Labour accused of undermining trial of two alleged spies by declining to label China an enemy

Labour accused of undermining trial of two alleged spies by declining to label China an enemy — and here’s the plot twist no one ordered: prosecutors say ministers pulled a key witness rather than let China be called an “enemy,” a label the Official Secrets Act 1911 requires to prosecute. Without that senior civil servant’s testimony, charges against Christopher Cash, 30, and Christopher Berry, 33—accused of passing politically sensitive information via an intermediary to top Xi Jinping ally Cai Qi—were dropped last month. The previous Conservative government had promised the witness and closed-door intel evidence; Labour, upon taking office, reportedly vetoed the “enemy” designation in early September, scuttling the case.

Cue outrage. Alicia Kearns called it a “serious” constitutional question, Priti Patel branded it “deeply alarming,” and Dan Jarvis told Parliament the CPS acted “independently,” as if the witness list assembles itself. Meanwhile, MI6’s outgoing chief calls China the “single greatest priority,” the ISC warns of aggressive infiltration, and Labour courts warmer ties with Beijing for investment—Schrödinger’s adversary: hostile in the briefing room, strategic partner at the trade fair.

Downing Street insists national security comes first and touts the National Security Act. The defendants won’t face trial; the government insists it didn’t make the call. Everyone agrees it’s serious—just not on who blinked.

Preparedness Update for Saturday, October 4, 2025

Preparedness Update for Saturday, October 4, 2025: On this date in 1777, Washington’s troops struck at Germantown, Pennsylvania, but were defeated by British forces—a crisp reminder that even bold plans can meet brutal reality. It’s also the 1923 birthday of Charlton Heston (born John Charles Carter), forever tied to Ben-Hur, The Ten Commandments, Planet of the Apes, Soylent Green, and the survivalist staple The Omega Man—Hollywood’s most persuasive case for keeping a spare cloak and a Geiger counter. And we mark the 2017 Tongo Tongo ambush in Niger, honoring the Americans killed in action, including Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black and Sgt. First Class Jeremiah W. Johnson; their service and sacrifice are remembered.

How to Buy and Store Gold and Silver: Part 2

How to Buy and Store Gold and Silver: Part 2 puts security front and center: first, never tell anyone you keep bullion at home; second, break that rule just enough to tell two truly trusted people—a spouse and one heir—so your stash doesn’t become a free upgrade for the next homeowner. And whoever you tell, make sure they understand that silence is golden—literally.

Editors Report Progress on Preparations

Editors Report Progress on Preparations as SurvivalBlog’s team recaps a week of crisis-readiness: setting goals and mapping long- and short-term plans across healthcare, gear buys, gardening, ranch upgrades, bug-out bag fine-tuning, and food storage—basically, from stethoscopes to seed packets. Think Retreat Owner Profiles, but serialized through the year and heavy on practical detail. Readers are invited to email their own wins and tips, with many shared in the site’s Odds section—because if the world ends, at least the checklists will be immaculate.

Editors’ Quote of the Day

Editors’ Quote of the Day highlights 2 Chronicles 8:13 (KJV), prescribing offerings made daily, on sabbaths and new moons, and at the three annual feasts: Unleavened Bread, Weeks, and Tabernacles.

Oct. 4: Pope Paul VI Becomes First Pope to Visit the United States

Oct. 4: Pope Paul VI Becomes First Pope to Visit the United States — On Oct. 4, 1965, he touched down at New York’s Kennedy International Airport, marking the first-ever papal visit to the U.S. and reminding America that even the Vatican occasionally goes coastal.

Oct. 4 celebrity birthdays: Clifton Davis, Susan Sarandon

Oct. 4 celebrity birthdays: Clifton Davis, Susan Sarandon headline the day, with Davis turning 80 and Sarandon 79—proof that talent can outlast trends and most reboots.

Indonesia freezes TikTok registration over livestream data spat

Jakarta has suspended TikTok’s e-systems registration after the company failed to hand over full livestream data tied to accounts allegedly used for online gambling during national protests. Officials want traffic, streaming, and monetization details, while ByteDance offered partial disclosure, citing internal procedures. More than 100 million Indonesian accounts could lose access unless the company complies. Nothing unites regulators and tech giants like a sudden fondness for transparency, preferably the other side’s.

