#TTD Board approved key decisions for devotees’ welfare, including... revised donor privileges (effective July 15), new SSD shelters & queue lines, construction of a 100-room pilgrim rest house at Vontimitta, and appointment of 791 prospective Veda scholars under the Veda Parayana.show more

🚧UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Brand new, 100-room hotel on the iconic... Camps Bay strip, Cape Town Mint Cafe was a popular eating spot for those who frequent the Camps Bay beach area. The restaurant was in operation for close to 10 years until their last day of trading on January 29th this year. The entire building was demolished along with the Place on the Bay hotel next door to make room for the new 5-storey beachfront hotel. Quick facts about the new hotel development: 🌊 Hotel group: Novis Hotels 🌊 Architect: Scott and Partners 🌊 Completion date: September 2024 🌊 Ground floor includes 278m2 restaurant 🌊 Location: Erf 3349, Victoria Road, Camps Bay, #CapeTown According to Novis Hotels, they faced resistance at every single stage of this project. Camps Bay and Clifton Ratepayers’ Association (CBCRA) being against this development caused the planning of this project to take 5 years. The special regulations for Camps Bay are 3 storeys and 10m facade height - this is unique when compared to the rest of the city. Apparently this development is 5m higher than the restriction. City of Cape Town has approved the development despite objections and the architect defends the development height as it is set back from the facade. I took the below video this week of the development that is currently under #construction. Greg Scott, principal architect for the project has designed a number of developments in the Camps Bay area and he has an easy-to-recognise style. I much prefer the latest render, compared to the previous ones (see these in the thread below the tweet). I am glad that they changed the the pillars which made for a cold and uninviting retail facade. We see a similar cold/uninviting facade with the chunky pillars at the Cape Royal hotel in Green Point. What do you think of the #design for this new #hotel in Camps Bay?show more

NEWS: President Trump GOES OFF on Truth Social: “Once... again, The Failing New York Times has attempted to grossly mischaracterize what should be hailed as the restoration of Beauty and Grandeur to our Nation’s Capital as something else completely. Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House, had been left in disarray after decades of neglect and lack of maintenance. The fountains didn’t work, the grass and trees had died, the walking paths and benches were almost unusable. Also, because of security threats caused by rioters and protestors ripping up the stone pavers, and throwing them at our brave men and women from the Secret Service and Law Enforcement, my Administration decided to rebuild and beautify the Park.” “I made a multimillion contribution to the effort, and got others to do the same, but was not in charge of handing out the contract. That was done by the National Parks Service, and they gave it to the largest and most respected Construction Firm, for many years, in D.C., Clark Construction — A greatly respected firm, by far, the biggest in D.C. Not only did we add brand new fountains, but we completely beautified the Park, adding a new irrigation system, sod, trees, park benches, and more. It’s turning out magnificent, under budget, and way ahead of schedule! We want to have it complete by July 4th. Once again, people will come to the front door of the White House by walking through a magnificent Park befitting these Hollowed Grounds, not a dead, dirty, rusting, and very dangerous place like it was before we got involved. In fact, D.C. itself is now a safe and bustling place again. The Crime Numbers are the best they’ve had in Recorded History. The New York Times should congratulate us, instead of trying to make us look bad. We look forward to continuing to MAKE WASHINGTON, D.C. GREAT AGAIN, and want to thank Clark Construction, the Department of Interior, and the National Parks Service on A JOB WELL DONE! President DONALD J. TRUMP”show more

Subject: Urgent Appeal for Review of Suo Moto Order... on Stray Dogs – Protecting Compassion, Law, and Public Sentiment To The Hon’ble Chief Justice of India Supreme Court of India New Delhi Respected Sir, We, the compassionate citizens of India, write to you with deep concern over the recent suo moto Supreme Court order directing the mass removal of community dogs from the streets of Delhi-NCR to shelters. While we understand the importance of public safety, this order has created fear, grief, and unrest among millions of Indians who love and care for animals. Our Concerns: 1. Emotional & Cultural Bond Over 60% of citizens across rural and urban India care for and feed community dogs. Dogs are a part of our traditions, offering protection, companionship, and unconditional love. 2. Religious & Moral Values India’s cultural and religious ethos promotes compassion towards all living beings (Ahimsa). This order is seen as going against the moral responsibility enshrined in Article 51A(g) of our Constitution. 3. Impact on Youth, Students, Farmers, and Rural Citizens The youth, students, and rural communities—who are often the first to help injured or hungry animals—feel personally attacked by this decision. In villages and farms, community dogs are guardians and companions, part of the social fabric. 4. Practical & Humane Concerns India does not have the infrastructure to house thousands of dogs humanely for life. In reality, mass relocation to overcrowded pounds often leads to neglect, disease, and premature death. 5. Violation of Established Animal Welfare Rules The Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023 mandate sterilization, vaccination, and release—not permanent removal. The present order contradicts long-standing, proven, and humane stray dog management laws. 6. Proven Scientific Solution Exists The ABC–ARV method (Animal Birth Control & Anti-Rabies Vaccination) is recognized globally and by the WHO as the most effective, humane solution to manage dog populations and rabies risk. 7. Perception of Bias & Wrong Messaging The association of this decision with individuals known for anti-dog sentiments creates mistrust and polarizes citizens. 8. Democratic & Electoral Sentiment This order risks alienating a large segment of the population, potentially affecting public trust in institutions and governance. Our Appeal We respectfully request: Immediate stay on the implementation of the current order. Constitution of a larger bench to review the decision with inputs from the Animal Welfare Board of India, veterinarians, animal rights organizations, and public representatives. Adoption of ABC–ARV as the humane, lawful, and sustainable national policy for community dog management. We firmly believe that protecting both public safety and animal welfare is possible through science, compassion, and law—not mass removals. For the Love of All Living Beings,Live Law SupremeCourtOfIndia Bar and Bench PMO India President of India Sanjay Mohapatra Founder – House of Stray Animals Mobile: 9818048398show more

