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Train stabbing incident near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire

A major stabbing attack took place on the evening of Saturday 1 November 2025 aboard a London-bound train, prompting a large-scale emergency response and raising serious questions about rail-security and knife-crime in Britain. 

What happened

• Shortly after the 18:25 service from London North Eastern Railway (LNER) departed from Peterborough, en route to London King’s Cross, a call was made to police at 19:39 reporting “multiple stabbings” on board.  

• The train was forced into an emergency stop at Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire, and armed officers boarded the train within approximately eight minutes of the first 999 call.  

• Witnesses described scenes of panic. One passenger recalled blood-spattered seats, people hiding in toilets and others “getting stamped on” as they tried to flee.  

• Two men were arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder: a 32-year-old Black British national and a 35-year-old British national of Caribbean descent. Both were born in the UK.  

• Initially the national codeword “Plato” (used for marauding terror attacks) was announced but later stood down as investigators found no evidence of terrorism.  

Casualties and response

• At least 10 people were taken to hospital, and some reports say as many as 11. Many were in life-threatening condition.  

• Emergency services deployed included armed police, paramedics, air ambulances and forensic teams.  

• The UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III both issued statements expressing deep concern, sympathy for victims, and praise for first-responders.  

Reactions & wider context

• The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, emphasised that while counter-terrorism units are supporting the investigation, there is currently no indication the attack is ideologically motivated.  

• Security experts and rail-operators have indicated that the incident has triggered a review of train and station security, including the deployment of extra officers on trains in coming days. 

• The attack comes amid rising concerns over knife crime across England and Wales. The scale, location and setting on a moving train have also raised fresh questions about rail-passenger vulnerability in transit. 

Key unanswered questions

• What was the motive behind the attack? Investigators have not yet established a clear reason.  

• Why did the attack begin when it did — shortly after Peterborough — and how did the suspects come to be on that service?

• What security or rail-safety protocols were in place (and how they might change) for high-speed and inter-city rail services?

• How will the investigation determine if this remains an isolated incident or part of a broader pattern of attacks on rail services. 

Implications & take-aways

• For rail passengers: the incident is a stark reminder of the risks that may be present even on major, high-speed inter-city services, and trusts train-companies and authorities to maintain rapid-response and effective security measures.

• For policy and security: While this event is not being treated as terrorism, the use of the “Plato” code and armed response illustrate how severe rail-incidents are categorised and responded to — raising questions about resource allocation and preparedness.

• For knife-crime and public safety debates: The scale of casualties and the setting (a confined train carriage) may prompt renewed calls for action around rail-security, passenger screening, and knife-offence prevention.

• For rail-operators and infrastructure: The capability of the train crew, signalling staff and emergency services to safely halt the train, coordinate with police and secure the scene will be closely scrutinised. According to reports, the unscheduled stop at Huntingdon was achieved swiftly — a notable operational success under tragic circumstances.  

Conclusion

The stabbing attack aboard an LNER train near Huntingdon is a chilling event — one that has injured many, shocked the public, tested emergency-response systems, and raised urgent questions about rail-security and public safety. As the investigation continues and more facts come to light, the UK will be looking closely at how such a catastrophic incident occurred in transit, and how similar events might be prevented in future.

Attached is a News article regarding people stabbed on the train in Huntington 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd7rrpwl5zno.amp

Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley 

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Iraq’s New Marriage Amendment: A Blow to Women’s and Children’s Rights

What’s happening

In January 2025, the Iraqi Parliament passed an amendment to the country’s 1959 Personal Status Law (Iraq)—a law that governs marriage, divorce, inheritance and child custody.  

The amendment has drawn broad condemnation because it opens the door for under-age marriage by giving religious authorities and sect-specific legal codes the power to decide family law matters. In effect, activists warn, this could allow girls aged as young as nine years old to be married under certain religious legal frameworks.  

The legal ingredients & changes

• Under the previous law (1959 Personal Status Law), the minimum age of marriage was set at 18 years for both sexes; a judge could allow a girl to marry at 15 in exceptional cases.  

• The amendment allows families to choose whether to apply the civil law or follow a religious code (Sunni or Shia) for marriage, divorce and inheritance.  

• Because the religious code option doesn’t clearly fix a minimum age for marriage, that has raised fears that some interpretations—particularly under the Shia Jaʿfari school—would permit girls from age 9 to marry.  