Scorecard tracks Trump’s 2024 pledges and overlap with Project 2025

AllSides is logging which Trump promises are kept, which are pending, and what legislation backs them, plus where they align with the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. Last updated Oct. 3, 2025, 11:37 a.m. ET. In politics, vows are cheap, receipts are collectible items.

Opinion push claims left and “globalists” have merged, urges a national divorce

A polemic argues the American left and globalists have fused into one menace, citing the WEF’s Great Reset, climate policy, borders, and pandemic rules as proof, then declares reconciliation impossible. It pathologizes opponents and treats corporate bailouts as socialism, finishing with a call for separation and conflict. Subtle as a foghorn, nuanced as a brick.

Flintshire Council targets “wrong rubbish” in public bin, threats up to £5,000 fine

A 35-year-old mother in Mold was traced and summoned under caution after placing plastic parcel packaging in a park bin, with the council citing unlawful depositing of waste under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. She says she cannot afford a solicitor and was told a £75 littering fine might be offered instead. The council, investigating several similar cases, notes public bins are not for household or business waste. Inspirational stuff, turning litter bins into sting operations while common sense waits at the curb.

After decades on call, retained firefighters still waiting for pensions

Leicestershire retained firefighters say the benefits they fought for are still tied up in red tape. They answered the siren for years. Now the paperwork should answer theirs.

Tracking Trump's 2024 Promises, with a Project 2025 Cross-check

AllSides is tallying which pledges President Donald Trump has kept or shelved, linking them to legislation and flagging overlap with the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025. Last updated Oct. 3, 2025, 11:37 a.m. ET. If you are going to govern by slogan, someone might as well keep score.

Shutdown Squeezes Cyber, Vectra moves on Netography, and a 7 billion dollar Bitcoin Trove

With the federal shutdown and the lapse of the CISA 2015 liability shield, threat sharing is limping and ops are strained, a reminder that the biggest attack surface is still Congress. Vectra's bid for Netography signals an arms race in multi-cloud visibility and NDR. In the UK, prosecutors have untangled a bitcoin stash now worth 7 billion dollars, proof that on the blockchain anonymous often means not yet identified.

UK Home Office Keeps Knocking on Apple's Back Door

After backing off in August, the Home Office reportedly issued a fresh September demand under the Investigatory Powers Act for backdoor access to an encrypted Apple cloud service, following an earlier January push. On weakening encryption, persistence seems to beat principle.

Open Systems Bets Service Can Beat Swagger in SASE

New CEO Dennis Monner is leaning on 24-7, expert-led support to differentiate the company's SASE platform, backed by Swiss Post, with a Europe and U.S. expansion aimed at enterprises seeking an alternative to U.S. and Israeli vendors. Actual humans at 3 a.m., imagine that.

Android Spyware Masquerades as Privacy Upgrades in the UAE

Researchers warn of two campaigns peddling previously undocumented Android malware disguised as upgrades and plugins for Signal and ToTok. When an update promises more security but demands everything, it is not an upgrade, it is a break-in.

2025 NLDS, Phillies vs. Dodgers, Game Times and TV

Clear your calendars and, purely hypothetically, your shared logins. The opener features Cristopher Sánchez opposite Shohei Ohtani, with potential follow-ups including Jesús Luzardo and Ranger Suárez for Philly against Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell for L.A. The Phillies chase their first NLCS berth since 2023, the Dodgers try to defend the crown and become the first back-to-back champs since 2000. One marches on, the other explains why 6:38 felt a minute too late.Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 4, Citizens Bank Park, 6:38 p.m. ET, TBS, HBO MaxGame 2: Monday, Oct. 6, Citizens Bank Park, 6:08 p.m. ET, TBS, truTV, HBO MaxGame 3: Wednesday, Oct. 8, Dodger Stadium, 9:08 p.m. ET, TBS, truTV, HBO MaxGame 4, if necessary: Thursday, Oct. 9, Dodger Stadium, 6:08 p.m. ET, TBS, truTV, HBO Max. If it is the only NLDS Game 4 that day, first pitch shifts to 7:08 p.m. ET.Game 5, if necessary: Saturday, Oct. 11, Citizens Bank Park, 8:08 p.m. ET, TBS, truTV, HBO Max

Monitoring Trump’s Campaign Promises

Monitoring Trump’s Campaign Promises has become a full-time scoreboard: as of Oct. 3, 2025, AllSides is tracking which 2024 pledges are kept and which are still vaporware, along with ensuing legislation. They’re also mapping how those moves line up with the Heritage Foundation’s right-leaning Project 2025, given its overlap with Trump’s stated agenda. In short, promises vs. policy—with a look at how closely the campaign mic matches the governing playbook.

