Latest news with #Caterpillars
Fox News
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Exclusive eyewitness testimony reveals horrific details of deadly church attack in African nation
FIRST ON FOX - Dramatic testimony has been revealed exclusively to Fox News Digital, giving new details from the scene of the horrific massacre Sunday by Jihadists allied to the Islamic State of at least 49 Christians worshiping in a church in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Nine of those who were decapitated were children. Several other children, the number isn't clear, were abducted. The attackers were members of the Islamist Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a sanctioned rebel group with roots in Uganda. With the assistance of Open Doors UK, Fox News Digital reached a local church partner of the organization in the DRC, who rushed to witness the scene of the attack, in the village of Komanda, just hours after it took place. Open Doors is a global Christian charity which supports and speaks up for Christians persecuted for their faith. From survivors in the village, including a shop owner who managed to be an eyewitness and remarkably escaped detection by the attackers even though his shop was burnt down, and the reported position of the bodies of those hacked to death, the church worker pieced together an account of how the attack happened. Judith, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, told Fox News Digital it was clear something was wrong even before she reached the village. "On our way we could see people already leaving, carrying their bags, heading for more secure areas. "In Komanda there were no activities, and people were standing in groups around the shops and the places that had been burnt. And people were sad. There was sadness everywhere." Fox News Digital has learned worshipers had come from surrounding villages to celebrate the church's Silver Jubilee in prayer and to pray for "the security situation" – to pray for peace. "Attackers came in" she said, "and they beheaded Christians in the church." The jihadis "killed those they met in the church hall. Those who tried to flee, they caught them and killed them in the compound. And then some others who managed to run towards the road, those also were caught and killed. All of them were killed with machetes. Most of those Christians who were killed, were Catholics." Another shopkeeper whose business was also burned down told Judith "we don't even understand why all this is happening." The U.N.'s MONUSCO (the Stabilization Mission in the DRC) shipped in earth-digging "Caterpillars" to dig a huge crater in the village, a mass grave into which simple boxes which formed coffins were placed for the dead. Some of those buried that day had come to Komanda for safety after already being attacked in other areas before. At Monday's funeral, Judith said, "People were crying, weeping, some crying for their children who had been kidnapped. One woman cried for the man she was shortly due to marry, now lying dead. Others were also crying that this is the person that was taking care of me. Now the person is no more. "There was sadness upon sadness everywhere. Everything they had is lost, they have nothing now." Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, on Monday condemned the attack on X, posting "This deadly escalation in their targeting of Christians makes the peace process, championed by @POTUS and @SecRubio even more urgent. We must focus all energies on eradicating these ISIS terrorists and forging a new regional economic path." "This is a crisis of biblical proportions", Henrietta Blyth, CEO of Open Doors UK and Ireland, told Fox News Digital, adding "This is a silent slaughter happening, which nobody is discussing. It's like the slaughter of the innocents in the Bible, really. I mean, women and children are being targeted along with men. Nobody is reporting on it. Nobody even seems to be particularly concerned about it." Blythe said that the Islamists are attempting to create a caliphate with its strict Islamic laws in a country which is 80-95% Christian. "Christians are not even sleeping in their houses at night. They would rather sleep in the jungle at risk of wild animals than be sitting ducks in their houses when the extremists attack. In this part of Sub-Saharan Africa, we think that more than 16 million Christians have been displaced as a result of the violence. The church is on the run. Christians are snatching up their children and running for their lives, often at night." "This is not an isolated event," Jo Newhouse, a Sub-Sahara specialist for Open Doors, told Fox News Digital. The organization reports that more than 80 local villagers, largely Christians, have been killed in other attacks in just this month of July alone. "We need the U.S. to pay attention about what is happening and use your influence for the church here. Do not be blind to what is happening here. Pay attention." Judith heard about President Donald Trump's brokered peace deal between the DRC and Rwanda. However, it hasn't so far made any difference to the situation where she is, in the eastern part of the country. "We have seen many peace accords which have not given any result," she said. "The peace accord that is needed is the one with the ADF. For now, they continue attacks on the people." Villagers saw the Islamist attackers withdraw to a point a few miles away. A local source says no arrests have been made. Another attack can come at any time. "If the Trump administration can put pressure on governments like Uganda and Rwanda to withdraw their forces here," Judith said "Congo would be fine".
