Thursday, October 30, 2025

News from October 30, 2025

414 articles found

Lebanese Army: Israeli Ground Incursion is Blatant Violation of Lebanon's Sovereignty
Iraqi President Discusses Regional, International Developments with Greece's FM
Oman, Iran Talk Regional and International Developments
Man’s testicular cancer leaves him paralyzed from the chest down
Technology

Man’s testicular cancer leaves him paralyzed from the chest down

A man was left paralyzed from the chest down after his back pain turned out to be testicular cancer. Mal Nash, 42, had been suffering back pain for six months when he went to the doctor after it became too painful to ignore. He was told it was nerve pain and sent home with painkillers but he continued to “seize up” and was losing his ability to walk. After two more trips to A&E an MRI scan diagnosed Mal with a form of testicular cancer called ‘Metastic Seminoma’. The cancer had spread, making its way into his spine between the T6 and T7 causing his week of slow paralysis. By the time of the diagnosis, his entire body from the chest down was completely paralyzed — and he has now been told it is likely “lifelong”. His twin brother, Kevin, 42, a window cleaner, from Newton Abbot, Devon, said: “He had a pain in his back that went straight up into his chest, and then pain in his shoulder.” “It was horrendous, I couldn’t even describe it. “It was awful to see him like that, you always see it happen to other people and never expect it to happen to you.” Mal, an aspiring business owner, started getting back pain in April 2025 — but put it down to years of factory work. He finally went to the doctor in September but was sent home with painkillers. Kevin said: “He was prescribed these painkillers, and he took that as gospel, as you would, it’s the doctors. “Then he started to seize up, and he couldn’t get off the sofa or up the stairs, so we called 111.” After hours in A&E, Mal was sent home with only a referral to a physio therapist, despite his increasing lack of ability to walk. Kevin said: “They didn’t even want to scan where the pain was and just sent him away. “We got back home and decided to go back to the emergency rooms that day. It just kept getting worse, he couldn’t even walk when we got home.” The doctors surveyed him once again, this time finding Mal had a compression in his spinal cord. The MRI led to his cancer diagnosis in September 2025 — and he was told it had caused his paralysis. Kevin said: “He was really excited about his work. He used to work factory jobs and only recently set up his own carpenter business. He just worked through his back pain.” Mal was rushed into an emergency operation on his spine, in the hopes to regain back motor function below his chest, but the surgery was unsuccessful. Kevin said: “He came out and we were told it didn’t work. Now he has just been put on rounds of chemo. He won’t be able to move now but hopefully the cancer will go. “He used to love BMX sports and was cracking on with his new business, it’s just awful.” Kevin has launched a GoFundMe for his brother Mal in the hopes to raise some funds to make their house more accessible. He said: “You never expect it to happen to you. We live together so I am trying to raise some money as the house will need to be more accessible now. We are just trying to take it day by day.” Around 2,400 new testicular cancer cases are diagnosed to men in the UK every year. There is no national screening program for testicular cancer in the country, and Kevin warns that more people should be checking themselves regularly. He said: “It is so important to check these things. If you do you can catch the early signs and not be in the place as my brother. Check yourself regularly, it is so important.” If you want to donate funds to Kevin and his brother Mal, their GoFundMe page can be found here.

Archaeologists unravel heartbreaking 2,000-year-old teen ‘murder mystery’ while filming TV show: ‘I could not stop crying’
Technology

Archaeologists unravel heartbreaking 2,000-year-old teen ‘murder mystery’ while filming TV show: ‘I could not stop crying’