The New Yorker just dropped a massive investigation into... Sam Altman, based on over 100 interviews, the previously undisclosed "Ilya Memos," and Dario Amodei's 200+ pages of private notes. It's the most detailed account yet of the pattern of behavior that led to Sam's firing and rapid reinstatement at OpenAI. Here's the breakdown: > Ilya compiled ~70 pages of Slack messages, HR documents, and photos taken on personal phones to avoid detection on company devices. He sent them to board members as disappearing messages. The first memo begins with a list headed "Sam exhibits a consistent pattern of . . ." The first item is "Lying." > Dario kept detailed private notes for years under the heading "My Experience with OpenAI" (subheading: "Private: Do Not Share"), totaling 200+ pages. His conclusion: "The problem with OpenAI is Sam himself." > Sam reportedly told Mira his allies were "going all out" and "finding bad things" to damage her reputation after the firing. Thrive put its planned $86B investment on hold and implied it would only close if Sam returned, giving employees financial incentive to back him. > Sam texted Satya Nadella directly to propose the new board composition: "bret, larry summers, adam as the board and me as ceo and then bret handles the investigation." The two new members selected to oversee an independent inquiry into Sam were chosen after close conversations with Sam himself. > Before OpenAI, senior employees at Loopt asked the board to fire Sam as CEO on two separate occasions over concerns about leadership and transparency. At Y Combinator, partners complained to Paul Graham about Sam's behavior, and Graham privately told colleagues "Sam had been lying to us all the time." > OpenAI's superalignment team was promised 20% of the company's compute. Four people who worked on or with the team said actual resources were 1-2%, mostly on the oldest cluster with the worst chips. The team was dissolved without completing its mission. > Sam told the board that safety features in GPT-4 had been approved by a safety panel. Helen Toner requested documentation and found the most controversial features had not been approved. Sam also never mentioned to the board that Microsoft released an early ChatGPT version in India without completing a required safety review. > Sam made a secret pact with Greg and Ilya where he agreed to resign if they both deemed it necessary, essentially appointing his own shadow board. The actual board was alarmed when they learned about it. > Sam struck a deal with Greg to become CEO while simultaneously telling researchers that Greg's authority would be diminished, and telling Greg something different. > A board member described Sam as having "two traits almost never seen in the same person: a strong desire to please people in any given interaction, and almost a sociopathic lack of concern for the consequences of deceiving someone." Multiple sources independently used the word "sociopathic." > OpenAI is reportedly preparing for an IPO at a potential $1 trillion valuation while securing government contracts spanning immigration enforcement, domestic surveillance, and autonomous weaponry in war zones.show more

What has it been like for NYC Jews living... under Mayor Mamdani’s watch? Timeline of his actions since taking office: • Jan 1: Scrapped the IHRA definition of antisemitism • Feb: Official posts calling Gaza an “ongoing genocide” • March: Hosted Mahmoud Khalil at Gracie Mansion + St. Patrick’s “genocide” speech • April: Official city video featured a staffer in a keffiyeh • May 15: Released an official Nakba Day video claiming the “catastrophe continues to this day” while ignoring Israel • June: Called AIPAC (Jews) “monsters” + skipped the Israel Day Parade • July 21: Viral video branding Netanyahu a “war criminal” and “architect of a horrific genocide” • This week: Jewish bar associations say he appointed zero Jews to the 18-member Judiciary Advisory Committee While Jews make up 10% of New York City… They were the target of 55% of all confirmed hate crimes in the first half of 2026 (178 incidents) including last week’s stabbing in the UWS that included an Asian man as well. The pattern is not subtle and rhetoric from the mayor matters.show more

‼️🇺🇸Trump Class Battleship | United States Navy 🔥 President... Donald J. Trump has officially announced plans for a new American battleship class for the United States Navy, known as the Trump Class. The announcement was made on December 22, 2025, at Mar a Lago in Florida, alongside senior US Navy leadership and defense officials. The lead ship of the class has been named USS Defiant According to initial plans, the vessel is expected to displace between 30,000 and 40,000 tons, making it significantly larger than modern US destroyers and cruisers currently in service. The Trump Class is envisioned as the largest US surface combatant designed since World War II. Its primary roles will include long range strike operations, layered air and missile defense, and serving as a central command platform for naval task forces. The program is expected to incorporate advanced combat technologies, including hypersonic missiles, directed energy weapons such as lasers, and extensive cruise missile launch capabilities. There is also discussion of potential future integration of strategic level capabilities. While the program has been publicly announced, detailed technical specifications, final funding decisions, and construction timelines remain under advanced planning and will require approval from the US Congress.show more

Is this not a national security concern? 🚨 A... CCP linked Intelligence Official purchased a Historical Building close to the White House who has a background in SNIPER TRAINING Q: Mr. President, there’s a report about a CCP senior intelligence official purchasing a historical building overlooking the White House. Have you heard about this? TRUMP: “No, I haven’t heart that.” 🔻 My Findings: The original source of this story is from the Daily Caller. Just the News even amplified it.. On July 21, 2026, the Philip Qiu and Family Foundation (a U.S.-registered private foundation based in Washington, D.C.) purchased the historic ~100-year-old Securities Building (at or near 729 15th Street NW) for $8.4 million. The building sits roughly 650 feet northeast of the White House grounds/complex. Philip Qiu (Chinese name Qiu Feili) is described as having held positions linked to Chinese state security and United Front Work Department (UFWD) organizations. His background includes: • Career as a detective in the Shanghai Public Security Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Team (under China’s Ministry of Public Security). • Special forces/combat and SNIPER training (noted in Shanghai Jiaotong University records from around 2011). • Roles including chairman of the Shanghai Overseas Chinese Foundation (described as operating within Shanghai’s UFWD system) since about 2021, plus other UFWD-linked positions. • Co-founder of the Chinese American Museum in Washington, D.C. (which shares an address/related entities with the foundation in some reports).show more

