The single-sum payments represent a substantial bonus on top of the staffers’ official taxpayer-funded earnings. White House salary reports submitted to Congress show that Harp, Martin, and Harris each draw an annual government salary of $150,000, making the $45,000 payments equivalent to nearly 30 percent of their base income. Nauta, a longtime aide who previously served as a military valet, earns an annual government compensation of $175,000. All four aides belong to the president’s closest working group, with several having served him continuously both during his post-presidency in Florida and into his current administration.

Administration representatives vigorously defended the legality of the disbursements. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle stated, “The President has a longstanding practice of giving Christmas gifts to people in his orbit, including at times employees and aides, both in government and in his time in the private sector.” Officials emphasized that the payments were entirely personal in nature and unlinked to government actions. Spokespersons maintained that “The gifts at issue here have nothing to do with any of these individuals’ official government duties, and therefore are entirely permissible under relevant legal and ethical standards.”

Despite executive assurances, government ethics analysts expressed concern over the precedent and legal implications under federal law. Section 209 of Title 18 of the United States Code strictly prohibits federal executive branch workers from receiving outside funds or compensation for their official public service. Richard Painter, who served as chief White House ethics counsel during the George W. Bush administration, stated that “If someone is your employee and you would give them a gift, it is almost certainly not a gift. It’s income,” arguing that the payments likely violate federal statutes restricting salary supplementation.

Other administrative law experts noted the uniqueness of the scenario, as federal regulations typically guard against gifts flowing upward from subordinates to superiors rather than downward. Don Fox, former acting director of the Office of Government Ethics, observed that a direct, large cash transfer from a president to junior employees is “not a circumstance that OGE ever really envisioned,” adding, “This just doesn’t happen.” While noting the legal violation would depend on whether the payments directly supplemented official salary, Fox described the large transfers as “troublesome” for potentially creating personal indebtedness to the president.

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Constructed with a polished grade 5 titanium chassis, the book-style device features a 5.4-inch outer cover display alongside an expansive 7.6-inch folding internal screen. The unit relies on a multi-layer lamination method using viscoelastic adhesives, allowing screen layers to move smoothly “like pages in a book” to reduce display stress over extended use. Engineered with a custom 100-component hinge structure, the smartphone folds down to passport-like dimensions while maintaining an ultra-thin profile when fully extended. “iPhone Duo is the most transformational change to iPhone since the original. With an entirely new design and intuitive experiences, it shows what’s possible when hardware and software are engineered together and redefines what it means to use a foldable phone,” said Ternus. The internal screen incorporates a laser-patterned microlens finish designed to flatten the visible seam along the central crease, while a nano-texture coating minimizes surface reflection.

The phone is powered by Apple’s A20 Pro chip and features a titanium frame, precision hinge and dual-battery system. Apple said the inner display is its largest iPhone screen to date and uses a nano-texture finish designed to reduce glare. The device also incorporates an under-display front camera and a pair of 48-megapixel cameras, while its foldable design enables features such as split-screen multitasking and new ways to take photos and videos. Touch ID is built into the side button, rather than Face ID.

Apple has redesigned iOS 27 to accommodate the Duo’s different orientations and screen configurations, allowing users to run apps side by side and transition between the inner and outer displays. The company is also emphasizing Apple Intelligence and its updated Siri AI features as part of the device’s software experience. Apple says the Duo is the thinnest iPhone when opened and is available in Star White and Night Sky.

The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 in the United States for 256GB of storage, making it Apple’s most expensive iPhone. Higher-capacity versions will be offered up to 2TB, with the top configuration priced at $3,199. Preorders begin Oct. 16, with the phone scheduled to reach stores and customers Oct. 23 in the United States and more than 70 other countries and regions.

You can view the Apple iPhone Duo introduction video HERE.

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Rybakina will officially take over the top ranking when the WTA rankings are updated Sept. 14, ending Aryna Sabalenka’s 99-week run at No. 1. She will become the 30th woman in WTA history to reach the top spot and the first player from Kazakhstan, male or female, to hold the No. 1 ranking.

The victory continued a remarkable turnaround for Rybakina, who has produced the strongest season of her career after dealing with injuries and inconsistent form during the previous year. She won the Australian Open in January for her second Grand Slam title, also captured the Stuttgart title and reached finals in Indian Wells and Toronto. Her U.S. Open run is already her best result at the tournament.

Rybakina faced a major test late in the third set when Zheng earned a break point at 4-3, but the Kazakhstani held firm before winning the final three games. Zheng, an Olympic champion who entered the tournament through qualifying after returning from a chronic elbow injury, had defeated Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek on her way to the quarterfinals.