• The law also appears to weaken protections in other areas: rights to divorce, inheritance, and legal oversight of religious marriages.  

Why there is outrage

• Children forced into or encouraged to marry lose their childhood, education, autonomy and often face serious health risks from early pregnancy.  

• Critics say the amendment violates several international treaties which Iraq has ratified, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).  

• The moves are viewed as a regression in women’s and girls’ rights in Iraq, undermining decades of change. One Iraqi lawyer said: “We have reached the end of women’s rights and the end of children’s rights in Iraq.”  

• Transparency concerns: there are questions about how the law was passed, and whether the minimum age of nine was explicitly in the text or effectively permitted via religious codes.  

Political and social context

• Conservative religious blocs in Iraq, especially Shia-led ones, backed the amendment, framing it as returning “family law” to religious norms and reducing “Western influence.”  

• There has been significant push‐back: women’s groups, civil society organisations and some secular politicians have mobilised protests. The United Nations described the bill as “an assault on childhood”.  

• In response to backlash, some parts of the bill were revised. After protests, the parliament confirmed that the minimum age would formally remain 18, or 15 with judge’s approval, under the civil law; however, the religious law path remains open.  

Impact & risks

• For girls: early marriage often ends education, increases the risk of maternal mortality, psychological trauma and lifelong dependency.

• For the rule of law: allowing parallel legal systems weakens state oversight and uniform protection of rights.

• International image & obligations: Iraq risks censure for back-pedalling on child protection and gender equality.

• Social fabric: departments of civil society warn potential increase in unregistered religious marriages, lack of legal redress, and further marginalisation of women.  

What happens next

• Many opponents plan to challenge the law’s constitutionality in the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq, arguing the parliamentary vote lacked proper quorum and that the text violates Iraq’s constitution.  

• Civil society and international groups are calling for Iraq to adopt a strict minimum marriage age of 18 with no exceptions, in line with global standards.

• Monitoring & implementation will be key: even if the formal age remains higher under civil law, the religious option may be used to circumvent protections.

Conclusion

The amendment to Iraq’s Personal Status Law marks a pivotal moment: while officially the age of marriage remains 18 under civil law, the opening of religious legal pathways has sparked deep fears that child marriage—from age nine upwards—could become legitimised in practice. It’s a stark reversal in gender and child-rights policy, drawing domestic protest and international condemnation alike. Iraq now faces a crossroads: whether it will protect the rights of girls and women or allow religious legal frameworks to deviate from global human-rights norms.

Attached is a news article regarding Iraq passing the legal law on children being able to marry at the age of 9 years old which has caused outrage 

https://www.walkfree.org/news/2025/iraqs-new-law-allowing-children-as-young-as-9-to-marry-undermines-women-and-girls-rights/

Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley 

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Introduction

In a remarkable twist of the private-credit markets, BlackRock, Inc.’s private-credit arm and other major lenders allege that Bankim Brahmbhatt, an Indian-origin telecom executive, orchestrated a fraud exceeding US$500 million.  The alleged scheme centres on fabricated invoices and bogus receivables that formed the basis of massive loans secured against assets that apparently did not exist.  

This article outlines who Brahmbhatt is, how the alleged fraud worked, what the ramifications are for BlackRock and the broader private-credit space, and where things stand now.

Who is Bankim Brahmbhatt

Brahmbhatt built his career in the telecom-services industry. He founded or controlled companies such as Broadband Telecom and Bridgevoice, operating in the U.S., Europe and Asia, working as an intermediary in wholesale voice/data traffic between carriers.  

He maintained an office in Garden City, New York, and also headed financing vehicles such as Carriox Capital II and BB Capital SPV.  

Until recently he was seen as a successful non-resident Indian (NRI) businessman in the telecom space—but the allegations now suggest far deeper problems.

How the alleged fraud worked

The financing structure

The scheme appears to have centred on asset-based financing, where borrowers pledge receivables (future payments from customers) or other business assets as collateral.  

In this case, Brahmbhatt’s companies allegedly claimed to have large receivables from major global telecom operators (such as BICS SA, Telecom Italia Sparkle S.p.A. etc) and used these to secure loans from credit funds backed by BlackRock’s -affiliated firm HPS Investment Partners.  

The deception

Investigators allege a multi-year orchestrated deception:

• Fake invoices, forged contracts and emails from domains mimicking legitimate telecom companies.  

