How James Comey’s indictment could go south for the DOJ
As former FBI Director James Comey stares down a two-count federal indictment alleging he made a false statement to Congress and obstructed justice, the Department of Justice faces an uphill climb in securing a conviction. Interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan of the Eastern District of Virginia is under pressure to move the prosecution forward against Comey’s formidable defense team, which has multiple ways to challenge the charges. Halligan, a Trump ally and former insurance lawyer with no prosecutorial experience, is up against the possibility that Comey’s lawyers will file requests to toss the case out. If Comey is unsuccessful and the case goes to trial, Halligan will then face a new hurdle: persuading a jury. Critics say President Donald Trump, Halligan and any others involved in the case could also see external repercussions for rushing to bring what they view as a flimsy, retributive indictment. In terms of pre-trial efforts, several lawyers have speculated that Comey will argue to the court that his two charges should be dismissed on numerous grounds. COMEY INDICTMENT SPARKS FIERCE POLITICAL REACTIONS NATIONWIDE Former U.S. Attorney Barb McQuade of Michigan told Fox News Digital one possibility is that Comey could argue the prosecution was selective. “To prevail on a selective prosecution claim, the defendant must show not only that the prosecution was motivated by an improper purpose, but also that other similarly situated individuals were treated differently,” McQuade said. She said it would be “remarkably easy to demonstrate the first factor,” pointing to Trump’s extraordinary comments on social media openly saying he wanted Comey charged out of vengeance. Comey, one of Trump’s top political nemeses, led the FBI when it opened a controversial investigation into Trump over his 2016 campaign’s alleged collusion with Russia. McQuade said, however, that the second factor would be difficult to prove — that others have not been prosecuted for false statements to Congress — since that “essentially requires a defendant to prove a negative.” COMEY DENIES CHARGES, DECLARES ‘I AM NOT AFRAID’ Jim Trusty, a former DOJ prosecutor who once worked on Trump’s defense team, told Fox News the indictment is still in an early stage, the specific allegations remain unclear and that a “wait and see” approach was best. Trusty said, though, that critics who claim Trump is weaponizing the DOJ against his enemies are misguided. “Lawfare was certainly used as a weapon to go after Trump, but it also protected people, and so you can also look at this as four years of love from the Biden administration kept Comey out of the crosshairs,” Trusty said. Trusty said Comey’s indictment could be perceived as a “tit for tat,” or it could simply be “overdue.” McQuade said that at this early stage, she viewed Comey’s acquittal as the “more likely” way the DOJ would fail, pointing to what she said was “convoluted” language in the indictment. She said it seemed to rely on congressional testimony Comey gave in 2020, when Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, referenced a question asked by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, in 2017 about whether Comey authorized a leak to the media. Cruz also slightly misquoted Grassley, she said. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SEEKS TO INDICT FORMER FBI DIRECTOR JAMES COMEY FOR ALLEGEDLY LYING TO CONGRESS “Because the prosecution must show that Comey knowingly and willfully made a false statement, that messy record may be a fatal flaw,” McQuade said. Former U.S. Attorney John Fishwick of the Western District of Virginia told Fox News Digital that if the court permits Comey to access any records related to the DOJ’s “internal deliberations” about the case, those details could undermine the prosecution and bolster a defense that the case was tainted by political motivations. “The biggest potential fallout for DOJ will be if the judge permits the Comey legal team to get under the hood of the internal deliberations of DOJ to prosecute or not prosecute Comey,” Fishwick told Fox News Digital. “The Comey team wants to argue this prosecution is just about politics and revenge, but they will need as much evidence as possible to buttress this claim as DOJ will counter the grand jury indicted Comey, not DOJ.” Trump’s appointment of Halligan as U.S. attorney was a last-minute move, as the five-year statute of limitations on Comey’s testimony expired on Sept. 30. Trump ousted her predecessor, Erik Siebert, a 15-year veteran of the Virginia office, and brought in Halligan, a willing participant in Trump’s mission to take down his political rivals. While Trump has suggested other indictments are coming down the pike, critics have zeroed in on Comey’s case, calling it weak enough that Trump also risks impeachment over it and that Halligan and any other prosecutors who decide to join the case risk career penalties. No DOJ prosecutors have joined Halligan on the case at this stage. Former DOJ official Harry Litman, host of “Talking Feds” and vocal Trump critic, said “some accountability” would come if Democrats take the House next year, advocating they impeach Trump for what he says is an abuse of power and obstruction of justice. “If we can just get through the midterms and give the House of Representatives the power to subpoena all of these jokers on Capitol Hill, grill them and then impeach Trump again … all of the evidence of the crime that Donald Trump just committed will be laid out for public inspection,” Litman said. He also cited a report that career prosecutors advised Halligan against charging Comey, suggesting she faces the “possibility of serious professional sanctions” because of it.
