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- World’s oldest shipwreck discovered off Kekova Island, Turkey
- Marine Le Pen plans to challenge EU authority if elected president
- Quebec publishing house supports author amid AI writing allegations
- Judge halts Trump’s White House ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico citing First Amendment rights
- Special constable dismissed for theft of £1.20 worth of carrier bags from Sainsbury’s
- Mother raises nearly £300,000 for son’s life-saving surgery in the US
- Natacha Polony announces candidacy for 2027 French presidential election
- Russia escalates attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure amid winter.
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World’s oldest shipwreck discovered off Kekova Island, Turkey
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Get you up to speed: World’s oldest shipwreck found off coast of holiday hotspot | News World
The world’s oldest known shipwreck, dating back between 4,400 and 4,700 years, has been discovered near Kekova Island off the coast of Antalya, Turkey. Archaeologists found ancient storage pots containing residue and several large stone anchors at a depth of around 30 metres.
The shipwreck, located approximately 30 metres beneath the surface off Kekova Island near Antalya, was utilised for transporting goods across the Mediterranean during the Early Bronze Age. Diver-recovered ceramic pots, believed to date between 4,400 and 4,700 years ago, contain a significant residue prompting further analysis to identify their original contents.
Researchers have expressed excitement over the discovery of the world’s oldest known shipwreck off the coast of Turkey, with Professor Hakan Öniz stating that it serves as a “time capsule at the bottom of the sea.” The artefacts recovered, including ceramic storage pots, will be carefully conserved as experts aim to analyse the thick residue found within them, potentially shedding light on ancient trading practices.
What remains unclear — Scientists have yet to determine the exact composition of the residue found in the ancient storage pots.
World’s oldest shipwreck discovered off Kekova Island, Turkey
The wreck dates back to the same time the Pyramid of Giza was being built (Picture: Anadolu via Getty Images)
The world’s oldest known shipwreck has been discovered off the coast of Turkey.
Archaeologists have been left stunned after finding the wreck, which dates back between 4,400 and 4,700 years, placing it in the Early Bronze Age – around the same time the Great Pyramid of Giza was being built.
Although the wooden hull has disappeared, ancient storage pots on the wreck have been found containing mysterious traces of their original contents.
Researchers believe that the vessel, which was found on the seabed near Kekova Island off Antalya in southern Turkey, was around 10 metres long and used to transport goods across the Mediterranean.
‘The shipwreck is a time capsule at the bottom of the sea,’ said Professor Hakan Öniz of Akdeniz University, who led the expedition by the Mediterranean Archaeology Association.
The wreck lies around 30 metres beneath the surface, with artefacts scattered across an underwater slope.
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Researchers believe that the vessel was around 10 metres long (Picture: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Among the discoveries were three large stone anchors and more than 30 ceramic storage pots, known as amphorae.
With no surviving wood available for radiocarbon dating, researchers established the wreck’s age by studying the distinctive shape and design of the pottery.
The pots feature two handles, a ridge around the middle and a flat base. Their design matches similar vessels discovered in Egypt and the Middle East that date back between 4,400 and 4,700 years.
‘Comparing the decoration techniques … we can definitely say our wreck is Early Bronze Age. This is 100%,’ Professor Öniz said.
Divers brought the pots to the surface, where experts are now carefully conserving them after thousands of years underwater.
But one discovery has left researchers particularly astonished: some of the vessels still contain a thick, glossy residue.
Dr Karin Sowada, an archaeologist from Macquarie University in Australia, examined the pots after they were recovered.
The ship was found on the seabed near Kekova Island off Antalya in southern Turkey (Picture: Anadolu via Getty Images)
The wreck lies around 30 metres beneath the surface (Picture: Anadolu via Getty Images)
‘I looked inside and nearly fainted. I could not believe how much [residue] was visible,’ she said.
‘It wasn’t just like spots … a lot of this material was still remaining.’
Scientists are now trying to establish what the residue is, with olive oil, wine and tree resins among the possibilities.
However, Dr Sowada warned that the contents might not be what was originally transported.
