Two Russian mobsters were sentenced to 25 years in federal prison Wednesday for a failed plot to assassinate Iranian American journalist and women’s rights activist Masih Alinejad at her New York’s Brooklyn home — a plan U.S. prosecutors say was orchestrated and financed by the Iranian government to silence her global advocacy.
In a Manhattan courtroom, Alinejad faced her would-be killers, Rafat Amirov, 46, and Polad Omarov, 41, calling them agents of fear who tried but failed to break her spirit. “I crossed an ocean to come to America and have a normal life, and I don’t have a normal life,” she told the court. “I’m a brave woman. I’m a strong woman. They couldn’t break me. But they brought fear to my life. These criminals turned my life upside down.”
U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon condemned the plot as a “terrible, terrible crime” and said her sentence should serve as a warning to any foreign government or criminal network that seeks to carry out violence on American soil. “This kind of conduct will not be tolerated by the United States,” she said.
The case exposed an elaborate network linking organized crime and Iranian intelligence. Prosecutors said Amirov and Omarov, both high-ranking members of the Russian mob faction known as the Gulici, were motivated by a $500,000 payment from Tehran to arrange Alinejad’s killing in July 2022, after previous attempts to kidnap her failed.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Lockard told the court that Iranian officials hoped the assassination would send a message to women defying the regime. “The intended target was not just Masih Alinejad,” Lockard said. “It was the millions of women who look to her to be their voice and to shine a light on the regime’s brutality.”
Masih Alinejad
Alinejad, 49, fled Iran in 2009 after being banned from journalism. She later built an international following from New York City through her campaign “My Stealthy Freedom,” encouraging Iranian women to film themselves removing headscarves in protest of compulsory hijab laws.
The 2022 plot came “chillingly near success,” prosecutors said, interrupted only by chance — Alinejad happened to be out of town when a hired gunman arrived at her Brooklyn residence. U.S. law enforcement discovered and disrupted the plan before it could be executed.
Outside court, Alinejad, wearing a symbolic red coat “because the killers wanted to see me covered in blood,” declared victory over fear. “Justice is beautiful,” she said. “They wanted to see me dead on my porch, but I am alive. I am standing.”
Standing beside her was Barry Rosen, a former American hostage in Iran, who called Alinejad “one of the most important voices in the world.” Alinejad, clutching a yellow sunflower, vowed to continue fighting for the women of Iran despite years of threats and constant relocation. “Now I cannot even ride a bicycle with the wind in my hair,” she said. “I have to look over my shoulder. But I will never stop.”
FBI agents in Michigan have arrested multiple people accused of plotting a violent attack over Halloween weekend, the bureau’s director, Kash Patel, announced Friday on social media.
The law enforcement operation unfolded across suburban Detroit, with investigators saying the suspects’ plan appeared to have been inspired by Islamic State extremism. Authorities are now examining whether those arrested had been radicalized online, according to two officials briefed on the investigation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case publicly.
Patel said additional details will be released later but stressed that there is no ongoing threat to public safety.
FBI agents and Michigan State Police were seen near Fordson High School in Dearborn on Friday, where officers entered and exited a house as part of the investigation. Witnesses reported seeing agents carrying paper bags and other items from an evidence truck. In Inkster, another Detroit suburb, FBI personnel were also spotted at a local storage facility.
Jordan Hall, an FBI spokesperson in Detroit, confirmed that “there is no current threat to public safety,” but declined to comment further on the case.
Officials familiar with the investigation said the suspects had been discussing potential attacks in an online chatroom. Some members of the group referred to their plan as taking place on “pumpkin day,” a coded reference to Halloween, one official said. It remains unclear whether the group had acquired weapons or materials necessary to carry out an attack, but the nature of the discussions prompted authorities to move quickly with arrests late Friday.
A local attorney, Hussein Bazzi, who was present at the Dearborn home, said he was representing individuals connected to the case but declined further comment when contacted by phone.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer confirmed she had been briefed by Patel and thanked law enforcement for what she called their “swift action,” though she did not provide details.
