
REVEALED: Never-before-seen footage of UFO dubbed The Cigar soaring over US border
An Army veteran and former border patrol agent has revealed shocking and unexplained sightings taking place at the US southern border.
Bob Thompson, who spent 14 years with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), is now showing the world a never-before-seen UFO spotted near Arizona.
The unidentified object, called 'The Cigar,' was recorded by a CBP reconnaissance plane in early 2020, capturing the mysterious craft flying at a high rate of speed.
Thompson told NewsNation's Ross Coulthart that the UFO had a short, cylindrical body with no visible wings or propellers. Moreover, CBP cameras didn't even see a visible heat trail from an engine, so its method of propulsion is still a mystery.
Thompson said he has spoken to more than 100 CBP agents who have witnessed strange and unidentified objects flying along the US border.
While coordinating the airspace along the southern border, Thompson added that he's also seen all sorts of different UFO designs invading US territory.
'I've seen orbs that were off in the distance. I've seen crafts that were cigar-shaped, I've seen triangles,' the whistleblower said.
Although many of these accounts are being dismissed as drones, likely flown by drug cartels trying to sneak into the US, Thompson claimed that there's more going on that just illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
Thompson is an Army veteran who went on to serve with US Customs and Border Protection for 14 years. He's now revealing what he and other agents saw in the skies above the US-Mexico border
'No one likes to talk about it freely. I think it's just still a taboo subject,' Thompson said on Reality Check with Ross Coulthart.
The never-before-seen video was taken just months after another UFO sighting involving a strange craft that had the shape of a rubber duck.
That November 2019 sighting took place as CBP was following a group who crossed the US border illegally in Arizona's Buenos Aires National Wildlife Area.
Similar to the cigar UFO, which had no visible heat trail, the rubber duck UFO's thermal signature did not match any known planes or drones.
The cigar video was taken near the same wildlife preserve and Thompson admitted that the US border patrol still has no idea what the object was.
The whistleblower added that the cigar-shaped object could have been a new missile being tested, but there's simply no way to know for sure without a full investigation.
Despite the Office of the Director of National Intelligence mandating that incidents like this be collected and investigated, Coulthart noted that there's been 'a deafening silence' about recent UFO cases.
Thompson noted that unexplained aircraft aren't the only thing being seen along the border. CBP agents have also spotted terrifying 'portals' opening into the sky.
Thompson's claim that border patrol agents have seen portals opening in the sky is similar to motorcyclist Frankie Camren of Bonner Springs, Kansas, who was driving down a quiet street when he spotted a strange black ring (pictured) appear in the sky
'I got told that they witnessed a portal opening up in the sky and there were pictures of it on a camera that I was able to see,' Thompson revealed.
The veteran CBP officer added that agents knew these weren't glowing orbs or some other type of UFO and actually witnessed the portals as they were opening up out of thin air.
Thompson's claims are just the latest unexplained accounts coming out of Arizona, where Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) documents show several Air Force pilots have encountered 'swarms' of UFOs in recent years.
On January 19, 2025, an unidentified object actually struck an F-16 Viper fighter jet, damaging the canopy and forcing the $63 million aircraft to land.
So far, the FAA hasn't found any conclusive evidence that the object was extraterrestrial.
Luis Elizondo, a former government intelligence officer who became a UFO whistleblower, recently led a congressional hearing on UFO sightings and government disclosure. He told NewsNation that Arizona has become a UFO hotspot.
'A lot of people reporting a lot of things out of Arizona, particularly on the border,' Elizondo disclosed.
Aside from Thompson's report of portals opening up over Arizona, government authorities have been quick to dismiss the UFO claims as drone sightings.
Trump Administration border czar Tom Homan has said that many of these sightings are likely high-tech drones carrying drugs over the US border or spying on US military bases in the area.