Rybakina will play either fourth-seeded Coco Gauff or fifth-seeded Mirra Andreeva in the semifinals. Despite reaching the milestone, Rybakina said her priority remains winning the tournament, with the opportunity to capture her first U.S. Open championship still ahead.

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The procedure was performed by Dr. Daniel Cooper, and the Raiders are now preparing to begin the season without one of their most important offensive players. Bowers also is considered unlikely to play in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers, potentially making his first appearance of the season in Week 3 against the New Orleans Saints.

Bowers’ latest knee issue comes after an injury-plagued 2025 season. He played in 12 games and recorded 64 receptions for 680 yards and seven touchdowns while dealing with a PCL injury and bone bruise in his left knee. He ultimately spent the final portion of the season on injured reserve.

With Bowers sidelined, Michael Mayer is expected to assume a larger role at tight end, with Ian Thomas also available. The Raiders will host Miami on Sunday before traveling to face the Chargers in Week 2.

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The special will chronicle Sheindlin’s career from her childhood in Brooklyn and years in New York City Family Court to her transformation into one of television’s most recognizable courtroom personalities. It will also explore aspects of her life away from the bench, drawing on personal archives and previously unseen home movies, while family members, friends, former colleagues and former litigants offer their perspectives.

Among the celebrity guests featured are Amy Poehler, RuPaul, Samuel L. Jackson, Sherry Lansing and Steven Spielberg. Sheindlin’s son, Judge Adam Levy, will also appear. Jackson recalls an encounter with Sheindlin in London in which people recognized her more readily than the acclaimed actor, while Spielberg discusses his mother’s longtime admiration for the television judge.

“Judge Judy” debuted in 1996 after Sheindlin had established herself as a New York family court judge. The syndicated series ran for 25 seasons and became one of television’s most successful courtroom programs before concluding its original run in 2021. Sheindlin subsequently moved to Prime Video with “Judy Justice,” while her influence has continued through syndicated programming and other courtroom projects.

The “Judge Judy: Unfiltered, Unforgettable” retrospective arrives as Sheindlin’s television legacy continues with her son’s new courtroom series, “Adam’s Law,” underscoring the enduring influence of the franchise she built over three decades.

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The film unfolds across two timelines, examining both Kaczynski’s formative years and the lengthy FBI investigation that ultimately led to his arrest. Russell Crowe portrays controversial Harvard psychologist Henry Murray, whose psychological experiments on Kaczynski are central to the story, while Shailene Woodley stars as FBI agent Joanne Miller, who leads the bureau’s pursuit. The cast also includes Annabelle Wallis, Alexander Ludwig, Steven Ogg and Marc Menchaca. The screenplay was written by Sam Chalsen and Nelson Greaves, with Sophie Cassidy producing for 2.0 Entertainment in association with MRC.

Speaking to Netflix’s Tudum, Tremblay said he was surprised to learn Kaczynski had entered Harvard as a teenage mathematical prodigy, adding that he wanted to portray the notorious figure as “a real person” rather than a larger-than-life myth. Metz said the film explores “a young man who feels increasingly disenfranchised by society and decides to take up violence as a means of revenge,” while also shining a light on what he described as a little-known chapter of American history tied to Kaczynski’s years at Harvard. Woodley noted that both her character and Kaczynski share an unwavering commitment to their instincts, despite pursuing vastly different goals.

See the trailer for ‘UNABOMBER’ – HERE.

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The executive branch escalated its oversight of the research complex through explicit financial and ideological warnings. Following a July White House assessment criticizing the institution’s historical framing, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued an Aug. 28 warning threatening to halt federal funding. Burgum’s letter asserted that “Smithsonian leadership’s culture of ideological activism has not only corrupted the Institution but has spread across the country and corrupted the American Alliance for Museums – the primary organization and accrediting body for the museum profession – among others. Federal agencies with relevant authorities therefore have a duty to investigate and address these unlawful practices, both at the Smithsonian and elsewhere”.

Despite the growing standoff, the 73-year-old museum administrator insisted his departure was motivated by personal reflection rather than executive coercion. Having originally intended to complete a five-year term, Bunch noted he extended his service to help guide upcoming milestone commemorations. Addressing his decision to retire after spending time with his family over the summer, Bunch explained, “For, I don’t know, 45 years, work has taken precedence over family, and I just said at 73, enough’s enough”. While maintaining that federal pressure had no bearing on his retirement, he conceded the role was demanding, remarking, “I have to be honest, it has been stressful”.