RSA CEO Nelson Targets Growth in Passwordless Identity Security

RSA CEO Nelson Targets Growth in Passwordless Identity Security as new chief Greg Nelson plants the flag on a hybrid, AI-driven future where logins don’t depend on your memory—or the sticky note under your keyboard. He says RSA will double down on passwordless authentication and AI-powered threat prevention, sharpen its focus on enhancing customer trust, and expand its role safeguarding high-assurance organizations.

Red Hat Confirms Breach of Consulting Division’s GitLab Instance

Red Hat confirms breach of its consulting division’s GitLab instance, warning attackers accessed customer data—a tidy mess that may touch 28,000 customers, including banks and U.S. government agencies. A group styling itself “Crimson Collective” claims it grabbed a full terabyte; if accurate, that’s less version control than damage control.

Blind Item Reveal No. 6

Blind Item Reveal No. 6: A gossip blind item points to Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Jaden Smith, and Christian Louboutin in a claim that celebrity clout and lavish spending can land someone a “creative director” title without experience. If true, that’s not a fashion appointment so much as a loyalty program perk—haute nepotism with a red sole.

Chemistry Research Drives Pennsylvania’s Economy, Yet Funding Is Being Cut

Chemistry Research Drives Pennsylvania’s Economy, Yet Funding Is Being Cut — a masterclass in penny-wise, prosperity-foolish. Pennsylvania’s labs at Penn State, Pitt, and Lehigh don’t just mint diplomas; they power a $30 billion in-state chemical industry, the state’s top export in 2024 at $13.8 billion, and feed a national sector worth $600 billion supporting 4 million jobs. Yet proposed federal cuts and tweaks to indirect cost reimbursements threaten the lab infrastructure that trains the workforce—exactly the pipeline that sent new grads straight into high-impact roles at PPG in Pittsburgh and Dow in Collegeville. Pennsylvania is already out nearly $40 million in NIH grants, and one analysis warns a 25% chop to research spending could dent U.S. GDP on the scale of the Great Recession. The formula isn’t complicated: federal dollars fund university research, which trains job-ready talent, which fuels local companies from startups to S&P 500 stalwarts. Break that chain and the damage ripples from labs to factories, clinics, warehouses, and main-street businesses. Researchers are urging officials in Harrisburg and Washington to protect—and yes, expand—research funding before “cost-cutting” starts costing jobs, innovation, and Pennsylvania’s competitive edge.

Trump sets Sunday deadline for Hamas on "last chance" peace plan

President Donald Trump warned Hamas it has until 6:00 p.m. Eastern on Sunday to accept a 20-point, Israel-backed proposal that includes an immediate ceasefire, the return of all hostages, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and the disarmament of Hamas. He vowed that "all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas" if no deal emerges. Hamas said it is reviewing the plan. The proposal also envisions a transitional authority run by an international group chaired by Trump, with members including former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. High stakes, high rhetoric, and a peace plan that puts its author in the chair is a very on-brand twist for this era.

Storm Amy shutters schools as high winds lash the UK

Storm Amy's gusts forced hundreds of school closures, and the Met Office issued wind and rain warnings through Friday afternoon and evening. Nature has once again reminded everyone who really runs the timetable.

Herbstreit crowns Dodgers early, Phillies happily take the slight

While calling Thursday Night Football, Kirk Herbstreit said Los Angeles would "probably" have the Dodgers in the NLCS, a casual forecast that doubles as bulletin board material for the Phillies. Philadelphia enters the NLDS as slight underdogs, a city that keeps "nobody believed in us" on speed dial. If the Dodgers are already through, someone should tell the Phillies, preferably after they finish the series.