This case file was extra cold. Archaeologists are helping unravel a nearly 2,000-year-old teen “murder mystery” that they uncovered while filming a TV show on Britain’s past. “I turned the face at last to the light and it felt like the person was looking at me,” said TV presenter Sandi Toksvig while describing the Iron Age murder caper, the Independent wrote. She and Bournemouth University archaeologist Miles Russell had been filming an episode of the show,” Hidden Wonders,” in which the host and professional and amateur history hunters piece together the stories behind archaeological treasures. While excavating the domestic dwellings and the cemetery of the Durotriges — a Celtic tribe who lived in Dorset before the Romans — the team happened across the skeleton of a girl lying facedown in the dirt. “This has the sense of a body thrown into a pit, with hands potentially tied at the wrist” in front of her body, Russell told Livescience. “We think she’s a ‘she’, although we haven’t had a chance to assess the DNA yet in order to clinch it.” The plot thickened after the team noticed that the victim reportedly sustained injuries to her arms and upper body, indicating that the alleged young woman had been brutalized before her death. In addition, she’d been interred facedown and bound — which was not common burial practice at the time — and placed peacefully in the grave, leading researchers to deduce that the age-old stiff had been sacrificed. Toksvig was overcome with emotion over the fate of the ancient murder victim. “I could not stop crying … to hold that person’s head in my hands was one of the greatest privileges of my life,” said the TV sleuth, making sure to note that the remains were handled “very carefully.” This wasn’t the only likely sacrifice victim that was recovered from the repository. Researchers had also found a teenager in 2024 and a young adult female from 2010 whose neck had been slashed. Russell believed that these finds helped “build up a picture (Durotriges) of how these people lived and died 2,000 years ago.” Despite the appalling violence toward women, DNA samples from burial sites suggest that the Celtic tribe was matriarchal. In this female-centric society, women owned the land and men were invited traveled to their wives’ villages to marry rather than the other way around, as was the norm. Russell suspected that the sacrificed victims may have straddled the lower strata of society and were therefore deemed expendable, especially if they hailed from elsewhere or weren’t related to the ruling class.

They Competed With Sushmita Sen And Aishwarya Rai: Where Are These Beauty Queens Now?
Technology

They Competed With Sushmita Sen And Aishwarya Rai: Where Are These Beauty Queens Now?

The 1994 edition of Femina Miss India is etched in history for launching global icons – Sushmita Sen, who won Miss Universe, and Aishwarya Rai, who became Miss World. (Image: Instagram) Barkha Madan and Shwetha Menon both competed in the iconic Femina Miss India 1994 pageant, alongside Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai, but their lives took dramatically different paths, reflecting the diverse journeys beauty queens can embark on. (Image: Instagram) Shwetha Menon won the Femina Miss India Asia Pacific title, securing her place among the top three winners. Barkha Madan was a finalist, earning recognition for her elegance and screen presence. (Image: Instagram) After her pageant win, Shwetha Menon transitioned into modeling and acting. She appeared in Hindi films like Ishq, Asoka, and Anurag, but her true breakthrough came in Malayalam cinema, where she earned acclaim for her bold and layered performances. (Image: Instagram) Her Career Highlights:– Award-winning roles in films like Paleri Manikyam, Salt N’ Pepper, and Ozhimuri.– Winner of Kerala State Film Awards for Best Actress.– Hosted popular TV shows like Star Singer and Rising Star.– Participated in Bigg Boss Malayalam, expanding her fan base. (Image: Instagram) Shwetha is known for embracing complex characters and pushing boundaries in regional cinema, earning respect as a serious performer. (Image: Instagram) After her stint in modeling and acting, Barkha Madan appeared in films like Bhoot, Soch Lo, and Surkhaab, which she also produced. However, her life took a profound turn in 2012 when she chose to leave the entertainment industry and embrace Buddhism. (Image: Instagram) Life Transformation:– Ordained as a Buddhist nun in the Drikung Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.– Took the name Ven. Gyalten Samten.– Now lives a monastic life in Himachal Pradesh, away from the glamour of showbiz.– Her film Surkhaab won the Best Feature Film award at the Canada International Film Festival. (Image: IMDb) Barkha’s journey reflects a deep spiritual calling, trading fame for inner peace and service. (Image: Instagram)

The Two ‘Badlands’: What the Classic Terrence Malick Movie Has To Do With The Bruce Springsteen Movie ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere’
Technology