Republicans erupt over shutdown chaos, accuse Dems of holding government ‘hostage’
Republicans and Democrats are trading barbs on Wednesday morning as the federal government settles into the first day of a shutdown. “Democrats made this choice, Democrats forced this crisis, and Democrats alone will answer to hardworking Americans now paying the price for their reckless agenda,” Republican Study Committee Chair August Pfluger, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday night. The government entered a shutdown just after midnight Wednesday after the Senate failed to advance a short-term federal funding bill called a continuing resolution (CR) hours earlier. The measure did not reach the necessary 60 votes to overcome a Senate filibuster — falling 55-45 — with just three Democrats joining the GOP on Tuesday night. Certain federal services will temporarily cease to function, and some government workers — including the military and air traffic controllers at airports — must continue to clock in under deferred pay. MAJORITY OF AMERICAN VOTERS WARN DEMS SHOULDN’T BACK GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN OVER THIS KEY ISSUE: POLL Veteran services and military operations will continue to be funded, and Social Security checks will continue to be sent out to Americans, among other essential services. But some federal workers could lose their jobs altogether, as indicated by a memo sent to federal agencies earlier this month by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought. Republicans are now blaming Democrats for plunging the government into a shutdown, while Democrats are accusing Republicans of refusing to negotiate on what’s traditionally a bipartisan exercise. “Virginia is home to tens of thousands of federal workers, contractors and service members who keep our country running. Tonight, they are once again being forced to wonder when they will get their next paycheck — not because they failed to do their jobs, but because lawmakers in Congress failed to do theirs,” Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Va., whose district includes the D.C. suburbs, said in a Tuesday night statement. “Trump and his rubber-stamp Republicans have chosen to hurt Virginia families instead of working across the aisle. It’s past time they come to the table so we can find real solutions, reopen the government, and deliver for the people we serve.” Meanwhile, Rep. Michael Rulli, R-Ohio, whose coal country district includes Youngstown, told Fox News Digital, “The current government shutdown is the culmination of months of the same tired and disruptive tactics used by the left against the American people.” “In November 2024, President Trump and the Republicans received an overwhelming mandate to govern. Yet, every time we try to implement the changes demanded by voters, we face fierce resistance — even on straightforward measures like a clean CR, which Congress approved 13 times before,” Rulli said. Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-N.Y., wrote on X, “FACT: Schumer led a shutdown to hold the government hostage for a $1.5 trillion liberal payout.” GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN AFTER CONGRESS DEADLOCKS ON SPENDING DEAL His message came in reference to Democrats’ own CR proposal calling for a repeal of healthcare spending cuts made in the GOP’s “Big, Beautiful Bill.” Their plan would have also restored funding to NPR and PBS that was cut by the Trump administration earlier this year. Meanwhile, Democrats have also demanded any CR include Obamacare subsidies, enhanced during the COVID-19 pandemic but due to expire this year, in exchange for their votes. “Thousands of hard-working federal employees in Maryland’s 7th Congressional District woke up this morning to learn whether they were furloughed or required to work without pay,” Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Md., wrote on X. “This shutdown was entirely avoidable. Democrats in Washington remain ready, willing and able to negotiate a bipartisan agreement to keep the government open and lower healthcare costs for Americans everywhere.” Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., similarly said in a statement, “Democrats have been clear for months: we will not support a budget that inflicts a healthcare crisis on the American people in order to fund Trump’s continued destruction of our democracy and out-of-control mass deportations.” First-term Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, countered that “Democrats created this crisis.” “Democrats in the Senate just voted to shut the government down. This will impact food assistance programs, veterans’ care, troops’ pay, TSA agents’ and air traffic controllers’ pay, and so much more. Their reason? They want to restore taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal aliens and prop up liberal news outlets with your $$,” House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., said. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., have also heaped blame on one another’s parties, with both expected to make their cases to Americans on Wednesday. The Senate is also expected to vote on the CR again on Wednesday.
