
Is that a real photo of a forest fire, or just ‘AI slop'?
Midway through the summer fire season, photos of what was dubbed the Drought Hill fire quickly popped up online, showing plumes of dull grey smoke rising from the dry scrubland of the Okanagan Valley. But one image, posted on the Facebook page of a self-described 'digital creator' the next day, claimed to show the 'OUT OF CONTROL' fire in technicolor. The image is so vivid it defies belief — the fluorescent orange flames throwing up plumes of coal-black smoke as tiny helicopters and water bombers whiz overhead.

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USA Today
16 minutes ago
- USA Today
San Francisco running back Ameer Abdullah placed on injury reserve
Former Husker Ameer Abdullah hit a bump in the road following his first preseason game of 2025. The San Francisco 49ers placed the veteran running back on injured reserve on Monday. Abdullah suffered a rib injury in the team's loss to the Denver Broncos on Saturday, where he took the field on offense and kickoff return. He finished with four carries for 20 yards and returned one kickoff for 22 yards. However, he fumbled in the third quarter, which also resulted in his injury. Abdullah joined the 49ers in late July, but will now be forced to miss the 2025 season unless he reaches an injury settlement with the team. The 2015 second-round pick played in 141 career games, earning 26 starts with the Detroit Lions, before joining the Minnesota Vikings, the Carolina Panthers, and the Las Vegas Raiders. In his career, he's tallied 1,994 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. He also hauled in 1,468 yards and 11 touchdowns. Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.


Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
79th Independence Day 2025: 79 short, long Instagram captions, WhatsApp status, Facebook post to share
Independence Day Instagram captions: India is gearing up to celebrate its 79th Independence Day on 15 August 2025 with pride and patriotism. This year, the celebrations will be led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi from the historic Red Fort in Delhi. As per tradition, the Prime Minister will hoist the National Flag and deliver a heartfelt address to the nation. The theme for Independence Day 2025 is Naya Bharat, symbolising a strong, progressive, and united nation. This year's festivities aim to honour our nation's incredible journey towards the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. It is a time to reflect on the courage of our freedom fighters, the unity of our people, and the responsibility we hold to protect our independence, integrity, and sovereignty. In this special collection, we bring you 79 short and long Instagram captions, WhatsApp status lines, Facebook posts, quotes, and slogans perfect for expressing your love for the country on this important day. Why Independence Day 2025 is Special Independence Day 2025 is not just a national holiday; it's a celebration of India's resilience, cultural richness, and achievements. As the tricolour waves proudly in the sky, every Indian is reminded of the sacrifices made for our freedom. From school children to working professionals, every citizen participates in the spirit of patriotism through flag-hoisting ceremonies, cultural events, and social media posts filled with meaningful Instagram captions. 79 Short and Long Instagram Captions for 79th Independence Day 2025 Whether you are looking for a quick, catchy line for Instagram or a heartfelt message for WhatsApp and Facebook, here's a selection of Independence Day captions 2025 you can use to express your patriotic spirit. Short Instagram Captions for Independence Day 2025 Freedom is our birthright – Happy Independence Day 2025! Saluting the heroes of our great nation – Jai Hind! Proud to be an Indian today and always. May our tricolour fly high forever. Unity, peace, and freedom – that's India! 79 years of pride, progress, and patriotism. Freedom is not free; let's protect it. Strong nation, stronger people – Happy Independence Day! From struggles to success – India's journey inspires us. Jai Hind! Always in our hearts. Proud moments, proud nation – Happy 79th Independence Day! Freedom is a feeling that unites us all. 15th August – the day our dreams took flight. Jai Hind – today, tomorrow, always. Courage gave us freedom, unity keeps it alive. One flag, one heart, one India. Let's celebrate India's colours with pride. Together for a brighter Bharat. Freedom is our greatest treasure. Our tricolour, our pride, our promise. 79 years of progress, countless years ahead. Vande Mataram – the song of our soul. India: where freedom lives in every heartbeat. This land, these people, this pride. We rise together, we shine together. Long Instagram Captions & WhatsApp Status for Independence Day 2025 On this Independence Day 2025, let's honour our past, cherish our present, and work together for a brighter future for our beloved country. Freedom comes with responsibility – let's protect, respect, and cherish it forever. Jai Hind! May the spirit of patriotism inspire you to achieve greatness for India's progress. This 15th August, let's celebrate unity in diversity and the freedom that binds us together. Proud of our culture, proud of our freedom – wishing everyone a Happy Independence Day 2025! Let's remember the courage and sacrifice of our heroes who made this day possible. Independence is a gift – let's honour it with our actions every day. The tricolour reminds us of our duty towards justice, equality, and peace. Let's unite to build a prosperous and secure Naya Bharat. 79 years of freedom, 79 years of pride – let's keep the flame alive! On this Independence Day 2025, let's honour the sacrifices of our heroes and work towards building a stronger, united India. Every freedom we enjoy today is written in the sacrifices of the past – let's cherish it every day. 15th August is a reminder that together, we can achieve anything for our nation's future. India's strength lies in its unity – let's nurture it for generations to come. From struggle to strength, our journey inspires the world – Jai Hind! Freedom is not a gift; it's a responsibility – let's protect it with pride. This Independence Day, let's pledge to be citizens who make India proud. The tricolour tells the story of courage, unity, and hope. May our hearts beat in rhythm with the spirit of our nation. 79 years ago, a dream became reality – let's keep that dream alive. The real celebration of Independence is in our actions for a better tomorrow. Our nation's journey is our responsibility – let's walk together with pride. India's diversity is its strength; our unity is our power. On this day, let's promise to pass on a stronger India to the next generation. Independence is the soul of our nation – let's honour it forever Best Facebook Posts for Independence Day 2025 Celebrate the freedom and unity that define our nation. Our flag flies high because of the sacrifices of our heroes – respect it, honour it, celebrate it. This Independence Day, let's pledge to contribute to India's growth and glory. From the Red Fort to every heart – the spirit of India lives on. May peace, prosperity, and progress always be with our motherland. Today we remember the sacrifices that made us free – Jai Hind! Let's celebrate the unity and diversity that define India. Proud to be part of the world's largest democracy. Every 15th August is a chapter of pride in India's story. May our nation grow stronger with each passing year. The tricolour is more than a flag; it's our shared identity. 79 years of freedom, 79 years of inspiration. Let's honour the past by shaping a better future. A proud Indian today and forever. Celebrating the spirit of freedom from the heart. Our heroes live on in every wave of the flag. This Independence Day, let's carry forward the values of unity and respect. Freedom binds us, diversity defines us. May peace and prosperity always shine upon India. Together we stand, together we celebrate – Happy Independence Day 2025! Independence Day slogans 2025 Freedom is our birthright Jai Hind, Jai Bharat Unity in diversity always Proud to be Indian Long live our freedom Salute to our heroes Nation first, always first Vande Mataram forever Honour our tricolour flag How to Use These Independence Day Captions You can share these Independence Day 2025 Instagram captions and WhatsApp statuses to: Post your tricolour selfies and celebration photos. Send heartfelt messages to friends and family. Update your Facebook profile or stories. Spread patriotism on Twitter/X. The 79th Independence Day 2025 is more than a date in history, it's a reminder of our shared heritage, our unity, and our responsibility to protect the freedom we enjoy. Whether through Instagram captions, WhatsApp status, or Facebook posts, let's ensure the spirit of patriotism reaches every corner of India. For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.