🚨JUST DROPPED: Homeland Security Office of Inspector General releases... report on “Secret Service Missed Opportunities to Prevent and Disrupt the Attempted Assassination of President Trump on July 13, 2024." One of the top findings confirms one of the big mysteries of the Butler assassination attempt and who is really at fault: The Secret Service didn't use available equipment to block the line of sight between the AGR building and the stage where President Trump spoke, allowing shooter Thomas Crooks a clear 155-yard shot at Trump. This occurred despite extensive Secret Service training that instructs agents to place objects that "enhance light-of-sight coverage" at events, the OIG reports asserts. The OIG also produced the video below to demonstrate just how clear a shot Crooks had of Trump and the stage. Who is at fault for that? In its report, the DHS OIG said the Secret Service WOULD NOT TELL THEM if campaign staff had placed equipment that was already on site at the event locations that would have blocked the line of sight. I have reported, and a report from Sen. Rand Paul's office later reported, that the Secret Service tried to use farm equipment to block that line of sight -- but the Trump campaign objected to the optics of it -- and requested that it be removed. Here's where it gets interesting: The Secret Service complied. It's unclear who in the Secret Service is responsible for failing to stand up to and override the campaign staff who wanted the equipment removed. -Miyo Perez was the USSS agent in charge of security. She was an inexperienced agent and known within the detail as a partier, not a serious. There were two supervisory agents that were supposed to provide oversight to Perez's work, Nick Menster and Nick Olszewski. Those two agents were never punished for their role in Butler's porous security plan and execution. In fact, current Secret Service Director Sean Curran gave them big promotions. Interestingly, it was Curran who was ultimately responsible for all security decisions for the Butler site -- including the decision to remove farm equipment or not place additional equipment to block the line of sight. Curran was the detail leader for the team protecting Trump during the campaign, and he signed off on the site plan. This new OIG report doesn't address whether Curran himself directly approved the removal of farm equipment from the site so the line of site remained unobstructed for Crooks' shot that nearly killed Trump and did murder Corey Comperatore and seriously wound two others, James Copenhaver and David Dutch. Copenhaver and Duth are now suing the Secret Service over the agency's "preventable failures," as their lawsuit asserts. It's possible that OIG investigators asked Curran, and he refused to say. I'll link to the new DHS OIG report below.show more

OF Nick Dumesnil (California Baptist Baseball) is one of... the higher upside college bats in this year's Draft. Showed flashes across a limited sample as a Freshman, but exploded last year to the tune of a .362/.440/.702 slash line with 40 XBH (19 HRs) and 45 RBIs across 61 games. Proceeded to have an excellent summer on the Cape in which he hit .311/.378/.489 with a league-leading 12 2B, 4 HR, 15 RBIs and a league-leading 26 SB in 36 games. Strong, athletic frame at 6'2" and 205-pounds. Big league body. Slightly wide base in the box with a somewhat high handset (lowered his hands as the summer went on, was ultra-high at school with his bat pointed almost straight down behind his back shoulder. Drew Burress-ish look). Ultra-small stride that is more of a toe tap than anything else. Hands already start pretty far back, though they drift slightly in his load. Engaged lower-half, especially his back side. Easy plus bat speed. Dumesnil showed the ability to drive the baseball to all fields both at school and on the Cape. Would give his power a 55 overall, but it's a 6 to the pull side. Top spun a 2-run HR (EV of 106) off the scoreboard in the ASG. Very curious to monitor how his hit tool progresses this spring. There's a present feel for the barrel and his bat-to-ball skills are plus (ovr. IZ contact rate of 90%, including 93% and 91% against FB and SL, respectively). Will certainly need to shore up his pitch recognition skills and swing decisions in order to maximize his offensive upside. Some chase up/out against FB, down/out against secondaries. Key will be doing a better job of picking up spin out of the hand. Plus runner—who most importantly knows HOW to run—whose speed translates on both sides of the baseball. Chaos-causer on the bases, Dumesnil's speed also gives him the opportunity to take an extra base on a ball in the gap or down the line. I thought his instincts in CF got better as the summer went on. Dumesnil's speed and elite athleticism allow him to cover plenty of ground and his arm is average, I'm sure he'll get the opportunity to prove he can stick there in pro ball. Chance he could move off and end up at a corner eventually. Key for Dumesnil is adding polish to his hit tool. There is 5-tool upside (key word) with him and he can impact the game in a number of ways. Potential first round pick this July. (📽️: California Baptist Baseball)show more