Springsteen approves Jeremy Allen White's "Boss" turn

Bruce Springsteen joined Jeremy Allen White on Jimmy Kimmel Live and praised White's performance in Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere. A rare biopic moment where the subject actually approves the casting, and nobody has to pretend the wig looks natural.

Green Party conference poll prefers Corbyn to their own leader

At the Bournemouth conference, fresh polling reportedly shows Green members would rather have Jeremy Corbyn than their current leader. The public remains split on the party's seriousness, 38 percent say serious and 39 percent do not, which is not the rocket fuel deputy leader Zack Polanski hoped to splash on the launch pad.

Former FEC chair Trey Trainor jumps into Texas House race

James "Trey" Trainor III, a Trump-nominated former FEC chair, will run for Texas's 21st District as Rep. Chip Roy departs to pursue a new role while Attorney General Ken Paxton chases a U.S. Senate bid. Trainor pitches himself as a proven conservative focused on border security and spending cuts. The GOP field already includes World Series champ Mark "Tex" Teixeira, with Bexar County GOP vice chair Kyle Sinclair eyeing a run. Expect a primary that blends rulebook scrutinizing with batting practice bravado.

UNESCO race, Matoko pitches museums with artifacts, not apologies

Congolese diplomat Edouard Matoko says UNESCO should help build and staff museums across Africa to house restituted art, and that former colonial powers should pay for preservation, not just stage tearful handovers. He also wants to scale digital learning where teachers are scarce, pointing to the pandemic’s proof of concept. Recent returns, from Benin Bronzes to Asante treasures, show both promise and pitfalls, see the custody tussle in Nigeria’s Benin City with the Oba of Benin. Rival Khaled El-Enany of Egypt pledges to strip out bureaucracy, rebuild consensus, and diversify funding, less paper fog, more cash. The winner faces a full membership vote and could be UNESCO’s first African leader in nearly 40 years. Former empires, please proceed to the cashier.

Tems builds a real pipeline for African women in music

Afrobeats star Tems is rolling out the Leading Vibe Initiative on her African tour, training 20 women aged 18 to 35 at each stop, Lagos, Nairobi, next up Accra, with workshops, mentorship, and follow-through like mixing help, legal representation, and ad support. The aim is a pipeline of producers, writers, executives, and entertainment lawyers who own their work, a lesson she credits to guarding her masters and thinking long-term. Partners include Hennessy and Native Instruments, yes, logos, but also tools and counsel. She even bought a stake in MLS side San Diego FC, because diversification is not just for hedge funds. With Africa’s entertainment sector surging, and Nigeria’s revenues projected to nearly double by 2027, maybe banks will finally move from no to at least not ridiculous.

Gulf women turn up the volume, tradition fumbles for the mute button

Reforms in Saudi Arabia have expanded women’s rights to drive, travel without guardians, work, and marry or divorce, but female performers still navigate family expectations and a conservative radar, with recent closures of music lounges hinting at pushback. Russia’s rebooted Intervision, a clean-cut alternative to the Eurovision it was booted from, drew Gulf entries, the UAE kept it safe with a traditional male singer, Qatar’s Dana Al Meer took third, and Saudi’s Zena Emad, 25, sang polished pop with a male band, modest styling, and mass appeal. It is a leap from 2012, when filmmaker Haifaa al-Mansour directed from a van via walkie-talkie to avoid public mixing with her male crew. Meanwhile, a club smash by South Africa’s Vanco and Kuwaiti duo AYA rang out from Ibiza to the Hamptons, yet AYA keep their faces hidden at home, citing shame culture and self-policing. Progress is real, but the encore still comes with chaperones.

What’s behind Elon Musk’s dispute with Netflix over a children’s cartoon?

What’s behind Elon Musk’s dispute with Netflix over a children’s cartoon? The world’s richest free-speech crusader has launched a boycott of the streamer over a kids’ show featuring a transgender character, branding it a matter of “protecting children’s health.” In other words: cancel culture, but make it billionaire-branded—because nothing says safeguarding youth like rallying millions to punish a cartoon.

After months of boycotts, Tesla sales rebound—will the momentum last?

