added, it could be an immediate boost for Mr Burnham just by the amount of people it would impact.

(Getty)

“Andy Burnham wants to create ‘breathing space’, but would this be more of a brief exhale than a proper breath of fresh air?,” she told The Independent.

“Assuming the personal allowance was in fact increased in line with September’s CPI inflation figure then anyone in the basic rate tax band would be around £96 better off per year. For those in the higher tax rates (up to £100k), the savings would be £192, which would then taper down for anyone earning between £100k and £125,140.

“These amounts aren’t life-changing, but they would undoubtedly be a nice boost. The scale of these savings is also an undeniable positive – around 40 million Brits would benefit from this.”

Additional-rate taxpayers see their personal allowance lowered once their earnings surpass £100,000, coming down £1 for every extra £2 earned, meaning they have zero personal allowance by the time they hit the £125,140 threshold.

For an alternative scenario, if Mr Burnham broke with tradition and went the triple lock rule as a one-off, the personal allowance would rise 4.1 per cent due to 2025 wage growth figures.

Instead, that would yield a £13,090 personal allowance, giving a £104 saving to our basic taxpayer example, or £145.60 in total including NI.

What would it cost the Treasury?

In better economic times it is possible to cut taxes and still have a nation which grows – but the UK’s GDP is low and the Treasury has a high level of public debt, which Rachel Reeves has been endeavouring to lower.

While the individual saving per person does not seem extravagant, the loss of tax take could amount to anywhere between £4.5bn and £5.5bn annually, according to HMRC Ready Reckoner numbers which estimate the impact of changes to tax.

Presumably, that would need to be recouped at least in part by a tax rise elsewhere, perhaps through increased additional rate income tax as Mr Burnham has previously hinted he would look at.

“As we know, there is no such thing as free money,” Ms Steere said. “Is this a case of relief today only to be hit elsewhere tomorrow?

“Burnham has actively spoken in favour of replacing council tax with an annual property tax. For millions of homeowners, that structural shift could mean this week’s nice little bonus evaporates just as quickly as it arrived.”



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