The pots could have been emptied and reused over many years, meaning the residue might have come from a later use.
‘These jars are huge – they’re not things that you just ship away and then never see again,’ she said.
‘People would have emptied these jars on arrival and potentially used them for many, many, many years.’
The discovery could also offer a rare glimpse into trading networks during the Early Bronze Age.
Researchers believe the ship began its journey somewhere along the eastern Mediterranean coast and may have been heading towards the ancient city of Troy, in what is now north-western Turkey, or the Minoan civilisation on Crete.
Sailing around Kekova Island was dangerous, with powerful currents and winds responsible for numerous shipwrecks over the centuries. Hundreds of wrecks have been found in the surrounding area.
For Professor Öniz, the discovery is also a chance to connect with the people behind the ancient voyage.
‘We are the first humans who [have] touched these objects after 5,000 years,’ he said.
He added that he often thinks about the sailors, the people who made the pots and those who carried them aboard – as well as the families who may have waited in vain for the crew to return.
The find overtakes a wreck off the Greek island of Dokos, previously considered the world’s oldest known shipwreck, which dates back around 4,200 years.
It is different from the oldest known shipwreck with some of its wooden structure still preserved, found in the Black Sea off Bulgaria. That vessel dates back around 2,400 years.
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Marine Le Pen plans to challenge EU authority if elected president
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Marine Le Pen plans to challenge EU authority if elected president
Funding Cap
Marine Le Pen proposed capping France’s net contribution to the EU budget at €5 billion annually, a decrease from the current €8 billion level.
Marine Le Pen proposed capping France’s net contribution to the EU budget at €5 billion annually, a decrease from the current €8 billion level.
Financial Implications
Marine Le Pen’s proposed cap on France’s EU budget contribution represents a potential saving of €3 billion annually, significantly impacting national fiscal policy and EU budget dynamics.
Marine Le Pen’s proposed cap on France’s EU budget contribution represents a potential saving of €3 billion annually, significantly impacting national fiscal policy and EU budget dynamics.
Le Pen’s Position
“This funding will stop, and it is a matter of honesty to tell [Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy] the truth,” Marine Le Pen stated regarding French support for Ukraine.
“This funding will stop, and it is a matter of honesty to tell [Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy] the truth,” Marine Le Pen stated regarding French support for Ukraine.
Le Pen lands in Brussels lashing out at the European Commission
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French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is preparing to challenge the EU’s powers if she is elected president next May.
The National Rally leader said the European Commission should stop acting in policy areas she considers outside its remit, including health, security and international diplomacy.
“[The Commission] is like the frog in the fable that puffs itself up to be as big as the ox,” she said, referring to La Fontaine’s fable, at a press conference in Brussels on Monday. It was following a meeting with leaders of Patriots for Europe, the far-right group her party belongs to.
Le Pen, who leads the polls ahead of the presidential election, also said France’s net contribution to the EU budget should be capped at €5 billion a year, a sharp cut from the current level of around €8 billion, according to figures published by the French Senate.
“Being pro-France does not mean being anti-Europe,” she said, setting out several proposals for EU-wide action.
She called for a “real” carbon border tax on imports from countries with weaker environmental standards, with exemptions for products such as fertilisers and coffee that Europe does not produce. She also proposed harmonised taxes on tobacco and alcohol, as well as a common EU corporate tax for large companies, with a single rate of between 20% and 25%.
Le Pen said these measures would help ease the burden on French taxpayers. Last week, she unveiled a plan to save €140 billion over five years, aiming to bring France’s public deficit below 3% of GDP by 2030.
No more money for Ukraine, sanctions relief for Russia
If elected, Le Pen would halt French funding for Ukraine, arguing that France can no longer afford it given the state of its public finances, while pushing for an end to EU sanctions against Russia.
“This funding will stop, and it is a matter of honesty to tell [Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy] the truth,” she said in response to a question from EU News.
Her position would put France at odds with other EU leaders, who are expected to reaffirm their support for Ukraine at a summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.
