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- Pope Leo XIV to visit France from 25 September for official engagements
- Trump bans CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House access amid tensions
- Ontario education unions to hold strike vote in November
- Iran warns geography of war could expand if US conducts further attacks
- Body language expert analyses Earl Spencer’s hand gestures in interview
- Putin secures landslide victory in ‘rigged’ parliamentary election
- AfD wins German regional election, amplifying energy crisis concerns
- Azeez Al-Shaair honours slain Palestinian girl Wafaa Akila during NFL game
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Pope Leo XIV to visit France from 25 September for official engagements
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Pope Leo XIV to visit France from 25 September for official engagements
Papal Visit
Pope Leo XIV is making his first official visit to France from 25 to 28 September, which includes a procession through Paris with up to 250,000 expected attendees.
Pope Leo XIV is making his first official visit to France from 25 to 28 September, which includes a procession through Paris with up to 250,000 expected attendees.
Significant Attendance
Up to 250,000 people are anticipated to attend the papal procession in Paris, alongside 80,000 ticket holders for the youth mass at Stade de France, indicating substantial public engagement.
Up to 250,000 people are anticipated to attend the papal procession in Paris, alongside 80,000 ticket holders for the youth mass at Stade de France, indicating substantial public engagement.
Official Response
“Coming to the capital is a big event because it hasn’t happened in a long time; it fuels people’s enthusiasm,” said Charles Mercier of EPHE.
“Coming to the capital is a big event because it hasn’t happened in a long time; it fuels people’s enthusiasm,” said Charles Mercier of EPHE.
Pope Leo XIV set for first official visit to France, with huge crowds expected in Paris
Published on
Pope Leo XIV is making his first official visit to France from 25 to 28 September.
In the French capital, excitement is building.
According to the police prefecture, up to 250,000 people are expected to line the streets along the route of Leo XIV’s procession through the streets of Paris. Around 80,000 people have also bought tickets to attend the youth mass that is set to be held at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, in the north of the city.
Paris has not welcomed a pope since 2008, when Benedict XVI visited.
“Pope Francis visited Strasbourg, Marseille, and Corsica, which are on the outskirts of France,” said Charles Mercier, director of studies in the history and sociology of Catholicism at the École pratique des hautes études (EPHE) in Paris.
“But coming to the capital is a big event because it hasn’t happened in a long time. It fuels people’s enthusiasm, and I think that’s one of the reasons for the success of this visit.”
Another reason for the enthusiasm is the pontiff’s popularity, which extends far beyond French Catholics. Elected in May 2025, Leo XIV has presented himself as a pope who is connected and attentive to everyone.
Leo XIV will be in Paris and the wider Île-de-France region for two days.
He is due to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée palace on Friday. He is also set to meet with “the authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps” before heading to UNESCO.
On Sunday, he is expected in Lourdes, where he is due to speak with seven victims of sexual abuse within the Church.
Among them is a former pupil at the nearby school of Notre Dame de Bétharram. In 2024, more than 230 victims filed complaints over corporal punishment and sexual abuse at the Catholic institution in southwestern France.
Trump bans CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House access amid tensions
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Media Lens: Trump bans CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House access amid tensions
Donald Trump bans CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from White House.
Donald Trump has banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House. This decision has led to a lawsuit from these networks citing First Amendment rights, according to coverage in AP News and Yahoo.com.
What happened
Donald Trump has banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, citing issues regarding their coverage. In response, these media organizations are suing, claiming the ban violates their First Amendment rights.
This legal action follows the recent suspension of White House pool coverage by various U.S. TV networks in protest of the media ban imposed by Trump. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the press concerning access and reporting.
Key facts
- Donald Trump has banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House.
- These media organizations have responded by suing Trump for denying them access.
- The lawsuit cites First Amendment rights regarding freedom of the press.
- The bans have led to US TV networks suspending White House pool coverage.
Where coverage differs
- Outlet A emphasizes the lawsuit aspect against Trump’s media ban, while Outlet B emphasizes the overall implications for press freedom.
- Outlet C foregrounds the First Amendment context rather than the specific media outlets involved.