The Two ‘Badlands’: What the Classic Terrence Malick Movie Has To Do With The Bruce Springsteen Movie ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere’

It doesn’t approach you like you might expect from a movie this influential. There’s narration, sometimes a technique used to draw viewers into a narrative the filmmakers aren’t sure if they’ll easily accept without it, only here it’s at once detail-packed, plainspoken in its quickness, and a little eerie: “My mother died of pneumonia when I was just a kid. My father had kept their wedding cake in the freezer for ten whole years. After the funeral, he gave it to the yardman. He tried to act cheerful, but he could never be consoled by the little stranger he found in his house. Then, one day, hoping to begin a new life away from the scene of all his memories, he moved us from Texas to Fort Dupree, South Dakota.” Then the soundtrack goes quiet as the movie switches from an image of Holly (Sissy Spacek) petting a big dog on her bed to shots of quiet suburban streets, until the camera catches a garbage truck and its attendant rolling through. Soon he’s asking his coworker if he’ll pay him to eat a dead dog. The sanitation worker is Kit (Martin Sheen). The movie is Badlands. Terrence Malick’s first feature was released in 1973, set in 1959, and inspired by Charles Starkweather, a teenage killer who went on a killing spree with an even-younger girl starting in 1957, with her immediate family among the victims. Kit from Badlands is a little more sparing than Starkweather, in that he only shoots Holly’s father dead. Her mother, as mentioned, is already gone, and she is an only child. Best not to think about what would happen in the film if she weren’t. Violence lurks at the edge of the movie even without Kit enacting it; when Holly’s father is incensed by her involvement with Kit, she shoots her dog, as she nonchalantly reports in her narration. Soon enough, the father is dead, Holly’s house is burnt down, and Kit and Holly are criminals on the run, though Kit continues to do the actual killing. They head for the badlands of Montana; Holly may be seeking a fresh start, but Kit sure doesn’t seem like he’s looking for peace. Badlands arrived just six years after Bonnie and Clyde, the 1967 crime film that helped change American cinema. Bonnie and Clyde was directed by Arthur Penn, and Malick was his protégé – yet there’s no sense that Badlands is just Bonnie and Clyde Babies, even though Kit seems less stable than Clyde and Holly far more naïve than Bonnie. It’s more of a distant, lyrical translation of that movie. Though it’s set decades after the events depicted in Bonnie and Clyde, it often feels as if Kit recalls some faint echo of the famous couple. He also poses a bit like James Dean, which Holly likes. The undertone of doom, the sense that there isn’t a workable endgame for this strange young couple, haunts the movie, especially with Holly continuing to narrate as in a reflective daze, as if she’s watching herself on a giant silver screen, or maybe a drive-in theater. How, then, to extricate the Badlands influence when Malick’s film itself recalls other inspirations? Sometimes it’s direct: “Gassenhauer,” a dreamy passage of music from composers Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman used repeatedly in the film, turns up again as the unofficial theme of the Tony Scott/Quentin Tarantino collaboration True Romance, also about young lovers on the run. It’s a formulation that Tarantino explored repeatedly in his early scripts; Natural Born Killers, further distorted into something else all together by Oliver Stone, is like Badlands with two Kits; both Mickey and Mallory do the killing there. In True Romance, the leads