Daily Maverick
36 minutes ago
- Daily Maverick
WhatsApp accuses Moscow of trying to block secure communication for millions of Russians
Russia said on Wednesday that it had started restricting some WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms META.O, and Telegram calls, accusing the foreign-owned platforms of failing to share information with law enforcement in fraud and terrorism cases. Text messaging services and voice notes are currently unaffected. A simmering dispute with foreign tech providers intensified after Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with Russia blocking Meta's Facebook and Instagram, slowing the speed of Alphabet's GOOGL.O YouTube and issuing hundreds of fines to platforms that failed to comply with Russian rules on online content and data storage. 'WhatsApp is private, end-to-end encrypted, and defies government attempts to violate people's right to secure communication, which is why Russia is trying to block it from over 100 million Russian people,' WhatsApp said late on Wednesday. 'We will keep doing all we can to make end-to-end encrypted communication available to people everywhere, including in Russia.' Telegram said its moderators were using AI tools to monitor public parts of the platform to remove millions of malicious messages every day. 'Telegram actively combats harmful use of its platform including calls for sabotage or violence and fraud,' Telegram said. In July 2025, WhatsApp's monthly reach in Russia was 97.3 million people, compared to 90.8 million for Telegram, according to Mediascope data. Third-placed VK Messenger, an offering from state-controlled tech company VK reached 17.9 million people. Russia has a population of more than 140 million people. STEADY DEGRADATION Russia banning WhatsApp and Telegram users from making calls comes as the government is actively promoting a new state-controlled messaging app, MAX, that will be integrated with government services and which critics fear could track its users' activities. Senior politicians are migrating to MAX, urging their followers to come with them. Anton Gorelkin, a leading regulator of Russia's IT sector in parliament, said he would post to his MAX followers first and said many other lawmakers would soon follow suit. WhatsApp's other services remain available for now, but the steady degradation of a service is a tactic Russia has employed before, notably with YouTube, where slower download speeds have made it harder for people to access content. Human Rights Watch said in a report last month that Russia has been 'meticulously expanding [its] legal and technological tools to carve out Russia's section of the internet into a tightly controlled and isolated forum '. Lawmakers have approved a new law that tightens censorship and could have sweeping ramifications for digital privacy, with Russians facing fines if they search online for content Moscow considers 'extremist', including via virtual private networks that millions use to bypass internet blocks.