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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Woman sues Atlanta officer for allegedly leaving her topless in squad car
A woman has sued an Atlanta police officer for allegedly leaving her breasts exposed while taking her from her house to a squad car – where she sat several hours, topless, while officers stopped and looked at her, with one masked officer opening the car door to take a photo. The incident took place during a pre-dawn, Swat-style raid staged by Atlanta police and agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (or ATF), on 8 February 2024. The agents sought evidence related to the arson of police motorcycles and cars, carried out in opposition to a controversial police training center known as 'Cop City', which has attracted local, national and internet media attention. The raid – including the woman's experience of being left topless for hours – was reported on by the Guardian at the time. The lawsuit, filed 23 May by Atlanta-area attorneys Jeff Filipovits and Wingo F Smith, asserts that the woman's fourth amendment rights protecting her against unreasonable seizure were violated during the raid and draws on details laid out in the Guardian's story. The federal complaint is important as a test of the police's ongoing claims of qualified immunity nationwide – the 'only thing that stands between the government and people seeking to vindicate their constitutional rights', said Patrick Jaicomo, senior attorney at the Institute for Justice, where he works on the public interest law firm's 'project on immunity and accountability'. An Atlanta police spokesperson said it doesn't comment on pending litigation. The lawsuit names Amy Smith as plaintiff; Atlanta police officer Frances Raymonville-Watson is named as defendant, as she 'held Ms Smith in custody, unclothed and for hours for no purpose other than to embarrass and humiliate her'. Smith told the Guardian anonymously last year: 'They grabbed me, led me outside and handcuffed me – leaving me completely uncovered.' Officers put her in a squad car, where she remained for 'what seemed like hours', she said at the time. 'While Ms Smith was topless in the back of the squad car, an unknown male officer wearing a face covering opened the rear door of the squad car and took Ms Smith's picture,' the lawsuit alleges. 'While Ms. Smith's chest was uncovered, several officers came and went from the squad car, looking in at her through the window,' it continues. 'The security of the scene and the officers conducting the search did not require plaintiff to be held with exposed breasts,' the lawsuit concludes. Ms. Smith was eventually released. The February 2024 raids followed a publicity campaign lasting several months, including a $200,000 reward for information leading to arrests for arson and 450 billboards promoting the reward in New York, Seattle and other cities. The controversial training center – which officially opened its doors in an invitation-only ceremony in April – attracted global headlines after police shot dead Manuel Paez Terán, or 'Tortuguita', an environmental activist protesting against the project, in January 2023. Opposition to the training center, built on a 171-acre footprint in a forest south-east of Atlanta, has included local and national organizations and protesters, centered on concerns such as unchecked police militarization and clearing forests in an era of climate crisis. Atlanta police officials say the center is needed for 'world-class' training, and to attract new officers. Jaicomo said police raid people's homes across the country every day at hours when they are likely to find people partially clothed or naked, making the incident described in the lawsuit an important one. He pointed to a 2015 eleventh Circuit case out of Georgia affirming a district court finding of 'a broad, clearly established principle that individuals who have been placed in police custody have a constitutional right to bodily privacy'. The Atlanta lawsuit is meaningful, Jaicomo asserted, because 'any case where you have the opportunity to overcome qualified immunity has the potential to set a precedent'. Meanwhile, he said, the 'traumatic experience will stick with her for the rest of her life', referring to Smith. He called the incident an example of 'police doing things to humiliate and punish people' – and of 'the constitutional transgressions taking place thousands of times daily that, if left unaddressed, the government will use more frequently'.