Residents in the Dearborn neighborhood said the arrests came as a shock. “It’s really scary because we have a lot of relatives around this neighborhood,” said Fatima Saleh, who lives next door to one of the homes raided.
The arrests come months after a separate terrorism case in the Detroit area. In May, the FBI detained a man named Ammar Said, accused of plotting an attack against a U.S. Army facility on behalf of the Islamic State group. Said’s supposed co-conspirators turned out to be undercover FBI agents. He remains in custody on charges of attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization, and prosecutors have since filed a criminal “information” document — a possible sign of forthcoming plea negotiations.
Authorities have not indicated whether the latest arrests are connected to that earlier case, but Patel said Friday’s operation underscores the FBI’s ongoing efforts to “detect, disrupt, and dismantle threats before they endanger American lives.”
Queens (BN24) – New York City was pummeled by torrential rains that shattered October rainfall records, killing two people in flooded basements and disrupting flights across the region’s major airports, officials said late Wednesday.
Authorities confirmed that a 39-year-old man in Brooklyn and a 43-year-old man in Manhattan died after becoming trapped in flooded basement areas as storms swept through the city. The downpour, described by meteorologists as historic, brought the city to a standstill with flash floods inundating streets, subways, and homes.
Emergency responders in Brooklyn said a scuba team recovered the body of the 39-year-old victim after he tried to rescue one of his dogs in the basement of a three-story townhouse. In Manhattan, police discovered another man’s body in a flooded boiler room, with investigations into the cause of death ongoing. Both incidents occurred while the National Weather Service had flash flood warnings in effect across parts of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.
Mayor Eric Adams said the deluge overwhelmed New York’s drainage systems. “This storm broke rainfall records for October 30,” Adams said on X. “Much of the rain forecast to fall over several hours came down in just ten minutes.”
According to the National Weather Service, Central Park recorded 1.85 inches (4.7 cm) of rainfall, LaGuardia Airport logged 2.09 inches (5.31 cm), and Newark Liberty International Airport saw 1.99 inches (5.05 cm). The sudden downpour turned streets into rivers, leaving cars submerged and trees toppled across neighborhoods.
Airport officials at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark confirmed that dozens of flights were delayed or canceled due to flooding and ground stoppages. “Street flooding was highly localized,” one transport official said, “but several intersections and airport access roads became impassable for hours.”
City workers were deployed overnight to clear clogged drains, while weather authorities issued coastal flood warnings for low-lying areas of the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. The heavy rain, which followed a season of unusually warm and wet weather, exposed the limits of New York’s aging stormwater infrastructure.
Mayor Adams warned that climate-related storms are hitting the city with growing frequency and intensity. “When you look at the amount of water coming down,” he said, “our sewer systems are just not built to handle that.”
The latest storm marks one of the most severe October rain events on record for New York City, following similar floods that paralyzed the city in 2021 and 2023. Officials said recovery crews remain on alert as additional showers are forecast in the coming days.
MADRID (BN24)— Real Madrid and the promoters of the Super League are demanding more than $4 billion in damages from UEFA, accusing European football’s governing body of unlawfully obstructing the breakaway competition, according to a source who spoke to AFP on Thursday, October 30.
The claim follows a Spanish court ruling on Wednesday, which dismissed UEFA’s appeal and sided with the Super League backers, thereby opening the door for the clubs and organizers to pursue substantial financial compensation.
The Super League, launched in April 2021 by 12 of Europe’s leading clubs, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester United, collapsed within days amid widespread fan protests, particularly in England, and threats of sanctions from UEFA and FIFA. The league was intended to offer a closed competition for elite clubs, bypassing the traditional qualification processes of domestic leagues. Its abrupt failure became one of the most controversial episodes in modern European football.
