Counterfeit clothing boss ordered to pay back more than £90m of criminal proceeds

The designer of a fake luxury clothes scam has been ordered to pay back £90,503,211 or face more time in prison.  Arif Patel The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) secured a Confiscation Order against Arif Patel, 57, at Chester Crown Court on 28 August 2025. Clothing manufacturer Arif Patel, of Preston, and his criminal gang stole […]

Continue Reading

Irish Aid Worker Gena Heraty and Team Released After Haiti Kidnapping: Statements from Irish Government and her Family

Irish humanitarian Gena Heraty has been released along with seven others, including a child, following their abduction on August 3, 2025, from the St. Hélène orphanage in Kenscoff, Haiti. Heraty, a Mayo native, has spent over three decades working with vulnerable children in the country. In a statement issued by her family, they expressed being […]

Continue Reading

🎓 President Trump Administration Ends Campus Child Care Grants

The U.S. Department of Education has discontinued funding for campus-based child care programs at more than a dozen colleges, following the Trump administration’s proposal to eliminate the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program. CCAMPIS, established in 1998, provided federal grants to colleges and universities to support low-income student parents with on-campus child […]

Continue Reading

📰 CPJ Condemns Belarus Over Journalist’s Sentencing

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned the sentencing of Belarusian freelance journalist Aleh Supruniuk to three years in prison, calling it part of a broader crackdown on press freedom in the country. Supruniuk, affiliated with the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), was convicted of participating in an “extremist group” and authoring over 40 […]

Continue Reading

Deadly Fire at Indonesian Parliament Amid Widespread Protests

Three people were killed and five others injured after protesters set fire to a regional parliament building in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, authorities confirmed on Saturday. The incident occurred Friday evening during escalating demonstrations that have spread across major cities. According to officials, the victims were trapped inside the burning building, while two of the […]

Continue Reading

Fourth United States-Japan-Republic of Korea Trilateral Diplomatic Working Group Meeting on Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Cyber Activities

On August 27 and 28, the United States of America, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (ROK) convened in Tokyo for the fourth meeting of the Trilateral Diplomatic Working Group to counter cyber threats posed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).  Led by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs […]

Continue Reading

Four Hawaii Individuals Convicted of Tax Refund Fraud Scheme | Office of Public Affairs

A federal jury convicted four individuals from Hawaii this week for their roles in a tax refund fraud scheme. The following is according to court documents and evidence presented at trial: from at least January 2015 through September 2018, Rosemarie Lastimado-Dradi, Marciaminajuanequita Dumlao, Elvah Miranda, and Daniel Miranda conspired to defraud the United States. As […]

Continue Reading

Is China replacing the USA as a superpower? An Expert Interview.

In recent decades, China has massively expanded its influence on the global stage—with the goal of reshaping the international order. But what exactly lies behind this claim, and what consequences does it have for Europe, the global power USA, and global power distribution? Kontrast spoke with sinologist Doris Vogl, who analyzes different facets of this […]

Continue Reading

🌍 African Continental Brief: Security, Politics, Business and Human Rights

Geopolitics & Policy South Africa: Malema Found Guilty of Hate SpeechA South African equality court has ruled that Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, committed hate speech in 2022. The court, which adjudicates discrimination cases, found his remarks violated national laws on incitement. Senegal: Landmark Whistleblower Protection Law PassedSenegal’s parliament has approved legislation […]

Continue Reading

What is developmental language disorder, and how do we diagnose it?

An increasing amount of attention is being paid to dyslexia and autism. These neurodevelopmental disorders affect a large number of children, to the point where they have become household names for many families, caregivers and educators. However, there is another disorder that is just as common – if not more so – but it remains […]

Continue Reading