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  • Pentagon’s new Office of Religious Affairs under Hegseth: What we know

    Pentagon’s new Office of Religious Affairs under Hegseth: What we know

    • U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the creation of an Office of Religious Affairs at the Department of Defense on Sept. 30, 2026, during a speech he called the “State of the Force” address.
    • Hegseth suggested the Office of Religious Affairs would address urgent spiritual needs among the troops, which he said had long been neglected. He said the office would report directly to him and that budgets would be guaranteed both for chaplaincy and infrastructure, such as “base chapels.”
    • Hegseth said that “less than 5% of our force identifies as non-religious,” without citing his source for the number. A 2019 congressional report found that while 2.3% of the force identified as agnostic or atheist, the affiliation of 24.4% of active duty personnel fell under “Other/Unclassified/Unknown.”
    • Snopes will update this report if, or when, additional information surfaces. We have reached out to the DOD to ask what concrete actions the office will take. We also reached out to the American Humanist Association and are waiting for responses.

    In October 2026, a rumor spread that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had announced the creation of an Office of Religious Affairs at the Pentagon.

    The claim spread on social media, including X. One X post included a video of Hegseth speaking on a stage with a U.S. flag background (archived):

    “Today, at my direction, I am establishing the Office of Religious Affairs,” Hegseth says in the video. “Starting today, and for secretaries of war after me, the Office of Religious Affairs will report straight to the top. No staff filters. No bureaucratic dilution. A direct line to the secretary.”

    Meanwhile, several Snopes readers searched the website seeking more information about the supposed Office of Religious Affairs.

    It is true that on Sept. 30, 2026, Hegseth gave a speech he called the “State of the Force” address. In this speech, he said he had ordered the creation of an office dedicated to religious affairs, which Department of Defense spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed in an X post (archived):

    We reached out to the DOD seeking more details about the initiative and will update this story if we learn more.

    Here’s what we know about the new DOD office so far:

    Office of Religious Affairs

    In his speech, Hegseth said the initiative would address what he described as long-neglected spiritual needs among the troops (starting around the 50:25 mark of the DOD’s recording of the speech):

    After describing how significant the loss of a religious community could be for military personnel assigned to a new location or deployed abroad, Hegseth said that “political correctness and secular humanism” had allowed budgets for religious support to dwindle and infrastructure such as “base chapels” to go into disarray.

    Religious diversity in the force

    Hegseth said that “less than 5% of our force identifies as non-religious,” without citing his source for the number. A 2019 congressional report found that while 2.3% of the force identified as agnostic or atheist, the affiliation of 24.4% of active duty personnel fell under “Other/Unclassified/Unknown” (PDF Page 51). 

    Meanwhile, the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, an organization that advocates for nonreligious military members but is not associated with the DOD, said 2.05% of the force identified as “Humanists” in 2018 (Humanism is a non-theistic belief; Humanists believe in a moral and ethical code without believing in God). That report also said the chaplaincy did not represent the religious diversity of the military, with an overrepresentation of evangelistic Christians, when only 13.31% of the troops identified as such.

    We reached out to the MAAF for comment on the creation of the office. A spokesperson told us the group was in the process of dissolving and directed us to the American Humanist Association, a nonprofit that advocates for secular humanism. We will update this story if the AHA returns our request for a statement on the possible impact of the creation of the office on nonreligious service members.

    In May 2026, the DOD released a list of recognized religions in a memorandum signed by Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata. The memo included 31 religions, down from 211, according to Military.com, the news outlet dedicated to reporting on the U.S. Military. Twenty-two of those 31 were Christian denominations.

    Hegseth then announced the creation of the Office of Religious Affairs, designed to report directly to him in the Pentagon organizational chart. In his announcement, he said (around 52:32 of the video embedded above):

    This won’t be a paper pushing shop. It will have real teeth. It will protect budgets, demand infrastructure, and strengthen religious support. The experts, our chaplains, will finally have an advocate at the highest levels. Policy and resources will serve the mission, not smother the mission. 

    ‘Spiritual readiness’ and ‘spiritual resilience’

    A memo issued on the same day confirmed the creation of the office. It read, in part:

    The Department of War is committed to fulfilling its duty to support the Department’s Service members, their families, and the Department’s civilian personnel in the free exercise of religion as protected by the Constitution of the United States and applicable Federal law. While the Department accomplishes this mission primarily through the chaplaincies of the Military Departments established under title 10, U.S. Code, the establishment of the ORA will ensure resources are adequately provided and, where necessary, policy is properly aligned to prioritize the free exercise of religion and the spiritual readiness across the Total Force.

    Still, Hegseth’s memo said, this effort to support the spirituality of military personnel should not “be construed to compel religious participation or to diminish the free exercise rights of any Service member, civilian employee, or family member of any faith or no faith.” 

    The memo also said the new office had 90 days to present a plan of action to rebuild the spiritual force of the military:

    Within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, the Secretaries of the Military Departments, in coordination with their respective Chiefs of Chaplains, will submit to the Director a comprehensive baseline report of all unfunded and underfunded religious affairs requirements, including, but not limited to, delivery ofreligious ministry, facilities and infrastructure, logistics, chaplain-led programs, chapel youth programs, faith-based homeschool support for military families, programs related to suicide reduction, and contracted services from faith-based non-Federal entities; research, technology, and analytical tools to support spiritual fitness, spiritual readiness, and spiritual resilience; chaplain in-service procurement programs, chaplain and religious support team training and education. 

    For further reading, Snopes examined another announcement Hegseth made that day, the launch of “Project Meridian,” set to study the “future of warfare.”