• Every email address provided to verify invoices over a span of two years was found to be fabricated, according to court documents.  

• At least one alleged “customer” (BICS) confirmed in writing that they had no dealings with the Bridgevoice entity, calling the attempt “a confirmed fraud attempt”.  

• Assets that were pledged as collateral were reportedly transferred offshore (India & Mauritius) to avoid detection.  

The timeline

• HPS began lending to Brahmbhatt-linked firms circa September 2020.  

• Exposure reportedly grew from roughly US$385 million in early 2021 to about US$430 million by August 2024.  

• The collapse began to unravel in July 2024 (in some reports July 2025) when an employee detected irregularities in customer email addresses.  

• Brahmbhatt’s companies (Broadband Telecom, Bridgevoice, Carriox Capital II, BB Capital SPV) filed for Chapter 11/bankruptcy in August 2024; Brahmbhatt also reportedly filed personal bankruptcy on 12 August 2024.  

Why this matters & wider implications

For BlackRock / HPS and lenders

• The fraud exposes the risks inherent in private-credit deals that rely on collateralised receivables and projected revenue streams rather than traditional assets.

• While the total assets managed by BlackRock are enormous, a loss of over US$500 million is non-trivial and may shake confidence in due diligence practices.  

• Co-financiers such as BNP Paribas SA are reported to have incurred large provisions (e.g., US$220 million) linked to the case, raising questions about risk-sharing and underwriting in such credit deals.  

For the broader market

• The case underscores a warning: when a business model is heavily dependent on future receivables or “paper” assets, there is increased fraud risk, especially in less-transparent sectors (here telecom inter-carrier services).

• It may trigger stricter scrutiny on audits, verification of customer contracts and receivables, and the domains of “shadow credit” beyond traditional banking.

• Regulators and investors may demand higher transparency and audit robustness for asset-based lending structures.

Where things stand now

• Brahmbhatt is currently under investigation by his creditors; his whereabouts are unclear—some reports suggest he may be in India or Mauritius.  

• The lawsuit was filed in August (U.S.) by HPS and other lenders naming Brahmbhatt and affiliated entities.  

• Recovery efforts continue, but the complexity of offshore asset transfers and bankruptcy filings may limit recoverability.

• The reputational damage is real — for Brahmbhatt personally and for the lenders engaged in such financing structures.

Lessons learned

• Due diligence matters: Relying solely on customer-provided data, without independent verification of contracts and emails, may lead to blind spots.

• Collateral quality is key: Pledging receivables (especially future receivables) is riskier than tangible assets; lenders and auditors must probe the authenticity of the revenue streams.

• Transparency and audit trail: Fake domains, forged contracts and phantom customers are red flags; auditors must cross-check directly with supposed customers.

• Offshore asset transfers complicate recoveries: When assets move abroad or via complex entity structures, recovering funds becomes challenging.

• Private credit growth may have hidden risks: As institutional investors expand into private credit, they may face asymmetric risks—rare but large losses.

Conclusion

The Brahmbhatt-BlackRock matter is a wake-up call: even major institutions with significant sophistication can fall prey to well-orchestrated fraudulent schemes. The allegations—if proven—describe a “breathtaking fraud” on a scale that even the largest asset managers cannot ignore. For Brahmbhatt, the allegations paint the picture of a long-standing scheme built on paper, email domains and phantom contracts. For the credit market, it is a cautionary tale about the dangers of believing the story without digging deep.

Attached is a news article regarding bankim Brahmbhatt Scams blackrock for 500 million 

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/explained-how-an-indian-origin-entrepreneur-borrowed-500-million-from-the-worlds-biggest-asset-manager/amp_articleshow/125019184.cms

Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley 

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The uk government are in a stage of collapse through lack of leadership in the correct manner, as people today in the uk find ways of making money from actions that can not support there life, young people are on the rise out of schools and the lack of jobs that can fill the amount of people out of work which are not there, it’s a matter of causing an alarm of distress that can impact mental health. DANGER!! 

This is a danger to society as a whole, people have been attacked for no reason because of psychological matters regarding mental health, the government need to put them self in the shoes of people who can not find a job, understanding that if they was in this position, they would do any think to find a way to eat or support them self in a matter of distress. 

Job’s don’t fall out of the sky, as the population has increased by a huge amount, they use the word jobs and do not explain what job exist for a large amount of people who are out of work. 

