A man named Philip Jerome was sentenced to 12 months in jail for breaking a stalking prevention order involving actress and singer Billie Piper. Jerome had tried to contact Piper for over eight years, despite court orders telling him not to approach her or communicate with her.
Key Facts
Philip Jerome is 49 years old and from Winchester.
Jerome had a sexual interest in Billie Piper and wanted a relationship with her.
He tried to contact Piper for more than eight years through visits, letters, and social media.
Jerome was given a restraining order in 2018 after showing up at Piper’s home and sending cards.
He broke that order by messaging Piper’s family and attending her home again.
In 2022, Jerome was jailed for going to a convention twice in different clothes to see Piper.
Police found images of Piper on Jerome’s phone and saw he tagged posts about her on social media.
Jerome pleaded guilty to breaking the stalking prevention order four times.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Elon Musk's company, SpaceXAI, has built noisy data centers in Southaven, Mississippi, near land owned by Krystal Polk's family for four generations. The family's quiet life has been disrupted by loud power plants that fuel the data centers, causing health and environmental concerns among local residents.
Key Facts
Krystal Polk's family owned a 2-acre property in Southaven, Mississippi, for four generations.
The land was acquired before people of color were widely allowed to own land in the area.
A large power plant was built nearby to supply energy for SpaceXAI's data centers, creating constant loud noise.
Residents have petitioned with over 1,400 signatures to shut down or reduce the noise of the power plant.
SpaceXAI announced investments of millions of dollars in sound walls and noise reduction technology.
Musk's data centers in Memphis area represent over $20 billion in investments.
Local groups including the NAACP sued SpaceXAI, claiming the plant emits harmful pollutants.
SpaceXAI and the Department of Justice have filed motions to dismiss or intervene in the lawsuit.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow, Russia, for private meetings, according to sources. The U.S. and Russian governments have not shared details about the trip or its purpose.
Key Facts
John Ratcliffe is the current CIA Director.
He traveled to Moscow, Russia, for meetings.
A U.S. Air Force transport plane and a diplomatic motorcade were seen at a Moscow airport.
Neither the U.S. nor Russia has confirmed who the U.S. official is or why they are there.
This appears to be Ratcliffe's first known visit to Russia as CIA Director.
The CIA has been involved in past U.S.-Russia prisoner exchanges that Ratcliffe helped negotiate.
Previous CIA Director William Burns met Russian officials and President Putin in Moscow in 2021.
The visit occurs while peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, mediated by the U.S., are largely stalled.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Russian military forces have used small drones to deliberately target and kill civilians in Ukraine, an act described as a war crime by a UN commission. These attacks, called "human safaris" by Ukrainians, have been occurring since mid-2024, focusing on unarmed people like pedestrians and cyclists near front-line areas.
Key Facts
A video showed a Ukrainian cyclist targeted and killed by a Russian drone, posted and later deleted by Russian military.
The cyclist was unarmed, wearing civilian clothes, but Russian forces called him an enemy combatant.
Independent Russian media accused the military of misleading the public about the cyclist's status.
The term “human safaris” refers to Russian drone operators hunting civilians as targets.
The campaign started in July 2024 in Kherson and has since expanded in scale and locations.
Various kinds of drones, including small quadcopters and first-person view (FPV) impact drones, have been used.
Populations in retaken or frontline cities like Kherson live in constant fear of drone attacks.
The UN commission classifies these deliberate attacks on civilians as war crimes.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A tornado struck a small village in southern France, injuring dozens of people. Two individuals are in critical condition, and over 1,400 homes remain without electricity as of August 25, 2026.
Key Facts
The tornado hit the village of Pomas in southern France.
Dozens of people were injured by the storm.
Two people are in critical condition.
More than 1,400 homes lost electricity after the tornado.
The event took place in August 2026.
Local authorities reported on the damage and ongoing situation.
The tornado caused significant disruption in the community.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and his eldest son were arrested as part of a corruption investigation involving the illegal sale of state assets during Kocharyan’s time in office (1998-2008). The arrests happened after tensions in parliament between Kocharyan’s family and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who accused them of using political influence to gain wealth.
Key Facts
Robert Kocharyan, Armenia’s former president, and his eldest son Sedrak were detained in a corruption probe.
The charges include abuse of authority, bribery, and large-scale money laundering.
Four other people were also detained in connection with the investigation.
The Anti-Corruption Committee is investigating the alleged illegal sale of state assets for less than their real market value during Kocharyan’s presidency.
Kocharyan’s younger son, Levon, accused Prime Minister Pashinyan of pressuring courts and police to target Kocharyan’s family.
Prime Minister Pashinyan demanded that any public assets acquired improperly be returned to the state.
Kocharyan’s political bloc claims the case is politically motivated and an attack on their legitimacy.
The conflict highlights ongoing tensions between the pro-Russian opposition led by Kocharyan and Pashinyan’s pro-Western government.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees gathered in camps in Bangladesh to demand a safe return to their homes in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. They marked nine years since many fled violence by Myanmar’s military, calling on the international community to ensure their security.