  • Was Christa Pike’s execution team all women? We investigated

    Was Christa Pike’s execution team all women? We investigated

    • The claim that an all-female team led the botched execution of the Tennessee death row inmate Christa Pike on Sept. 30, 2026, is still under investigation.
    • Pike was taken to a hospital after she appeared to survive receiving two doses of the sedative pentobarbital.
    • While Pike’s lawyer later appeared to confirm that Pike’s reported request for an all-female team to administer her lethal injection had been fulfilled, local media reported that a male doctor had administered Pike’s injections or overseen the attempted execution.
    • Because of the lack of confirmation from official sources to settle those conflicting claims, we could not determine whether the team that attempted to carry out Pike’s execution was all female. Therefore, we leave this claim unrated.
    • Snopes will update this report if additional information surfaces. We contacted the local media outlets that reported the presence of a male doctor at Pike’s execution and await replies to our queries.

    In early October 2026, after the Tennessee Department of Correction failed to execute death row inmate Christa Pike on Sept. 30, 2026, a claim circulated online that Pike’s execution team had been all female. 

    Pike was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in 1996 for the killing of her Jobs Corp training program classmate, 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer. She also was convicted of attempted first-degree murder in 2001 after attacking another inmate.

    The department halted Pike’s execution in the evening of Sept. 30 after she appeared to survive receiving two doses of the sedative pentobarbital. Pike was taken to a hospital and her lawyers said on Oct. 1 that she was in critical condition, The Associated Press reported.

    Some social media users appeared to suggest that there was a connection between the failed execution and the alleged all-female lethal injection team. One X user wrote (archived), “I’m just going to say it, I think that the all-female execution team botched this on purpose.”

    The claim also circulated elsewhere on X (archived). Snopes readers searched our site for more information about the rumor.

    At the time of this writing, conflicting claims circulated about whether an all-female team had carried out Pike’s botched execution.

    Speaking at a news conference after the execution attempt, Pike’s lawyer Randy Spivey appeared to confirm that her execution team had all been women by saying that the team he saw at the execution was “consistent” with a reported request Pike made for an all-female team.

    However, local media in Tennessee reported that Dr. Mark Fowler, a man who also was involved in the botched execution of Tony Carruthers in Tennessee in May 2026, administered the lethal injections or “oversaw” Pike’s attempted execution.

    When reached by Snopes via phone on Oct. 2, Fowler would not comment on whether he was involved in Pike’s attempted execution. The Tennessee Department of Correction also declined to comment on whether Pike had an all-female execution team.

    Given the lack of confirmation from official sources to settle conflicting claims, we leave this claim unrated.

    The Tennessee Department of Correction had not confirmed at the time of this writing exactly what led to the failure to execute Pike. Therefore, it was impossible to say whether an all-female team affected the outcome of the execution.

    Snopes contacted reporters for WSMV and WVLT, the two local news stations that reported Fowler’s apparent involvement in Pike’s attempted execution, to ask how they knew Fowler was present. We also contacted lawyers for Pike for the latest update on her health and case. We await replies to our queries.

    The New York Post reported in September 2026 that Pike had requested an all-female execution team “citing past sexual abuse.” Pike reportedly also said that if her request was not possible she would prefer to be executed by hanging.

    Snopes contacted lawyers for Pike to access a copy of this reported request and await a reply. Spivey appeared to acknowledge the existence of the request when he responded to a question about it during a news conference (archived) after the failed execution (at 33:41):

    MODERATOR: We have a question from Heather Derell. Was she granted the all-female execution staff she requested?

    SPIVEY: I want to be careful with that because I understand the rules around identifying that, and I will say that I think what TDOC has said is that they would make every effort to comply with that, and what I saw was consistent with that.

    At a news conference on Oct. 1, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said (at 0:54, archived) he had called for a “thorough and comprehensive and third-party review and investigation into the protocol” at the execution attempt. Lee also said that the state’s last planned execution of the year would not take place while that investigation was ongoing.

    Pike appealed to Lee for clemency and to have her death sentence converted to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Sept. 14. Lee rejected that appeal on Sept. 28.

    Sources

    ‘Christa Pike Requests Clemency Ahead of September 30 Execution Date; Experts’ Amicus Brief Points to “Substantial Risk” of Re-Traumatization’. Death Penalty Information Center, https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/christa-pike-requests-clemency-ahead-of-september-30-execution-date-experts-amicus-brief-points-to-substantial-risk-of-re-traumatization. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

    Cohen, Li. ‘Christa Pike Live Updates: What to Know as She Remains in “Critical Condition” after Failed Execution and Her ‘grotesque’ 1995 Torture, Murder of Classmate’. Https://Www.Wsmv.Com, 1 Oct. 2026, https://www.wsmv.com/2026/10/01/christa-pike-live-updates-what-know-she-remains-critical-condition-after-failed-execution-her-grotesque-1995-torture-murder-classmate/.

    COLLINS, JEFFREY. ‘What to Know about Christa Pike and Her Failed Lethal Injection Execution Attempt in Tennessee’. The Associated Press, 2 Oct. 2026, https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-execution-what-to-know-christa-pike-8a834e15b8f2d5397b7620bc33d0ec10.

    Death Row Inmate Christa Pike Petitions Clemency Ahead Sept. 30 Execution Date. 26 Sept. 2026, https://nypost.com/2026/09/26/us-news/death-row-inmate-christa-pike-petitions-clemency-ahead-sept-30-execution-date/.