are more like two Hollys, never reaching Kit’s level of genuine sociopathy. Director David Gordon Green, meanwhile, has never made a lovers-on-the-run picture, but Malick’s influence on his work, particularly movies like All the Real Girls and Undertow, is clear – and he tends toward the more offbeat, character-driven Badlands rather than the more sweeping likes of The Thin Red Line. You can also see bits of Badlands more literally in the new Bruce Springsteen biopic Deliver Me from Nowhere, wherein our Bruce (Jeremy Allen White), haunting his hometown in the depressed wake of his success with The River, happens upon the film on late-night TV and holds on it, transfixed. This leads him to Starkweather, the film’s real-life inspiration, which in turn inspires Springsteen to write “Nebraska” – the title track for the spare, moody record whose making the movie chronicles. The opening lyrics of the song reflect the film more than the real account of Starkweather: “I saw her standin’ on her front lawn, just a twirlin’ her baton” is an image straight from the beginning of Malick’s film. Curiously, the movie’s Springsteen never seems to take note that in an apparent coincidence, he had already written a song entitled “Badlands” several years earlier, making it a cornerstone of the 1978 Darkness at the Edge of Town album, which was released a few months before Malick’s second film, Days of Heaven. Movie Bruce also goes to see The Night of the Hunter, another one-of-a-kind classic that also directly influenced Green’s Malick-produced Undertow, though not much connection between that film and Badlands is explicated. Fair enough that the movie is ultimately more interested in the chapter-from-the-memoir nature of Springsteen’s psychology at this time of his life than the ways that culture can echo and reflect down long, mirror-lined hallways. That’s more of a Bob Dylan thing – and Dylan’s biopic didn’t really do that, either. But showing The Boss watching Badlands within a movie that reflects some of the drive-all-night intensity of his song “Badlands” does hint at the surprising influence Terence Malick has wielded in the time since Badlands, even as he made himself scarce for large chunks of it. Deliver Me from Nowhere is set in the early years of a two-decade hiatus from filmmaking that Malick would end with 1998’s The Thin Red Line, working on a bigger canvas and an army’s worth of stars (some unceremoniously cut from the picture almost entirely; Adrien Brody famously went into the premiere mistakenly thinking he was a lead). In other words, Malick was not much part of the current cinema in 1981, and would become even less so throughout the remainder of the decade. But still the ethereal beauty and uneasy menace of his debut wafts out over the airwaves and hypnotizes Springsteen, helping along one of his best albums in the process. It’s hard not to wish for a little more of a Malickian sensibility to Deliver Me from Nowhere itself, though it’s understandable why the movie wouldn’t agree. (I haven’t seen Predator: Badlands yet, but I assume the influence isn’t especially strong there, either.) For all of Malick’s stealth influence, his movie isn’t easy to imitate. Bonnie and Clyde was the bolder lovers-on-the-run movie with clear connections to Warner Bros. gangster pictures of old and the coming New Hollywood revolution. Badlands doesn’t lock into the timeline quite so neatly. It feels more than a little outside of it, something that travels through America’s vast empty spaces, hiding in plain sight. Jesse Hassenger (@rockmarooned) is a writer living in Brooklyn. He’s a regular contributor to The A.V. Club, Polygon, and The Week, among others. He podcasts at www.sportsalcohol.com, too.