After months of boycotts, Tesla sales rebound—will the momentum last? Investors briefly popped champagne, then checked the label: shares spiked on the news but closed down 5% as Wall Street questioned whether one upbeat number means an actual turnaround, or just a bounce with commitment issues.

Shabana Mahmood calls pro-Palestine protesters “un-British,” condemns post–terror attack scenes as “utterly disgraceful”

Following a terror attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall that left two men dead and four others seriously injured, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned pro-Palestine protesters heard making anti-Jewish remarks, calling the scenes “utterly disgraceful” and “un-British.” Police shot dead the attacker, 35-year-old British national Jihad Al-Shamie, within seven minutes of the first call; he was not known to security services. The victims were named as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, both from Crumpsall. Mahmood praised worshippers whose quick actions “undoubtedly saved lives” and thanked police for their rapid response. She pledged to take the “rising tide of antisemitism” seriously, citing existing government funding for security at places of worship and communal institutions, and stressed the distinction between legitimate protest and criminal behavior. “We don’t want our Jewish community to live a smaller Jewish life because of the fear of antisemitism,” she said, adding that those shouting “I don’t give a f*** about the Jewish community right now” outside Downing Street were “fundamentally un-British.”

Body discovered during search for missing woman from Kent

A body has been discovered during the search for a missing woman from Kent, and police say the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Preparedness Update for Friday, October 3, 2025

Preparedness Update for Friday, October 3, 2025: On this date in 1712, the Duke of Montrose set the law on Rob Roy MacGregor, and in 1913 President Woodrow Wilson ushered in the federal income tax at a quaint 1%—a number that now reads like folklore on your paycheck. Today, SurvivalBlog features another entry in Round 121 of its non-fiction writing contest, with prizes including a Gunsite Academy three-day course certificate and a Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” of 60 freeze-dried servings—because being prepared still beats outsourcing your fate to bureaucracy.

How to Buy and Store Gold and Silver, Part 1

How to Buy and Store Gold and Silver, Part 1 says the first move is simple: pick a trustworthy dealer and place the order, then navigate the finer points aimed at keeping you out of trouble. It surveys what to buy—jewelry, bars/ingots, private-mint rounds, sovereign-mint coins (historic and current), U.S. Silver Dollars, and “junk silver” from 90% pre-1965 dimes, quarters, and halves to 40% Kennedy half-dollars. Because when banks play musical chairs with your savings, there’s comfort in owning the chairs—and making sure they’re not made of tinfoil.

Economics and Investment Strategies for Preppers

Economics and Investment Strategies for Preppers takes a contrarian, “tangibles heavy” victory lap as gold hits a fresh record, with Deutsche Bank dutifully explaining why the shiny doorstop keeps outpacing Wall Street’s clever spreadsheets. The roundup scans hedges, derivatives, and assorted obscura, but the marquee message is simple: hard assets are having a moment. Gold‑Eagle adds a sobering yardstick, noting the Dow is down 36% in gold terms since 1929—because nothing ruins a bull market like measuring it against something you can actually hold.

Cyber Weather: Infocon Level Green

Keep calm, carry on patching. The ISC Stormcast pegs Friday, October 3, 2025 at Green, no elevated cyber squalls in sight. Keep monitoring and pretend the quiet will survive lunch.

Serial Rental Scammer Jailed for Defrauding Students

Diane Richards, 54, was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court for faking tenancy agreements and taking deposits from seven would-be renters, including two international students at the University of Lincoln, for homes she did not own, one she was renting herself. Already on bail for similar offenses in 2022, she reoffended in 2024 using Facebook ads and pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud by false representation spanning February 2022 to June 2024. With 20 prior convictions for 27 offenses, the judge imposed immediate custody to deter copycats and ordered confiscation of 4,768 pounds to be split among victims. Pro tip, if your landlord's office is a Facebook Messenger chat, maybe do not wire the deposit.