Legal battles over the league’s creation continued for years. In December 2023, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that UEFA and FIFA’s attempts to block the Super League were in violation of European competition law. The ECJ found that the two governing bodies had abused their dominant positions in European football by preventing free competition, creating barriers for new initiatives, and interfering with club autonomy. Following the ECJ’s ruling, a Spanish judge confirmed that UEFA and FIFA had engaged in anti-competitive conduct, reinforcing the Super League organizers’ right to seek damages.
The Madrid court also rejected separate appeals from La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation, removing further obstacles for financial claims. A22 Sports Management, the company promoting the Super League, criticized UEFA for refusing to engage in meaningful reform despite “months of discussions,” stating that the company had “no other choice” but to seek compensation for damages incurred.
“After years of legal proceedings, UEFA can no longer ignore binding court decisions,” said A22 CEO Bernd Reichart. “By abusing their monopoly and preventing new initiatives, they have caused substantial damage to numerous clubs, players, and other stakeholders across Europe.”
UEFA, however, maintained that its regulatory framework remains valid and that the ruling does not legitimize the abandoned Super League project. In a statement to AFP, the organization said, “This ruling does not validate the abandoned Super League project announced in 2021, nor does it undermine UEFA’s current authorisation rules, adopted in 2022 and updated in 2024, which remain fully in force. These rules ensure that any cross-border competitions are assessed on objective, transparent, non-discriminatory, and proportionate criteria.”
Despite UEFA’s stance, Real Madrid hailed the court’s ruling as a significant legal victory, highlighting that it confirmed the governing body had “seriously infringed the European Union’s free competition rules” by abusing its authority. The Spanish giants emphasized that they will continue pursuing financial redress while advocating for reforms aimed at the long-term health of European football.
“The club will continue to work for the good of global football and fans, while claiming substantial damages from UEFA,” Real Madrid said in an official statement.
Legal experts suggest that this case could have broad implications for European football, potentially opening the door for other clubs and organizations to challenge governing bodies’ control over competitions. The decision may also influence future reforms in UEFA’s tournament authorizations, cross-border league approvals, and the broader governance of European football, with millions of euros at stake.
DAR ES SALAAM (BN24)— Protests intensified Thursday across Tanzania’s major cities after a general election that many residents and opposition figures described as unfair and marred by repression. In Dar es Salaam, police used tear gas and fired gunshots into the air to disperse demonstrators who returned to the streets following violent clashes during Wednesday’s vote.
Demonstrators in the commercial capital, as well as in northern cities including Arusha and Mwanza, protested the disqualification of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s two most prominent challengers and what they describe as an escalating clampdown on political dissent. Witnesses reported that government offices and other buildings had been set ablaze during Wednesday’s unrest, prompting authorities to impose an overnight curfew in Dar es Salaam, a city of more than seven million residents. Internet access, disrupted during the election, was slowly returning by Thursday.
Human rights activist Tito Magoti said he had received reports of at least five deaths linked to Wednesday’s protests, while a diplomatic source told Reuters there were credible reports of at least 10 fatalities in Dar es Salaam. Government officials and police spokespeople did not respond to repeated requests for comment, and Reuters could not independently verify the casualty figures.
Provisional results announced by the state-run Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation showed Hassan winning commanding majorities across numerous constituencies. The president, who has held office since 2021 following the death of John Magufuli, initially received praise for easing restrictions on opponents and reducing censorship that had intensified under her predecessor. However, critics note that the current administration has continued to face accusations of unexplained abductions and harassment of political opponents. Although Hassan ordered an investigation into alleged abductions last year, no official findings have been released.
Dozens of protesters returned to the streets Thursday in at least three neighborhoods of Dar es Salaam, where police fired tear gas and gunshots, according to Reuters witnesses. Smaller demonstrations were also reported in Arusha and Mwanza. The British government confirmed that international flights to and from Dar es Salaam’s airport had been canceled, and flights to Arusha and near Mount Kilimanjaro were also suspended.
Magoti described the protests as a reflection of Tanzania’s growing civic consciousness. “The people are rewriting our political culture from being cows, if I use this word respectfully … to being active citizens,” he said.