Top insurance company in hot seat as blistering new ad campaign exposes ‘radical woke ideology’
FIRST ON FOX: A leading nonprofit dedicated to consumer information is launching a seven-figure ad campaign against what it is calling the “wokest insurance company” in the country. In a letter to the Department of Justice and Treasury Department, Consumers’ Research alleges that Chubb Insurance has “ongoing practices” which go against the Trump administration’s agenda but “very likely the Civil Rights Act and other federal anti-discrimination laws.” “Chubb Insurance is all-in on pushing radical woke ideology. CEO Evan Greenberg openly opposes basic protections for women’s spaces, attacks democratic laws, continues to embrace DEI, and props up groups that expose kids to dangerous transgender activism,” Will Hild, Executive Director of Consumers’ Research, said in a statement exclusively to Fox News Digital. “On climate, Chubb has a history of weaponizing insurance coverage to hurt America’s energy industry, cutting support for coal and natural gas to chase leftist climate fantasies. Woke corporations like Chubb are going to extremes and ordinary Americans are paying the price,” Hild continues. DEMOCRATS TARGET VULNERABLE HOUSE REPUBLICANS AS THEY SLAM TRUMP’S ‘ATTACKS ON FREE SPEECH’ Consumers’ Research is highlighting several past comments from leaders at the insurance company, including Executive Vice President and General Counsel Joseph Wayland saying in a LEADERS Magazine interview in 2021 that “Diversity, equity and inclusion are the foundation of our Chubb culture.” “I am concerned about my country’s America First brand of nationalism and its impact on our image and leadership in both trade and geopolitics in the short and potentially longer term,” Evan Greenberg, CEO and Chairman of Chubb Insurance, wrote in a letter in a 2017 report, according to Carrier Management. HOUSE OVERSIGHT PROBES WHETHER AMERICAN RETIREES’ PENSION FUNDS ARE BEING WEAPONIZED: ‘PROGRESSIVE PLAYBOOK’ Greenberg also criticized Trump’s America First platform in an interview with Carrier Management in 2021 and criticized the president’s trade policies. When it comes to the company’s business practices, NPR reported in 2019 that the insurance company would not underwrite coal facilities anymore. As recently as March 2025, the company put forth strict guidelines in order for it to underwrite in the oil and gas industry. On its website, Chubb said it will not “underwrite the construction and operation of new coal-fired plants or new risks for companies that generate more than 30% of their revenues from coal mining or energy production from coal” and began ending coverage for “existing coal plant risks” that go above the 30% mark as of 2022. “Chubb recognizes the reality of climate change and the substantial impact of human activity on our planet,” Greenberg stated, according to the company’s website. “Making the transition to a low-carbon economy involves planning and action by policymakers, investors, businesses and citizens alike. The policy we are implementing today reflects Chubb’s commitment to do our part as a steward of the Earth.” CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST SLAMS CRACKER BARREL; COMPANY LEFT REELING AFTER LOGO REDESIGN On its webpage, Chubb discusses “Advancing Racial Justice,” where the company touts its support of an organization called Equal Justice USA (EJUSA), which openly supported convicted cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal. According to that same webpage, the company believes “racial justice and equity is both an individual journey and collective duty.” “We believe in being anti-racist because a rejection of racism alone is insufficient,” the website states. The company also says on that web page that it has curated a series of programs for employees instructing them how to “combat racism.” As for the advertisements themselves, there will be a national television ad in addition to mobile billboards outside their offices in Washington D.C., New York City and New Jersey, as well as Capitol Hill. The campaign will also live on the website WokeChubb.com. “Dear conservatives, Chubb Insurance is for: DEI in Everything They Do, Radical Climate Ideology, Trans Activism,” one ad states. “Chubb Insurance is against: The American First Agenda, U.S. Energy Producers, 2nd Amendment Advocates.” Chubb’s business spans across 54 countries and territories, all 50 states, and employees over 40,000 people worldwide. The company, based out of Zurich with a U.S. headquarters in New York City, did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Federal judge rules public charter school violated church’s First Amendment rights
A federal judge in Idaho ruled that a public charter school violated a church’s First Amendment rights when it canceled a lease that allowed the church to hold Sunday services inside its gymnasium. The decision from Chief U.S. District Court Judge David Nye came in response to a lawsuit centering on a lease agreement between Truth Family Bible Church and Sage International, a charter school with a campus in Middleton, according to Idaho Education News. The website reported that when the lease was canceled last year, Sage International was applying for around $15 million in bonds to finance building upgrades through the Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA). Attorneys for the state’s bonding authority then flagged the church’s lease as a potential breach of Idaho’s Blaine Amendment, which blocks religious organizations from receiving taxpayer money, it added. Nye reportedly wrote in his ruling that the concern was a “lapse in judgment,” as Truth Family Bible Church would have “only incidentally benefited from the bond-improved facilities,” with no funds being given directly to them. FEDERAL JUDGE STRIKES DOWN MINNESOTA LAW BARRING RELIGIOUS COLLEGES FROM STATE PROGRAM “IHFA and Sage’s motivations for terminating Truth Family’s lease, whether reasonable or not, were still a violation of Truth Family’s constitutional rights,” Nye also said, according to Idaho Education News. The website said an attorney representing the church argued that using the Blaine Amendment to terminate the lease ran afoul of the First Amendment’s Free Exercise, Establishment and Free Speech clauses. Nye