The people in the uk are suffering, as the world is suffering” as a whole, it’s a matter of strong consideration that the government need to take, as the job structure in the uk is broken, as the government need to aim them self on a more intelligent level. 

People life’s are importance, as money is just printed from a machine, the world was made of nothing but people, why give the expressed view of people claiming benefits, then they rise the cost of living and the cost of housing. 

There need to be an important review on the people working in the government, if they know how to do there job and talk in the right correct manner, as a person can find £20-30 pounds a week but that is not a supported wage that can sustain a living. 

The youth every year are living school and the birth rate is on the rise, immigration is continuing to flood the uk, as the government help people, but then have no jobs that can fill positions for immigrants and people born into the United Kingdom. 

The big question today we ask, is the government creating fear in the people, as this is not safe for people who are living there day to day life. 

People have no money to buy stuff that can fuel the growth for the economy, as some businesses open and don’t have no customers supporting their business. 

This is just a open door for show, a comic strip that light up London in a fashion that don’t make sense, does the government have a strategy that can change England, as London is not a huge place for job’s. 

People pay money to involve them self in a job position but then find it is a scam, health is a major problem today, as some people can not work due to their health implications. 

The uk government need to sit down and compare the job opening’s to the amount of people on the rise in the uk out of employment, as its a matter of starvation in some places around the uk. 

The day of when there was jobs that can fill positions, are not as available as it is today, a lot of job require a strong knowledge and understand that a lot of people don’t have, as the companies in the uk are small. 

The majority of people are just in a position of just asking for advice, as they don’t get the right answers’ as it’s a lost path that has no opportunity for a lot of people today. 

Poor people are important and the government needs to see this” as it’s a matter of people committing suicidal actions that shatters families, due to the fact of a poorly run government. 

A lot of food business are opening and don’t make the money, to keep there business running in the right affective manner, investors are coming from aboard and they invest in the uk but people are not rich. 

The government keep on building new train lines and buildings that they can not afford, as this is what is killing society, as a whole, they want the image to look good but they can not afford the life, as it’s all a imaginary psychological nightmare. 

The government today are not educated in the right manner to how they understand how to conduct their manner of speech” explaining matters that are subjected to people. They just want money money money. 

The are like wolfs, as it’s a matter of some business not being able to pay there employees a wage, as the business pays for it self and that is a cost that affects people work in there dead end jobs that ends within a month. 

All the English people who protest on immigration are jobless them self, as this is the reason for they don’t want to work, as immigrants have filled these positions. 

Talking is a big factor in todays government, as we ask’ are they talking sense that adds up, public service jobs are low and people have taken advantage of all opportunities and people who fill low end jobs have been taken up. 

The government need to stop smiling and making assumptions and bring real facts that business can not fill positions that support people who live in the uk as a whole. 

The education standards are low in the uk, they have fallen and people get through the education systems, not knowing what they really need to know about” when they are studying. As universities and colleges are Cheating the educational system. 

The system is being cheated in a big way, as this is with the governments education system for them self,  as they talk and don’t make sense of weighting up the figures. 

people are doing crazy crimes, as it’s all over social media and the government need to focus of the safety of people first before that can see there economy grow too get strong in the right affective manner. 

The government just want to win there seat, as they say anything to win their seat in the House of Commons, as they sight lies and evil progression that has not element to how they make sense of the matter. 

The government needs to talk in the right affective manner and not wait for people to find mental illness. It’s a lost cause that is at the end of a government that can not handle there problems in the right affective manner. 

They use the term job” but they need to more graphical information about the job they are describing in the House of Commons, as the amount of positions that are available don’t exist. 

The uk government are not running in the right manner and don’t have the right stats to justify their augment. 

Running a business cost money and then the support for your self is another matter, why would a person say they got 20-30 pounds and they don’t even have a say in today’s living crisis to support them self, as it cost 20 pound to eat a simple takeaway, as years ago it cost £3.99  

What are the government doing and are they educated in the right manner to even speak on subjects today. 

People are turning to crime to pay them self through the streets or even in big companies doing fraud, taking money off people who are cheated out of money every day. 

Today quality level job’s, people have to be educated on a level that is difficult to obtain, as some people minds can not configure that ability. 

It’s sad that people in the government are not on the streets to see this problem, but are behind the closed doors of there government establishment, were they don’t see any thing. 