Key Facts
Over 1 million Rohingya refugees live in camps around Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
Most fled Myanmar in 2017 after a military crackdown in Rakhine state.
The Rohingya are a Muslim minority in Myanmar, where the majority are Buddhist.
Bangladesh has tried twice to start refugee returns but refugees have refused due to safety fears.
Bangladesh says it will not force refugees to go back to Myanmar.
The International Court of Justice is hearing a genocide case against Myanmar for the 2017 crackdown.
Myanmar says its military actions were counter-terrorism, not genocide.
The conflict in Rakhine state remains unstable with ongoing fighting between Myanmar forces and insurgents.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The United States has imposed new economic sanctions targeting almost 60 people and companies linked to Iran’s nuclear, missile, and cyber programs. The sanctions aim to cut off Iran’s oil revenue and other economic resources amid the ongoing conflict involving the US and Israel.
Key Facts
The US Treasury announced sanctions on nearly 60 entities involved in Iran’s oil, weapons, and cyber networks.
The sanctions focus on sectors including digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and shipping.
Entities targeted are located in the Middle East, China, Singapore, Europe, and Iran itself.
The sanctions include Iranian government ministries like the Ministry of Intelligence and Ministry of Defense.
Some Hong Kong-based companies were sanctioned for helping Iran obtain sensitive technology.
The US calls the sanctions campaign an effort to isolate Iran economically until it stands “alone.”
Iran’s Economy Minister dismissed the sanctions, saying they would not work due to Iran’s countermeasures.
The US accuses Iran of using front companies and secret financial routes to evade export controls.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A US military C-17 transport plane landed unexpectedly at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport after flying from Riga, Latvia. Russian officials said they had no information about the plane or why it arrived, while a US diplomatic convoy was later seen escorted by police in Moscow.
Key Facts
A US military C-17 transport plane flew from Riga, Latvia, to Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport.
The landing was described as mysterious because Russian authorities claimed they had no prior information.
After the plane arrived, a US diplomatic motorcade was seen moving through Moscow with police escort.
The C-17 is a large aircraft used by the US military to transport troops and equipment.
The event is unusual due to limited military flights between the US and Russia in recent years.
The purpose of the flight or diplomatic visit was not disclosed in the article.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump threatened to rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America" during a dispute with Canada over trade talks that collapsed last week. The trade conflict led to tariffs on Canadian goods, and both countries are blaming each other for the breakdown in negotiations.
Key Facts
President Trump suggested renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America" because of worsening trade relations with Canada.
Lake Ontario lies on the border between the U.S. and Canada, with about 47% of it inside the U.S.
U.S.-Canada trade talks ended without an agreement, resulting in 50% tariffs on around $20 billion of Canadian products.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada would match the U.S. tariffs with equal fees on American goods.
Trump threatened to raise car and truck tariffs to 50%, with plans to start these in 2027.
The dispute includes issues such as Canadian rules requiring streaming services to promote Canadian content.
U.S. Trade Representative called claims that the U.S. threatened the French language "fake stories."
Canada is willing to resume talks if the U.S. shows a cooperative approach.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Scientists have found that rat populations are growing in many cities due to warmer winters caused by global heating. Traditional methods like poison may not be effective or safe, so experts are exploring other ways to control rats, such as using contraceptives and better public health rules.
Key Facts
Rat numbers have increased in 16 cities studied, linked to warmer winter temperatures.
Black and brown rats do not hibernate, so milder winters allow them to reproduce more.
Rats carry diseases like Weil’s disease, hantavirus, and new coronavirus variants that can infect humans.
Poisoning rats can harm other wildlife and sometimes accidentally poison people.
Scientists are looking into fertility control as a safer way to manage rat populations.
Strict public health measures can help prevent rat infestations more than just using poison.
Rats are intelligent mammals that show social behaviors like caring for sick members and fighting.
Rodents have been damaging crops, spreading disease, and harming ecosystems for centuries.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Last week, President Donald Trump changed a major part of the United States' security promise in the Indo-Pacific region. This raised questions about the future of U.S. support for South Korea and concerns about the impact on Taiwan's safety.
Key Facts
President Trump altered a significant part of the U.S. security commitment in the Indo-Pacific.
This change involves the U.S. relationship with South Korea.
The shift has caused concern about how it might affect Taiwan’s security.
The Indo-Pacific region includes countries in East Asia and the Pacific Ocean.
The U.S. has long been involved in security agreements with South Korea and Taiwan.
The article questions whether Taiwan should worry because of these changes.
No specific details are given about what part of the commitment was changed.
The U.S. role in regional security is important for peace and stability in that area.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that the new U.S. sanctions on Iran will increase tensions between the countries. He warned that using economic pressure will not solve problems but may cause more conflicts and risks.
Key Facts
China’s Foreign Ministry commented on new U.S. sanctions against Iran.
Spokesperson Lin Jian said these sanctions will raise tensions.