Ravens vs. Dolphins prediction: ‘Thursday Night Football’ Week 9 picks, odds, props
Technology

Ravens vs. Dolphins prediction: ‘Thursday Night Football’ Week 9 picks, odds, props

Considering the tailspin the Ravens went into when Lamar Jackson endured a hamstring injury five weeks ago, it’s remarkable to think they are only two games from first in the AFC North ahead of his return. The Ravens ceased a four-game skid by beating Chicago with Jackson’s beta version, Tyler Huntley, under center as touchdown favorites. Huntley delivered with several explosive plays — both in the air and on the ground — and Baltimore got back to converting on scoring opportunities. With Jackson regaining the wheel, poised to make a playoff run, the Ravens boost their momentum into South Beach against a Dolphins team that allows the second-most yards per play (5.9). The Dolphins offer Jackson an inviting welcome back party, having relinquished the fourth-most rushing yards and ranking bottom 10 in pressures. Incentives aside, the Ravens have stockpiled at least 30 points in seven of Jackson’s last eight starts. His mobility expands the run game and forces defenses to play lighter boxes. That’s a nightmare against Derrick Henry, who just found his legs again with 71 yards and a pair of scores against Chicago. Miami’s front has been punished by physical, downhill runners all season with poor gap discipline and by dropping defenders into coverage to compensate for a weak secondary. Miami, another two-win team, just snapped a three-game losing streak of its own. Mike McDaniel’s seat has been warm all October with an inability to hold leads, lack of discipline, and fundamental execution issues all over the gridiron. Betting on the NFL? Read our expert guide on how to bet on the NFL Check out the best NFL betting sites Get the BetMGM Bonus Code But McDaniel returned to his roots with a heavy pre-snap motion usage last week, which created natural leverage for the receiving corps — namely Jaylen Waddle and his 43-yard score. Tua Tagovailoa’s processing was back to what we’ve seen when this offense was once cooking: quick-game concepts that neutralized Atlanta’s pass rush and kept the offense on schedule for four touchdowns. Tagovailoa faces a more forgiving task now, pivoting to a Ravens defense that has failed to consistently collapse the pocket, leading to a paltry 14.1 percent pressure rate. In turn, opposing quarterbacks have completed 68.1 percent of their passes — that’s the eighth-worst rank and a franchise high in the last 10 years. The league’s worst? Miami, which is surrendering completions at 73.7 percent. This leakiness in defensive sustainability on both sides has a high likelihood to reveal itself here: Baltimore is helpless in opponent red-zone efficiency and third-down stops, while Miami simply can’t create turnovers. With these gaps all over the field, I’m looking for a race between the Ravens’ run-first tempo and Miami’s quick-strike rhythm. It’s a high number on “Thursday Night Football,” but the Dolphins have hit the Over in nine straight home games while the Ravens are 6-1 on the Over/Under just this season. I’m looking for that pattern to continue as both teams rediscover their identities. Why Trust New York Post Betting Sean Treppedi handicaps the NFL, NHL, MLB and college football for the New York Post. He primarily focuses on picks that reflect market value while tracking trends to mitigate risk.

BetMGM promo code NYPDM1500: Get a 20% first deposit match up to $1,500 for Tulane vs. UTSA
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BetMGM promo code NYPDM1500: Get a 20% first deposit match up to $1,500 for Tulane vs. UTSA

Tulane rolls into the Alamodome on Thursday night, sitting at 6-1 and in firm control of its AAC destiny, while UTSA looks to steady itself after a humbling 55-17 collapse to North Texas. The Green Wave are fresh off a gritty comeback over Army before their bye, showing the resilience that’s carried them to second in the league standings. Tulane enters as a 5.5-point favorite, and the Roadrunners will need more than home-field energy to slow a Wave that’s found ways to win ugly and late. BetMGM bonus code NYPDM1500 for Tulane vs. UTSA You can take advantage of BetMGM’s bonus promotion for Thursday’s Tulane vs. UTSA matchup. BetMGM bonus code NYPDM1500 allows you to get 20 percent of your initial deposit back in bonus bets. BetMGM Sportsbook is live in the following states: Arizona, Colorado, Washington D.C., Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming. How to sign up for BetMGM Sportsbook Select your bonus offer. Choose your state. Fill out your login details. Enter the promo code NYPDM1500. Make a deposit. What our Post expert thinks about Tulane vs. UTSA Tulane’s dual-threat quarterback Jake Retzlaff has accounted for 15 total touchdowns and leads the team in both passing and rushing, making him the engine of an offense averaging just under 26 points per game. Kicker Patrick Durkin has been quietly elite — perfect on 14 field goals, including a long of 50 yards — keeping Tulane efficient in tight games. On the flip side, UTSA’s Robert Henry remains a rare bright spot after torching North Texas for 138 yards at 11.5 per carry, but the Roadrunners’ defense has been shredded for 584 yards in that loss and now faces an offense that’s opportunistic late. 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. AZ, CO, DC, IA, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, PA, TN, WV, WY. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA). Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA). Participant must complete the Wagering Requirements and satisfy the (10x) playthrough requirement. Deposit Match unavailable in IL, LA, OH and VA. US Promotional Offers Not Available in MS, NY, ON, or PR. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions. Why Trust New York Post Betting Sean Treppedi handicaps the NFL, NHL, MLB and college football for the New York Post. He primarily focuses on picks that reflect market value while tracking trends to mitigate risk.