The government needs to stop the alarm of distress and understand that this country is stuck in a different state of mind. 

The job centre won’t help get people Jobs no more, as years ago they would work to help people find jobs, now” they just talk for the fun of it with no educated thought of what there job position is at a job centre. 

There is over 1 million people claiming benefits and how is the government going to place these jobs. 

Million is a lot. 

Attached is a news article of the uk government lack of leadership 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c70190e0p6yo.amp

Article written by Christopher Stanley 

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Who owns the sky? — A 2025 snapshot of satellites by country

Space is getting crowded. Over the last few years the number of objects placed into Earth orbit has exploded — driven mainly by commercial “megaconstellations” (big fleets of small satellites) and an acceleration in launches from China, the United States and commercial launch providers. Here’s a clear, sourced look at how many satellites are in orbit, which countries host the most, and why the counts vary so much.

The big picture (how many satellites total)

Estimates for total objects in orbit vary by tracker and by whether they count only active satellites or every object (active + defunct + rocket bodies). By spring 2025 independent trackers were reporting on the order of 12,000–15,000 satellites and objects around Earth (active satellites are a subset of that). For example, one industry summary put the global count near 12,149 active satellites in early May 2025, while other summaries that include inactive objects gave totals approaching ~14,900.  

Who has the most satellites

Short answer: The United States — by a large margin. That lead is mainly because of private U.S. companies (most notably SpaceX’s Starlink) in addition to government and military satellites.

• United States: The U.S. is the single largest operator/registrant of satellites in orbit. A dominant reason is SpaceX’s Starlink constellation, which — by late October 2025 — had more than ~8,700–8,800 Starlink satellites in orbit (reports and trackers vary slightly day-to-day). Counting all U.S. government and private satellites, the U.S. accounts for the single largest share of satellites in orbit.  

• China: China has increased its on-orbit presence rapidly. Multiple tracking summaries in 2025 put China at around 1,000 (to ~1,200) satellites in orbit, a big jump driven by several commercial and government constellations (communications, remote sensing and experimental systems).  

• Russia: Russia still operates hundreds of satellites (ranging in public trackers from a few hundred up to ~1,500 when different counting rules are used), but far fewer than the U.S. or China in recent years.  

• Other countries: The UK, Japan, France, India, Germany, Canada, Italy and a handful of others each operate tens to several hundreds of satellites. Some countries’ totals rose quickly because they are the home registrant for commercially operated constellations or host companies that register satellites under their national allocation.  

(For a country-by-country snapshot and approximate ranks, see the “Top players” section below.)

Why numbers differ between sources

Different public trackers and reports use different counting rules:

• Active vs launched vs registered: Some sources count only active satellites (currently functioning), others count all objects launched (including dead satellites and upper stages), and others list satellites registered to a country (which can differ from the country that built or operates them). That leads to large discrepancies.  

• Operator vs country of registration: Many commercial constellations operate under the registration of one country even though they serve global customers. Example: a company headquartered in the U.S. will usually register its satellites to the U.S., increasing that country’s count.  

• Rapid launches: 2024–2025 saw hundreds to thousands of small satellites launched (especially by SpaceX and several Chinese companies). The tally can change by hundreds in a single month.  

Top players (approximate, late-2025 snapshot)

Below are rough, sourced estimates (rounded) to give a sense of scale. Exact daily counts differ by tracker; use these as a ballpark snapshot and consult live trackers for day-to-day numbers.

• United States: Several thousand satellites; U.S. share is the largest globally thanks to Starlink (Starlink alone had ~8,700–8,800 satellites in orbit by late Oct 2025).  

• China: ~1,000–1,200 satellites (rapidly growing through state and private launches).  

• Russia: Hundreds (estimates vary by source; older summaries put Russia second or third depending on counting rules).  

• United Kingdom: Hundreds (UK-linked satellites increased as commercial operators register assets there).  

• Japan, France, India, Germany, Canada, Italy: typically dozens to low hundreds each depending on how the count is compiled.  

Why it matters

• Space traffic & debris: More satellites raise the risk of collisions and create long-lasting debris — which endangers other spacecraft and scientific observations.

• Spectrum and radio interference: Large constellations use lots of radio spectrum and can affect astronomy and radio-science.

• Power & geopolitics: A country’s satellite fleet supports communications, navigation, reconnaissance and commercial services — a strategic advantage in both civil and military domains.  