agreed with each of the First Amendment claims, writing in his ruling that the move to cancel the church’s lease “effectively stifled” its religious speech, Idaho Education News reported. “We’re pleased with this outcome,” Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador, whose office intervened in the case, told Idaho Education News through a spokesperson. “Government agencies cannot discriminate against religious organizations simply because they’re religious. Truth Family Bible Church deserved the same treatment as any secular group, and we’re glad the court recognized this.” VERMONT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL REINSTATED AFTER BEING BANNED OVER TRANSGENDER ATHLETE CONTROVERSY A spokesperson for IHFA told Idaho Education News that, “We welcome the legal clarity the court’s ruling provides, helping to ensure that this type of issue doesn’t arise in the future.” On its website, Truth Family Bible Church describes itself as a “new church plant in Middleton, Idaho.” “It began as a home Bible Study that met for several years. As we began to grow, the Lord led us to begin talking about planting a new church since most of those in attendance were parts of various churches in Ada County,” the church said. “Our goal is to faithfully minister the Word of God as a light to our community and the world, declaring that Christ is Lord of all.” At the moment, the church is holding its Sunday services at another school’s gym.
How does China’s K visa work and can it compete with the H-1B?
China is rolling out a new visa aimed at attracting foreign talent in the fields of science and technology. The K visa comes into effect from Wednesday, following a proclamation last month by the State Council, China’s cabinet. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list The visa has attracted particular attention in light of United States President Donald Trump’s tightening of the eligibility rules for the H-1B, which Silicon Valley heavily relies on to recruit skilled labour from overseas. What is the goal of the K visa, and how does it work? The Chinese government has cast the visa as part of its efforts to attract foreign talent to boost the country’s competitiveness in science and technology. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Guo Jiakun on Tuesday said the visa’s purpose was to “promote exchanges and cooperation” between science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) talent from China and other countries. The visa is the latest in a series of recent reforms intended to make China more attractive to foreigners, including streamlined visa processing and the introduction of a redesigned permanent residency card. “From the 1980s to the 2010s, China used to lose talent to developed countries such as the United States,” Zhigang Tao, a professor of strategy and economics at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business in Beijing, told Al Jazeera. “Now the task is to keep local talent and also attract some global talent.” Chinese officials have said the K visa, which will be open to graduates of recognised universities and young professionals engaged in STEM-related fields, will offer more flexible conditions than existing options. Advertisement The main advantage of the visa is that, unlike previous skilled migrant programmes, it does not require sponsorship by an employer. However, many key details of the visa remain unclear, including duration of stay and unspecified requirements related to age, educational background and work experience. Is the K visa likely to attract foreign talent? Edward Hu, immigration director at consultancy Newland Chase in Shanghai, said there has been strong interest in the visa, with inquiries up more than 30 percent since August. Hu said there has been particularly strong interest from prospective applicants in India, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the US. “The K visa fills a gap in China’s talent system by lowering entry barriers for younger STEM talents – complementing the existing R visa, which targets top-tier experts,” Hu told Al Jazeera, referring to the visa as a “strategic move” to position China as a top destination for early-career STEM talent. The R visa, introduced in 2013, is aimed at “high-level and professional” foreigners who are “urgently needed” by the state, and requires sponsorship by an “inviting organisation”. Still, China’s drive to expand its talent pool with the K visa faces challenges. While China has made moves to open to foreigners, the country is still far less internationalised than the US. Unlike the US, China rarely grants citizenship to foreigners. While Chinese permanent residency is more feasible to obtain, it is still only granted to a tiny fraction compared with the roughly one million non-US citizens who receive green cards each year. Chinese work environments also present a language barrier for English-speaking applicants when compared with their Silicon Valley counterparts. Michael Feller, chief strategist at Sydney-based business consultancy Geopolitical Strategy, said Chinese companies would need to offer English-language roles and “international-style” work schedules to compete with US firms. “I can’t imagine many foreign graduates interested in the ‘9-9-6’ work-life balance that many Chinese firms are known for,” Feller told Al Jazeera, referring to the 72-hour workweek famously endorsed by Alibaba founder Jack Ma. A US flag and a H-1B visa application form are displayed together on September 22, 2025 [Dado Ruvic/Reuters] What does the K visa have to do with the H-1B? While China’s drive to recruit talent has cast Trump’s crackdown on immigration in sharp relief, there is no direct link between the introduction of the K visa and his moves to rein in access to the H-1B. Advertisement Beijing officially unveiled its visa on August 7, weeks before Trump announced the introduction of a $100,000 fee on H-1B applications, sending shockwaves through the tech sector, especially in India, the source of about 70 percent of visa recipients. However, many observers have suggested that the US’s inward turn could be to the benefit of other countries seeking to attract talent, including China. “The K visa is incredible timing from China’s perspective,” Feller said. “It’s unlikely that Beijing knew that Washington was about to hike the fees for its own H-1B visa category, but it certainly gives the K visa added impetus in the global war for talent.” Hu of Newland Chase said he expected the shift in policy around the H-1B to “significantly boost” the appeal of the K visa, “positioning it as a timely alternative for affected talent”. “The K visa offers a low-cost, sponsor-free pathway – aligning with the global surge in STEM talent demand and making China a more accessible option,” he said. Adblock test (Why?)
