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Hundreds Killed in Afghanistan Earthquake

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An earthquake in Afghanistan left more than 800 people dead and injured more than 2,500 others.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake was 6.0 and “occurred as the result of thrust faulting in the Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan, near the city of Jalalabad.”

“The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth and was the result of compressive forces driven by the northward motion of the India plate colliding with and subducting beneath the Eurasia plate,” USGS explained.

The United Nations said in a social media statement that it is “deeply saddened by the devastating earthquake that struck the eastern region & claimed hundreds of lives, injuring many more.”

“Our teams are on the ground, delivering emergency assistance & lifesaving support,” the entity wrote. “Our thoughts are with the affected communities.”

The Delegation of the European Union to Afghanistan similarly stated that it “extends its heartfelt condolences to all affected by the recent devastating earthquake in Afghanistan’s #Kunar & #Nangarhar provinces.”

“Our humanitarian partners are actively on the ground, providing critical aid to the victims,” the delegation said. “We stand in full solidarity with Afghans.”

Sharafat Zaman, a spokesperson for the Afghan Public Health Ministry, said that “it will take time to get the exact information about human losses and damage to the infrastructure,” due to the earthquake hitting a remote area, NBC News reported. “We have launched a massive rescue operation and mobilized hundreds of people to help people in the affected areas,” said Zaman.

SUV Crashes Into Russian Consulate in Sydney

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A 39-year-old man has been charged after driving an SUV into the gates of the Russian consulate in Sydney on Monday morning, Australian police confirmed. The incident occurred at around 8 a.m. in the eastern suburb of Woollahra.

Police were initially called after reports of an unauthorized vehicle parked in the driveway of the consulate. When officers attempted to speak with the driver, he accelerated and crashed the Toyota Kluger into the gates. The SUV came to rest on the lawn near a flagpole inside the grounds.

Two police officers sustained minor injuries during the encounter and were treated by paramedics at the scene. No consulate staff or other civilians were injured. The vehicle was towed away approximately two hours later.

The driver was arrested immediately and has been charged with damaging property, possession of a knife, and possession of an unnamed restricted substance. He is expected to appear in court on Tuesday. Authorities have not released details about his possible motives.

The Russian Embassy in Canberra confirmed in a statement that no consulate employees were harmed and that operations continued without disruption.

The unusual crash comes amid heightened global tensions with Moscow, though investigators have not indicated whether the act was politically motivated.

Burning Man Murder Investigation After Shocking Discovery

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A man attending the Burning Man festival in Nevada was found dead Saturday night in what authorities are investigating as a homicide. The discovery was made as the festival’s iconic wooden effigy was set ablaze in Black Rock City.

According to the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office, a festivalgoer spotted the man “lying in a pool of blood” around 9 p.m. and immediately alerted a deputy. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, and his body was transported to the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.

Police confirmed they are treating the incident as a murder investigation. “Although this act appears to be a singular crime, all participants should always be vigilant of their surroundings and acquaintances,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

Authorities established a perimeter around the crime scene, which remains heavily secured while investigators gather evidence. Burning Man organizers said the Black Rock Rangers are cooperating fully with law enforcement.

“This process is still ongoing, and the portion of the ‘City’ where this occurred will have heavy law enforcement presence until the scene can be released,” the sheriff’s office added.

Despite the ongoing investigation, the festival has continued as scheduled and is set to conclude Monday. Organizers cautioned attendees not to interfere with law enforcement operations, stating that the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office will provide updates as the investigation develops.

Burning Man, which draws tens of thousands annually to Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, is known for its experimental art displays, music, and temporary “city” community. This year’s festival has now been marred by the rare but shocking violent death of an attendee.

Comer Targets Treasury in Latest Epstein Probe

Rep. James Comer (R-KY)(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, requesting suspicious activity reports (SARs) in his ongoing investigation into the prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

“The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is reviewing the possible mismanagement of the federal government’s investigation of Mr. Jeffrey Epstein and Ms. Ghislaine Maxwell, the circumstances and subsequent investigations of Mr. Epstein’s death, the operation of sex-trafficking rings and ways for the federal government to effectively combat them, and potential violations of ethics rules related to elected officials,” Comer wrote in the letter. “The Committee requests that the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) produce certain Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) relevant to the Committee’s investigation.”

“It is essential that Treasury produce to the Committee certain SARs to assist the Committee’s oversight of the federal government’s enforcement of sex trafficking laws generally and specifically its handling of the investigation and prosecution of Mr. Jeffrey Epstein and Ms. Ghislaine Maxwell,” the letter read. “This oversight will inform legislative solutions to improve federal efforts to combat sex trafficking and reform the use of non-prosecution agreements and/or plea agreements in sex crime investigations. To assist the Committee’s investigation of this matter, I therefore request that the Department of Treasury produce to the Committee as soon as possible, but no later than September 15, 2025.”