Ariana Grande has a showgirl moment in vintage Bob Mackie for ‘Wicked: One Wonderful Night’
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Ariana Grande has a showgirl moment in vintage Bob Mackie for ‘Wicked: One Wonderful Night’

Ariana Grande didn’t need a bubble to float in — just a Bob Mackie. The multi-hyphenate star, 32, wore a strapless gown from the legendary designer’s Fall/Winter 1997 collection for “Wicked: One Wonderful Night,” the NBC concert special celebrating the upcoming release of “Wicked: For Good.” The champagne-colored confection had a fitted bejeweled bodice with a sweetheart neckline that flared into a voluminous tulle skirt, creating a silhouette worthy of Glinda the Good Witch herself. She paired the archival treasure with a diamond choker and a sleek ballet bun, wrapping a coordinating champagne satin safety harness around her waist for her airborne entrance into the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Her gown has quite the Hollywood pedigree: Fran Drescher originally wore the same dress in the 1997 romantic comedy, “The Beautician and the Beast.” Grande’s stylist, Law Roach, sourced the archival piece through Tab Vintage. The look was classic Mackie — the designer is known as the “Sultan of Sequins” for his sparkling, show-stopping creations worn by everyone from Cher and Whitney Houston to Tina Turner and, most recently, Taylor Swift. “A woman who wears my clothes is not afraid to be noticed,” Mackie, 85, has famously said of his glamorous designs. Grande and Roach have been conjuring fashion history throughout the current promotional circuit for “Wicked: For Good,” which comes out in theaters Nov. 21. Recently, the “We Can’t Be Friends” singer paid homage to the original “Wizard of Oz” in a sleek 1940s gown by Gilbert Adrian, the MGM costume designer behind the classic 1939 film. The singer recently debuted a major hair transformation, swapping her blond Glinda locks for glossy brunette waves. “it’s good to see me, isn’t it? 🫧” she captioned a mirror selfie on Instagram Wednesday, quoting one of her character’s signature lines. The “Wicked: One Wonderful Night” special airs Thursday, Nov. 6, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and streams the next day on Peacock.

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Security Oversight: Alleged Biden Error Permits Entry of October 7 ‘Monster’ into U.S.
Our editor swears by this ‘magical’ Charlotte Tilbury cream — and it’s on sale in a gift-ready set today
Technology

Our editor swears by this ‘magical’ Charlotte Tilbury cream — and it’s on sale in a gift-ready set today

Glow like a pro? It seems half of Hollywood has had the Charlotte Tilbury team help prep them for the red carpet, from Selma Hayek to Celine Dion. The brand has grown a cult following for its makeup and skincare — some of which we spotted on sale during Amazon’s Holiday Beauty Event, happening now. From Oct. 30-31 only, you can score the cult-favorite Magic Cream Moisturizer and corresponding Magic Serum Crystal Elixir together for just $75. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Moisturizer & Magic Serum Crystal Elixir Bundle Perfect for restocking your daily regimen or gifting, the peptide- and antioxidant-packed hero duo promises “firmer, smoother, more hydrated and radiant-looking skin,” so you can glow up before holiday party season. Magic Cream was literally invented to hydrate skin while being the perfect prep for makeup, but it works equally well as a night cream. Page Six Style & Shopping Director Elana Fishman swears by the stuff, saying, “Magic Cream is my skincare holy grail during the fall and winter months. I have extremely dry, sensitive skin that hates cold weather, and this moisturizer is one of the few I’ve found that’s thick and rich enough.” Elana applies it nightly, and also over her sunscreen in the morning. “It helps my makeup go on more smoothly — particularly around my mouth and nose, where I get especially dry,” she says. “The name doesn’t lie; Magic Cream really is magical.” The sentiment is echoed by shoppers who write feedback on Amazon, like, “I use this daily and won’t ever use another face moisturizer. It leaves my skin feeling and looking so smooth, even the next day! It’s also a great gift for any Charlotte Tilbury skincare lover, but get clicking before the deal is over. While you’re at it, check out a few other deals worth shopping in our Amazon Beauty event guide. Why Trust Page Six Style Shopping This article was written by Erica Radol, Page Six Commerce Reporter. From identifying the top anti-aging skincare secrets the stars trust to pinpointing the season’s next big fashion trends to finding a great deal on all of the above, Erica has a knack for reporting on – and even testing – Hollywood’s bestselling fashion and beauty products. Before joining Page Six in 2025, she wrote about entertainment, lifestyle and shopping trends for Us Weekly, The Daily Beast, Entertainment Tonight, Well+Good and Hearst.

