The USGS recorded a series of earthquakes in the area.
Day: September 25, 2025
Nine Magellanic penguins were released back into the sea at Punta del Este on Wednesday after months of rehabilitation by Uruguayan conservationists.
Hundreds gather in squares across Syria to watch their president’s first UN speech in nearly 60 years
Russian Air Defense Intercepts 55 Ukrainian Drones in Overnight Operation
Russian air defenses successfully intercepted 55 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones overnight, targeting both territories within Russia and the waters of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced today on its Telegram channel, reports 24brussels.
Between 23:00 and 07:00 Moscow time, Russian air defense units destroyed 45 drones specifically over the Rostov region, Krasnodar Krai, and the Republic of Crimea. The ministry did not disclose the exact number of drones downed in each individual region involved in the operation.
The significant uptick in drone activity has been noted by Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, who stated that drones are now utilized in approximately 80% of combat missions along the frontlines. His comments came during a meeting dedicated to the development of drone systems and enhancements in piloting skills.
Despite Russia’s claims of readiness to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the conflict, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has reiterated that the Ukrainian government continues to hinder the peace process. His statements reflect ongoing tensions and complex dynamics as both sides navigate military engagements and diplomatic efforts.
As the war persists, the international community remains watchful for any developments that might signal a shift in the current stalemate, including further escalations of hostilities or potential breakthroughs in negotiations.
Belgian Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden has announced plans to combat the increasing misuse of recusal motions, which are frequently employed to delay significant trials. This announcement follows the postponement of the trial of alleged drug lord Flor Bressers this week due to seven separate recusal motions, reports 24brussels.
A recusal motion permits the replacement of a judge if there are substantial doubts regarding their impartiality. Such motions have surged in recent years, particularly in major drug cases, where they have become a tactic for stalling proceedings. Verlinden’s proposal aims to create a stricter framework with shorter deadlines for recusal motions to mitigate this trend.
Verlinden advocates for the handling of clearly inadmissible or unfounded motions concurrently with ongoing trials, thereby preventing automatic delays of weeks or months. Additionally, she proposes halving the timeline for a judge to withdraw, for court registries to transfer files, and for appeals. Furthermore, she suggests reducing the cassation deadline from 15 to five days and establishing a fixed ruling period at the Court of Cassation.
“It cannot be the case that these procedures (…) are exploited as a tool for obstruction,”
Verlinden emphasizes that while the recusal process must uphold the guarantee of a fair trial, it should not be utilized to hinder justice due to prolonged processing times. “The recusal procedure must retain its role as a guarantee of a fair trial,” she stated.
Recent Drug Trial Delays
This push for reform comes amid several notable incidents. Earlier this week, the trial of alleged drug lord Flor Bressers was postponed following multiple recusal motions. Another significant drug case in Tongeren has faced delays for the second time due to a filed recusal motion earlier this month.
This is not the first effort by a Justice minister to reform the recusal process. Former Minister Paul Van Tigchelt introduced limited reforms allowing judges to set new hearing dates immediately after a motion is filed. Van Tigchelt remarked, “I wanted to go further, but after several discussions within the judiciary, it became clear the time wasn’t right.” He observed a notable disparity in the prevalence of recusal motions, stating they occur far less frequently in Wallonia compared to Flanders, where most major drug trials take place, leading Walloon politicians to perceive little need for legislative change.
Eric Trump is reviving “Trump Vodka,” the formerly discontinued spirit.
“The H1-B visa program is a scam,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said.
Reddit poster Katelyn told Newsweek she was “flabbergasted” by what she had found.
Housing secretary says he’s sure Manchester mayor ‘won’t break’ his commitment to his job after Labour MP’s reportedly lobby Burnham to challenge Starmer for leadership
Good morning. The Labour party conference starts on Sunday and today Keir Starmer is making what is in effect the first important conference policy offer: levelling-up style plans to “revitalise” run-down high streets.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published some of the details in a news release. Kiran Stacey has a fuller run-down in the Guardian’s splash.
Getty Images
- Disney’s suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s show after FCC threats sparked rare bipartisan backlash.
- The suspension led to protests and calls to cancel Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions.
- Americans cherish free speech — and they don’t want the government pressuring companies to police it.
The Kimmel debacle shows where America draws the line — and the FCC crossed it, taking Disney along with it.
It’s become common for companies to get ensnared in controversy. Think of Cracker Barrel’s rebrand, Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad, and Bud Light’s partnership with Dylan Mulvaney.
But when Disney suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on ABC following threats by the FCC, the bipartisan nature of the backlash set it apart.
From the manosphere to Capitol Hill and Disney parks to America’s living rooms, the affair showed corporate America that messing with free speech is a line that cannot be crossed. It could’ve been a run-of-the-mill culture war, but the pressure from the highest office in the land widened the outrage, experts told Business Insider. While the legal ramifications may not be over — Trump has threatened to sue Disney — businesses and the government are on notice: don’t mess with our yap.
“The freedom to say what you want is so fundamental in America. It hits people more in the gut than abject talk about the constitution,” Theda Skocpol, a professor of government and sociology at Harvard, told Business Insider. “You can say any damn thing — this is a widely held value across partisan lines.”
The rare bipartisan backlash is a lesson for businesses
America’s growing political divide is a headache for businesses. It undermines workplace collaboration, hinders financial success, leads to lower employee productivity, and increases turnover.
For some of the world’s most iconic brands, it can also mean getting caught in the crosshairs on a global stage.
As the happiest place on earth, Disney holds a special spot in the public imagination. However, it’s also become a punching bag in the culture wars, with conservatives seeing a liberal agenda in almost everything it makes.
This time, though, the backlash was bipartisan: Sen. Ted Cruz, Joe Rogan, Candace Owens, and Ben Shapiro joined the chorus of liberal voices in criticizing Disney bending to FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s threats. Meanwhile, hundreds of people protested, and search volume for “cancel Disney Plus” and “cancel Hulu” spiked.
The main uniting factor was the pressure from Trump and Carr. Conservatives worried that it could set a precedent for a Democratic administration. One former Disney+ and Hulu subscriber told Business Insider before Kimmel’s reinstatement, “If Disney’s going to cave to Trump, then Disney doesn’t get my money.”
“It’s not the principle of free speech,” Norman Ornstein, a political scientist at the conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute, told Business Insider. “But the willingness to use a regulatory agency and its chair to intimidate adversaries to exact retribution, to use their power to crush opponents, I think that is troubling to the Ted Cruzs of the world, at least some of them.”
To Rishad Tobaccowala, a longtime ad industry exec, the episode showed how free speech is a deeply held value in America that crosses political lines. For CEOs, he said, “the takeaway is to align yourself with human values. People aren’t as divided as people think, so speak to the center instead of trying to make both sides happy.”
To be sure, the glasnost could be short-lived.
Social posts on X during Kimmel’s suspension, pulled by social analysis firm PeakMetrics, suggested that a lot of people remain in their ideological bunkers. Its analysis found that conservatives who were jumping on Disney were doing so based on their longstanding grievances about Disney being too “woke” rather than for canceling Kimmel.
Trump could double down on his attacks against the media and other perceived opponents. Victor Pickard, who teaches media studies at the University of Pennsylvania, called the suspension “indefensible, and an unprecedented abuse of regulatory power.”
At least for now, the public’s response shows its desire to defend free speech against government interference — and companies should be too.
“That’s up to us,” Harvard’s Skocpol said. “ABC backed off because there was beginning to be a groundswell.”
Read the original article on Business Insider