Last week, Comer subpoenaed the estate of Jeffrey Epstein for documents that may be in its custody.

“The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is reviewing the possible mismanagement of the federal government’s investigation of Mr. Jeffrey Epstein and Ms. Ghislaine Maxwell, the circumstances and subsequent investigations of Mr. Epstein’s death, the operation of sex-trafficking rings and ways for the federal government to effectively combat them, and potential violations of ethics rules related to elected officials,” Comer wrote to the estate’s executors. “It is our understanding that the Estate of Jeffrey Epstein is in custody and control of documents that may further the Committee’s investigation and legislative goals.”

Border Policy Slashes Migrant Deaths Under Trump

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U.S. Southern Border (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Illegal alien deaths in Eagle Pass, Texas, have dropped sharply under President Donald Trump’s border security measures, according to Mexican consular officials. Since January, five deaths have been recorded in and around the small border city—less than one per month. That figure marks a drastic decline compared to the Biden administration, when migrant deaths often reached one per day.

Vivian Juárez, spokesperson for the Consul General of Mexico in Eagle Pass, told La Rancherita del Aire that most deaths this year appear to have been caused by heat-related dehydration. She credited Trump’s enforcement measures, enacted in January, for reducing both migrant deaths and illegal crossings.

The contrast with the Biden years is stark. In July 2023, at the peak of border chaos, the Del Rio Sector averaged one death daily. In September 2022, nine migrants drowned in a single day attempting to cross the Rio Grande. Overwhelmed funeral homes and morgues in Maverick County were forced to use refrigerated trailers for overflow migrant remains, a crisis that lasted more than two years.

Today, the numbers look very different. Customs and Border Protection reports show apprehensions plummeted from nearly 5,000 per day in December 2023 to fewer than 15 on most days in July 2025. That represents a 90% reduction compared to the Biden era.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem praised the success, saying, “History made, again. The numbers don’t lie—this is the most secure the border has ever been. President Trump didn’t just manage the crisis—he obliterated it. No more excuses. No more releases. We’ve put the cartels on defense and taken our border back.”

The United Nations documented 686 migrant deaths at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2022, naming it the world’s deadliest land crossing. With Trump’s policies reversing that trend in Eagle Pass, local communities are finally seeing relief after years of crisis.

Trump EPA Labor Day Report Showcases Jobs and Cleanups

Trump Gold Card
President Donald Trump (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

This Labor Day, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highlighted both progress for American workers and achievements in environmental protection under President Donald Trump’s leadership. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin credited Trump’s vision of putting American jobs first while ensuring clean air, land, and water across the nation.

In just 200 days, the EPA reported more than 200 actions aimed at improving environmental safety and human health. Among the most notable accomplishments was securing an international agreement to permanently halt the flow of Mexican raw sewage into American waterways—a crisis that has plagued border communities for decades.

The EPA also completed its largest wildfire cleanup effort in history. Following devastating blazes in Los Angeles, staff cleared more than 13,600 homes, 305 businesses, and removed over 1,000 electric vehicles and energy storage systems in just 28 days.

Superfund and Brownfields initiatives remain central to the agency’s work. The EPA has cleared or partially remediated four Superfund sites, supported redevelopment at 21 locations across 13 states, and provided extensive cleanup on tribal lands. In Rhode Island, the agency helped the U.S. Navy remove 20,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil from a naval training center.

Through its Superfund Job Training Initiative and Brownfields Job Training Program, the EPA is equipping thousands of Americans with hands-on skills for remediation and environmental work. Recently, $14 million in Brownfields grants were awarded to expand job training in communities across the country.

Zeldin emphasized that the Trump administration is delivering on promises to reshore manufacturing, renegotiate trade deals, make the U.S. the AI capital of the world, and unleash American energy dominance. “We will continue to remove regulatory roadblocks, slash red tape, and protect the environment and the health of the American people,” he said.

Karl Rove: GOP Faces Senate Test in Georgia, Michigan, and N.C.

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During Sunday’s broadcast of Fox News Channel’s Sunday Night in America, former Bush White House deputy chief of staff Karl Rove assessed the Republican Party’s chances of retaking the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections. Rove said the map is favorable overall but warned that key battlegrounds could stretch GOP resources.

Host Trey Gowdy noted several upcoming retirements, including Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), along with prominent Republicans like Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp passing on Senate runs. Gowdy asked whether the Senate had lost its allure.

Rove responded, “Yes, I think that’s right. And, you know, the Senate map, fortunately for the Republicans, is good. That is to say, most of the seats that are up next year are in red states, where the likelihood of… winning the Senate race in Idaho for the Democrats is very small. But yes, it is a sign of people’s exhaustion with the way politics is conducted today, and we’re going to lose some good people as a result.”

