Hina Khan's Queen Mode Activated: Fans Can't Stop Staring
Renowned Miami defense attorney Roy Black passed away at 80 in Coral Gables, Florida, after battling an undisclosed illness. Widely regarded as a legal titan, Black remained active at his law firm until his final days. Following news of his death, conspiracy theories exploded online, with many linking it to his past ties with Jeffrey Epstein. Viral posts claim it's 'no coincidence,' calling it another piece removed from the board. His wife, Lea Black, confirmed the passing and promised a public tribute soon. Black gained national fame after defending William Kennedy Smith in a historic televised rape trial and later represented high-profile names like Justin Bieber, Rush Limbaugh, Helio Castroneves, and Epstein. He is survived by his wife and two children, RJ and Nora, marking the end of an era in American legal circles.
215 views | 2 hours ago
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
16 minutes ago
- Mint
Did Hamas steal Gaza aid? USAID finds no evidence of massive theft
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -An internal U.S. government analysis found no evidence of systematic theft by the Palestinian militant group Hamas of U.S.-funded humanitarian supplies, challenging the main rationale that Israel and the U.S. give for backing a new armed private aid operation. The analysis, which has not been previously reported, was conducted by a bureau within the U.S. Agency for International Development and completed in late June. It examined 156 incidents of theft or loss of U.S.-funded supplies reported by U.S. aid partner organizations between October 2023 and this May. It found 'no reports alleging Hamas' benefited from U.S.-funded supplies, according to a slide presentation of the findings seen by Reuters. A State Department spokesperson disputed the findings, saying there is video evidence of Hamas looting aid, but provided no such videos. The spokesperson also accused traditional humanitarian groups of covering up "aid corruption." The findings were shared with the USAID's inspector general's office and State Department officials involved in Middle East policy, said two sources familiar with the matter, and come as dire food shortages deepen in the devastated enclave. Israel says it is committed to allowing in aid but must control it to prevent it from being stolen by Hamas, which it blames for the crisis. The U.N. World Food Program says nearly a quarter of Gaza's 2.1 million Palestinians face famine-like conditions, thousands are suffering acute malnutrition, and the World Health Organization and doctors in the enclave report starvation deaths of children and others. The U.N. also estimates that Israeli forces have killed more than 1,000 people seeking food supplies, the majority near the militarized distribution sites of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the new private aid group that uses a for-profit U.S. logistics firm run by a former CIA officer and armed U.S. military veterans. The study was conducted by the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) of USAID, which was the largest funder of assistance to Gaza before the Trump administration froze all U.S. foreign aid in January, terminating thousands of programs. It has also begun dismantling USAID, whose functions have been folded into the State Department. The analysis found that at least 44 of the 156 incidents where aid supplies were reported stolen or lost were 'either directly or indirectly' due to Israeli military actions, according to the briefing slides. Israel's military did not respond to questions about those findings. The study noted a limitation: because Palestinians who receive aid cannot be vetted, it was possible that U.S.-funded supplies went to administrative officials of Hamas, the Islamist rulers of Gaza. One source familiar with the study also cautioned that the absence of reports of widespread aid diversion by Hamas 'does not mean that diversion has not occurred.' The war in Gaza began after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, killing 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Nearly 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli assault began, according to Palestinian health officials. ISRAEL SAYS HAMAS DIVERTS HUMANITARIAN AID Israel, which controls access to Gaza, has said that Hamas steals food supplies from U.N. and other organizations to use to control the civilian population and boost its finances, including by jacking up the prices of the goods and reselling them to civilians. Asked about the USAID report, the Israeli military told Reuters that its allegations are based on intelligence reports that Hamas militants seized cargoes by "both covertly and overtly" embedding themselves on aid trucks. Those reports also show that Hamas has diverted up to 25% of aid supplies to its fighters or sold