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Jiujitsu student gets $56m payout after he's paralyzed from neck down by instructor who 'crushed him'
A beginner jiujitsu student has been awarded $56million after an in-class accident he attended left him paralyzed from the neck down. In 2018, white-belt Jack Greener, 30, was sparring with second-degree black-belt teacher Francisco Iturralde when his cervical vertebrae was crushed during a terrifying move. Greener sued the Del Mar Jiu-Jitsu Club in California, owned by Michael Phelps, on the grounds that the premises was responsible for the fractured neck and spinal cord injury he received that he claimed forever altered his life. Greener underwent surgery soon after the accident and, over the course of the next seven years, recovered. He's now a mountain climber and motivational speaker. In 2023, an appellate district court awarded Greener $46million in damages, which the jiu-jitsu studio appealed at the California Supreme Court - but it declined to overturn the judgement. Now, with interest, the studio's been ordered to pay a total of $56million. Greener previously attended classes at a different school but stopped because it was too far from his home, according to the court judgement. The student then started classes at the Del Mar Jiu-Jitsu Club in early November 2018, and he sparred with his instructor at the end of a class later than month. Greener was in the 'turtle position' with his elbows and knees on the floor when, he claimed, Iturralde 'lost control and injured' him. Iturralde testified that Greener seemed highly experienced for a white belt and had expressed a desire to be competitive. He admitted that the move was 'dangerous' and he wouldn't execute it if he 'could not safely' do so. Owner Phelps and instructor Iturralde pushed back and said students should assume risk when participating in combat sports, but the court maintained that the black-belt instructors should be held to a higher standard than their student counterparts. When they appealed the decision to the state Supreme Court, it recently declined to review the case. Greener's used his story to motivate others and documented his journey to become one of only two people with his disability to go above 14,000ft on foot when he climbed Mount Bross in Colorado, according to his website. In January 2019, he started to regain movement and could walk with the help of a cane. He then set out to be the first with his condition to ascend Mount Whitney in California, with its elevation of 14,505ft. Last November, Greener posted a reflection on his Instagram about the six years since he was paralyzed. He said: 'Six years to infinity. The PTSD of the actual situation has all but healed. Having spent April 23 to now mending the prior four years. Which, to be honest, is pretty cool. And I'm left to mend the remaining pieces as it pertains to courtrooms, suits, and ties. 'Honestly, I've not achieved much of anything in 2024 and have seemingly regressed in career, finances, etc. Much of it out of my control. But that's OK, progress and growth isn't linear. 'The good news is I have a few doors in front of me and, relatively speaking, I'm happy and secure. So here's to hoping the right doors open.'


Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
Diddy trial latest: Producer back in court after jurors hear details of 'excessive use of baby oil' and 'debauchery' nights
12:41:48 Welcome back We are back with our live coverage of the trial of hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs. Proceedings at the federal court in Manhattan are due to start at around 2pm UK time. We are scheduled to hear more evidence today from a former partner of Combs, testifying under the pseudonym "Jane". 22:31:45 What you need to know after day 17 of Diddy's trial - scroll down to catch up An anonymous former girlfriend and alleged victim of Sean "Diddy" Combs began her evidence against the rapper on the 17th day of his sex-trafficking trial. If you're just checking in, here's a round-up of all the key updates: A former girlfriend of Combs, who is testifying under the pseudonym "Jane", told jurors how a whirlwind romance opened a "Pandora's box" of sex sessions with male escorts that she didn't know how to stop; She alleged the hip-hop mogul coerced her into participating in drug-fuelled "debauchery" nights throughout their relationship, which began in 2021 and ended when he was arrested in 2024; She began her evidence not long after Judge Arun Subramanian issued a warning to Combs's lawyers after seeing the rapper "nodding vigorously" towards the jury during earlier testimony; The judge warned he could take steps to remove the defendant from the courtroom if the "totally unacceptable" behaviour happens again during the trial; Jane told the court she agreed to having sex with a male escort because she wanted to make Combs happy - and even "felt excited" afterwards after doing something "taboo"; But she said she thought it was a one-off - instead, it "set the tone" going forward; Asked if this is what she wanted, she said it