In February, EU countries agreed a €90 billion loan to cover Ukraine’s budgetary and military needs, with a first tranche of €45 billion due next year. But Ukraine needs around €70 billion in additional funding, its Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko has warned.
Le Pen also broke with the broader EU consensus on the need to step up pressure on Russia to end the war.
As the European Commission prepares its 22nd package of sanctions, Le Pen claimed that the restrictions have hurt European economies more than Russia.
“We were right to say that sanctions would have had no impact on Russia and would have increased the price of the raw materials they sell,” she said, arguing that EU countries have continued buying Russian oil and gas, thereby enriching Moscow.
Quebec publishing house supports author amid AI writing allegations
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Get you up to speed: Quebec publishing house stands by author amid AI allegations
Thélyson Orélien announced that he began writing his novel ”C’était ça ou mourir” in 2017 and confirmed that no part of the work was generated by AI. The statement was published by Boréal on Tuesday.
Thélyson Orélien began writing ”C’était ça ou mourir” in 2017, explicitly stating that no part of the novel was generated by artificial intelligence. Boréal published his statement on Tuesday, confirming the authenticity of his work amidst ongoing discussions about the use of AI in literature.
Thélyson Orélien announced on Tuesday through Boréal that he began writing his novel ”C’était ça ou mourir” in 2017 and emphasised that no part of the work involved artificial intelligence. This statement follows increasing scrutiny regarding the use of AI in literature, with publishers expected to clarify their policies on AI-generated content in upcoming submissions.
What remains unclear — It is not specified how Orélien’s writing process was influenced by his experiences since 2017.
Quebec publishing house supports author amid AI writing allegations
Thélyson Orélien said in a statement published by Boréal on Tuesday he began writing ”C’était ça ou mourir” in 2017 and reiterated that no part of the novel was written by AI.
Judge halts Trump’s White House ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico citing First Amendment rights
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Get you up to speed: Judge blocks Trump’s White House ban targeting CNN, MS NOW and Politico, saying it likely violated First Amendment
A federal judge in Washington blocked President Trump’s attempt to ban journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, confirming these outlets’ access to the grounds indefinitely. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled that the revocation of their press credentials likely violated their Fifth and First Amendment rights.
The White House plans to appeal the judge’s ruling while acknowledging ongoing legal proceedings regarding the access ban. The Justice Department’s arguments have shifted, as the administration initially did not cite national security as a reason for the revocation during the president’s announcement, raising questions about the validity of the administration’s claims.
A White House official confirmed the administration’s intention to appeal U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly’s ruling that grants CNN, MS NOW and Politico continued access to the White House, asserting that the outlets engage in “Fake News.” Meanwhile, Theodore Boutrous, representing the news organisations, emphasized the significant harm caused to the First Amendment by the ban, underscoring the ongoing litigation as it proceeds through the courts.
What remains unclear — It is not specified what specific actions the Trump administration plans to take in their appeal against the judge’s decision.
Judge halts Trump’s White House ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico citing First Amendment rights
Washington — A federal judge on Tuesday blocked President Trump’s attempt to ban CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, maintaining access to the grounds for reporters from the three news organizations indefinitely.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, who was appointed by Mr. Trump, granted the outlets’ request for a preliminary injunction, which will remain in place while the case moves forward. In a 26-page decision, Kelly found that the revocation of their journalists’ hard passes likely violated their Fifth and First Amendment rights.
“It is likely that President Trump’s revocation of Plaintiffs’ hard passes is the sort of action that would deter a reasonable reporter or news organization from publishing stories to which he objects,” Kelly wrote in his decision. “The revocation of Plaintiffs’ hard passes matters a lot as to how, whether, and to what extent they can do their jobs.”
The judge said Mr. Trump’s comments “suggest that he intended the revocation of Plaintiffs’ hard passes to alter their reporting on him, bolstering the case that his action here is sufficient to deter a reporter of ordinary firmness from reporting in the same way she had before.”
A White House official said the administration intends to appeal the decision.