    ‘Governor Bill Lee Denies Clemency for Christa Pike, Refusing to Stop Tennessee’s First Execution of a Woman in More Than 200 Years’. Death Penalty Information Center, https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/governor-bill-lee-denies-clemency-for-christa-pike-refusing-to-stop-tennessees-first-execution-of-a-woman-in-more-than-200-years. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

    Hale, Steven. ‘Tennessee Doctor Was Unable to Facilitate Lethal Injection’. Nashville Banner, 22 May 2026, https://nashvillebanner.com/2026/05/22/tony-carruthers-lethal-injection-doctor-qualifications/.

    Morgan-Rumsey, Camruinn, and Kassidy Brown. ‘Doctor Involved in Tony Carruthers’ Botched Execution Administered Christa Pike’s Lethal Injection — and She’s Still Alive’. Https://Www.Wvlt.Tv, 1 Oct. 2026, https://www.wvlt.tv/2026/10/01/doctor-involved-tony-carruthers-botched-execution-administered-christa-pikes-lethal-injection-shes-still-alive/.

    ‘Pentobarbital, the Drug Used in Tennessee’s Failed Execution, Has Come under Past Scrutiny’. The Associated Press, 1 Oct. 2026, https://apnews.com/article/pentobarbital-tennessee-execution-pike-9b160ff13c3d26942d19c02e53baa4ed.

    WBIR Channel 10. ‘LIVE | Christa Pike’s Attorneys Hold Press Conference after Her Failed Execution Attempt’. Youtube, 1 Oct. 2026, https://www.youtube.com/live/3yTHDrphcpY?t=2021s.

    Women on Death Row. https://www.tn.gov/correction/about-us/executions/women-on-death-row.html. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

    WVLT News. ‘Gov. Lee Halts Tennessee Executions After Christa Pike Attempt Fails’. YouTube, 1 Oct. 2026, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaSAzt5UkWI&t=54s.
     

  • What has happened to ‘Cornell 7’ after lawsuit accused them of rape?

    What has happened to ‘Cornell 7’ after lawsuit accused them of rape?

    • The claim that male students who were accused of raping a female student at Cornell University were fired from their jobs or expelled from Cornell is still under investigation. 
    • Snopes readers asked us to determine what happened to each of the seven accused, including whether the university penalized them or their employers fired them. 
    • A spokesperson for Cornell said via email that the university issued suspensions for some students and expelled others but did not specify which students received which penalties. Cornell did not respond to our specific questions about each student. 
    • Using the university database, social media posts, a lawyer’s statements and college news reporting, Snopes was able to determine that at least one of the accused was still a student on campus. Three others were alumni at the time of the September 2026 lawsuit, while the remainder have an undetermined status at the university. 
    • Snopes has also reached out to most of the accused students using emails from the college database. We will update this report if we get more information. 

    In September 2026, a lawsuit brought against Cornell University and seven of its male students alleged the men drugged and raped a 20-year-old female student in October 2024. The story spread online along with claims that the accused students faced little or no consequences, though some allegedly lost their jobs or were expelled.

    As Snopes previously reported, the lawsuit named seven male students as defendants: Matthew Ingalls, Johnathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar. According to the lawsuit — filed on behalf of the plaintiff, identified only as Jane Doe, on Sept. 14 — the drugging and multiple assaults occurred the night of Oct. 19, 2024, into the early hours of Oct. 20 at the Xi chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity. 

    According to Doe’s lawsuit, Cornell temporarily suspended the accused students on Nov. 8, 2024, (Page 29) but they were given the opportunity to mitigate their conduct by writing an essay to the university. Cornell has denied that the students only had to write essays as a disciplinary measure. 

    Posts on X, Facebook and Instagram claimed two of the accused students, Sarabia and Ingalls, lost their jobs at Wells Fargo and Data Annotation Tech, respectively. Jane Doe’s attorney also reportedly claimed two of the students were expelled from the university, without naming them. 

    Snopes emailed a spokesperson for Cornell University to determine the enrollment status of each of the accused students. The university declined to respond to specific questions about the accused, directing us to its official statement. The statement says that students were expelled and/or suspended but would not identify which students:

    Temporary suspensions and other restrictive measures were issued when the conduct was reported. Chi Phi, Xi Chapter was closed in 2024 and remains barred from campus. Following the university’s Title IX investigation, sanctions including expulsions and suspensions were issued by a hearing panel comprising trained faculty and staff. Federal privacy law prohibits Cornell from disclosing specific information regarding individual students, and the university is therefore unable to make a public statement regarding any other disciplinary response. 

    Below we break down everything we know about the education and employment status of each of the seven accused students. We will update this story as we learn more.

    Diego Sarabia

    Student newspaper The Cornell Daily Sun and Cornell’s online directory say Sarabia is an alumnus from the class of 2025. 

    Gossip outlet TMZ reported, citing anonymous sources, that Sarabia is no longer employed at a Wells Fargo bank branch in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was not possible to independently verify this ourselves. According to the report, Sarabia had worked at the branch since 2022. Wells Fargo has not publicly commented on the story as of this writing. 

    Snopes has contacted several Wells Fargo representatives to learn more about Sarabia’s role, employment status and the circumstances around his alleged termination. The company has not responded to our queries. 

    Snopes has also reached out to Sarabia through an email address in the student directory.

    Matthew Ingalls

    On Sept. 30, Data Annotation Tech responded to the claim that it had employed one of the accused. The company, which hires independent contractors to train artificial intelligence models, said on Instagram (archived) that one of the accused was blocked from its platform in May 2024, long before the lawsuit. 

    According to its Instagram post, which does not name Ingalls, the claim that the company employed one of the accused is “incorrect.” It continues, “He has had no access to our platform or our company at any point since then.”

    We contacted Data Annotation Tech to learn more about whether Ingalls, specifically, had ever been a contractor or employee there. 