wasn't, but that she "went along with it because I loved him at this point"; As their relationship continued, she said she did tell him "many times", but he would dismiss her, make her feel uncomfortable, or seemingly threaten to stop paying her rent; Jane said these encounters were referred to as "debauchery" or hotel nights, and they always followed the same pattern - "hotel suites, red lights, music, lotions and alcohol"; She said she would "have drugs" in her system and wear "provocative" lingerie and "high stripper shoes" and Combs would ask her to pour baby oil on the men and herself; These sessions typically lasted between 24 and 30 hours with "no sleep"; Jane's evidence is set to continue tomorrow and on several days next week. 21:11:58 Court finishes for the day It's just after 4pm in New York and so the judge leaves Jane's testimony there for the day. She will be back on the stand tomorrow and is expected to continue giving evidence for several days next week as well. We'll be back with a recap of today's hearing soon - in the meantime scroll through our posts to catch up on what was said in court. 21:09:47 Escort sex sessions lasted up to 30 hours with no sleep, Jane tells court Jane tells the court that she and Sean "Diddy" Combs had "hotel night" - sexual encounters with male escorts, also described as "freak offs" during Cassie's testimony - in Turks and Caicos, Miami, Los Angeles and New York. Combs's employees would arrange travel, she says, and he would pay. Hotel nights always followed the same pattern, the court hears - "hotel suites, red lights, music, lotions and alcohol, there would be bed sheets covering everything, blankets and towels, because of the excessive use of baby oil everywhere". Jane says she would "have drugs in my system" and wear "provocative" lingerie and "high stripper shoes". The encounters with escorts would start with small talk before she would dance in her robe, she says, to "get my nerves out". Combs liked her to pour baby oil on the men and on herself, she says, and adds that a "typical hotel night lasted a very long time". After having sex with an escort, Combs would "excuse" her, she says, and they would have sex with each other. They typically lasted between 24 and 30 hours, she says, with "no sleep". 20:52:20 Jane 'wanted to earn her own money and considered OnlyFans - but Diddy said to wait' Jane is continuing to answer questions about her relationship with Sean "Diddy" Combs, telling the court it was always him who decided when they would see each other. Often, this was at short notice - a night before or on the day, the court hears. She tells jurors she always made sure she was "put together" and ready in case he called. "I liked looking beautiful for him." Combs liked her with straight hair and white coloured nails, she says, and later in the relationship he wanted her to get piercings. "Looking nice" took a lot of time and money and became like a "habit", she continues, as she strived to make him happy. The court hears that while Jane started to earn less money after she prioritised her relationship with Combs, the rapper would support her with money - payments of $5,000, $10,000 or $20,000, she says. She tells the court she wanted to make her own money and had considered content creating on adult website OnlyFans - posting photos but not showing sexual activity. Combs told her to give it time, the court hears. Asked why she felt she needed his approval, she replies: "I felt like he was my boyfriend." 20:38:38 Jane describes 'debauchery' or 'hotel nights' - and says she felt 'obligated' as Diddy paid rent After that first night in May 2021, Jane is asked what percentage of the time with Sean "Diddy" Combs she was having sex with another man. She replies: "90%." Asked if this is what she wanted, she says: "No." Jane tells the court she wanted "an old-fashioned relationship with me and him" - which is how it felt when they first met. After the first sexual encounter with an escort, Combs quickly suggested they do it again, Jane says, telling the court she was agreeable because she wanted him to be happy. "I went along with it because I loved him at this point," she says. However, Jane says she started to tell him - more than once, in writing and in person - that she did not want to have sex with other men. Over the next three years she says she told him this "many times", but it would be "uncomfortable" whenever the subject came up. Combs would dismiss it and move the conversation on, she says, or tell her she didn't have to. He would also tell her she could break up with him if she wanted to, she says. Combs paid her rent, but would threaten to stop doing so, she adds. Jane says she felt "obligated" to perform on some nights "because I knew he was paying my rent". Asked the words she and Combs used to describe the sexual encounters with male escorts, she says they would call them "debauchery" or "hotel nights". 