Trinidad and Tobago to realign foreign policy amid Caricom rift
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Trinidad and Tobago to realign foreign policy amid Caricom rift

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has announced a major shift in Trinidad and Tobago’s foreign policy, citing a breakdown in trust with the Caribbean Community (Caricom). The announcement, reported across several national newspapers including the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, Daily Express, and Newsday, follows mounting tensions over regional security, divergent positions on Venezuela, and U.S. military activity in the Southern Caribbean. Speaking to the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, Persad-Bissessar stated, “These changes are necessary for improving our economic and physical security,” adding that Caricom is no longer viewed as a “reliable partner.” She stressed that while withdrawal from Caricom is not being considered, her administration will seek new international alliances focused on trade, investment, and security. The Prime Minister’s remarks came after Trinidad and Tobago reserved its position on an October 18 Caricom communiqué reaffirming the Caribbean as a “Zone of Peace”—a stance that set it apart from other member states. According to the Daily Express, Persad-Bissessar defended her position, arguing that Trinidad and Tobago faces unique threats from drug trafficking, gang violence, and gunrunning. “Trinidad and Tobago is definitely not a zone of peace,” she said, noting that other island nations do not experience the same level of violent crime. Persad-Bissessar’s support for the United States’ deployment of military assets—including warships, fighter jets, bombers, and the USS Gerald Ford—has further strained regional relations. As reported by Newsday, a U.S. warship docked in Port of Spain on October 26 for joint military exercises with Trinidad and Tobago forces. The Prime Minister has backed the U.S. initiative as a necessary measure against narco-terrorism and human trafficking. The Venezuelan government, which has denounced the U.S. military presence as a push for regime change, responded by suspending all energy agreements with Trinidad and Tobago. On October 28, Venezuela’s parliament moved to declare Persad-Bissessar “persona non grata”, a move she dismissed as inconsequential. She also stated that Trinidad and Tobago does not depend on Venezuelan gas, citing alternative projects in both energy and non-energy sectors. The Prime Minister’s criticism of Caricom stems in part from what she described as the bloc’s decision to “choose Venezuela over Trinidad.” This sentiment was echoed in her interview on the Crime Watch programme, where she lamented the lack of regional support for Trinidad and Tobago’s endorsement of U.S. naval assets. Caricom itself remains divided over Venezuela. In August, several member states, including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, participated in an ALBA-TCP summit expressing strong support for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who they said was facing persecution from the United States. Despite the diplomatic rift, Persad-Bissessar reiterated her commitment to humanitarian efforts within the region. All three newspapers noted her expression of solidarity with Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa, which struck the island on October 28. “Our prayers are with the people of Jamaica at this time,” she said, confirming that Trinidad and Tobago was coordinating relief supplies. Trinidad and Tobago remains a founding member of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), with regional trade dominated by exports of petroleum products, petrochemicals, iron and steel, and food and beverages. However, the Prime Minister’s remarks signal a potential shift in the country’s long-standing regional engagement, as it seeks new global partnerships amid evolving geopolitical challenges.