them to civilians, the Israeli military said, adding that GHF has ended the militants' control of aid by distributing it directly to civilians. Hamas denies the allegations. A Hamas security official said that Israel has killed more than 800 Hamas-affiliated police and security guards trying to protect aid vehicles and convoy routes. Their missions were coordinated with the U.N. Reuters could not independently verify the claims by Hamas and Israel, which has not made public proof that the militants have systematically stolen aid. GHF also accuses Hamas of massive aid theft in defending its distribution model. The U.N. and other groups have rejected calls by GHF, Israel and the U.S. to cooperate with the foundation, saying it violates international humanitarian principles of neutrality. In response to a request for comment, GHF referred Reuters to a July 2 Washington Post article that quoted an unidentified Gazan and anonymous Israeli officials as saying Hamas profited from the sales and taxing of pilfered humanitarian aid. AID GROUPS REQUIRED TO REPORT LOSSES The 156 reports of theft or losses of supplies reviewed by BHA were filed by U.N. agencies and other humanitarian groups working in Gaza as a condition of receiving U.S. aid funds. The second source familiar with the matter said that after receiving reports of U.S.-funded aid thefts or losses, USAID staff followed up with partner organizations to try to determine if there was Hamas involvement. Those organizations also would "redirect or pause" aid distributions if they learned that Hamas was in the vicinity, the source said. Aid organizations working in Gaza also are required to vet their personnel, sub-contractors and suppliers for ties to extremist groups before receiving U.S. funds, a condition that the State Department waived in approving $30 million for GHF last month. The slide presentation noted that USAID partners tended to over-report aid diversion and theft by groups sanctioned or designated by the U.S. as foreign terrorist organizations - such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad - because they want to avoid losing U.S. funding. Of the 156 incidents of loss or theft reported, 63 were attributed to unknown perpetrators, 35 to armed actors, 25 to unarmed people, 11 directly to Israeli military action, 11 to corrupt subcontractors, five to aid group personnel 'engaging in corrupt activities,' and six to 'others," a category that accounted for 'commodities stolen in unknown circumstances,' according to the slide presentation. The armed actors 'included gangs and other miscellaneous individuals who may have had weapons,' said a slide. Another slide said "a review of all 156 incidents found no affiliations with" U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organizations, of which Hamas is one. 'The majority of incidents could not be definitively attributed to a specific actor,' said another slide. 'Partners often largely discovered the commodities had been stolen in transit without identifying the perpetrator.' It is possible there were classified intelligence reports on Hamas aid thefts, but BHA staff lost access to classified systems in the dismantlement of USAID, said a slide. However, a source familiar with U.S. intelligence assessments told Reuters that they knew of no U.S. intelligence reports detailing Hamas aid diversions and that Washington was relying on Israeli reports. The BHA analysis found that the Israeli military 'directly or indirectly caused' a total of 44 incidents in which U.S.-funded aid was lost or stolen. Those included the 11 attributed to direct Israeli military actions, such as airstrikes or orders to Palestinians to evacuate areas of the war-torn enclave. Losses indirectly attributed to Israeli military included cases where they compelled aid groups to use delivery routes with high risks of theft or looting, ignoring requests for alternative routes, the analysis said. (Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem; Editing by Don Durfee and Claudia Parsons)
Time of India
19 minutes ago
- Time of India
Astronomer's Ex CEO Seen Canoodling With His Then CPO In New Video Showing Different Angle
Roy Black, Tied To Epstein, Dies Amid Rising Trump-Jeffrey Speculation Renowned Miami defense attorney Roy Black passed away at 80 in Coral Gables, Florida, after battling an undisclosed illness. Widely regarded as a legal titan, Black remained active at his law firm until his final days. Following news of his death, conspiracy theories exploded online, with many linking it to his past ties with Jeffrey Epstein. Viral posts claim it's 'no coincidence,' calling it another piece removed from the board. His wife, Lea Black, confirmed the passing and promised a public tribute soon. Black gained national fame after defending William Kennedy Smith in a historic televised rape trial and later represented high-profile names like Justin Bieber, Rush Limbaugh, Helio Castroneves, and Epstein. He is survived by his wife and two children, RJ and Nora, marking the end of an era in American legal circles. 1.5K views | 2 days ago