The unrest stems largely from the exclusion of the opposition’s leading parties. Tanzania’s main opposition party, CHADEMA, was disqualified in April after refusing to sign a government-mandated code of conduct, and its leader, Tundu Lissu, was charged with treason. The candidate of ACT-Wazalendo, another opposition party, was also barred from contesting. As a result, Hassan faced only minor-party challengers in the presidential race, raising concerns about the credibility and competitiveness of the election.
The government instructed civil servants to continue working from home through Friday and advised the general public to remain indoors unless necessary, a directive posted on the official Instagram account of government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa.
Political analysts say the protests highlight Tanzania’s increasingly tense political landscape and underscore longstanding concerns about the fairness of elections in the country. Opposition parties and rights organizations have criticized the government for undermining democratic processes through disqualifications, arrests, and intimidation. The unrest also tests Hassan’s leadership at a time when she has sought to balance political reform with continuity from Magufuli’s more authoritarian style.
The ongoing demonstrations carry broader implications for Tanzania’s stability, economic activity, and international image. Dar es Salaam, as the nation’s economic hub, has seen businesses shuttered and transport disrupted. Meanwhile, Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous archipelago that also held elections on Wednesday, continues to experience political tension amid long-standing local grievances and opposition suppression.
Observers warn that if the government fails to address citizens’ demands for transparency and inclusivity, Tanzania could face prolonged unrest and damage to its democratic institutions. For now, the protests signal a significant moment in the country’s political evolution, with citizens increasingly willing to challenge state authority despite heavy-handed government responses.
VATICAN CITY (BN24)— In an extraordinary testament to redemption and faith, Pope Leo XIV has declared Bartolo Longo, a former Satanic priest who later devoted his life to God, as one of the newest saints of the Catholic Church. The canonization, announced Sunday at St. Peter’s Basilica, included six others, among them three nuns, a Venezuelan physician known as the “doctor of the poor,” and an archbishop martyred during the Armenian genocide.
Born in 1841 in the southern Italian town of Latiano, Longo was raised in a devout Catholic family and trained as a lawyer at the University of Naples. His spiritual life took a dark turn following his father’s death, when he became deeply involved in occult practices. Historical records and Church documents describe that he allegedly served as a Satanic priest, performing rituals, practicing extreme fasting, and even claiming to have made a pact with a demon.
However, Longo’s life underwent a profound transformation after meeting Professor Vincenzo Pepe, who guided him back to Catholicism. Renouncing his past, Longo vowed celibacy and dedicated himself to acts of penance and charity. He joined the Dominican Third Order in 1871 and committed his life to spreading devotion to the Rosary and serving the poor.
Over the following decades, Longo became known for his charitable works in the city of Pompeii. He founded the Pontifical Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary of Pompeii, which later became one of Italy’s most visited Marian pilgrimage sites. He also established an orphanage for girls in 1887 and an institute for the sons of prisoners in 1892, followed by another home for the daughters of prisoners in 1922.
Longo’s dedication extended to his voluntary service at the Neapolitan Hospital for Incurables, where he cared for patients for two years. His deep compassion and reformative zeal earned him the nickname “Apostle of the Rosary.”
Miracles attributed to Longo’s intercession began to emerge during his lifetime. According to accounts recorded by the Catholic News Agency, the day he unveiled a portrait of Our Lady of the Rosary in Pompeii, a 12-year-old girl suffering from incurable epilepsy was reportedly healed completely. This event fueled public devotion to the Virgin Mary and solidified Pompeii’s reputation as a center of faith and healing.
Longo died in 1926, leaving behind a powerful legacy of faith and transformation. His journey from a man who claimed to have “sold his soul to the devil” to one who became a servant of the Church has been held up by Vatican officials as an example of the power of repentance and divine grace.
During the canonization Mass on October 19, Pope Leo XIV highlighted Longo’s life as a symbol of hope for those struggling with sin and doubt.