- Outlet D prioritizes the reactions from legal experts over the details of the ban itself.
One story, four angles
AP News – CNN, MS NOW, Politico sue over denied White House access, citing First Amendment
Publication: AP News | Primary framing pattern: legal | Tone: serious | Intensity: 7/10 | Sentiment: neutral | Legal precision: high
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Espresso Shot: The article reports on a lawsuit filed by CNN, MS NOW, and Politico against the Trump administration for denying press access to the White House. The focus is on the First Amendment rights concerning free press and government transparency.
Publication emphasis: The essential issue is the implications for press freedom and the rights of journalists.
Framing analysis: The article foregrounds the legal aspect of the lawsuit, particularly emphasizing First Amendment rights, while the implications for public access to information are secondary.
Bias: Selection: Focus on First Amendment context. Language: Legal terminology is utilized. Omission: Lack of competing viewpoints or rationale from the Trump administration.
Assessment: The article presents a clear legal framework surrounding the press’s rights, underscoring the significance of the First Amendment in journalistic practice.
Yahoo News – CNN, MS NOW and Politico are suing Trump over White House ban
Publication: Yahoo News | Primary framing pattern: political | Tone: critical | Intensity: 8/10 | Sentiment: negative | Legal precision: high
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Espresso Shot: The article highlights the lawsuit from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico against President Trump, criticizing his administration’s actions as an affront to press freedom and an attempt to stifle dissenting voices in the media.
Publication emphasis: The significant focus is on the political implications of Trump’s media ban, particularly regarding its threat to democratic norms.
Framing analysis: The piece foregrounds the political ramifications of press access restrictions, with a secondary emphasis on the legal context of the lawsuit.
Bias: Selection: Emphasis on the political critique of Trump’s actions. Language: Language used shows disapproval. Omission: Limited insights on Trump’s justifications or potential defense arguments.
Assessment: This presentation stresses the negative consequences of the Trump administration’s media ban, framing it within a broader concern for democracy and accountability.
The Guardian – US TV networks suspend White House pool coverage over Trump media ban
Publication: The Guardian | Primary framing pattern: moral | Tone: concerned | Intensity: 7/10 | Sentiment: negative | Legal precision: moderate
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Espresso Shot: The report discusses how major TV networks have paused their White House pool coverage in response to Trump’s media ban, highlighting the ethical implications for journalistic integrity and accountability in government scrutiny.
Publication emphasis: The moral obligations of the press to ensure transparency and inform the public are emphasized.
Framing analysis: The article foregrounds the moral imperatives of press access and accountability, with secondary emphasis on the practical consequences of the coverage suspension.
Bias: Selection: Focus on the ethical dimensions of press freedom. Language: Strong moral language is utilized. Omission: Lack of perspectives from the White House or Trump supporters.
Assessment: The Guardian effectively frames the suspension of coverage as a significant moral issue regarding press freedoms and the public’s right to know.
Food for thought
AP News presents the strongest legal framing of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico’s lawsuit against Trump, highlighting their claim of First Amendment infringement due to denied access to White House events. Conversely, Yahoo News adopts the most escalatory framing, portraying a media landscape where Trump’s restrictions underscore a dramatic clash with press freedoms. The juxtaposition of these approaches showcases differing emphases: one prioritizing legal implications while the other evokes a heightened sense of conflict between media rights and governmental authority. Both perspectives reflect broader debates about press access and accountability within the current political climate. The facts do not change. What changes is where scrutiny lands.
Ontario education unions to hold strike vote in November
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Get you up to speed: Ontario education unions promise ‘proportional response,’ schedule 3rd strike vote
The Ontario School Board Council of Unions, a part of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, announced a strike vote will take place in November. This decision was made public on Sunday.
The Ontario School Board Council of Unions will conduct a strike vote in November to gauge support among members. This development comes amid ongoing negotiations with the Ontario government regarding wages and working conditions.
The Ontario School Board Council of Unions confirmed plans for a strike vote set for November. This decision follows ongoing discussions regarding labour conditions and is expected to impact negotiations with educational authorities in the province.
What remains unclear — The specifics of the issues prompting the strike vote have not been detailed.