I was in the Oval Office today for the... launch of the Invest America / Trump Accounts initiative. Here are my takeaways: 1. This program may have the most bipartisan support of anything I have ever seen. Everyone, regardless of political party, understands the power of giving young children money to compound over decades. 2. While the government and current administration should get immense credit for the program, there were many private citizens like Brad Gerstner, Michael Dell 🇺🇸 and others that persistently pursued the idea until it became reality. They quite literally changed the course of millions of lives with this idea. 3. It will quickly become a game of status for people to donate to fund the accounts. The Dell Family gave over $6 billion. SpaceX’s Gwynne Shotwell gave more than $300 million today. Brad Gerstner is adopting every child in the state of Indiana to give money to their accounts. The list goes on and on already… 4. Companies will begin making contributions core parts of their perk packages for employees. Corporations like Bank of America, JPMorgan, Robinhood and others have already announced these efforts. 5. The Oval Office is surprisingly small in size, but the historical significance of the room is palpable the second you walk into it. The President called it “the most important room in the world” today and I walked away thinking that was accurate. 6. This idea of Invest America accounts has become a magnet for the world’s most successful people. I saw Larry Fink, David Solomon, Lisa Su, and many other Fortune 500 CEOs in attendance for the Rose Garden lunch. It is hard for an idea to fail when this many people are behind it. 7. The Rose Garden was very nicely done. I had been to the White House before, but never to the Oval Office or the Rose Garden. Both seemed elevated compared to the rest of the White House and surrounding buildings. It sounds like the new ballroom will also be a modern structure that mirrors this elevated approach. 8. The staff and admin team in the White House are generous and genuine. Each person was kind, gracious, and seemed to be at the top of their game. Sometimes you go to places and are disappointed with the let down from your expectations, but this was not the case with the White House team. All professionals doing their job. 9. The media loves Trump way more than they let on publicly. Many of the mainstream hosts and anchors were joking around with him like it is one big club, while simultaneously laughing at his jokes and being much more friendly than I expected. He seems to be good for their business, so it makes sense why the public narrative and private interactions don’t appear to match. 10. I never thought I would see a day where NYSE 🏛 and Nasdaq collaborated on an event like this, including the ringing of both bells by one person at the same time. I guess anything is possible if kids are involved. Overall, this was an awesome experience. I know some people like this administration and some people don’t. I learned from Kevin O'Leary aka Mr. Wonderful to focus on policies, not politicians. And the Invest America accounts are objectively a great idea that will hopefully spread like wildfire in the years to come.show more

Call for Genuine Dialogue with Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs)... We are deeply concerned by the recent actions of the National Medical Commission National Medical Commission regarding the new policies affecting Foreign Medical Graduates #FMGs . Despite multiple attempts by #FMGs to engage in constructive dialogue about these policies, the doors have been closed to them, leaving many feeling unheard and marginalized. Key Issues Highlighted: 1.Lack of Engagement with FMGs: •When FMGs approached the NMC to discuss the recent circulars impacting their education and career pathways, they were met with a closed door. This lack of openness contradicts the NMC’s stated commitment to inclusivity and transparency. •On other occasions, the NMC has publicly invited dialogue with medical professionals on various issues. The exclusion of FMGs from such conversations suggests a discrepancy in how different members of the medical community are treated. 2.The Need for Authentic Communication: •Effective policymaking requires genuine engagement with all stakeholders. FMGs, who represent a significant portion of the medical workforce, deserve to have their voices heard and their concerns addressed in a fair and transparent manner. •The perception that the NMC is avoiding meaningful dialogue with FMGs undermines trust and suggests a lack of willingness to address the real challenges faced by these dedicated professionals. Our Stance: We at @udfaindia believe that a body like the NMC, which is designed to represent and listen to the medical community, must be open to all its members. Ignoring or sidelining any group is counterproductive and contrary to the principles of equality and fairness. Why This Matters: •Equity and Representation: All medical professionals, regardless of where they received their education, should have the opportunity to engage with regulatory bodies and influence policies that affect their careers and lives. •Transparency and Trust: For the NMC to maintain its credibility and legitimacy, it must foster an environment of openness and responsiveness, especially towards those who are most impacted by its decisions. •Potential for Unrest: If the NMC continues to act unilaterally without genuine dialogue, it risks alienating a significant portion of the medical community. This could lead to increased discontent and potential protests, which is not in anyone’s interest. Our Call to Action: •Open the Doors to Dialogue: We urge the NMC to actively engage with FMGs and their representatives to discuss the implications of recent policies and seek mutually acceptable solutions. •Demonstrate True Commitment: Show that the commitment to inclusivity and open dialogue is not just for show, but a fundamental principle guiding the NMC’s actions. •Listen and Represent: The NMC must fulfill its mandate to listen to and represent all members of the medical community, including FMGs who have contributed significantly to healthcare in India. Let’s Work Together for a Fair and Inclusive Medical Community. We remain hopeful that the NMC will reconsider its approach and embrace a more inclusive and open stance towards FMGs. It is only through unity and collaboration that we can ensure a just and effective healthcare system for all. #OpenDialogue #FairTreatment #SupportFMGs #NMCAccountability #FMGS National Medical Commission ALL FMGs ASSOCIATION(AFA) Free Press Journal Anil Sharda ravish ndtv Karn Pratap Singhshow more