“Today we have before us seven witnesses, the new Saints, who, with God’s grace, kept the lamp of faith burning,” Pope Leo said. “May their intercession assist us in our trials and their example inspire us in our shared vocation to holiness.”
Archbishop Tommaso Caputo of Pompei, speaking with EWTN following the canonization, reflected on Longo’s transformation and enduring legacy. “Longo arrived in Pompeii to take care of the properties of the countess,” Caputo said. “Walking through those streets was dangerous because of the presence of bandits and malaria, he felt an inner inspiration. From that moment, he became an instrument of the Virgin’s mercy.”
Longo’s canonization represents one of the most remarkable conversion stories in Church history. His life, once defined by darkness, has become a testament to forgiveness, redemption, and the transformative power of faith, a journey from Satanic ritual to sainthood that now holds a permanent place in the annals of Catholic history.
PATTAYA, Thailand (BN24)— Two Nigerian men believed to be part of a wider drug trafficking network in Bangkok were arrested in Chonburi province after one attempted to swallow packets of cocaine to destroy evidence, Thai police said Thursday.
The arrests followed a coordinated operation between Chonburi Immigration and Pattaya City Police, targeting foreign drug syndicates operating along Thailand’s eastern seaboard. Authorities identified the suspects as Amarachi and Ikenna, both Nigerian nationals who had overstayed their tourist visas.
The sting operation, conducted on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, in the Jomtien area of Pattaya, led to the recovery of 33 grams of crystal methamphetamine (known locally as “ice”) and 9 grams of cocaine concealed inside cigarette packs and toothpaste boxes.
During the raid, police said one of the suspects tried to swallow small pellets of cocaine in an effort to eliminate evidence. Officers acted quickly, prying open the man’s mouth and recovering the drugs before they could be ingested.
According to Pattaya police, the two men are linked to a larger Nigerian-led drug trafficking ring operating across Bangkok’s nightlife districts, particularly around the Nana Plaza area. The network reportedly uses a “mouth-concealment method,” in which suspects hide small drug packets in their mouths to evade detection during police patrols.
The Chonburi arrests were connected to an earlier Bangkok Metropolitan Police operation carried out on October 26, in which narcotics suppression officers disguised as construction workers stormed several locations around Sukhumvit Soi 11, a nightlife hub in the Nana district. That pre-dawn raid resulted in the arrest of eight Nigerian nationals and one Thai accomplice, dismantling what authorities described as a key cell in a transnational drug network catering to tourists.
Officers in the Bangkok operation seized several grams of cocaine, mobile phones used for arranging drug sales, and cash proceeds. Investigators said data retrieved from the phones helped trace connections between the Bangkok group and the suspects later arrested in Pattaya.
Both operations were part of an ongoing national crackdown on foreign criminal organizations involved in the narcotics trade and visa violations. Thai authorities say many foreign suspects in the network entered the country legally but overstayed their visas to continue illicit activities.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Songprod Sirisukha, Commander of Immigration Division 3, praised the collaboration between agencies, calling it a major victory against cross-border drug syndicates.
“We will relentlessly crack down on all forms of transnational crime, restoring safety to Pattaya and tourists worldwide,” Sirisukha said.
Authorities said the investigation is ongoing, with further arrests expected as police expand their probe into related drug operations in Bangkok and other tourist cities.
Thailand’s government has increased scrutiny of foreign nationals involved in criminal enterprises, following several high-profile arrests this year that exposed growing drug distribution networks tied to nightlife and tourism sectors.
Police added that the latest operation demonstrates the country’s commitment to dismantling transnational drug trafficking cells and ensuring the safety of both residents and international visitors.
LONDON (BN24) — Prince Andrew will no longer be known as a prince and is to leave Royal Lodge, Buckingham Palace confirmed in a bombshell statement released tonight.
The palace said he will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor with immediate effect. The announcement comes as the palace said the “censures are deemed necessary” amid the ongoing scandal over Jeffrey Epstein, whom Andrew lied about cutting ties with.