Ontario education unions to hold strike vote in November
On Sunday, the Ontario School Board Council of Unions, a part of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, announced it would hold a strike vote in November.
Iran warns geography of war could expand if US conducts further attacks
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Get you up to speed: Live Updates: Iran warns “geography of the war” would expand in response to any new U.S. assault
U.S. embassies in Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar issued security alerts for American citizens, citing increased tensions in the Middle East. The alerts advised Americans to “exercise heightened vigilance” amidst the ongoing conflict involving Saudi Arabia and Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen, which officials noted “has the potential to escalate rapidly.”
U.S. embassies have not provided specifics regarding potential evacuation plans for American citizens. As tensions have escalated, the security alerts reflect a heightened concern for travel disruptions in the region due to ongoing conflicts.
U.S. embassies in the Middle East have urged American citizens to “exercise heightened vigilance” amid rising tensions, warning of potential travel disruptions and the complex security environment following increased fighting between Saudi Arabia and Houthi militants. The Saudi coalition spokesperson, Turki al-Malki, reported that Saudi forces intercepted a ballistic missile targeting Riyadh, highlighting the ongoing risk of escalation in the region.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain what specific measures the U.S. embassies will implement to address the heightened security concerns.
Iran warns geography of war could expand if US conducts further attacks
U.S. embassies across the Middle East early Sunday morning local time issued security alerts for American citizens in the region.
“Due to tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation,” said the alerts issued by embassies in Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
The alerts did not state a specific threat, but called for Americans to “exercise heightened vigilance and be aware of potential flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions.”
They cited the recent fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen, noting that the conflict between the two sides “has the potential to escalate rapidly.”
Turki al-Malki, a spokesperson for the Saudi coalition fighting the Houthis, said in an earlier statement posted on X that Saudi forces had intercepted a ballistic missile fired at the capital city Riyadh on Saturday.
In recent weeks, fighting has intensified between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who have taken control of vast swaths of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline, along with several islands in the critical Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a move which has put more pressure on an already stressed global oil supply.
Saudi Arabia’s crucial East-West oil pipeline was damaged by drone strikes earlier this month believed to have been conducted by Iran-backed militias operating in Iraq, although no group has taken credit for the attacks.
The Houthis have attempted a blockade on Saudi ports since July.
Body language expert analyses Earl Spencer’s hand gestures in interview
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Get you up to speed: Body language expert reveals telltale hand gesture Earl Spencer used in bombshell interview | News UK
Earl Spencer, brother of Princess Diana, made allegations about King Charles during a BBC interview, stating the King appeared “giddy” after Diana’s death and suggested, “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.” Body language expert Judi James noted Spencer’s use of a “precision pinch” gesture while recounting his claims.
Earl Spencer’s latest interview provided further insight into his relationship with Princess Diana, recounting the alarming progression of news he received regarding her 1997 car crash. He suggested that the contents of his memoir would not surprise Princes William and Harry, while acknowledging that some family secrets remain unspoken.
Earl Spencer has defended his memoir following Buckingham Palace’s statement concerning “the pain of fraternal grief,” asserting that the details of his accounts are accurate. As the controversy intensifies, he hinted that while there may be unspoken Royal family secrets, he has no plans to reveal further information, stating, “That’s me done.”
What remains unclear — It is uncertain whether Earl Spencer will elaborate on the ‘family secrets’ he hinted at during the interview.
Body language expert analyses Earl Spencer’s hand gestures in interview
A body language expert has spotted a revealing finger gesture used byPrincess Diana’s brother during his interview on Sunday evening.
Earl Spencer used a conversation with the BBC to repeat his incendiary allegations that King Charles sounded ‘giddy’ after Diana’s death, and told him ‘Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough’.
He was also defending his memoir after Buckingham Palace’s blistering statement that ‘the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory’.
Body language pro Judi James said the Earl repeatedly used a crucial ‘pinch’ gesture ‘between his index finger and thumb’ known as the ‘precision pinch’.
She told WTX: ‘This is a gesture that implies accuracy of detail and he even uses it as a baton gesture at one point to appear to convey the message that he is being forensically accurate in what he says.’