Gaza Sumud flotilla: How Israel breaks international maritime law
A Gaza-bound aid flotilla is currently sailing toward the enclave, entering a high-risk zone where previous missions have faced attacks and interceptions. On Wednesday, Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported that the Israeli military is preparing to “take control” of the flotilla with naval commandos and warships. Israel wont tow all 50 vessels however and will sink some at sea, Kan said. Israel intends to detain hundreds of activists on naval ships, question them then deport them via the port of Ashdod. The Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail from Spain on August 31, is the largest maritime mission to Gaza to date. It brings together more than 50 ships and delegations from at least 44 countries, as part of an international effort to challenge Israel’s naval blockade and deliver aid to Gaza. The map below shows the latest location before they were attacked. (Al Jazeera) So, is Israel entitled to board ships that are in international waters? The answer is no, here’s how territorial and international waters work. Which waters does a country control? Coastal countries control the waters closest to their shores, called territorial waters, which extend 12 nautical miles (22km) from the coast. In this zone, the state has full sovereignty, just like over its land. Beyond that, they have rights over up to 200 nautical miles (370 km) of ocean, including the water and seafloor. This area is called the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). In the EEZ, countries can regulate activities such as fishing, mining, drilling, and other energy projects, while still allowing other countries freedom of navigation. France has the largest EEZ, covering approximately 10.7 million square kilometres (4.2 million sq miles), thanks to its overseas territories. It is followed by the US, Australia, Russia, and the UK. Advertisement Where are international waters? Covering about 64 percent of the ocean, the high seas lie beyond any country’s territorial waters and economic zones and are not controlled by a single state, with their use governed by international agreements. What are the laws of the high seas? The laws of the high seas are governed by the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It stipulates that all states can enjoy freedom of movement of ships in the high seas and aircraft can fly freely. It also allows the laying of subsea cables and pipelines, as well as fishing, scientific research and the construction of islands. All three of which are subject to international agreements and laws. Ships that are on the high seas are subject to the jurisdiction of the flag they fly, except those conducting piracy and other unauthorised activities. Israel has attacked previous flotillas in international waters Several Freedom Flotilla vessels have attempted to break the blockade of Gaza since 2010. All were intercepted or attacked by Israel, mostly in international waters where it has no territorial rights. The most deadly occurred on May 31, 2010, when Israeli commandos raided the Mavi Marmara in international waters. The commandos killed 10 activists, most of them Turkish, and injured dozens more, sparking global outrage and severely straining Israel-Turkiye relations. The map below shows the approximate locations where prominent flotillas were stopped, some encountering deadly Israeli forces. (Al Jazeera) In 2024, amid ongoing flotilla missions delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, UN experts stated that: “The Freedom Flotilla has the right of free passage in international waters, and Israel must not interfere with its freedom of navigation, long recognised under international law.” The Sumud Flotilla had been sailing through international waters and into Palestinian territorial waters, where it has the legal right to navigate and deliver humanitarian aid. According to Stephen Cotton, the General Secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), representing more than 16.5 million transport workers globally, “The law of the sea is clear: attacking or seizing non-violent, humanitarian vessels in international waters is illegal and unacceptable.” “Such actions endanger lives and undermine the basic principles that keep the seas safe for all. This is not only about seafarers, it’s about the safety of everyone at sea, whether on a commercial ship, a humanitarian vessel, or a fishing boat. States cannot pick and choose when to respect international law. The seas must not be turned into a theatre of war.” Cotton told Al Jazeera. Advertisement According to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the mission is not only lawful but also protected under a comprehensive set of international legal instruments. Including: The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) – Guarantees freedom of navigation on the high seas San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea – Prohibits blockades that cause starvation or disproportionate suffering and forbids the targeting of neutral humanitarian missions UN Security Council Resolutions 2720 and 2728 – These binding instruments demand unimpeded humanitarian access and the removal of all barriers to aid delivery Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide – Includes the prevention of acts deliberately endangering civilians Fourth Geneva Convention – Imposes an obligation to permit the free passage of humanitarian aid and prohibit interference with relief operations and the targeting of civilian infrastructure Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court – Criminalises the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and willful obstruction of humanitarian aid. Adblock test (Why?)