Alaska. Putin and Trump. The meeting that was both... awaited and feared. The outcome. By Roman Alekhin To discuss this further, the key point to understand is this: Two and a half hours behind closed doors is too little for leaders of nuclear powers if they are just starting a conversation—but too much if they were merely posing for cameras. This means the real work happened earlier—quiet, working discussions “behind the door” that never made it into the official communiqué. These are what stopped Trump from imposing secondary sanctions; this is where the exchange of conditions took place, terms that won’t be disclosed until both leaders decide the time is right. I suspect Syria was discussed, as well as the “Trump Bridge” (instead of Zangezur), the Middle East, and much more that isn’t yet visible to the naked eye. The public part? Pure theater. The point wasn’t to negotiate in front of the world or sign something, like Trump did with Armenia and Azerbaijan—minor players, important only tactically. The point was to send a signal: the presidents of Russia and the U.S. are shaking hands and smiling again, no knives behind their backs. This signals that a new reality has arrived, one that Europe, Ukraine, and everyone accustomed to building their worldview around the idea of “Russia’s isolation” will now have to reckon with—including those within our own countries. Trump’s comments on Fox News were deliberately vague—he’s a master at leaving room for maneuver. But the key takeaway is clear: the pressure will now shift from Moscow to Kyiv and Brussels. This is evident even in the final format—not a word about a “no-conditions” ceasefire, which was Europe and Zelensky’s main demand. This means the discussion on a final peace has been postponed, but within a clear framework: Zelensky must exit the war in a way that lets Europe save face. Russia’s red lines have long been clear: non-aligned status for Ukraine, return of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions within their administrative borders (not the frontlines), lifting of sanctions, and real democracy in Ukraine without persecution of the Russian language or the Orthodox Church. These conditions will prolong the conflict for some time. Zelensky will need to stage a fighting retreat to the administrative borders—this will allow Europe to save face. But the logic is already visible: Ukraine’s defeat will be framed not as a “crushing” but as a “peaceful settlement.” Six months—that’s the timeframe in which we’ll see the dynamics. If the front accelerates, the deal is working. If it stalls, not all pieces are in place yet. But the main thing is already done: Russia is back in the game, not through gray negotiating formats but through a handshake on American soil—even if it’s chilly Alaska. (Though we have warm ties to the region, as seen in the wreath-laying for the “Heroes of ALSIB” and the meeting with Archbishop Alexy of Sitka and Alaska.) For the world, this is an image where smiles are worth more than signatures. For Trump—a chance to show he’s the only one who can “make peace.” For Putin—a symbolic victory: Russia is not a besieged enemy but an equal player. For Europe and Ukraine—the beginning of a painful new phase where they’ll have to accept the inevitable. In these talks, there were no winners or losers in Alaska. In Alaska, both presidents won, while those who weren’t there—lost, or at the very least, didn’t win.show more

The strongest case for the claim that Islam’s core... goal is to dominate the West, subjugate non-Muslims, and eventually convert or control everyone under Islamic rule rests on foundational texts, historical precedent, and modern Islamist strategies. At the heart of this argument are explicit scriptural commands in the Quran calling for Islam to prevail over all other religions. Verses such as 9:33, 48:28, and 61:9 state that God sent His Messenger with the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion. Other passages instruct believers to fight until there is no fitnah and religion is entirely for Allah alone (2:193, 8:39), which classical scholars like Ibn Kathir have long interpreted as a mandate to continue struggle until Islam reigns supreme and non-Muslims either convert, submit as dhimmis, or face defeat in battle. Quran 9:29 commands fighting those who do not believe until they pay the jizyah tax willingly while humbled. The Hadith literature reinforces this vision: the Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said he was ordered to fight people until they declare there is no god but Allah (Sahih Bukhari 1:8:387), with paradise promised to those who die spreading Islam through jihad. History provides a clear pattern of conquest that aligns with these texts. Within a century of Muhammad’s death, Islamic armies had swept out of Arabia to conquer the Byzantine Middle East, North Africa, Persia, and Spain. This rapid expansion relied not solely on peaceful invitation but on military campaigns that offered populations the choice of Islam, tribute, or the sword. The caliphate system itself functioned as an engine of perpetual expansion, dividing the world into dar al-Islam (the house of Islam) and dar al-harb (the house of war), with the ultimate objective of bringing the entire world under Islamic governance. In the modern era, influential Islamist thinkers and movements continue to pursue this vision through both violent and non-violent means. Sayyid Qutb, a leading ideologue of the Muslim Brotherhood, described the contemporary world, including the West, as jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic ignorance) that must be overthrown to establish Allah’s sovereignty over man-made laws. The Muslim Brotherhood’s 1991 strategic memorandum for North America openly outlined a “civilization-jihadist process” aimed at eliminating and destroying Western civilization from within through settlement, propagation of Islam, and gradual institutional takeover. Migration (hijra) is strategically employed in the same way Muhammad used his move to Medina: large-scale Muslim immigration to Western countries, combined with higher birth rates, creates growing parallel societies that first demand accommodations under sharia, then assert dominance. Organizations like Hizb ut-Tahrir openly advocate for a restored global caliphate and organize in Western nations to recruit and spread this goal, often facing bans in Muslim-majority countries for their radicalism yet operating with relative freedom in places like the United Kingdom until recently. Billions in funding from Saudi Arabia and Qatar have supported the construction of mosques, universities, and cultural centers in the West, frequently promoting Wahhabi or Salafi interpretations that emphasize Islamic supremacy over non-Muslim societies. Demographic trends further this strategy. Muslim populations in many Western European cities already form significant minorities, often 25 to 40 percent in certain districts, with even higher proportions among younger generations. Native European birth rates remain below replacement level while many Muslim communities sustain rates two to three times higher. Projections from sources like Pew Research and national statistics offices suggest several European countries could reach 20 to 30 percent Muslim population by 2050 under continued migration.show more