Shutdown As Opportunity, Trump and Allies Map Government Cuts

Framing a shutdown as a gift from the "Radical Left," Donald Trump calls it an "unprecedented opportunity" to fire federal workers and slash agencies he labels political scams after meeting with Project 2025 figure Russ Vought to outline potentially permanent cuts. The administration says it is withholding 18 billion dollars in New York City infrastructure funding over "unconstitutional DEI principles," and Vought touts canceling nearly 8 billion dollars in climate projects across multiple states. Trump adds that "a lot of good can come from shutdowns," promising to "get rid of a lot of things" Democrats favor. Democrats bristle after CNN's Jake Tapper pressed House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on provisions restoring health care funding for undocumented immigrants. Republicans call it vindication, Democrats call it vindictive. Washington calls it Friday.

Texas Megachurch Pastor Pleads Guilty in Child Abuse Case

A Texas megachurch pastor has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl. This is a grave and disturbing case. Survivors deserve care, accountability, and a justice process that is transparent and thorough.

Ancient "Toothpick" Grooves Probably Not Toothpicks

A study in the American Journal of Biological Anthropology examined more than 500 wild primates across 27 species and found the same thin root grooves long touted as evidence of early human dental hygiene. Natural chewing, abrasive foods, grit, and vegetation stripping can etch similar marks, so archaeologists should stop treating every scratch like a smoking toothpick. The team found zero abfraction lesions, the deep V shaped gumline notches common in modern mouths, despite brutal diets and bite forces. Translation, that misery looks uniquely human, courtesy of forceful brushing, acidic drinks, and processed diets. Evolution wrote the teeth, modern habits added the drama.

Trump Casts Shutdown as Purge Opportunity, Allies Eye Cuts and Culture War Wins

Donald Trump framed a radical left shutdown as an unprecedented chance to fire federal workers and trim agencies he calls scams, after meeting with Project 2025 architect Russ Vought and touting the ability to get rid of a lot of things. Simultaneously, the administration is moving to withhold roughly 18 billion dollars from New York City infrastructure over DEI rules and to cancel nearly 8 billion dollars in climate projects in several blue-leaning states, measures Democrats including Governor Kathy Hochul condemn as punitive. Republicans are also amplifying a dispute over whether Democrats tried to restore funding tied to health care for undocumented immigrants, a claim House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries rejects. Supporters see leverage to cut waste and potentially large numbers of federal jobs, Democrats call the threats offensive. Washington miscalculated, someone pulled the plug, and the other side is treating it like a clearance sale on programs they have wanted to axe for years.

Witness Urges Britain to Confront Rising Antisemitism After Manchester Synagogue Attack

An anonymous resident near the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation called the Yom Kippur attack that killed two and injured three not a shock to the local Jewish community, citing an emboldened climate of antisemitism, particularly since October 7. He warned that elements within some campus pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist movements have crossed into antisemitism and urged the wider public, especially non-Jews, to understand why Jewish schools and synagogues require heavy security. Police declared the incident a terrorist attack, made two additional arrests, and deployed extra officers nationwide. Officials described the assault on a synagogue during a holy day as devastating, and local reports credit a rabbi with barricading doors to prevent further casualties. The plea is stark and simple, Britain must confront rising antisemitism before more lives are shattered.

CharityWatch Pokes Holes in 4-Star Halo for Keepers of the Wild

CharityWatch says the wildlife sanctuary’s audited 2023 numbers tell a far less cuddly story than Charity Navigator’s automated 100 percent, 4-star rating. By CharityWatch’s analysis, 57 percent of cash expenses went to programs and 43 percent to overhead, with 38 dollars spent to raise each 100 dollars, a C grade, not a coronation. The watchdog flags fundraising costs recorded as program work, including 372,491 dollars in Animal Awareness and 259,863 dollars in Education Materials that the group acknowledged are intrinsic to fundraising, plus postage that included fundraising but none reported as such. It notes no joint costs disclosed, similar allocations in the posted 2024 Form 990, and compensation reporting that does not reconcile, including 97,000 dollars to the executive director shown in one section but not itemized where required, officers logging 40 to 50 hours per week at zero compensation, and family ties on a board touted as 100 percent independent with conflicting director counts. Charity Navigator, which relies on the filings at face value, echoes the independent board claim. Bottom line from CharityWatch, donors should proceed with caution until reporting, allocations, and governance are cleaned up. The wildest thing here is not the animals, it is the accounting.