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He uses the motion when he is challenged about his claim that then Prince Charles was ‘giddily elated like a lottery winner’ after Diana’s car crash death in 1997.
Pinching his fingers, the Earl says: ‘Every word I report exactly as I saw it and felt it at the time’.
According to Judi James, another crucial body language tell the Earl uses it that he ‘tends to relate the events he writes about by partially “living” them.’
This includes miming picking up the phone when he talking about taking the two phone calls from Charles after Diana’s death.
The miming and ‘precision pinch’ gestures combine forces later in the interview when he is asked about his claim that Charles told him ‘Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough’ after a row over the funeral.
The Earl told Laura Kuenssberg: ‘After a stunned silence, I said you cannot believe you just said that, and I hang up on him.’
As he tells the BBC host that, Princess Diana’s brother pinches his fingers before imitating hanging up the phone with his hands.
James told WTX: ‘His delivery of his conversations with Charles also comes with that style of reliving the incident, complete with an upwardly pointed index finger and the precision pinch gesture before he mimes hanging up the phone.’
The expert does stress that ‘body language cannot define between truth and lie.’
However she added: ‘But Spencer appears happy to “bare all” visually here in terms of his eye expression and open body posture.’
James also said his ‘over his display [in the interview] is generally congruent’.
She continued: ‘When he does show emotion openly as his eyes fill with tears at the thought of his happy childhood with Diana, the sadness does look authentic as we see close-up his eyes slowly redden and moisten and hear his voice crumble and break.’
The explosive interview also saw the Earl reveal that the revelations in his book ‘will not be a surprise’ to William and Harry.
He also recounted the night he got the call from his sister Lady Jane Fellowes, who said Princess Diana had been in a crash but ‘it’s not too serious’.
But as he looked for updates he got more distressing news from his sister.
‘And then my sister Jane said, “I’m afraid she’s died.” It started… as a little prang, and then it became a broken leg, perhaps a head injury, and then death.’
He explained Diana rang up her brother to tell him the reason she was getting divorced, telling him: ‘My husband is in love with his valet’.
‘I told her, “I do worry that the public will really be, in a way, angry with you for killing the fairy tale that they’ve all subscribed to”, and those are the words she said to me.’
Spencer even hinted there could be more Royal family secrets which have been ‘left unsaid.’
BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg asked him: ‘Maybe some family secrets are better left unsaid.’
He replied: ‘They certainly are, and they have been left unsaid.’
But will it be Earl Spencer who will spill the beans? He claims: ‘Nope, that’s it. That’s me done.’
Putin secures landslide victory in ‘rigged’ parliamentary election
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Get you up to speed: Putin wins ‘sham’ election – what does it mean for Nato? | News World
Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party secured almost 58% of the vote in the recent State Duma elections, which have been widely condemned as rigged by competitors. In Ukraine, major attacks targeted civilian facilities in Zaporizhzhia, including an historic university building, amid ongoing military actions.
Western intelligence agencies are closely monitoring developments following the elections, anticipating that Russia may initiate military actions against NATO in the coming months. The Supreme Court’s ban of the Yabloko party from participating in the elections has raised concerns about the legitimacy of the electoral process and allegations of widespread fraud.
Nikolai Rybakov, leader of the anti-war party Yabloko, asserted that his party would have attained second place had they not been banned from participating, claiming, “Millions of people publicly declared their support for Yabloko – for peace, freedom, and a life free from fear.” Meanwhile, Czech security chief Michal Koudelka warned of a potential small-scale invasion of NATO territory in the coming months, urging vigilance against escalating military actions from Russia.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain how officials will respond to the allegations of fraud and manipulation during the recent parliamentary election.
Putin secures landslide victory in ‘rigged’ parliamentary election
Vladimir Putin has nabbed a landslide victory in Russia’s recent ‘rigged’ parliamentary election amid rising fears he will attack Nato in the coming months.
There are concerns he will use the ‘sham’ result to double down on his war in Ukraine, with officials claiming the results could give him the backing he needs for further military aggression.
Putin cast his vote online in the country’s State Duma elections last week, prompting plenty to mock his ‘vintage’ computer skills.