    The Daily Sun reported that Ingalls was a member of the class of 2027. Cornell’s online database initially listed Ingalls as a student but his college affiliation as “not applicable.” When Snopes returned to the directory on Oct. 2, his name had been removed.

    Snopes has reached out to Ingalls through an email address in the student directory. 

    Gillio Lopes

    The Daily Sun reported that Lopes was a member of the class of 2027 and was still listed in the directory as a student in the College of Arts and Sciences. Snopes was unable to confirm the directory listing.

    Footage shared online purported to show a woman confronting Lopes on Cornell’s campus in late September 2026. Lopes’ lawyer confirmed the veracity of the footage to TMZ, saying:

    What has emerged today only reinforces how dangerous it is to rush to judgment. The contemporaneous texts and other evidence now being reported show a far more complicated and evolving factual picture than the one initially presented to the public.

    […]

    Due process exists for precisely this reason. Publicity is not evidence. Repetition is not proof. An accusation cannot be allowed to become its own proof. He is entitled to have the evidence tested through the legal process—not by headlines, social media, or people confronting him in public or threatening his family.

    Snopes has reached out to Lopes’ lawyer, Andrew Miltenberg, to learn more. 

    Winston Lee

    The Daily Sun reported that Lee was a member of the class of 2027 and was still listed in the directory as a student in the College of Arts and Sciences.

    Some social media users claimed (archived) Lee was still on campus and had changed his name to Jay Lee. As of this writing, Snopes was unable to independently verify this claim.

    Snopes was unable to determine Lee’s status via the student directory or to find contact information for him. 

    Scott Kretzschmar

    The Daily Sun reported that Kretzschmar is an alumnus from the class of 2026. When Snopes first looked at the student directory, it listed him as a student, but his college affiliation was “not applicable.” When Snopes returned to the directory on Oct. 2, his name had been removed.

    Snopes has reached out to Kretzschmar through an email address in the student directory. 

    Johnathan Newell

    The Daily Sun reported that Newell was a member of the class of 2027. When Snopes first looked at the student directory, it listed a “Jonathan Newell” (with a different spelling) as a student, but his college affiliation was “not applicable.” When Snopes went back to the directory on Oct. 2, there was no record of a Johnathan or Jonathan Newell.

    Snopes has reached out to Newell through an email address in the student directory. 

    Scott Norris 

    The Daily Sun reported that Norris is an alumnus from the class of 2026. Cornell’s online database initially listed him as a student but his college affiliation as “not applicable.”  When Snopes returned to the directory on Oct. 2, his name had been removed. 

    Snopes has reached out to Norris through an email address in the student directory. 

    For further reading, Snopes has reported on what we know about several claims surrounding the “Cornell 7” lawsuit, including a rumor that the Ivy League had dropped Cornell. 

  • OUSD Stablecoin Goes Live on Solana, Backed by $18M Reserves

    OUSD Stablecoin Goes Live on Solana, Backed by $18M Reserves

    By the Numbers

    The launch of $OUSD is crucial for Solana’s market landscape, as it seeks to enhance its appeal to businesses operating within the ecosystem. The stablecoin’s backing by $18 million in reserves indicates a strong financial foundation, which is vital for fostering user trust and adoption. Given the competitive nature of the stablecoin market, $OUSD’s success will hinge on its ability to attract users away from leading competitors.

    Solana is a high-performance blockchain designed for decentralized applications and crypto projects, facilitating fast transactions and lower fees. The launch of $OUSD underlines Solana’s commitment to expanding its financial services offerings, enhancing its position as a go-to platform for businesses and developers in the crypto space.

    Key Levels to Watch

    Traders and market observers will be keenly watching $OUSD’s adoption rates and market performance in the coming weeks. Key indicators will include the speed of integration into existing platforms and the response from established competitors. Additionally, potential partnerships and user feedback will be critical in determining $OUSD’s trajectory in the stablecoin market. As the competitive landscape evolves, $OUSD’s ability to differentiate itself will be instrumental in shaping its future success.

    The information provided is based on current data and market conditions, which are subject to change.

  • T-Mobile Quietly Drops Starlink Name From Its T-Satellite Website

    T-Mobile Quietly Drops Starlink Name From Its T-Satellite Website

    T-Mobile has quietly removed the Starlink name from its website for T-Satellite, just as the company formally established a joint venture that could foster other satellite competitors. 

    On Thursday, we noticed that the official T-Satellite site had scrubbed “with Starlink” from the logo and introductory statement. It also doesn’t mention SpaceX or Starlink Mobile, the name Elon Musk’s company uses for its direct-to-cell service.

    Coincidentally, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon this week launched the joint venture they announced in May to pool their radio spectrum to support satellite services for phones.

    T-Mobile, SpaceX’s exclusive partner for its satellite-to-phone service in the US, hasn’t said why Starlink was removed from its T-Satellite site. But Starlink still features prominently on a support page and a site advertising the service for business use. 

    Still, T-Mobile executives have made some eyebrow-raising statements recently about T-Satellite and SpaceX; the latter has signaled that it plans to use next-generation satellites to eventually compete with the big three carriers in the US.

    Starlink Mobile

    (Credit: Angel Garcia/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

    For example, T-Mobile CEO Srini Gopalan has repeatedly emphasized satellite as a “complementary” service and that T-Satellite isn’t getting as much use as anticipated.

    Thursday’s announcement about the joint venture also says: “Through combined investment by the three JV partners, provider options will expand, and, as a first step, direct-to-device (D2D) access will improve. This will enhance competition as consumer choices grow in satellite service.”