Where to watch live numbers

If you want day-to-day counts consult live trackers and databases such as:

• Jonathan McDowell’s trackers / Planet4589 (frequently updated Starlink stats).  

• Industry summaries (Pixalytics, NanoAvionics) and news outlets that track constellation launches.  

• The Union of Concerned Scientists maintains a searchable satellite database (its last full public update was earlier, so check their site for the newest release).  

Short takeaway

• There are tens of thousands of objects in orbit if you include debris; active satellites number in the low tens of thousands (estimates like ~12,000–15,000 were reported through 2025).  

• The United States currently has the most satellites, by a wide margin — largely because of SpaceX’s Starlink — followed by China and then other states.  

Attached is a news article regarding the most country who has the most satellites in space 

https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/top-countries-with-the-highest-number-of-satellites-in-space-2025-1820002598-1

Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley 

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What is known: The submarine landslide off the Tagus Delta

In recent geologic research, scientists have mapped a shallow‐water submarine landslide at the mouth of the Tagus delta, off Lisbon.   Key points:

• The event is estimated to be about 8 000 years old (8 ky cal BP) and involves a deposit with volume ~0.27 km³, over more than 9 km length and ~3 km width.  

• The landslide sits in a shallow shelf region (continental margin) near the Lisbon/Tagus area, making it relevant for coastal hazard assessments.  

• The modelling indicates that such an event could generate tsunami waves of roughly 0.8 m at the source region, and up to ~2 m wave heights upon reaching the Lisbon coast in a future scenario.  

So while it isn’t a “sink‐hole” in the sense of a dramatic open crater like one might imagine on land, there has been a major collapse/slide of seabed sediments in that region.

Why some may call it a “sink-hole”

There are a few reasons confusion or “sink‐hole” language arises:

• The seabed collapse results in removal or displacement of large volumes of sediment, which can appear as a “hole” in bathymetric data (i.e., the sea floor lowers).

• Public discussion may mis‐interpret geological/submarine landslide features as dramatic “holes” or “voids”.

• Underwater features are less visible, so any collapse or Slack in sediment might draw dramatic metaphors like “sink‐hole in the sea”.

So the “massive sink‐hole” might reflect a lay description of the mapped submarine slide/stress zone rather than a literal vertical crater.

Significance and hazard for Lisbon & region

Why this matters:

• The region is geologically active in terms of slope instability and mass‐wasting. The Tagus delta shelf is relatively narrow and sediments accumulate, making the margin more susceptible to submarine slides.  

• Because the slide is shallow (on shelf) and near populous coastal zones (including Lisbon), there is a real tsunami hazard potential: modelling suggests wave propagation toward the coast.  

• Coastal infrastructure, tourism, and maritime activities near Lisbon could be impacted in the event of a future similar slide with tsunami generation.

• For scientists and policy‐makers, the mapping of such slides helps refine hazard assessments (earthquake + landslide + tsunami chains). For example, the 1531 Lisbon earthquake tsunami may have been linked to a submarine slide along a canyon near Cascais.  

What we don’t know / limitations

• There is no documented “sink‐hole” that opened recently in the sea off Lisbon in the sense of a sudden collapse for which public media abound.

• The exact timing of future slides is uncertain — though zones of instability are identified, prediction remains challenging.

• Public awareness of submarine landslide hazards is lower than for more visible hazards (earthquakes, coastal flooding), so communication is still developing.

What to watch: monitoring and implications

• Bathymetric surveys and seismic reflection mapping continue to refine the geometry and volume of submarine slides off the Portuguese margin.

• Monitoring of sediment loads from the Tagus delta, river discharge, sea‐level rise, and slope stability all feed into risk models (sea‐level rise can increase tsunami hazard from slides).  

• For Lisbon region planners: considering tsunami risk from submarine slides (not just earthquakes) is increasingly part of coastal defence and emergency planning.

Putting it in context: near-shore dramatic collapses vs more visible features

Interestingly, Portugal also has remarkable coastal features that might be mistaken for “sink‐holes”. One example: the dramatic collapsed sea-cave formation called Boca do Inferno (“Mouth of Hell”) just west of Cascais (which is in the Lisbon district).  

Here’s how it compares:

• Boca do Inferno is a collapsed limestone sea cave/chasm, formed by erosion and collapse of the roof of a cave.  

• It is visually dramatic and near the coast, so for a casual observer it might look like a “sink‐hole” in the rock.