Philadelphia Targets Nuisance Retailers Selling Drug Paraphernalia

Philadelphia City Council Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson is advancing legislation aimed at retailers selling drug paraphernalia, part of a broader quality of life agenda for the fall session. Translation, less questionable glassware at the counter, more votes at City Hall, and a test of whether nuisance crackdowns can deliver cleaner blocks without punishing legitimate businesses that play by the rules.

Trump Blames ‘Radical Left’ for Shutdown, Calls It an ‘Unprecedented Opportunity’ to Fire Federal Workers

Trump Blames ‘Radical Left’ for Shutdown, Calls It an ‘Unprecedented Opportunity’ to Fire Federal Workers — and he’s wasting no time brandishing the pink slips as a policy tool. He says the shutdown lets him “get rid of a lot of things” — “Democrat things” — and is meeting with OMB Director Russ Vought of Project 2025 to target agencies and programs for cuts, temporary or permanent. The administration has already moved to withhold $18 billion from New York City infrastructure it labels DEI-tainted, while Vought touts nearly $8 billion in climate funding cancellations, as allies float sweeping layoffs and Democrats howl he’s threatening workers. Democrats, for their part, are mired in ugly optics after pushing provisions Republicans say restore healthcare coverage for undocumented immigrants — a point even CNN’s Jake Tapper pressed Hakeem Jeffries on. Supporters pitch this as long-promised waste-and-fraud slashing amid a $37.5 trillion debt; critics call it a partisan purge under cover of a shutdown. Translation: Washington skipped governing and went straight to budget Jenga with a chainsaw.

White House Withdraws Nomination for CFTC Chair

The White House withdrew its nomination for CFTC chair, pulling Brian Quintenz from contention—regulatory musical chairs, now with extra whiplash. Canada fined KuCoin $14 million, while two Texas brothers were charged in an $8 million crypto-linked kidnapping case. Abroad, a South Korean actor got a suspended sentence for embezzlement; online, a phishing crew tucked their tricks into robots.txt; and back home, an ex-LASD deputy pleaded guilty in a business extortion scheme. Crime, crypto, and a dash of cowardly code—just another day in the markets’ funhouse mirror.

Strategic Insights From the Cybersecurity Frontline

Strategic Insights From the Cybersecurity Frontline: ISMG’s 2025 Cybersecurity Pulse Report—synthesized with its AI-powered tools—packages advanced threat research into usable frontline intelligence, spotlighting the critical threats, emerging innovations, and governance skirmishes shaping today’s security agenda. This edition tracks how resilience, innovation, and competition intersect in modern defenses, turning boardroom buzzwords into a survival checklist.

Lucid Games Opening a New Office in Liverpool, UK

Lucid Games is opening a new office in Liverpool, UK, signaling a tidy expansion of the studio’s footprint—because apparently the Mersey was short on polygons and caffeinated developers.

Blind Items Revealed: No. 7

Blind Items Revealed: No. 7 — SZA is the contingency plan if north-of-the-border crooner Justin Bieber bails on Coachella, because nothing says “music festival logistics” like a headline act with a built-in escape hatch and a top-tier backup on speed dial.

Using the Huawei E3131 and Similar 3G Modems on Mac OS X Leopard (PowerPC)

Using the Huawei E3131 and Similar 3G Modems on Mac OS X Leopard (PowerPC) is now possible thanks to a patched HuaweiDataCardACMData.kext that adds the E3131’s modem, PCUI, and diagnostic interfaces to the kext’s Info.plist—a tidy middle finger to abandoned PowerPC support. Install the kext to /System/Library/Extensions, set proper ownership, kextload it, and—assuming CD mode is off—OS X will spawn /dev/tty.HUAWEIMobile-Modem and -Pcui. Use the Pcui port with minicom/screen for AT commands (yes, even flipping it from disk to modem mode), then configure networking via System Preferences: pick HUAWEIMobile-Modem, use phone number *99#, select Generic → GPRS GSM 3G, and set APN to your ISP’s “internet” or “net.” It connects cleanly, no sacrificial goats required. You can run the Java-based Mobile Partner app if you enjoy watching paint dry; otherwise, the kext plus AT commands do the job with far less drama.