    Recommended by Our Editors

    T-Mobile’s alliance with AT&T and Verizon has been seen as a counter to SpaceX that could support competitors, such as AST SpaceMobile and Amazon-Globalstar, which are also working on satellite connectivity for consumer phones, giving carriers a way to fill cellular dead zones.

    That said, the joint venture notes “existing carrier-satellite agreements will remain in place and the JV partners can continue connectivity efforts independently.” So it’s possible that T-Mobile could continue to rely on SpaceX for T-Satellite. T-Mobile’s CEO has also confirmed that its exclusivity period for Starlink Mobile in the US doesn’t end this year. Other carriers, including Boost Mobile and US Mobile, plan on offering Starlink Mobile as well.

    T-Mobile isn’t alone in dropping the Starlink mention. Last year, Canadian carrier Rogers Communications also partnered with SpaceX to launch cellular Starlink. But it, too, refrained from mentioning Starlink or SpaceX, possibly to sidestep potential backlash amid ongoing tensions between Canada and President Trump, who has worked closely with Musk.

    About Our Expert

  • US to send third aircraft carrier towards Iran: US official to Al Jazeera

    US to send third aircraft carrier towards Iran: US official to Al Jazeera

    Massive US military deployment in the Middle East includes 50,000 troops, F-35s and Marines to pressure Tehran.

    The United States is deploying a third US aircraft carrier to the waters around Iran, a US official told Al Jazeera, as the war enters its eighth month and both sides weigh escalation and diplomatic engagement.

    The official told Al Jazeera that the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group left its San Diego base on Sunday, bound for the region, followed a day later by the Makin Island Marine Expeditionary Force, carrying more than 2,000 Marines.

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    list of 3 itemsend of list

    By the end of November, the official said, three aircraft carriers and two amphibious landing groups will be positioned around Iran.

    The official said the concentration of force would hand President Donald Trump a wider menu of options if he decides to act.

    Al Jazeera’s Tanya Noury, reporting from Washington, said the new deployment includes thousands of troops and extra air power, including F-35 fighter jets, layered on top of the roughly 50,000 US service members already stationed in the region.

    The goal, Noury said, citing sources inside the Pentagon and White House, is to keep military options “on the table” for Trump regardless of how diplomacy unfolds, with the Pentagon not planning to withdraw any assets even if an agreement with Iran is reached. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said forces are “ready to go” should Trump order new strikes.

    Trump himself has kept the threat alive in public. He told Fox News he believes the US is “going to win the war” with Iran “very soon”, while suggesting in other remarks that a return to military action “is possible” but something he would rather not spell out before November’s midterm elections.

    Washington has paired the show of force with new economic pressure, sanctioning Iran’s rail and automotive conglomerates this week, as the Treasury Department called the new measures an effort to drain what remains of Tehran’s revenue.

    Diplomatic track

    Parallel to the military build-up, Iran has pushed a seven-day roadmap, conveyed through Qatar, that would see it reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume nuclear talks in exchange for an end to the US naval blockade, sanctions relief and a regional ceasefire covering Lebanon and Yemen.

    The plan was then rejected by Trump.

    US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz told NBC the plan’s demand for frozen funds and sanctions relief was non-negotiable, noting “these aren’t just the United States’ sanctions … these are global sanctions”, and pointing to seven UN Security Council resolutions against an Iranian nuclear weapons programme.

    Iran’s response, in the meantime, has been similarly two-pronged.

    Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC that Tehran was “fully prepared” to resume the war, before writing on X that “we did not come to New York to sell a war. We came to forge peace.”

    Analysts say the mixed signals are deliberate.

    Abas Aslani of the Center for Middle East Strategic Studies said the dispute has shifted from whether to negotiate to “who is going to abandon the primary leverage first”, while former US ambassador Richard Schmierer said Trump is caught between delaying past the midterms and the political cost of offering concessions that mirror a June deal he was already criticised for.

    Nearly 70 percent of Americans now say the war has not been worth fighting, according to a new AP-NORC poll, with Trump brushing off the slide in his approval ratings by insisting “the pollsters are corrupt”.

  • Rate Your Top Personal Finance Tools, Stock Trading Services, and Cash Apps

    Rate Your Top Personal Finance Tools, Stock Trading Services, and Cash Apps

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    c/o E. Griffith
    624 Elm St. Ext.
    Ithaca, NY 14850-8786

    Mail Entries must be postmarked by Nov. 23, 2026, and received by Dec. 1, 2026.

    Only one (1) entry per person is permitted, regardless of the entry method used. Subsequent attempts made by the same individual to submit multiple entries may result in the disqualification of the entrant.

    Only contributions submitted during the Sweepstakes Period will be eligible for entry into the Sweepstakes. No other methods of entry will be accepted. All entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned. Entries are limited to individuals only; commercial enterprises and business entities are not eligible. Use of a false account will disqualify an entry. Sponsor is not responsible for entries not received due to difficulty accessing the internet, service outage or delays, computer difficulties, and other technological problems.

    Entries are subject to any applicable restrictions or eligibility requirements listed herein. Entries will be deemed to have been made by the authorized account holder of the email or telephone phone number submitted at the time of entry and qualification. Multiple participants are not permitted to share the same email address. Should multiple users of the same e-mail account or mobile phone number, as applicable, enter the Sweepstakes and a dispute thereafter arises regarding the identity of the entrant, the Authorized Account Holder of said e-mail account or mobile phone account at the time of entry will be considered the entrant. “Authorized Account Holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned an e-mail address or mobile phone number by an Internet access provider, online service provider, telephone service provider or other organization that is responsible for assigned e-mail addresses, phone numbers or the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. Proof of submission of an entry shall not be deemed proof of receipt by the website administrator for online entries. When applicable, the website administrator’s computer will be deemed the official time-keeping device for the Sweepstakes promotion. Entries will be disqualified if found to be incomplete and/or if Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion, that multiple entries were submitted by the same entrant in violation of the Sweepstakes Rules.