Axios
03-07-2025
- Business
- Axios
Sector winners and losers of the "big, beautiful bill"
Manufacturing and defense companies stand to win from the " big, beautiful bill," while wind and solar fare worse and hospitals could be hit hard. Why it matters: Investors welcome the certainty of the bill, but are also nervous about heavily exposed sectors. The big picture: Companies will get expanded provisions on itemization and expenses, including 100% bonus depreciation, which allows business to deduct expenses immediately rather than over three years. Henrietta Treyz of Veda Partners says this could benefit manufacturers, although the stimulative effects of the bill could be muted by tariffs on things like steel and aluminum. "The John Deeres and Caterpillars of the world benefit from a 100% bonus depreciation" historically, she says. Defense spending also benefits, as armed services spending is set to increase by $150 billion under the bill. Couple that with the administration's push to grow the defense budget to over $1 trillion annually and it's a boost in spending that "markets do not appreciate…at all," says Terry Haines, founder of Pangaea Policy. Palantir, an AI-focused defense contractor with ties to Donald Trump, is still among the top five best-performing stocks in the S&P 500 this year. The other side: While a proposed tax on wind and solar projects was taken out of the bill, tax credits are still set to be removed. Tax credits are key to the economics of solar installation investments, and "for many in that sector, this bill would represent their fears confirmed," per a statement from John Gimigliano, principal in charge of federal tax legislative and regulatory services at KPMG U.S. The removal of a $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit is set to be a headwind for EV sales, which could be another pain point for Tesla (though its stock recently rallied even after soft delivery numbers.) Hospitals have"just gotten absolutely smoked, so much so that quite frankly there's no way that these cuts go into effect," according to Treyz. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated $1.1 trillion in health care cuts from the bill. This could weigh on hospital REITs that benefited from that government spending. The loss of social safety nets for millions of Americans could be an additional pressure point to the broader economy over time. The bottom line: Winners and losers aside, at least the market has a better handle on what's coming now.
The Courier
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
All you need to know about Alyth and District Agricultural Show
The summer agricultural event season is in full swing and thousands of people are expected to descend on a field in Perthshire for one of the next bumper instalments. Alyth and District Agricultural Show is on at Bogles Field, Essendy Road, Blairgowrie, next Saturday (June 14) from 8.30am-6.30pm. Visitors will find cattle, sheep, horses, donkeys, vintage tractors, trade and food/drink stands, children's activities, Highland dancing, a dog show and a pipe band in full flow. Alyth Show started in the 1940s, later becoming Alyth and District Agricultural Show. It grew steadily over the years and in the late 80s was deemed to be too large for its site at Diamond Jubilee Park, Alyth . So, it moved to a local field in 1990 and was then rotated between different farms. The annual event has been held at Bogles Field, Blairgowire, most years since 2013. This year's show president, Peter Mitchell, told us about a new addition to the roster. He said: 'We are delighted to be hosting a display of around 15 Caterpillars (agricultural machinery) at this year's show to celebrate 100 years of Caterpillar. 'Some of the models will be competing in our vintage section and parade. 'But many will be on display to provide an amazing showcase of these magnificent machines in their centenary year.' Pooches can be entered into the 2pm 'companion' dog show, including pedigree and novelty classes, any time up until 1pm. Peter added: 'We also take on-the-day entries for our horse sections. 'And in our unaffiliated show jumping classes, we have five classes catering for all ages and abilities, with entries taken on the day also.' Show secretary Gail Robertson said there were already 45 entries in the cattle classes, 160 for sheep categories, 80 in the horse, pony and donkey sections and 55 for vintage tractors, implements and engines. Schedules and entry forms can be found online at Bogles Field, Essendy Road, Blairgowrie. Adults £10, OAP & over 12s £5, Under 12s get in free. Tickets can be bought at the gate. Yes and it's free