“His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew,” the statement said. “Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence. Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation.”
“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him,” the statement continued. “Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”
In the wake of the announcement, a number of cars were seen going through the gate to Windsor’s Great Park on Bishopsgate Road, near to Royal Lodge.
It is understood King Charles III is in the process of sending royal warrants to the Lord Chancellor to remove his brother’s titles and honours. Andrew is said to have not objected.
Although the former duke has been stripped of all his remaining titles, those of his daughters, Princess Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Princess Eugenie, thirty-five, will remain. Amid the controversy it was previously understood that His Majesty Charles was very keen to “protect” his nieces who remain Her Royal Highnesses as granddaughters of Queen Elizabeth.
“He wouldn’t have wanted to sign off on anything that would impact them,” a source told the Daily Mail.
It is understood Prince William and the Royal Family fully support the King’s leadership on the recent move.
Andrew’s departure from the Royal Lodge, where he paid “peppercorn rent” over twenty years, comes amid an ongoing row over the residence since his dukedom title was stripped earlier this month. As of today, it is understood Andrew has been served notice to surrender the lease at the thirty-bedroom mansion and will move out of the residence as soon as practically possible.
The younger brother of the King will be moved to a property on the Sandringham estate but the specifics regarding the relocation are unknown. Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will make her own living arrangements after moving out of the royal grounds of Windsor Castle.
The move was entirely down to the King and his advisers, without pressure from the government or other family members such as Prince William, sources told the Daily Mail. “The process has been under way for some while but there was a need to get it right in the face of some very big challenges,” an insider said.
Notice was not served on Prince Andrew to move. It was his lease, so it was up to the former Duke of York to serve notice himself, suggesting that he is not fighting the process.
The former duke has lived at the Grade II-listed mansion on the grounds of Windsor Castle for over two decades with Fergie, despite their divorce in 1996.
It comes as His Majesty had made it clear he would not hesitate to take “further action” if his younger brother continued to cling on to his dukedom and other honours after he lied about cutting ties with paedophile financier Epstein, the Daily Mail previously revealed.
Despite the tsunami of growing evidence mounting against him, the sixty-five-year-old was understood to still be “digging his heels in” with a “startling lack of contrition,” in a situation the King deemed “intolerable,” sources previously said.
Last week, the row over the Royal Lodge continued to grow amid damning revelations in a posthumous memoir from Andrew’s sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre, who took her own life this year, aged forty-one.
Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice was released this month, with the manuscript having been completed before she died. The explosive book revolves around her years spent as a sex slave to Epstein and his British madam Ghislaine Maxwell.
Extracts published by The Guardian show Ms Giuffre, who said she was trafficked by Epstein three times for sex with Andrew, called the ex-duke “entitled” and viewing sex as his “birthright.”
Within the four-hundred-page autobiography, she also alleged the ex-duke said “thank you” in a “clipped British accent” after their alleged first encounter when she was seventeen. She also recalled how Ghislaine Maxwell praised her following the encounter, saying, “You did well, the prince had fun.”
Andrew denied having sex with Ms Giuffre but forked out millions in an out of court settlement in February 2022.
The Royal Family had been prepared for the further scandal the book would likely cause, knowing it was to be published this month.
In the wake of the Giuffre scandal, Andrew is facing a private prosecution over allegations of sexual assault, corruption and misconduct in public office. Anti-monarchy campaign group Republic said it has instructed lawyers to investigate the prince and, if appropriate, press ahead with legal proceedings.
The Daily Mail understands the allegations it is focusing on relate to claims he sexually assaulted Giuffre, that he asked a royal protection officer to look into her background and impropriety when he served as an official UK trade envoy.
Republic said it is mounting its own bid to take him to court because the legal and political response to the claims has been “weak and inadequate” to date. It said it has made a “powerful, principled argument for justice to be done for the victims of sexual abuse, and for those who corrupt public office to be held accountable.”