“The Fake News has no place demanding a spot in the President’s Oval Office,” the official said in a statement. “The lies they smear are a disservice to the American public and tear at the very fabric of our Democracy. They’re completely capable of reporting from directly outside.”
Theodore Boutrous, lawyer for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, said the court was right to block the White House from enforcing Mr. Trump’s ban.
“When the President issued his ‘ban on the free press,’ he blatantly and explicitly violated due process and the First Amendment,” Boutrous said in a statement. “Since then, the President has repeatedly, candidly, and consistently admitted in public that he banned our clients from the White House to punish reporting he doesn’t like and to try to force journalists to cover him in ways he prefers. The harm this ban did to our clients, the First Amendment, and the public as a whole is profound.”
The president announced last month his decision to ban journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House grounds because of what he said was their “constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS.” Reporters from the three outlets who showed up at the White House the day after the ban was announced were turned away and had their press credentials taken by the U.S. Secret Service.
The news organizations filed their lawsuit on Sept. 21 and argued the president’s ban retaliated against them because of their news coverage, in violation of the First Amendment. CNN, MS NOW and Politico also argued their reporters were denied their Fifth Amendment right to due process because they were not provided notice that their reporting could lead to their White House access being revoked or the opportunity to respond.
The day after the outlets filed their suit, the White House Press Office sent them letters informing them of the president’s initial decision to revoke their journalists’ press credentials and setting a Sept. 25 deadline for them to respond. The White House argued that reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico violated standards of professionalism and published articles that raised national security concerns.
The White House provided the outlets with lists of pieces that it said “threatened national security and/or spread falsehoods.” But most of the articles were written by journalists who do not have White House hard passes. One of the flagged stories from Politico, which was published in June, was based on a press call organized by the White House. During the call, reporters were instructed to attribute quotes to a “senior administration official,” according to court records.
The news outlets asked Kelly to grant them temporary relief and restore their journalists’ access to the White House, which the judge agreed to do late last month.
His decision then was based on the press organizations’ due process argument. Kelly did not address their First Amendment claims.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico also asked Kelly to grant them longer-term relief, which would remain in place as the litigation plays out.
In a hearing last week, the judge pressed a Justice Department lawyer on the Trump administration’s justifications for the ban and why the government’s argument in court appeared to differ from Mr. Trump’s public justification.
The Justice Department has argued that the president determined the outlets should be denied access to the White House because they violated standards of professionalism and threatened national security. But Mr. Trump has repeatedly attacked the outlets for “negative” coverage of his administration and for publishing “constantly bad stories.”
Mr. Trump “seems to have said publicly and on several occasions” that he was taking action “because of X and Y, and now the government is coming to court saying no, it was actually Z,” Kelly said.
The judge also said the due-process concerns were “the biggest hurdle” for the Justice Department to surmount.
In his decision, Kelly said the Trump administration failed to put forward evidence that Mr. Trump’s decision to revoke hard passes for CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists initially was based on national security grounds, and reiterated that the reporting cited by the White House as raising issues is “commonplace, for better or worse.”
“When he announced the ban with his post on September 18, he did not mention national security. When he was asked later that day about the ‘particular reason’ for his action, he did not mention national security. And while it is true, days later, that he used the phrase ‘national security’ in subsequent social media posts about the ban, that expression appears to have been simply another way for him to describe Plaintiffs’ alleged inaccuracies and unfairness in their reporting about topics like his achievements or electoral success,” he wrote.
Addressing the letters the White House sent to each of the outlets informing them of the ban, Kelly wrote that they “appear to conflate concerns about otherwise protected speech (‘trafficking in verifiable falsehoods about … other issues’) with national security concerns.”
Mr. Trump has for years denounced the media over coverage that he dislikes, calling news outlets “fake news” and lobbing attacks against individual reporters. The president stopped the Associated Press from attending certain events at the White House over its refusal to use the name “Gulf of America” after his executive order changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico.
The AP sued and a federal appeals court allowed Mr. Trump to restrict its access to the Oval Office and Air Force One, places where only a subset of the White House press corps goes. But the appeals court has not yet ruled on the legal merits of the White House’s ban targeting AP journalists.