There have been repeated attacks by Russia near the Nato border, with countries surrounding war-torn Ukraine remaining vigilant to potential escalation.
Putin’s United Russia party scored almost 58% of the vote with almost all ballots counted, a far better result than five years ago.
This has given the party an overwhelming majority in parliament, with competitors claiming the vote was rigged.
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Competitors have accused Putin’s party of ‘rigging’ the vote (Picture: Izvestia/e2w)
Nikolai Rybakov, the leader of the country’s only anti-war party Yabloko – which was almost totally banned from taking part in the poll – said he would have won second place had the vote been fair.
Rybakov said: ‘We would have secured second place in the State Duma elections.’
Without the Supreme Court ban on Yabloko, he claimed he would have humiliated Putin and shown a lack of overwhelming support for his war and associated repression in Russia.
‘It is a fact: our campaign became a political event of global significance,’ he said. ‘Millions of people publicly declared their support for Yabloko – for peace, freedom, and a life free from fear.’
Veteran Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov accused the Kremlin of manipulation to ensure its majority in the State Duma, or Russian parliament, acting as a rubber stamp for Putin.
Zyuganov’s party came in second place with around 14% of the vote.
Political analyst Kirill Rogov accused the Putin regime of a 55-55 strategy – manipulating the poll so the turnout was at least 55% and the share of the vote for United Russia at least 55%.
The Putin regime has been accused of employing a 55-55 strategy to ensure they won the vote (Picture: EPA)
‘Putin and the hardliners intervened in the Duma campaign,’ he claimed. ‘They decided that the elections should become a demonstration of support for Putin’s course of escalation.’
Among the absurd results, Putin’s repressive warlord Ramzan Kadyrov had more than 99% of the vote as he stood again as head of Chechnya.
There are now huge fears Putin will stage a new mobilisation campaign. Either openly or by stealth, to send yet more men to his war where 500,000 have already died with another million wounded.
Anti-war politician Nikolai Rybakov claimed that he would have surged into second place in a fair contest (Picture: Yabloko; e2w news)
Western intelligence agencies have predicted such a strategy after the election was over.
And the head of the Czech Republic’s BIS security service Michal Koudelka warned in an interview with The Guardian that a small-scale invasion of Nato territory bordering Russia could come in ‘months, not years’ along with more drone incursions as seen in recent weeks.
‘It’s possible. It could involve a limited incursion, false-flag provocations, a massive influence campaign,’ he said.
‘A lot of people are doing everything they can to make sure this doesn’t happen.”
Ukraine’s biggest attack
The final day of the three-day election was marred by Ukraine’s biggest attack of the war on the Moscow region.
Overnight, Ukraine released footage of its domestically produced Flamingo cruise missiles launched towards the Russian capital for the first time – in a warning that Putin faces more such strikes if he continues to hold out against a peace agreement.
But Russia staged new brutal attacks on Ukraine, signalling the Russian dictator has no intention of halting his war.
In Zaporizhzhia, an historic university building was destroyed in a strike.
The war in Ukraine has continued to rage on(Picture: social media; east2west news)
Other civilian facilities, including apartment buildings and a major shopping centre, were struck in scenes of carnage.
A major fire ignited in warehouses at Boyarka, near Kyiv, following Russian strikes. A logistics hub and gas distribution station were targeted.
Hours after a telephone appeal from Donald Trump to avoid strikes on Russian diesel production facilities in Russia amid a world shortage, Volodymyr Zelensky’s forces hit Ufa Oil Refinery in Russia’s Bashkortostan region.
The Ufa refinery produces diesel fuel, as well as petrol, aviation fuel, fuel oil and liquefied petroleum gases. Kyiv believes this is the best way of harming Putin’s war machine.
In the Trump-Zelensky call, ‘the word diesel came up many times’. The pair are due to meet in New York this week.
The election was hit by fraud allegations of ballot stuffing and other irregularities seen as being in favour of United Russia.
In one polling station, ballots pre-marked for United Russia were seen.
Voters on Sunday were told – falsely – that they had already cast their ballots.
In Moscow, huge queues formed on Sunday amid a mysterious breakdown in the electronic voting system, which has made it impossible to issue ballots.
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