“If not us, then who?” asked Graham Smith, CEO of the anti-monarchy group. “It’s a devastating indictment on the UK’s criminal justice system, police and politicians – not to mention the king and heir – that we must resort to a private prosecution.”
A private prosecution brought by Republic would not involve a statutory prosecutor such as Crown Prosecution Service, which brings cases on behalf of the Crown. They are commonly brought by organisations such as the RSPCA but can be brought by private individuals.
Earlier this evening Ms Giuffre’s family spoke out after the former duke was stripped of his remaining titles. Her brother Skye and sister-in-law Amanda said: “Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family, brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage. Virginia Roberts Giuffre, our sister, a child when she was sexually assaulted by Andrew, never stopped fighting for accountability for what had happened to her and to countless other survivors like her. Today, she declares victory.”
It is understood earlier this month the Metropolitan Police was “actively” looking into the claims Andrew had asked his personal protection officer to investigate Ms Giuffre, and that he was interviewed by detectives at home last week.
A bombshell email published by the Mail on Sunday earlier this month revealed how Andrew asked his taxpayer-funded protection officer to dig into her past two months after the infamous photo of him with Giuffre and Maxwell came to light.
Scandalous correspondence from Andrew to Epstein emerged, with the former duke telling the paedophile “we are in this together” a day after the infamous picture of the royal with his alleged then-teenage sex victim Ms Giuffre was released.
The correspondence was sent to Epstein twelve weeks after Andrew had supposedly ceased all contact with the convicted sex offender. The leaked email provides definitive proof the Prince lied in his car-crash interview with BBC’s Newsnight when he claimed he “never had any contact” with the disgraced financier after the pair were famously pictured walking together in New York’s Central Park in December 2010.
Democratic Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, who has previously called for Prince Andrew to testify before a US Congressional committee about his links to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, has again urged Andrew to give evidence.
Sarah Ferguson, Andrew’s ex-wife, will now be known as plain Sarah Ferguson. Following revelation of emails to Epstein, Sarah was dropped by seven charities after “humbly apologising” to Epstein after disavowing him amid his conviction for child sexual abuse offences.
After Andrew and his ex-wife agreed to relinquish their titles, Buckingham Palace released a statement on the Prince’s behalf. It marked the first time it had spoken for him since his car crash Newsnight interview in 2019.
The statement read: “In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family. I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life. With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
Politicians from across the aisle supported King Charles’ decision. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said His Majesty is “absolutely right” to strip Andrew of titles, while Tory leader Kemi Badenoch remarked how the decision must have been “very difficult” for the King.
“It’s clear that Andrew’s position had become totally untenable, having disgraced his office and embarrassed the country,” Sir Davey said. “This is an important step towards rebuilding trust in our institutions and drawing a line under this whole sorry saga.”
DONCASTER, England (BN24) — A 70-year-old man has died after a private helicopter crashed in a field near Doncaster on Thursday morning, authorities said. Three others, including a 10-year-old boy, suffered minor injuries in what investigators have described as a “tragic incident.”
South Yorkshire Police said emergency crews were called to the scene off Ings Lane in Bentley shortly after 10 a.m. The aircraft, a Robinson R44 Raven II, had taken off minutes earlier from Gamston Airport near Retford before coming down in a nearby field.
The victim, who sustained serious injuries, was pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts from emergency responders. His family has been informed and is being supported by police.
The helicopter’s pilot, a 41-year-old man, and two passengers — a 58-year-old woman and a 10-year-old boy — were treated for minor injuries. Police said all three are expected to recover.
Detective Chief Inspector Gary Magnay, Silver Commander for the operation, expressed condolences to the victim’s family. “Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the man who sadly died in this tragic incident,” he said. “We and our emergency services colleagues remain at the scene and have launched a full joint investigation alongside the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.”