Mr. Trump’s decision to keep CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists from the entire White House campus marked an escalation of his yearslong feud with the press. When he announced the ban targeting the three outlets, the president warned he could revoke access for “other Fake News Media Outlets.”
CNN and WTX US News are both part of Skydance, the parent company formed by the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery.
Special constable dismissed for theft of £1.20 worth of carrier bags from Sainsbury’s
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Get you up to speed: Voluntary police officer sacked for stealing £1.20 worth of carrier bags from Sainsbury’s | News UK
Volunteer special constable Luke Hodgson has been dismissed by Sainsbury’s and police for failing to pay for carrier bags on three occasions in the UK, amounting to £1.20. The misconduct was confirmed by West Mercia chief constable Richard Cooper, who stated it represents an abuse of trust, leading to Hodgson being placed on the College of Policing’s barred list.
Sainsbury’s special constable Luke Hodgson has been dismissed from both his position at the supermarket and the police service for failing to pay for carrier bags, with the misconduct occurring over a twelve-day period. Following the ruling, he has been placed on the College of Policing’s barred list, preventing future service as a police officer.
Sainsbury’s has dismissed special constable Luke Hodgson for theft after he failed to pay for carrier bags on three occasions, with West Mercia chief constable Richard Cooper stating that such behaviour represents an “abuse of trust”. Hodgson has been placed on the College of Policing’s barred list, preventing him from serving as a police officer in the future.
What remains unclear — The details surrounding the previous incident involving Niamke Doffou and his dismissal have not been fully clarified.
Special constable dismissed for theft of £1.20 worth of carrier bags from Sainsbury’s
A special constable has been sacked by Sainsbury’s and dismissed by police for failing to pay for carrier bags on three occasions.
Volunteer special constable Luke Hodgson was found to have deliberately not paid for carrier bags at Sainsbury’s, amounting to £1.20.
The behaviour happened within twelve days, West Mercia chief constable Richard Cooper said in a misconduct ruling.
He added that Luke Hodgson ‘did know that payment was required for the bags and chose not to offer such payment.’
He said: ‘The public expect nothing more from the police service than for them to be trustworthy.
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‘By way of aggravation, whilst this was not operational dishonesty, it does represent an abuse of trust given SC Hodgson’s position as an employee of the store.
‘There are some mitigating factors. SC Hodgson has lately repaid the amount, but I have found SC Hodgson to have acted dishonestly and to have committed theft, which fundamentally undermines his ability to function as a police officer.
‘This is not compatible with the high standards of integrity that are required of the service.’
Hodgson was dismissed without notice and has been placed on the College of Policing’s barred list.
He will no longer be able to serve as a police officer in the future.
In 2024, a Sainsbury’s worker was sacked after almost 20 years for taking the bags without paying after a night shift.
Niamke Doffou selected the zero bags used option on the self-service checkout as he packed up his £30 shop, an employment tribunal heard.
He was later hauled in front of bosses and dismissed after they watched CCTV of the incident and concluded he could no longer be trusted.
Mr Doffou, a native French speaker who has lived and worked in the UK for nearly two decades, claimed he was ‘tired and unaware of what he was doing’.
But his claim of unfair dismissal was thrown out by a judge who said it was ‘very hard to argue’ with the decision to dismiss after the theft of the bags which are sold to customers for either 30p or 65p.
Mother raises nearly £300,000 for son’s life-saving surgery in the US
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Get you up to speed: Mum’s bid to raise £400,000 for three-year-old’s life-saving surgery | News World
Hannah Silver has raised nearly £300,000 to fund life-saving surgery for her three-year-old son, Sebastian, after UK surgeons stated they could do no more for his multiple heart conditions. Sebastian, who has been treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital, suffered a major cardiac arrest following surgery but survived due to immediate medical intervention.
Hannah Silver has raised £269,384 through a GoFundMe campaign launched on September 24, leaving her with £130,000 still needed for her son Sebastian’s surgery in Boston. Great Ormond Street Hospital has indicated that further surgical options for Sebastian are limited due to the risk involved after his previous cardiac complications.