Louisiana GOP Supports Turning Point USA Chapter After Rejection by New Orleans University, Citing ‘Injustice
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Louisiana GOP Supports Turning Point USA Chapter After Rejection by New Orleans University, Citing ‘Injustice

This article is a part of Fox News Digital’s investigative series, Campus Radicals. Access the complete series here. The Louisiana GOP has stepped in to support students at Loyola University New Orleans who have founded a chapter of Turning Point USA, only to face rejection by the student government, which has denied the group official status on campus. Louisiana GOP Chairman Derek Babcock expressed his encouragement for the students to adhere to the outlined procedures. “We advise the students to follow the process as it is established,” Babcock shared with Fox News Digital. “This is the appropriate initial step, and we are committed to supporting them throughout this journey.” On October 15, during a student senate meeting, the Student Government Association (SGA) decided against allowing the group to charter, effectively preventing it from becoming an officially recognized campus organization. This decision means the group will not receive university funding or be able to reserve spaces on campus for events. According to Babcock, the group is gearing up to appeal the SGA’s decision through the appropriate channels within the student government framework. “If they’re denied again, I believe that is an injustice that needs to be rectified, and we’re going to be there to help them in any and every way necessary to right the injustice,” he said. The SGA reportedly denied the charter after students raised concerns that Turning Point does not share the same values as the Jesuit Catholic school. “Loyola University New Orleans, and our whole Jesuit Community, have prided themselves on the core values of Saint Ignatius, and the Society of Jesus at large. As it stands, Turning Point USA, its leaders, and many of the individuals whom they support are in direct opposition of these values,” one student reportedly said. The student attributed quotes to Turning Point’s founder, Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on Sept. 10, about “queer people are trying to corrupt your children” and “transgenderism and gender fluidity are lies that hurt people and abuse kids,” as evidence for that claim. However, official Catholic Church doctrine does not support gay marriage or transgenderism. Another student, who identified herself as Hispanic, claimed Kirk held bigoted views towards Hispanics. “You know, as far as the student government, I certainly would encourage them to take a better look at this and think twice about the initial decision they made,” Babcock said, noting that other right-leaning groups like the Federalist Society exist on campus along with other faith-based organizations. “There is no justifiable reason for denying Turning Point to have a chapter at that university,” he said. “That’s an argument we’ll make in every arena that it needs to be made. And if that’s what has to happen, we’ll be there with those students to help support them through that process.” Babcock also called for the school to look into the matter, and possibly override the SGA’s decision, though he said he respects the school’s commitment to allowing students to govern themselves. “Well, I think that they need to be paying attention to this, and they need to take it seriously, because if they don’t have a mechanism in place today… they need to get one quickly, because it may become necessary,” he said. Babcock pointed to the support for Turning Point USA from Gov. Jeff Landry, who on Monday night spoke at a Turning Point event at Louisiana State University and called for the school to erect a statue of Kirk. “I know they’re a private university, but they’re in the state of Louisiana, and here’s our Louisiana governor, not just supporting but actually speaking at and advocating for Turning Point events and memorials,” he said. “So, you know, that university administration needs to think very carefully about what’s happening here.” When asked about the appeals process, Loyola spokesperson, Aariel Charbonnet, pointed Fox News Digital to a document containing the SGA bylaws, which says, “The Court of Review shall handle all appeals rendered to it by the constituents of Loyola University of New Orleans Student Government association.” The document explains that every Justice on the Court of Review has a vote on all the matters before the court. It is unclear whether the Turning Point chapter members have the opportunity to plead their case in front of the court. Charbonnet said there is no process by which the university administration could override an SGA decision, except under certain conditions involving legality or conflicts with rules and regulations of the school. “Any part of this Constitution or any resolution passed under its authorization that is in conflict with the laws of the United States of America, the State of Louisiana, or with any rules or regulations of Loyola University New Orleans, shall be null and void from the time of its enactment,” the school’s constituion says. “The Student Government Association will support through its actions and programs the goals, purposes, and values of Loyola University New Orleans … and will abide by all university policies and procedures.”