🇷🇺🚀 Russia unleashes Zircon and Kalibr missiles on NATO-launchpad... Ukraine 📍 Russian forces carried out a sweeping, long-range assault across Ukraine overnight on July 30, using precision air-, land- and sea-based strikes backed by waves of attack drones against defense facilities, communications hubs and key logistics sites. Which assets have been struck? Kiev 🟠 Mayak Plant, which manufactures components, warheads, detonators, ammunition and launch boosters for FP-1/FP-2 long- and medium-range attack drones 🟠 Kiev Electrotechnical Plant, which produces medium-range reconnaissance and attack drones, including multicopter UAVs Lvov 🟠 LDARZ Lvov Aircraft Repair Plant, which repairs and manufactures turbojet engines used in FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles and long- and medium-range drones 🟠 LORTA Plant, which manufactures missile electronics and radar systems for Neptune-MD long-range guided missiles and the Klon air defense system, an S-300 analogue Ivano-Frankovsk region 🟠 SKB OVT plant, involved in the production of Flamingo, FP-7 and FP-9 tactical ballistic missiles, Neptune-MD, and testing of warheads for Grom-2 operational-tactical missiles 🟠 Neftemash, involved in the production of Flamingo as well as storing and distributing their components, including those supplied by NATO Rovno region 🟠 RovnoAzot chemical plant, which manufactures missile component assemblies and rocket fuel components for Flamingo, FP-7 and FP-9, and Grom-2 Dnepropetrovsk region 🟠 Akvaplast Turbofan Plant, which develops, assembles, and stores attack drones and unmanned surface vessels. In cooperation with Energomekhkomplekt, it also manufactures and repairs towed and self-propelled howitzers Odessa region 🟠 A cargo ship carrying military supplies in the Yuzhny Port 🟠 Two cargo ships transporting weapons and military equipment to the ports of Odessa and Chernomorsk Which weapons did Russia employ? According to Russian military observers, the July 30 attack involved a broad range of strike capabilities, including: ▪️ Geran and Gerbera attack drones ▪️ Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles ▪️ Iskander-M ballistic missiles ▪️ Kalibr cruise missiles ▪️ Banderol subsonic cruise missiles ▪️ FAB-series aerial bombs with UMPK guidance kits ▪️ Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles ▪️ Tornado-S (MLRS), which launch precision-guided rockets — used in strikes against targets in the Sumy region 🟠 The overnight barrage reportedly kept Ukraine under fire for more than six hours. According to Ukrainian estimates, Russia launched at least 358 aerial weapons – including 74 missiles and 284 drones of various types – figures that have not been independently verified. 🟠 Ukrainian media once again lamented shortages of Patriot interceptor missiles, while reports claimed that in some areas, Zircon hypersonic missiles reached their targets before air raid sirens even had time to sound. 🟠 The dire state of Ukraine’s air defenses amid Volodymyr Zelensky’s continued pursuit of the conflict has been acknowledged even by the Ukrainian dictator himself. His own posts suggest that the Ukrainian regime knew a massive strike was coming but was unable to mount an effective response.show more