    Entries that are late, lost, stolen, mutilated, tampered with, illegible, incomplete, mechanically reproduced, inaccurate, postage-due, forged, irregular in any way or otherwise not in compliance with these Official Rules will be disqualified. All entries become the property of the Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned.

    WINNER SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION: Sponsor shall select the prize winner(s) (collectively, the “Winner”) on or about Dec. 15, 2026, (“Selection Date”) by random drawing or from among all eligible entries. The Winner will be notified via email to the contact information provided in the entry. Notification of the Winner shall be deemed to have occurred immediately upon sending of the notification by Sponsor. Selected winner(s) will be required to respond (as directed) to the notification within seven (7) days of attempted notification. The only entries that will be considered eligible entries are entries received by Sponsor within the Sweepstakes Period. The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to choose an alternative winner in the event that a possible winner has been disqualified or is deemed ineligible for any reason.

    PRIZE: One (1) winner will receive the following prize (collectively, the “Prize”):

    One (1) $250 Amazon.com gift code via email, valued at approximately two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

    No more than the stated number of prize(s) will be awarded, and all prize(s) listed above will be awarded. Actual retail value of the Prize may vary due to market conditions. The difference in value of the Prize as stated above and value at time of notification of the Winner, if any, will not be awarded. No cash or prize substitution is permitted, except at the discretion of Sponsor. The Prize is non-transferable. If the Prize cannot be awarded due to circumstances beyond the control of Sponsor, a substitute Prize of equal or greater retail value will be awarded; provided, however, that if a Prize is awarded but remains unclaimed or is forfeited by the Winner, the Prize may not be re-awarded, in Sponsor’s sole discretion. In the event that more than the stated number of prize(s) becomes available for any reason, Sponsor reserves the right to award only the stated number of prize(s) by a random drawing among all legitimate, un-awarded, eligible prize claims.

    PCMag Readers' Choice: How Our Surveys Help You Find the Best Products

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    PCMag Readers’ Choice: How Our Surveys Help You Find the Best Products

    ACCEPTANCE AND DELIVERY OF THE PRIZE: The Winner will be required to verify his or her address and may be required to execute the following document(s) before a notary public and return them within seven (7) days (or a shorter time if required by exigencies) of receipt of such documents: an affidavit of eligibility, a liability release, and (where imposing such condition is legal) a publicity release covering eligibility, liability, advertising, publicity and media appearance issues (collectively, the “Prize Claim Documents”). If an entrant is unable to verify the information submitted with their entry, the entrant will automatically be disqualified and their prize, if any, will be forfeited. The Prize will not be awarded until all such properly executed and notarized Prize Claim Documents are returned to Sponsor. Prize(s) won by an eligible entrant who is a minor in his or her state of residence will be awarded to minor’s parent or legal guardian, who must sign and return all required Prize Claim Documents. In the event the Prize Claim Documents are not returned within the specified period, an alternate Winner may be selected by Sponsor for such Prize. The Prize will be shipped to the Winner within 7 days of Sponsor’s receipt of a signed Affidavit and Release from the Winner. The Winner is responsible for all taxes and fees related to the Prize received, if any.

    OTHER RULES: This sweepstakes is subject to all applicable laws and is void where prohibited. All submissions by entrants in connection with the sweepstakes become the sole property of the sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. Winner assumes all liability for any injuries or damage caused or claimed to be caused by participation in this sweepstakes or by the use or misuse of any prize.

    By entering the sweepstakes, each winner grants the SPONSOR permission to use his or her name, city, state/province, e-mail address and, to the extent submitted as part of the sweepstakes entry, his or her photograph, voice, and/or likeness for advertising, publicity or other purposes OR ON A WINNER’S LIST, IF APPLICABLE, IN ANY and all MEDIA WHETHER NOW KNOWN OR HEREINAFTER DEVELOPED, worldwide, without additional consent OR compensation, except where prohibited by law. By submitting an entry, entrants also grant the Sponsor a perpetual, fully-paid, irrevocable, non-exclusive license to reproduce, prepare derivative works of, distribute, display, exhibit, transmit, broadcast, televise, digitize, perform and otherwise use and permit others to use, and throughout the world, their entry materials in any manner, form, or format now known or hereinafter created, including on the internet, and for any purpose, including, but not limited to, advertising or promotion of the Sweepstakes, the Sponsor and/or its products and services, without further consent from or compensation to the entrant. By entering the Sweepstakes, entrants consent to receive notification of future promotions, advertisements or solicitations by or from Sponsor and/or Sponsor’s parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, and business partners, via email or other means of communication.

    If, in the Sponsor’s opinion, there is any suspected or actual evidence of fraud, electronic or non-electronic tampering or unauthorized intervention with any portion of this Sweepstakes, or if fraud or technical difficulties of any sort (e.g., computer viruses, bugs) compromise the integrity of the Sweepstakes, the Sponsor reserves the right to void suspect entries and/or terminate the Sweepstakes and award the Prize in its sole discretion. Any attempt to deliberately damage the Sponsor’s website(s) or undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes may be in violation of U.S. criminal and civil laws and will result in disqualification from participation in the Sweepstakes. Should such an attempt be made, the Sponsor reserves the right to seek remedies and damages (including attorney’s fees) to the fullest extent of the law, including pursuing criminal prosecution.