20:27:01 First sexual encounter with male escort 'opened Pandora's box', Jane tells court After being told by Sean "Diddy" Combs that he could make the fantasy of role play with another man come true, Jane says she went to the bathroom. When she returned, she says he was in his robe and "looking serious" on his phone. He told her he could "make it happen tonight", the court hears. Jane says she was taken aback but agreed. A few hours later, she says assistants set up a room for them and she was introduced to an escort, Don. She tells the court she was nervous but Combs told her to relax and asked her to stand up. At his suggestion, she started dancing, she says, as the escort got closer and started to touch her. Combs was naked, she says, and masturbated as he watched them. Jane says she wanted to "speed things up" so asked for a condom. Combs told her he "didn't want that", she says, saying the guys were "safe" and regularly tested. Eventually, however, he did give Don a condom and they had sex, she says. Afterwards, Don left and the two of them had sex together, she says. "We were really happy." The day afterwards, Jane says she "felt excited" that she had done something "taboo", something she had never done before. However, she says she thought it was a one-off. Asked how the relationship changed after this, she tells the court "it opened a Pandora's box", and "set the tone" going forward. 20:11:06 'Diddy wanted role play with other men and liked me to have baby oil all over' Jane tells the court her relationship with Sean "Diddy" Combs was kept private. Between February 2021 and May 2021, she says he would fly her to see him in Miami every few weeks, and also gave her money. During this period, they took drugs including ecstasy, molly (MDMA), cocaine and ketamine, she says. Jane says Combs wanted her to wear "provocative lingerie outfits" when they had sex and liked her to have baby oil "all over my body". Sexual sessions could last for up to 24 hours and he liked to have red lights on in their hotel rooms, she adds. Asked how she felt about the long sex sessions at this point, Jane tells the court she "really loved" Combs and enjoyed the affection. "Sean was really passionate," she says, and very complimentary. In those first three months, she says she "loved him very much". Asked what happened in May 2021, she bows her head and becomes emotional. "We would watch a lot of pornography, we started having a lot more fantasy conversations." Combs started to talk about role play with other men, she says, and one night told her he could make the fantasy a reality. Jane says she told him "okay" - but did not think it would really happen and says she did not want to have sex with anyone other than Combs. 19:55:02 Diddy 'used L word' - but made it clear he was seeing other women, Jane tells court In February 2021, Sean "Diddy" Combs and Jane went on a trip to the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas, the court hears. Jane says he organised the break after she told him her birthday was coming up, and that he had several members of staff there too, including an assistant, a chef and a butler. She says they had a good connection and were "passionate" about each other - that she told him about her work and being a single mother. Asked about gifts during this trip, Jane tells the court Combs gave her a bracelet - and later offered to send her $10,000 because she wasn't working while they were there. She is also asked about drugs, and says they took ecstasy. Jane tells the court she developed deep feelings for Combs and that they "started using 'the L word'." He told her he "really liked" her, she says, but made it clear he was seeing "multiple" women. She says she was okay with this because she liked him. Asked if she had the option of a monogamous relationship, she replies: "I don't think so." The relationship lasted, on and off, until Combs was arrested in September 2024, the court hears. 19:41:04 Alleged victim Jane says she fell 'head over heels' after first date with Diddy Jane tells the court she was in a relationship with Sean "Diddy" Combs between 2021 and 2024. She called him Sean or Diddy, the court hears, sometimes Schnookums, or sometimes Ernie - she was Bert and he was Ernie, like the characters from Sesame Street. Jane says she met the hip-hop mogul during a trip to Miami in late 2020. At the time, he was involved with one of her friends, she tells the court, and he invited a group of them to his home. The witness says they spent time on a yacht and that she was "drawn" to Combs. They flirted and exchanged numbers, which is when he suggested the Bert and Ernie nicknames, she says. Asked if she saw drugs, she says she remembers seeing a pink, powdery substance on that first night. Combs told her he wanted to take her out the following day, jurors hear. She says the situation was "complicated" but they remained in touch and Combs pursued her. After the friend who had previously been seeing him got engaged to someone else, Jane says she decided to "potentially entertain" the idea. They agreed to meet up in Miami in January 2021, the court hears. Jane says they went to a hotel, had dinner on the balcony, and she ended up staying for five days. Afterwards, she says, she was "head over heels".