Quranic Textual Criticism Exposes the Myth of Perfect Preservation... Muslims claim the Quran stands perfectly preserved, word for word, as the eternal speech of allah, citing Surah 15:9: “Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur’an and indeed, We will be its guardian.” That claim collapses under historical and manuscript evidence. After Muhammad’s death in 632 C.E., the text existed in scattered oral reports and personal writings of companions. Caliph Uthman (r. 644–656 C.E.) ordered a standardized mushaf (codex), then commanded the burning of all competing versions, including those of companions such as Ibn Masud and Ubayy ibn Kab, whose collections differed in content, order, and wording. The Quran is Not A Literary Miracle. Claims that the Quran’s Arabic prose is an unmatched, divinely inspired literary masterpiece rest on subjective aesthetic judgments and a circular challenge (“produce a surah like it”) that no independent standard can fairly test. Classical Arabic already possessed sophisticated rhymed prose (saj‘), poetic meters, and rhetorical devices long before the 7th century; the Quran’s style is a recognizable development of those existing forms rather than a sudden rupture. Non-Arabic speakers, and even many native speakers, experience the text through translation or later interpretation, stripping away the alleged inimitable beauty. Literary critics have long noted uneven quality—repetitions, abrupt shifts, grammatical irregularities, and opaque passages—while later Arab poets and writers produced polished works that, by ordinary literary criteria, equal or surpass many Quranic sections. The miracle claim therefore functions more as a faith assertion than a demonstrable fact. The Quran Does Not Confirm Previous Scripture. The Quran repeatedly states that it “confirms” the Torah and the Gospel (e.g., 3:3, 5:46–48), yet it systematically contradicts the core content of those earlier texts as they existed in the 7th century and as they are preserved today. It denies the crucifixion and death of Jesus (4:157), rejects the doctrine of the Trinity and the divine sonship of Christ, alters key narratives about Abraham, Moses, and other figures, and introduces doctrines (final prophethood of Muhammad, abrogation of earlier laws) that the Hebrew Bible and New Testament do not contain. The later Islamic claim that the previous scriptures were “corrupted” is an ad-hoc solution that the Quran itself never clearly articulates in its earliest layers; it treats the Torah and Gospel as still authoritative while simultaneously contradicting them. The result is not confirmation but replacement. The Quran is Not Harmonious. Despite frequent assertions of perfect internal consistency, the text contains numerous unresolved tensions and contradictions. Abrogation (naskh) is invoked to explain conflicting commands on alcohol, warfare, inheritance, and treatment of non-believers, yet the principle itself is applied inconsistently and lacks a clear chronological or hierarchical rule within the text. Theological statements about free will versus predestination, the nature of God’s attributes, and the fate of earlier communities clash without reconciliation. Historical and narrative details—such as the identity of Mary’s relatives, the sequence of creation days, or the fate of Pharaoh—vary across passages. These discontinuities are not the product of progressive revelation in a coherent whole; they reflect the accretion of material over two decades under shifting circumstances. The Quran Is of Man, Not God. The text’s content, language, and concerns align closely with the 7th-century Arabian milieu of its human author and audience. It draws extensively on pre-existing Jewish, Christian, and Arabian oral traditions—including apocryphal stories of Jesus’ infancy, rabbinic midrash, and local legends—often in forms that were circulating in the Hijaz rather than from independent divine disclosure. Legal and social rulings mirror the evolving needs of a growing community under Muhammad’s leadership: changing attitudes toward warfare, booty, marriage, and relations with Jews and Christians track the political situation in Mecca and Medina. Linguistic features, including loanwords, dialectal peculiarities, and stylistic shifts between early and later surahs, are characteristic of a human composition process rather than timeless divine speech. The simplest and best-supported explanation is that the Quran is a product of its time, place, and prophet. The Quran is Fatally Flawed! Beyond literary and theological problems, the Quran contains demonstrable errors of fact, science, history, and ethics that undermine claims of perfect divine origin. Cosmological descriptions (sun setting in a muddy spring, heavens as solid roofs, stars as missiles against demons) and embryological sequences reflect the limited knowledge of late antiquity, not modern understanding. Historical inaccuracies—placing Mary in the family of Moses and Aaron by centuries, or mislocating events—cannot be reconciled without forced reinterpretation. Ethically, the text endorses practices (permanent slavery under certain conditions, unequal legal testimony and inheritance for women, offensive warfare and the taking of captives) that conflict with universal moral intuitions and with later human progress. These cumulative defects—literary unevenness, internal contradiction, historical dependence, and factual error—render the claim of flawless divine authorship untenable. 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You already know about the $150K+ prize pool. But... do you know who's actually deciding who takes it home? For 10X Founders Demo Day v2.0 we didn't just fill six judge seats. We built a panel of people who've actually operated inside this industry, not just written checks into it - operators who've run exchange platforms, engineered tokenomics for billion-dollar protocols, and grown ecosystem TVL by billions in under a year. If your pitch has any soft spots, this is the room that finds them 🔍 Meet the panel: Obsidian 🇭🇰 - Associate Director, Investment & Strategic Partnership at Animoca Brands ✈️ Korea Blockchain Week 🇰🇷 Animoca Brands: 600+ portfolio companies, 20+ verticals, from gaming to RWA. Ian's focus is infrastructure and tokenization - he built Animoca's staking business and advises on tokenomics for a $2B gaming project. Expect questions that go deeper than the deck Nautro - Venture Partner at Contribution Capital A $30M pre-seed/seed fund backing infra, middleware and Fintech 3.0 (LI.FI, zkPass, Ethos and more). Roman spent 15+ years in marketing, BD and Web3 before this. Expect him to skip the buzzwords and test if you actually understand your own business IvAn🤪 | Comma3 - Founding Partner at Comma3 Ventures ~$50M AUM, all-in on Sui this cycle - Ivan's team helped grow its TVL from $250M to $2.35B in under a year. Ex-TSMC engineer, 35+ exits, co-founder of Taiwan's first bitcoin treasury company. Expect him to stress test your tech as hard as your model Chloe - Investment Director, Portfolio Manager & PR Director at Fenbushi Capital Asia's first blockchain VC, founded 2015, ~$1.6B AUM, 300+ portfolio companies including Ethereum, Circle and Consensys. A decade of pattern recognition behind every question she asks Aleksandr Nechaev - Partner at Funders VC Funders VC is a $20M AUM asset management firm operating at the intersection of venture and liquid DeFi - backing early-stage DeFi and RWA protocols while running delta-neutral and yield strategies in-house. Its portfolio includes Flying Tulip, Lighter, RAND and other emerging projects across the space LafaMarino - Analyst at Zee Prime Capital Investing since 2019 across early-stage startups and liquid markets (Polymarket, Solana, DeSci). Tadas' background is in research at the European Central Bank and Bank of Lithuania. If your pitch chases a trend instead of a real wedge, expect that to surface That's not a judge panel. That's six people who've actually built what they'll be judging you on 🎯 And one more thing worth saying out loud: pitching here isn't just about the $150K. Beyond the panel, a packed room of top-tier VCs, angel investors, and ecosystem partners will be tuning in as attendees. It's a shot in front of investors who'd normally take months of intros to reach individually, all in one room, on one day And time is officially ticking - there are only 7 days left to apply ⏳ In one week, applications close and "I'll do it later" won't be an option anymore. If your project is ready to be seen, now is the time 8 founders. 6 judges. One stage. August 25 🔥 🔗 Apply now:show more