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,315
Here are the key events on day 1,315 of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Published On 1 Oct 20251 Oct 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Here is how things stand on Wednesday, October 1 : Fighting Russian forces claim to have captured a village near the city of Siversk in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, the Russian Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is engaging with Russia and Ukraine to restore offsite power to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, as Russian shelling has prevented restoration of power needed to cool nuclear reactors and prevent a meltdown, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia’s shelling around the Zaporizhzhia plant “is a threat to everyone”. “No terrorist in the world has ever dared to do with a nuclear power plant what Russia is doing now,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly address on Tuesday. A Russian soldier stands guard at a checkpoint near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Russian-controlled Ukraine [Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters] Regional security European Union leaders will discuss proposals for a “drone wall” at a summit on Wednesday in Copenhagen, following days of airspace intrusions by unidentified unmanned aircraft that forced temporary closures at Danish airports. The “drone wall” summit will also be the first opportunity for leaders of the EU’s 27 countries to debate a proposal to use Russian assets frozen in European banks to fund a loan of 140 billion euros ( $164.37bn) for Ukraine. The Kremlin said that Germany has long been indirectly involved in the war in Ukraine after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Europe is “no longer at peace” with Russia. Moscow also said that Europe would be better off seeking dialogue with Russia about security issues rather than looking to build a divisive “drone wall”. Romania is looking to quickly set up production on its territory of a plant to build defensive drones, along with Ukraine, for use domestically as well as by EU and NATO allies, the country’s foreign minister, Oana Toiu, said. The French Navy said that authorities were investigating a possible sanctions infraction by the oil tanker Boracay, a vessel suspected of belonging to the so-called “shadow fleet” involved in the transport of Russian oil. Advertisement Military aid Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow did not believe that Washington had taken a final decision on supplying Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine. Politics and diplomacy The Kremlin said that there were many people living in Ukraine’s Odesa and Mykolaiv regions who wanted to “link their fate to Russia” but were afraid to speak out. Russia will expel an Austrian diplomat, according to Russian state news agencies, in response to Vienna’s decision to throw out a Russian diplomat over suspicions of relaying company secrets from Austrian oil company OMV to the Kremlin. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that India is starting to diversify its oil purchases away from Russia, and that the EU is trying to strengthen economic ties with India. Russia’s Lavrov said that he believed Moldova’s election on Sunday had been openly manipulated, as the pro-European governing party won a resounding victory over its Russian-leaning rival in the key parliamentary election. Adblock test (Why?)
Tamil Nadu: 9 killed after arch collapses at power plant; PM Modi announces compensation for victims
Nine people lost their lives after an arch collapsed at the construction site of a thermal power plant near Chennai in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday. Read on to know more on this.
BIG move by Karnataka govt to decongest Bengaluru roads, introduces unique tax to ease traffic, know how it impacts commuters
The government of Karnataka is planning to introduce a new tax to decongest traffic and lessen traffic woes in Bengaluru. The tax is aimed to target solo drivers in the city and will impact a major portion of the traffic.
Zubeen Garg death: Singer’s manager Siddharth Sharma, Singapore event organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta arrested in Delhi
In a major development in the Zubeen Garg death case, the Assam CID’s special investigation team (SIT) has arrested his manager Siddharth Sharma. Additionally, the chief organizer of the North East India Festival (NEIF) Shyamkanu Mahanta, has also been arrested.