Throughout the scrutiny, Bunch vigorously defended the scholarly integrity and institutional freedom of the cultural organization. He pushed back against White House allegations that exhibitions overemphasized negative aspects of American history, telling museum staff the official report was “not a fair characterization”. Emphasizing the necessity of preserving unvarnished historic records, Bunch reiterated that “the role of the Smithsonian is not to erase history, not to run away”. He reaffirmed his resolve to safeguard the complex’s independence for the remainder of his term, asserting, “we’re at a time when people are challenging that independence, but I feel very strongly that it is as independent as we were before, and that I will continue to fight — for as long as I’m in this chair — for the independence of the Smithsonian”.

Bunch’s planned departure marks a significant leadership transition for the nation’s premier cultural enterprise as the Board of Regents prepares to select a successor. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who heads the governing board, commended the outgoing secretary for his commitment to “excellence in the telling of our Nation’s story”. Bunch confirmed he will remain in his position long enough to ensure “a peaceful transfer of power” and prevent leaving the complex “in the lurch,” while continuing to push back against claims of ideological bias before concluding his tenure.

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The aircraft, registered as N212ML, departed Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands at about 10:12 a.m. Monday and was headed to Miami Executive Airport. Air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane around 11:04 a.m., about 13 miles west of Andros Island. Radar information indicated the twin-engine plane experienced rapid altitude and velocity fluctuations while traveling through an area of severe weather, descending several thousand feet in a matter of minutes.

Bahamas authorities and the U.S. Coast Guard launched a search after receiving reports of a possible crash near Red Bays, North Andros. The Coast Guard deployed an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft to assist, but bad weather complicated the initial response. Relatives also organized their own search by boat, ultimately locating and recovering the victims, according to Silvia Larrieu, Lamar’s niece. Family members identified the victims as 80-year-old aviator Mario Lamar, his 79-year-old wife Lili Lamar, and their two grandchildren, 28-year-old Sofia Sosa and 22-year-old Christian Sosa. Larrieu said her uncle had more than 40 years of flying experience and regularly traveled between Miami and the Bahamas, where he maintained a second home. She also said Lamar was meticulous about maintaining his aircraft.

The cause of the crash has not been determined, an authorities have not publicly provided details about what happened to the aircraft after it lost contact with air traffic control.

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The top-seeded Sabalenka had not dropped a set in the tournament before Noskova, the reigning Wimbledon champion, pushed her into a deciding-set tiebreak. Noskova repeatedly pressured the defending champion with her powerful serve and finished with 18 aces, while Sabalenka had to recover after falling behind in the third set. Sabalenka ultimately regained control and closed out the match with a second-serve ace in the final tiebreak.

The victory extended Sabalenka’s U.S. Open winning streak to 18 matches and marked her 21st victory in her last 22 matches at Flushing Meadows. It also continued her remarkable success in Grand Slam tiebreaks, an area that again proved decisive when the match reached its final points.

Sabalenka will face either third-seeded Jessica Pegula or 26th-seeded Emma Navarro in the semifinals. A third consecutive U.S. Open championship would add to the Belarusian’s growing legacy at the tournament and make her the first woman since Serena Williams to win three straight titles in New York.

Noskova, 21, leaves the tournament after producing one of the strongest challenges Sabalenka has faced this year. The Czech saved seven of nine break points and twice forced the match back into her favor, but Sabalenka’s experience in the biggest moments ultimately proved enough to send the two-time defending champion into another U.S. Open semifinal.

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The contract surpasses the four-year, $132 million extension Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon signed recently, briefly establishing a new benchmark at the position. Gonzalez’s agreement also makes him the highest-paid player in Patriots history. The deal was completed one day before New England opens the 2026 season against Seattle in a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl.

Gonzalez, 24, was selected by New England with the 17th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. His rookie season ended after four games because of a shoulder injury, but he emerged as one of the league’s top young defensive backs. He earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2024 and made his first Pro Bowl last season after recording a career-high 69 tackles and 10 passes defended in 14 starts.

The extension concludes a lengthy offseason negotiation. The Patriots picked up Gonzalez’s fifth-year option for 2027, but the cornerback had sought a longer-term agreement and stayed away from organized team activities. Team owner Robert Kraft said in July that New England had offered Gonzalez a contract that would make him the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback, but the sides remained apart until reaching an agreement on the eve of the season.

Gonzalez was also a key contributor during New England’s postseason run to Super Bowl LX. He recorded an interception, a sack, a forced fumble and seven passes defended across four playoff games, including a strong performance against Seattle receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the Super Bowl. With the new agreement in place, Gonzalez is set to remain a centerpiece of a Patriots defense entering the team’s first season since its return to the Super Bowl.

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