A new wave of protests is underway in Iran,... a strategic partner of Russia. They started in late December 2025 and quickly became the most significant in several years. This time, the initial driving force has not primarily been cultural or human rights slogans such as "Woman, Life, Freedom" (as in 2022), but rather an economic shock. People are joining the protests because of rapid impoverishment, price increase, and a growing sense that the state has lost control over basic economic rules. The main trigger is a currency collapse. On the "open" (effectively parallel) market in late December, the US dollar was valued at roughly 1.39-1.42 million rials, while inflation in December reached over 40% in some estimates. For ordinary families, this means one simple thing: wages and savings are losing value faster than people can adapt, and basic purchases are becoming increasingly unaffordable. The protests were the largest in Tehran, particularly in commercial districts linked to major markets and urban trade. Notably, a key form of pressure has been not only street demonstrations but also merchants’ strikes - mass shop closures and an effective shutdown of trade. Such actions are harder to neutralize through targeted arrests, as they immediately affect urban life and the economy. Within days, the protest wave started spreading to other cities and reached parts of the university sector as well. Students and young people have taken up economic demands and quickly moved on to political questions about the accountability of those in power. The authorities’ response has been mixed. On the one hand, the government has publicly spoken of readiness for dialogue with representatives of the protesters and the trading community. On the other hand, reports from the ground indicate coercive containment measures: arrests, dispersals, and crackdowns. In several provinces, deaths and injuries have already been reported. The figures vary across sources, which is typical for Iran due to information restrictions, but the very fact of fatalities during clashes has been confirmed by several major media outlets. What makes this wave of protests particularly risky for the regime is that it rests on the urban economic base: small and medium-sized businesses, commerce, and the "bazaar." Even if these groups have not always been at the forefront of political protests, they serve as a sensitive barometer of legitimacy. When the "bazaar" shuts down, it signals not only discontent, but also doubt about the state’s ability to maintain basic order. Alongside the internal crisis, external risks are also mounting. Sanctions continue to narrow Iran’s financial and technological room for maneuver, while signals are emerging in the media about the possibility of a new round of coercive pressure on Iran in 2026 - particularly following discussions within the Israel-US-Iran triangle. ❓ What could come next? Four trajectories appear most realistic, and they may even overlap. ▪️ First, controlled de-escalation: the authorities attempt to "cool things down" through targeted economic measures and negotiations with the trading community. This would work only if the exchange rate and prices stabilize. ▪️ Second, wave-like protests: smaller in scale but more frequent and more radical, with repeated flare-ups across different cities and sectors. ▪️ Third, harsh repression: a tightening of the security apparatus and severe sentences, which may temporarily suppress mobilization but typically accumulate deferred anger. ▪️ Fourth, external escalation: which could either temporarily shift the domestic agenda or, conversely, sharply worsen economic conditions and bring people back onto the streets even faster. ‼️ Iran is one of Russia’s authoritarian partners, which raises a logical question: what consequences could the current crisis have for Russian-Iranian relations? If the situation in Iran deteriorates but the regime as a whole survives, the partnership with Russia is likely to be preserved or even strengthened. For Tehran, Moscow remains one of the few major partners available under sanctions and diplomatic isolation; for Moscow, Iran is an important component of its "anti-sanctions" infrastructure and political rear. In the short term, this is unlikely to significantly weaken Russia’s position. The most critical military component for Russia - the Shahed/Geran drone line - has already been largely integrated into Russian domestic production, meaning that a direct disruption of Iranian supplies would probably not be a turning point. More tangible risks for Russia emerge in the medium term if Iran enters a phase of governance paralysis or prolonged instability that undermines its ability to honor agreements. In that case, logistics and infrastructure projects would be hit first - especially those Russia views as alternative sanction-era routes, including the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and its critical segments. In such a scenario, Moscow would lose the Iranian vector for trade and transit and would face a less predictable partner in technology transfers and financial settlements. The most ambiguous scenario is one in which Iran’s deterioration is linked to a new external escalation (strikes or war). The effects for Russia could be mixed: on the one hand, heightened risks in the Persian Gulf often push oil prices higher, potentially boosting Russian oil revenues; on the other hand, war increases the likelihood of tighter sanctions enforcement and maritime controls, complicating both Iranian and Russian sanction-evasion schemes and disrupting logistics. In other words, "deterioration in Iran" does not guarantee a weakening of Russia, but it does increase environmental instability. Moscow may gain from higher energy prices, but lose in terms of partner predictability and transport capacity. ‼️ Russia’s position would weaken most sharply in a scenario where a new leadership in Tehran moves toward normalization with the West or at least distances itself from Moscow. In that case, the entire "anti-sanctions" framework - financial settlements, technological cooperation, and joint projects - would come under pressure, including the North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and its key Rasht-Astara segment, in which Russia is investing both financially and politically. For Russia, this would mean the loss of an important (though not the only) route and partner infrastructure in the region. While the purely military Shahed/Geran component may be somewhat less critical due to partial localization of production inside Russia, Iran’s political and logistical value as a partner would nonetheless diminish.show more

Killer said by any Chance if he manage to... come out of Jail, he will kill the Sugar Daddy. He said to reporters, he is very happy now, no regret, or remorse for what he has done. Drugs, an illicit affair, and a brutal murder Cutting off his wife’s fingers one by one, beheading her, killing her brutally, and then stuffing the severed head into the fridge. Police recovered Riya Talukdar’s mutilated body inside the room. The husband had first cut off the head, wrapped it in polythene and kept it in the fridge. The rest of the body was lying next to the bed in the bedroom. Several packets of incense were recovered right beside the fridge. Police also seized a dao and several liquor bottles from the room. Killing his wife was not enough for Ramanuj Goswami. He sat beside the body and drank. On Saturday, during the day, he cooked rice and ate it next to his wife’s blood soaked body. He spent an entire day beside the beheaded corpse. The police investigation has also revealed that he had even planned to feed pieces of the body to dogs. Ramanuj has admitted to police that he smashed and destroyed both his own mobile phone and his wife’s. It has also emerged that on the day of the incident he got his hair cut and coloured at a salon. Ramanuj was also a drug addict. He had earlier spent nearly three months at a rehabilitation centre. This was not his first arrest. In 2019, during the lockdown, Ramanuj Goswami was arrested in an ATM theft case in Gauripur. His mother has been unable to accept what her son has done. She said it was unbelievable, that he shows respect even to strangers on the street, and that her son could never commit such a monstrous act. Riya Talukdar has an elder brother. According to Ramanuj’s mother, the brother does not live in Assam. The couple had not even completed a year of marriage. Riya, from Noonmati, and Ramanuj, from Gauripur, had begun their new life together this year. Before the wedding Ramanuj worked at a private firm. After marriage they moved into “Anjali Griha” in Bashishtapur, Beltola. Riya worked at a boutique in Fancy Bazar. Ramanuj had bought a new car and started driving for Uber and Rapido in Guwahati. Neighbours say there were violent quarrels between the two. Disagreements were frequent. On Saturday, neighbours heard the sounds of a terrible commotion. Cries drifted out from inside the house that day. The only voice the neighbours could hear was Ramanuj Goswami’s. Once the body began to smell, Ramanuj abandoned the house and fled. When police arrived, the flat door had not been latched. He had left it pressed shut with a sock wedged in place. He had already surrendered to Dispur police at Ganeshguri on Sunday night, and Hatigaon police have since taken custody and are continuing the interrogation. Parts of Riya’s body, in two polythene bundles, were sent to GMCH and the necessary procedures were completed. Under police questioning, he has cited an illicit affair as the reason behind taking this course.show more