• However, it is not the massive submarine slide formerly discussed; it’s near shore and much smaller scale (and above water/just at the sea).

Thus, the “massive sink hole in the sea near Lisbon” you referenced likely refers more closely to the submarine landslide off the Tagus delta (or possibly mis‐attributed to Boca do Inferno), rather than an open large sink‐hole in the sea floor visible at the surface.

Conclusion

In summary:

• Yes, there is a significant submarine landslide (and thus an undersea collapse feature) near Lisbon off the Tagus delta, which could be described metaphorically as a “sink‐hole in the sea”.

• This feature has important hazard implications (tsunami risk) for Lisbon and surrounding coasts.

• But there is no widely reported dramatic crater opening recently in the sea off Lisbon that matches a traditional “sink‐hole” image.

• For journalistic or article purposes, you could frame the story as: “Underwater collapse off Lisbon: what it is, what risks it poses, and what it means for the capital’s coastal resilience.”

Attached is a news article regarding the hole sink boat in the ocean near Lisbon 

https://divemagazine.com/scuba-diving-news/orcas-sink-one-boat-damage-another-off-coast-of-portugal

Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley 

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The world’s poorest countries in 2025 — by GDP per capita (PPP)

When you talk about the “poorest” countries in the world you need to be clear which yardstick you’re using. Economists usually report GDP per capita in two ways: nominal (current U.S. dollars, not adjusted for cost of living) and PPP (purchasing-power-parity, which adjusts for local prices and is generally better for comparing living standards). Many recent rankings of the poorest countries use GDP per capita (PPP) because it gives a clearer picture of how far incomes actually go inside a country.  

Below is a snapshot of the countries with the lowest GDP per capita (PPP) in 2025 and the structural reasons behind their persistent poverty.

The list (poorest countries by GDP per capita — 2025, PPP)

Based on recent economic tables and compilers that use IMF/World Bank data and PPP adjustments, the countries with the lowest GDP per capita (PPP) in 2025 include (ranked approximately from lowest upward): South Sudan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Yemen, Mozambique, Malawi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Liberia, Madagascar. These names routinely appear at the bottom of international PPP per-capita lists in 2025.  

Quick notes on a few of them

• South Sudan: Years of conflict, breakdown of public services, and hyperinflation have pushed income measures to rock-bottom levels.  

• Burundi: Chronic underinvestment, weak institutions, shrinking foreign aid and climate-driven food shocks have produced severe poverty and humanitarian needs.  

• Central African Republic (CAR): Political instability and conflict block growth and investment; extractive resources are present but governance failures limit benefits to ordinary people.  

• Yemen: A brutal civil war has wrecked the economy, producing widespread famine and dislocation despite pre-war oil revenues.  

Why these countries remain so poor

Poverty at the national level is driven by a mix of overlapping factors — many of which these countries share:

1. Conflict and fragility. Active wars, insurgencies or prolonged instability destroy infrastructure, displace people and deter investment. Many of the lowest-ranked countries are in this category.  

2. Weak institutions and governance. Corruption, poorly functioning public services, and opaque resource management reduce the capacity of states to deliver education, health and infrastructure.  

3. Climate vulnerability and agricultural shocks. Where most income comes from rain-fed smallholder farming, droughts, floods and land degradation push people back into destitution.  

4. Debt and financing constraints. The World Bank and IMF have warned that the world’s poorest group of countries entered the mid-2020s with high debt burdens and limited fiscal space, making it hard to invest in development.  

5. Limited access to markets and low diversification. Economies dependent on a tiny range of commodities (or on aid) are subject to price swings and have trouble scaling up higher-value activity.  

A worrying trend: many of the poorest are worse off than before COVID

Recent international reporting and the World Bank have flagged that a core group of some 20–30 poorest countries — largely in sub-Saharan Africa, plus Afghanistan and Yemen — are in the weakest financial shape in decades. Per-capita incomes in that group remain under roughly $1,100 per year (in many cases much less), leaving entire populations extremely vulnerable to economic shocks, climate disasters and spikes in food prices.  

Paths out of extreme poverty — realistic, but slow

Development experts repeat familiar prescriptions: improved governance, expanded access to education and health, investments in resilient agriculture and infrastructure, and debt relief or better financing terms. For fragile states, peacebuilding and security are prerequisites. International support — both from multilateral lenders and donor countries — remains crucial, but long-term progress requires domestic reforms that broaden the political constituency for investment in human capital.  