Witnesses said the helicopter narrowly missed nearby homes before crashing. One resident told Yorkshire Live that she initially thought a train had derailed due to the large number of emergency vehicles rushing to the scene. “It’s just missed our house,” she said. “At first we all thought it was a train crash because of all the sirens.”
Photographs from the crash site showed the helicopter on its side with debris scattered across a plowed field. A large police cordon was established around the area, and authorities urged residents to avoid Ings Lane and use alternative routes while investigations continue.
A spokesperson for the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) confirmed that a team had been deployed. “The AAIB has been made aware of an accident near Doncaster and has sent investigators to commence an inquiry,” the spokesperson said.
Retford Gamston Airport confirmed that the aircraft was based at the facility and operated by an onsite tenant. “We can confirm an aircraft based here operated by an onsite tenant has been involved in an incident. We have no further information at this time,” the airport said in a statement.
Local MP Ed Miliband, who represents Doncaster North, expressed his condolences to the victim’s loved ones. “This is devastating news, and my thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim of this terrible incident,” Miliband said. “The whole of Doncaster will be united in keeping them in their thoughts today.”
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, with police appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or captured footage of the helicopter prior to the crash to come forward.
President Donald Trump has slashed the U.S. refugee admissions ceiling to a record low of 7,500 for the 2026 fiscal year, marking the most restrictive policy in the nation’s modern history and signaling a dramatic pivot toward selective refugee intake focused primarily on white South Africans.
The new cap, published Thursday in the Federal Register, represents a sweeping reduction from the 125,000-refugee ceiling set under President Joe Biden and underscores Trump’s broader effort to overhaul America’s refugee and asylum policies. The White House document stated that the limited admissions were “justified by humanitarian concerns or otherwise in the national interest,” but offered no further explanation.
The Trump administration’s plan, confirmed by multiple government officials, centers on admitting predominantly white South Africans from the country’s Afrikaner minority. Trump has repeatedly claimed that Afrikaners face racial persecution in South Africa, an allegation strongly denied by Pretoria.
The 7,500-person cap marks a stunning reversal from previous decades, when the U.S. routinely resettled tens of thousands fleeing war and oppression across the globe. When Trump took office, he paused all refugee admissions, declaring they could resume only if proven to be in America’s best interest. The current determination builds upon that stance, suggesting the administration will also consider admitting “other victims of illegal or unjust discrimination in their respective homelands.”
Refugee advocates reacted with outrage. “By privileging Afrikaners while continuing to block thousands of refugees already vetted and approved, the administration is once again politicizing a humanitarian program,” said Sharif Aly, president of the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP). Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president of Global Refuge, said the decision “undermines the program’s purpose as well as its credibility.”
Human Rights First condemned the cut as a “new low point” for U.S. foreign policy. “This decision will further destabilize front-line states that host most of the world’s refugees, undermining U.S. national security in tandem,” said Uzra Zeya, the group’s president.
The administration’s move comes amid a global effort by Trump officials to reshape post-World War II asylum frameworks. During last month’s United Nations General Assembly, top U.S. officials called on world governments to join a campaign to “redefine” international refugee obligations—aiming to curb asylum protections worldwide.
According to Reuters, internal U.S. documents from April suggested the administration could also prioritize European refugees who face discrimination for holding nationalist or anti-immigration views. Those proposals were not included in the public determination but align with Trump’s stated desire to refocus refugee admissions toward “Western values.”
Critics say the reduction will cripple humanitarian programs that historically reflected American leadership in global resettlement. “Refugees strengthen the workforce and contribute to the U.S. economy,” said Gideon Maltz, CEO of the Tent Partnership for Refugees. “Dismantling this program today is not putting America first.”
In a related shift, the White House said oversight of refugee support programs will move from the State Department to the Department of Health and Human Services—a reorganization likely to further centralize control under Trump’s domestic policy agenda.
The United States, once a global leader in refugee resettlement, admitted about 100,000 refugees under Biden in 2024. Trump’s ceiling of 7,500 marks a historic low, redefining America’s role as a destination for the world’s displaced.