    DISCLAIMER: EXCLUDING ONLY APPLICABLE MANUFACTURERS’ WARRANTIES, THE PRIZE IS PROVIDED TO THE WINNER ON AN “AS IS” BASIS, WITHOUT FURTHER WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. SPONSOR HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL FURTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH RESPECT TO THE PRIZE.

    LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: BY ENTERING THE SWEEPSTAKES, ENTRANTS, ON BEHALF OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR HEIRS, EXECUTORS, ASSIGNS AND REPRESENTATIVES, RELEASE AND HOLD THE SPONSOR its PARENT COMPANIES, SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATED COMPANIES, UNITS AND DIVISIONS, AND THE CURRENT AND FORMER OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, SHAREHOLDERS, AGENTS, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS OF EACH OF THE FOREGOING, AND ALL THOSE ACTING UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE FOREGOING, OR ANY OF THEM (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL AGENCIES AND PRIZE SUPPLIERS) (EACH A “RELEASED PARTY”), HARMLESS FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, ACTIONS, INJURY, LOSS, DAMAGES, LIABILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER (COLLECTIVELY, THE “CLAIMS”) WHETHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED OR UNSUSPECTED, WHICH ENTRANT EVER HAD, NOW HAVE, OR HEREAFTER CAN, SHALL OR MAY HAVE, AGAINST THE RELEASED PARTIES (OR ANY OF THEM), INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CLAIMS ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THE SWEEPSTAKES OR ENTRANT’S PARTICIPATION IN THE SWEEPSTAKES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CLAIMS FOR LIBEL, DEFAMATION, INVASION OF PRIVACY, VIOLATION OF THE RIGHT OF PUBLICITY, COMMERCIAL APPROPRIATION OF NAME AND LIKENESS, INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT OR VIOLATION OF ANY OTHER PERSONAL OR PROPRIETARY RIGHT), AND THE RECEIPT, OWNERSHIP, USE, MISUSE, TRANSFER, SALE OR OTHER DISPOSITION OF THE PRIZE (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CLAIMS FOR PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH, AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE). All matters relating to the interpretation and application of these Sweepstakes Rules shall be decided by Sponsor in its sole discretion.

    DISPUTES: If, for any reason (including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of the Sponsor which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Sweepstakes), the Sweepstakes is not capable of being conducted as described in these Sweepstakes Rules, Sponsor shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and/or to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes. The Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries. The Sponsor is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers, providers, computer equipment, software, or failure of any e-mail or entry to be received by Sponsor on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, or any combination thereof, including, without limitation, any injury or damage to any entrant’s or any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participating or downloading any materials in this Sweepstakes. Because of the unique nature and scope of the Sweepstakes, Sponsor reserves the right, in addition to those other rights reserved herein, to modify any date(s) or deadline(s) set forth in these Sweepstakes Rules or otherwise governing the Sweepstakes, and any such changes will be posted here in the Sweepstakes Rules. Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages to the fullest extent permitted by law. Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Sweepstakes Rules shall not constitute a waiver of any provision.

    As a condition of participating in the Sweepstakes, entrant agrees that any and all disputes that cannot be resolved between entrant and Sponsor, and causes of action arising out of or connected with the Sweepstakes or these Sweepstakes Rules, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, exclusively before a court of competent jurisdiction located in New York, New York, and entrant irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in New York, New York with respect to any such dispute, cause of action, or other matter. All disputes will be governed and controlled by the laws of the State of New York (without regard for its conflicts-of-laws principles). Further, in any such dispute, under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and hereby irrevocably waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys’ fees, other than entrant’s actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e., costs incurred directly in connection with entrant’s participation in the Sweepstakes), and entrant further irrevocably waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased, if any. EACH PARTY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply.

    PRIVACY: Information collected from entrants in connection with the Sweepstakes is subject to Sponsor’s privacy policy, which may be found here.

    SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTION: Although the Sweepstakes may be featured on Twitter, Facebook, and/or other social media platforms, the Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or in association with Twitter, Facebook, and/or such other social media platforms and you agree that Twitter, Facebook, and all other social media platforms are not liable in any way for any claims, damages or losses associated with the Sweepstakes.

    WINNER(S) LIST: For a list of name(s) of prizewinner(s), after the Selection Date, please send a stamped, self-addressed No. 10/standard business envelope to Ziff Davis, LLC, Attn: Legal Department, 360 Park Ave South, Floor 17, New York, NY 10010 (VT residents may omit return postage).

    BY ENTERING, YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND AGREE TO ALL OF THESE SWEEPSTAKES RULES.


  • Amber Heard makes rare Instagram return with impressively long wine list

    Amber Heard makes rare Instagram return with impressively long wine list

    Amber Heard just made an unexpected return to Instagram. The 40-year-old actress shared a rare new photo on Wednesday, September 30, offering followers a small glimpse into her life in Spain. 

    Sitting at a restaurant with what appears to be a seriously extensive wine menu in front of her, Heard kept her caption short and playful: “Now this is my kind of wine list.”

    In the photo, Heard is pictured smiling while looking through the oversized menu. She wore a red satin halter-style top, with her blonde hair swept into a relaxed updo.

     Amber Heard  on October 30, 2009 © WireImage
    Amber Heard on October 30, 2009

    Amber Heard’s Instagram Post Comes After a 14-Week Break

    Heard’s latest Instagram update arrives more than three months after her previous feed post.

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    Her last update came on June 21, when she celebrated completing the KLM Norte Sur 10K race in Madrid. Heard posted a smiling race-day photo after finishing the event, along with Instagram Stories that included a moment with her 5-year-old daughter, Oonagh.