Hannah Silver’s GoFundMe campaign has raised £269,384 towards her £400,000 target to fund life-saving surgery for her son Sebastian, drawing an overwhelming response from the public since its launch on September 24. As she continues to seek the remaining £130,000, she emphasised her urgent need for support, stating, “I now need to rely on the kindness and generosity of strangers.”
What remains unclear — It is uncertain what will happen if Sebastian does not survive the proposed treatment in the US.
Mother raises nearly £300,000 for son’s life-saving surgery in the US
Hannah Silver has raised almost three-quarters of the money she needs (Picture: Hannah Silver)
A single mum-of-two has raised nearly £300,000 after launching a ‘desperate plea’ to fund life-saving surgery for her three-year-old son.
Hannah Silver is hoping to raise £400,000 for surgery, accommodation and recovery costs for her son, Sebastian, in the US after UK surgeons told her they had exhausted all options for his extremely rare combination of four heart conditions.
Hannah, 42, told WTX: ‘When they told me my son was dying, my heart, body and soul all shattered at the same time.
‘I fell to the floor and couldn’t move. I thought I was going to have to bury my child.’
Since birth, Sebastian has been in and out of Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) due to a combination of criss-cross heart, Congenital Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries (ccTGA), heart holes and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
His time at GOSH ended with the three-year-old suffering a major cardiac arrest following an attempt to treat the conditions. He only survived because his chest was still open after surgery.
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Hannah pictured with Sebastian, three, and her daughter Sidney, five (Picture: Hannah Silver)
Hannah pictured with Sebastian (Picture: Hannah Silver)
Hannah said: ‘By the grace of god, they had a row of doctors literally pumping his heart inside his chest.
‘A lot of that is a blur. To this day, they don’t know what happened. That makes them cautious with Sebastian because he’s already had a heart failure. His heart couldn’t cope without a machine.’
After that, there were only two options: ‘let nature take its course’ or reverse the surgery.
For his mother it was a no-brainer, and after going 90 minutes without oxygen to the brain, he survived.
The surgeons at GOSH are cautious about further surgery as Sebastian’s survival has been considered a ‘miracle’.
Hannah said: ‘He’s already had one miracle. I think he can have one more.’
Hannah hopes Sebastian can have ‘one more’ miracle (Picture: Hannah Silver)
She now hopes to raise the remaining £130,000 needed to access life-changing treatment in Boston.
‘I’m trying to do everything I can,’ she told WTX. ‘I’m in every single Facebook group that I can.
‘I’ve tried to sell my flat for two years for this, but I haven’t been able to. I’ve exhausted my own communities; I now need to rely on the kindness and generosity of strangers.’
The fast response to the GoFundMe fundraiser has overwhelmed Hannah, raising £269,384 of the £400,000 needed since it was launched on September 24.
She said: ‘I was in tears. I just wanted to cry. People’s reaction to it was just amazing.’
Since Sebastian’s birth, life has been on hold for Hannah and her daughter, Sidney.
Hannah says she ‘doesn’t really have the luxury’ of giving up (Picture: Hannah Silver)
Hannah added: ‘You stop thinking and feeling. I need to keep my kid alive. I also have another kid to think of; I don’t really have the luxury to not keep going.’
The situation can be especially difficult for five-year-old Sidney, who cannot fully understand what is going on.
Hannah said: ‘She’s spent the last three years taking a back seat. My kids don’t know any different. Sidney sometimes says, “Let’s not buy any more squishies because we need to save money to save Sebastian.”’
Following the reversal surgery, they have managed to have one almost normal summer.
She said: ‘We went on a Disney Cruise. We’ve never got to be a family and relax. I wanted some family memories where I’m not stressed out, working or trying to take care of the kids.’
Despite the success of reversal surgery, even a more permanent fix across the pond may not work out the way Hannah hopes.
She told WTX: ‘What happens if he doesn’t make it and I’ve got to fly him home? You really have to face your worst nightmares, and it’s really crippling.’
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