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
How to End the Epstein Follies
Are there grown-ups left in Washington? Politicians who have never seen the government files on Jeffrey Epstein are demanding full 'transparency,' which is easy to say if you aren't responsible for the consequences of disseminating unproved accusations, victim details, hearsay, and who knows what else, even as law enforcement thinks that none of it supports further criminal investigation. The House is breaking early for the summer to avoid votes on forcing disclosure. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI director Kash Patel now insist the files contain plenty of child porn that Epstein downloaded, but no 'client list' or predicate for new charges. But Ms. Bondi and Mr. Patel previously fueled the idea that more would be coming that might unravel a grand conspiracy, and they also won their offices because of loyalty to Mr. Trump. President Biden held the keys to the Epstein file cabinet for four years after the man killed himself in his jail cell in 2019. Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. As for the rest of the material, Mr. Biden's appointees apparently came to a similar conclusion that it was unactionable. Democrats indicted Mr. Trump four times in 2023, and if he was implicated in the Epstein files, wouldn't they have acted then? Yet Democrats today are trolling Mr. Trump for fun and political profit, accusing him of covering up damaging information that the Biden Administration also didn't release. 'The American people have a right to know what happened,' Sen. Chuck Schumer said this week. He suggested the House GOP maybe 'declared the 'Epstein Recess' to give Trump time to prepare papers for the pardon of Ghislaine Maxwell.' The Trump Administration has tried to placate Epstein theorists. In February a group of MAGA influencers brought to the White House were given binders labeled, 'The Epstein Files: Phase 1.' When this material was found to include little new information, Ms. Bondi blamed the FBI for withholding other documents, and she soon assured the public that another 'truckload' of evidence had just arrived. In March the Journal reported that federal agents going through the documents were told to redact identifying information of victims, but not other names, meaning 'details of witnesses, victims' relatives and people close to them could become public.' If reviewers came across clothed photographs, they were told 'to only black out the victim's face.' Ultimately, the Justice Department and FBI determined that no further disclosure is appropriate. 'Sensitive information relating to these victims is intertwined throughout the materials,' they said. 'This includes specific details such as victim names and likenesses, physical descriptions, places of birth, associates, and employment history.' Much of the evidence is sealed by court order, and 'only a fraction' would have been aired at Epstein's trial. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said this week he stands by that memo, even as he was dispatched to interview Ms. Maxwell. If she 'has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say,' Mr. Blanche said. One presumes the feds asked that question as they put her on trial, convicted her, and sentenced her to prison for 20 years. The Journal broke the story Wednesday that Mr. Bondi informed Mr. Trump in May that his name appears in the files, along with hundreds of other people. This is news, especially given that Mr. Trump has denied being told any such thing. But it's hardly a shock that Mr. Trump appears in the material, since the two once socialized together. One Epstein victim alleged she was pulled into the abuser's orbit while working at Mar-a-Lago. Mr. Trump later kicked Epstein out of the club. *** If Ms. Bondi and Mr. Patel are now telling the truth about the contents of the Epstein files, then what's needed are officials who will take the responsibility—and then take the heat—for declining to publish documents that could hurt victims and ruin reputations without a criminal case. It's too bad Mr. Trump didn't pick an Attorney General in the mold of Bill Barr, an experienced hand who could offer that kind of straight talk without worrying about the conspiracy-minded podcast attacks. But perhaps Ms. Bondi and Mr. Patel could call a news conference, provide context on the mentions of Mr. Trump, and explain why releasing raw files could do more harm than good. Bring FBI deputy director Dan Bongino, if he'll show up. Then they and Mr. Trump could tell the public that the files didn't live up to the hype, including theirs before they took office, the case is closed, and that's that.