    Her June post was similarly upbeat. Wearing pink athletic gear after completing the 10K, Heard captioned her race-day photo, “First race glow,” alongside heart and Spanish flag emojis.

    This time, there is no major milestone or work announcement attached to the update. Instead, Heard appears to simply be enjoying a meal and an exceptionally substantial wine selection.

    Amber Heard Has Kept a Lower Profile in Spain

    Heard has been living in Spain since 2022 and has largely stepped away from the constant public visibility that surrounded her during her highly publicized legal battle with former husband Johnny Depp.

    
Amber Heard was seen enjoying a family day out with her children in Madrid.© CBO/The Grosby Group
    Amber Heard was seen enjoying a family day out with her children in Madrid.

    Her recent social media activity has consequently offered only occasional glimpses of her day-to-day life.

    Heard’s life in Spain has remained a subject of interest precisely because she reveals relatively little about it herself. Her Instagram account no longer functions as a steady diary of celebrity appearances, projects, and daily updates. 

  • Tilda Swinton to Release Debut Memoir ‘Material Evidence’: “A Book About Curiosity”

    Tilda Swinton to Release Debut Memoir ‘Material Evidence’: “A Book About Curiosity”

    Tilda Swinton is set to publish her debut memoir, Material Evidence, in the fall of 2028.

    The book, published through Farrar, Straus and Giroux, “refuses the shape of a conventional life story, in favor of something closer to how memory actually works: associative, sensory, anchored in things,” according to a post shared on the publisher’s Instagram account on Thursday.

    Unlike many memoirs, Material Evidence will not follow a chronological format. Instead, the book will tell Swinton’s story through objects, including “a christening dress, a letter, a wooden leg, a sweatshirt, a length of embroidery silk [and] a photograph.”

    “Material Evidence is a book about curiosity,” Swinton said in the post. “A trail of breadcrumbs through the forest. And an essay in wonder: I hope that by the time it closes, its reader might feel affirmed and recharged with energy to value the difference between that elusive spirit that we each, uniquely, constitute, which changes constantly — evolving and developing — and that solid matter which stays the same in its essence — and consistently repays and feeds us, the world around us and all the things in it that make up our singular lives.”

    FSG president Mitzi Angel said in a statement posted to Instagram that she has “long admired Tilda Swinton’s unique way of seeing things.”

    “The objects she contemplates in her enchanting book vibrate with meaning and memory — and through that contemplation she brings us the story of life,” Angel added. “Material Evidence is full of humor, insight and appreciation for detail that might otherwise go unnoticed. I couldn’t be more delighted that Tilda Swinton joins FSG with this extraordinarily unusual and moving book.”

    Material Evidence is Swinton’s second published book. The Oscar winner released her first book, Tilda Swinton: Ongoing, in September 2025. An art book highlighting her career, fashion and artistic collaborations, Ongoing was published under Rizzoli International Publications.

    Swinton told press at the Berlin International Film Festival in February 2025 that she was looking forward to doing “something different” after a 40-year career in film. The winner of an Oscar, a BAFTA and a European Film Award, Swinton has starred in several critically acclaimed movies and blockbusters, including Michael Clayton and The Chronicles of Narnia series.

    “I can tell you that when I go home on Monday to Scotland, I’m entering something that I’ve been looking forward to for about 15 years — which is a period of my life when I do something different,” Swinton said at the time. “I can’t quite say what it is, but I can say I’m not shooting a film for the rest of this year. I want more time.”

  • Miami judge rules federal noncitizen voting law violates US Constitution

    Miami judge rules federal noncitizen voting law violates US Constitution

    Judge Leibowitz’s decision underscores state jurisdiction over voter qualifications, limiting federal actions.

    A United States federal judge has ruled that a law criminalising voting by noncitizens is unconstitutional, dealing a setback for President Donald Trump’s administration as it cracks down on alleged election fraud ahead of November’s midterm elections.

    US District Judge David Leibowitz in Miami dismissed a federal case on Thursday against Chelsea Cox, a Florida resident originally from Jamaica who had been charged in October 2025 with illegally voting in the 2020 presidential election.

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    Leibowitz, who was nominated to the bench by former Democratic President Joe Biden, found that under the US Constitution, only individual states, not the US Congress, have the authority to set voter qualifications.

    Since every state already requires US citizenship to vote, he wrote, it is up to Florida, not the Department of Justice, to prosecute Cox for breaking that rule. “Florida can and does,” he wrote, noting the state already has its own laws against the conduct Cox is accused of.

    The ruling applies only to Cox’s case and it does not bind judges elsewhere, though about 45 similar cases remain pending nationwide. At least four other defendants have raised the same constitutional challenge.

    Court filings show Cox entered the US as a tourist in 1999, overstayed her visa, and later used a fraudulent birth certificate from the US Virgin Islands, a US territory in the Caribbean, to obtain a Florida driver’s licence and register to vote in 2012.

    Trump has falsely claimed that noncitizen voting, which is already illegal and rare, cost him the 2020 election, and has cast it as part of a broader effort by Democrats to dilute Republican support.

    The Department of Justice has charged at least 60 people with the offence since Trump returned to office in January 2025.

    Among 129 people charged with “voting by an alien” since 2021, none was accused of conspiring to sway an election, backing a candidate, or being paid to vote, according to Reuters. Most were found to be lawful permanent residents who had registered by mistake or on the incorrect advice of an election worker or government clerk.

    Cox’s lawyer, Bruce Udolf, welcomed the ruling and said he hoped authorities would not now seek to deport her, citing her declining health conditions.