Rove said GOP attention will be divided between defending and expanding seats. He pointed to the open seat in North Carolina, where Republican registration is growing but the number of unaffiliated voters is increasing at a much faster pace. “That’s a problem,” he warned, saying the GOP must make its case to independents to win.

He also highlighted Georgia and Michigan as critical targets where Republicans must work to defeat incumbent Democrats. “The electorate next year that the Republicans and Democrats are both going to be focused on are people who are up for grabs,” Rove explained, stressing that whichever party appeals best to swing voters will gain the advantage.

Trump Demands Release of COVID Data

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COVID-19 virus (Fusion Medical Animation/Unsplash)

President Donald Trump demanded on Truth Social that pharmaceutical companies “justify” their COVID-19-related drugs.

“It is very important that the Drug Companies justify the success of their various Covid Drugs. Many people think they are a miracle that saved Millions of lives. Others disagree! With CDC being ripped apart over this question, I want the answer, and I want it NOW. I have been shown information from Pfizer, and others, that is extraordinary, but they never seem to show those results to the public. Why not??? They go off to the next ‘hunt’ and let everyone rip themselves apart, including Bobby Kennedy Jr. and CDC, trying to figure out the success or failure of the Drug Companies Covid work,” he wrote.

“They show me GREAT numbers and results, but they don’t seem to be showing them to many others. I want them to show them NOW, to CDC and the public, and clear up this MESS, one way or the other!!! I hope OPERATION WARP SPEED was as ‘BRILLIANT’ as many say it was. If not, we all want to know about it, and why???” Trump’s statement continued. “Thank you for your attention to this very important matter! President DJT”

Trump’s comments come as Susan Monarez has been removed from the CDC after serving as its director for less than a month.

The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed her removal. “Susan Monarez is no longer director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” HHS said. “We thank her for her dedicated service to the American people. Secretary Kennedy has full confidence in his team at the CDC who will continue to be vigilant in protecting Americans against infectious diseases at home and abroad.”

Greta Thunberg Gaza Flotilla Turns Back in Storm

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A flotilla of boats carrying aid and left-wing activists, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, was forced to abandon its journey to Gaza on Sunday just hours after leaving Barcelona due to poor weather.

Roughly 30 boats, loaded with food and medical supplies, set sail from the Catalan port city with the stated aim of breaking Israel’s blockade and delivering aid to Palestinians in Gaza. Among those on board were Thunberg and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau.

However, according to Spain’s ABC news, the flotilla quickly ran into strong winds. The captains decided to turn back, citing safety risks for the smaller boats in the convoy. “Due to unsafe weather conditions, we conducted a sea trial and then returned to port to allow the storm to pass,” the group said in a statement on Monday. Organizers indicated they would attempt to resume the voyage once conditions improve.

Before departing on Sunday, Thunberg denounced Israel and Western governments, accusing them of complicity in what she described as “genocide” in Gaza. The 22-year-old activist, known for her apocalyptic climate warnings, has increasingly shifted her focus toward condemning the Jewish state.

This was not Thunberg’s first attempt to reach Hamas-controlled Gaza by sea. In June, she and other pro-Palestinian activists were intercepted, detained, and deported by Israeli forces. During that incident, Israeli officials reportedly tried to show her video evidence of Hamas atrocities during the October 7 terrorist attacks, but she and her colleagues refused to watch. Thunberg later accused Israel of “kidnapping” her.

The flotilla organizers said they plan to make another attempt to sail for Gaza as soon as weather conditions allow.

Ursula von der Leyen’s Plane Hit by Suspected Russian Jamming

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A plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was struck by radar jamming while flying over Bulgaria, in what officials suspect was a Russian operation. The incident occurred as von der Leyen traveled on a four-day tour of European Union nations bordering Russia and Belarus.

The aircraft was forced to divert and landed safely at Plovdiv Airport. Commission spokesperson Arianna Podestà confirmed the disruption, stating: “We can indeed confirm that there was GPS jamming. We have received information from the Bulgarian authority that they suspect this was due to blatant interference by Russia.”

Von der Leyen, one of Moscow’s most vocal critics, has repeatedly condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine and has led efforts to bolster sanctions and defense readiness across the EU. Podestà said the attempted interference highlights the importance of the Commission president’s mission to frontline EU states.

“This incident actually underlines the urgency of the mission that the president is carrying out in the front-line member states,” Podestà told reporters. She added that von der Leyen had witnessed “firsthand the everyday challenges of threats coming from Russia and its proxies” and emphasized that the EU would expand investment in defense and readiness in response.

Bulgarian authorities confirmed the disruption in a statement, explaining: “The satellite signal used for the aircraft’s GPS navigation was disrupted. As the aircraft approached Plovdiv Airport, the GPS signal was lost.”

Despite the interference, officials said von der Leyen will continue her planned tour. The episode underscores growing concerns about Russia’s use of electronic warfare to undermine European security, particularly in countries along NATO’s eastern flank.

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