He described the sanctions as a form of "economic warfare" and "maximum pressure."
Lin Jian said this approach will not help solve issues with Iran.
Instead, it could cause more conflicts and spread risks to other areas.
The news follows a recent announcement from the U.S. Treasury Department about sanctions.
China’s statement reflects its position against the use of sanctions to address international disputes.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A gang group attacked a farming community near Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, killing at least 47 people. The gang wants control of this important area close to the city.
Key Facts
The attack happened in a farming community near Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
At least 47 people died in the attack.
The attack was carried out by a coalition of gangs working together.
The gangs want to control a strategic area near Haiti’s capital city.
This shows the strong influence and power gangs have in Haiti.
The event has caused anger and concern in the country.
The news report was provided by France 24 and Reuters.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article explains which plants can add color to gardens and pots in the fall when summer flowers have faded. It suggests varieties like pansies, Sedum Autumn Joy, chrysanthemums, firecracker plants, croton, and some shrubs that thrive in cooler months and provide seasonal beauty.
Key Facts
Summer annual flowers often fade by late summer due to heat or neglect.
Pansies are good fall flowers because they bloom in cooler weather and can return in spring.
Sedum Autumn Joy is a perennial that changes color from green in spring to maroon in fall.
Garden chrysanthemums come in many fall colors and can be left in place to return yearly.
Firecracker plants have bright tubular flowers and attract hummingbirds; they bloom through frost in warmer zones.
Croton plants have colorful foliage and can be used in fall garden containers.
Some azaleas bloom in spring and again in fall, depending on the variety and climate.
Firecracker bush has red flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies and grows up to 5 feet tall.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
French astronaut Sophie Adenot performed her second spacewalk within a week outside the International Space Station (ISS). The astronauts are completing repairs on the ISS during these spacewalks.
Key Facts
Sophie Adenot is a French astronaut on the ISS.
She has conducted two spacewalks in one week.
The spacewalks are for repairing the International Space Station.
These repairs are important for keeping the ISS in good working order.
The International Space Station is a space laboratory used by astronauts from different countries.
Spacewalks involve astronauts leaving the station to work outside in space.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The US announced new economic sanctions against Iran and any countries that do business with it. Iran's Economy Minister said the country is ready and expects the sanctions to fail. These sanctions aim to economically pressure Iran without using military force.
Key Facts
The US Treasury Secretary announced new sanctions targeting Iran.
The sanctions also affect countries that trade with Iran.
Iran’s Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh said Iran is prepared and views the sanctions as a defeat for the US.
Iran has faced economic problems due to many years of international sanctions.
A BBC business editor described these sanctions as using financial actions like a military attack.
The sanctions are intended to weaken Iran’s economy and pressure its government.
The announcement was made recently and is part of ongoing tensions between the US and Iran.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Trump administration is imposing new economic sanctions on Iran as part of its strategy to pressure the country. At the same time, Canada plans to impose tariffs on the U.S. after a trade agreement was canceled.
Key Facts
The Trump administration has introduced new sanctions against Iran.
These sanctions are intended to apply economic pressure on Iran.
Canada is planning retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods.
The tariffs are in response to the cancellation of a trade deal.
The situation reflects ongoing economic and political tensions between the involved countries.
CBS News reporters Weijia Jiang and Ramy Inocencio provided updates on this story.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Trump administration has introduced new economic sanctions on Iran to pressure the country after military actions have not changed Iran’s behavior. The sanctions aim to use economic power, but their success depends on whether China, Iran’s biggest oil buyer, will follow the restrictions.
Key Facts
The U.S. government under President Trump has imposed new sanctions on Iran.
These sanctions are designed to create economic pressure instead of using military force.
Previous bombing attacks across Iran did not change the country’s actions.
China is Iran’s largest customer for oil and plays a key role in the sanctions’ effectiveness.
Iran has experience managing sanctions and may respond with regional tensions.
The situation involves concerns about Iran’s threats of escalation in the region.
The sanctions are part of a broader U.S. strategy to influence Iran’s choices without direct conflict.
The Atlantic Council expert says the strategy’s success depends on unresolved issues, especially Beijing’s cooperation.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump said he is thinking about renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America," similar to his previous renaming of the Gulf of Mexico. He also denied claims by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney that the U.S. threatened Canada's use of the French language during trade talks.
Key Facts
Lake Ontario is shared between the U.S. (New York State) and Canada (Ontario) and managed by both countries.
The U.S. and Canada work together through international agreements to manage the lake's water quality and usage.
President Trump can rename the lake for official U.S. use but cannot decide what Canada or other countries call it.
Trump previously renamed the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America" for U.S. federal use.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the U.S. threatened Quebec’s French language and culture during trade talks.
Trump denied these claims, saying he would never interfere with Canadians speaking French.
Carney linked these tensions to the failure of a new trade agreement between the U.S. and Canada.
Trump posted on social media that Carney's accusation was false and politically motivated.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