Caveats and how these rankings are used

• Different metrics, different pictures. Rankings by nominal GDP per capita (market exchange rates) can reorder countries compared with PPP rankings. PPP is preferred for assessing living standards, nominal for comparing currency-valued output. Always check which metric a list uses.  

• Data gaps. Some fragile states have poor statistical systems; estimates can be revised substantially as new data (or better methods) arrive. That means the bottom ranks are indicative, not absolute.  

Bottom line

In 2025 the poorest countries — most of them in sub-Saharan Africa and conflict-affected parts of the Middle East — continue to face a tangle of conflict, weak institutions, climate shocks and debt that suppress incomes and keep people in extreme poverty. The international community can help with financing and technical assistance, but sustainable change will require safer, more accountable governments and economies that create opportunities beyond subsistence agriculture or single-commodity dependence.  

Attached is a news article regarding the poorest countries by GDP per capita in 2025 

https://gfmag.com/data/economic-data/poorest-country-in-the-world/

Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley 

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Smileband News

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Introduction

Reports have emerged claiming that France and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has donated £20 million to Jamaica. The story, if true, would mark one of the most significant individual charitable contributions in football in recent years. However, a close examination reveals that while Mbappé has a well-documented charitable record, we could not find reliable evidence to confirm the specific donation figure or the recipient country of Jamaica in this case.

This article therefore explores:

• what we do know about Mbappé’s philanthropy;

• the claims surrounding this alleged donation to Jamaica;

• reasons to treat the story with caution;

• and what implications such a donation would have.

Mbappé’s Known Charitable Activity

Mbappé has repeatedly shown a commitment to giving back:

• In 2018, at age 19, he pledged to donate his entire World Cup earnings to the children’s charity Premiers de Cordée, which supports hospitalised and disabled children.  

• During the COVID-19 crisis, the forward made a “very large donation” to the Abbé Pierre Foundation to support homeless people and others in precarious circumstances.  

• He also gives his time, serving as an ambassador for children’s sport programmes and engaging personally with children.  

These examples highlight that Mbappé is indeed philanthropic. That said, none of the published, verified charitable efforts link to a £20 million donation to Jamaica.

The Jamaica Donation Claim – What’s the Story

The claim states that Mbappé has donated £20 million to Jamaica. On investigation:

• We found no credible mainstream source (sports media, philanthropy reports, Jamaican national press) verifying the donation or specifying projects in Jamaica.

• The Jamaican press does mention Mbappé in other contexts but not in relation to a £20 million contribution. For example, a report on a fraud probe involving Mbappé and payments to French police officers mentions nothing about Jamaica.  

• Given Mbappé’s profile and the size of the alleged donation, a transaction of this scale would likely have been widely reported and documented.

Therefore, while it remains possible the donation occurred, the claim currently lacks substantiation.

Reasons for Skepticism

Here are some key reasons why this claim should be met with caution:

1. Absence of credible verification – no official statement from Mbappé, his foundation/management or Jamaican authorities that publicly acknowledges the gift.

2. Magnitude of the sum – a £20 million donation is very large. For context, his known public donations have been significant, but not publicly reported at that scale or to Jamaica.

3. Typical pattern of Mbappé’s giving – his documented philanthropy tends to focus on children, sports access, and France/Europe rather than large direct country-wide transfers to Caribbean nations.

4. Potential for misreporting – charitable stories around high-profile athletes often become exaggerated or misattributed (e.g., amount inflated, beneficiary changed).

5. No Jamaican media corroboration – if such a donation took place, one would expect commentary from Jamaican charities, government bodies or local media recognising the gift.

What If the Donation Were True — Impact and Considerations

Assuming, hypothetically, the £20 million donation to Jamaica were real, the implications would be substantial:

• Economic/Development impact: The funds could support education, youth sport, infrastructure or community health in Jamaica. A contribution of this size could initiate long-term projects.

• Reputational benefits: For Mbappé, the donation would further solidify his philanthropic legacy and global impact beyond football. For Jamaica, it would bring international attention and possibly partnerships.

• Operational questions: How would the funds be administered? Via a charity, trust, government agency or partnership? How would transparency and accountability be handled?

• Sustainability: A one-off donation is valuable, but sustained engagement (programmes, local partners) often yields stronger outcomes.

• Public/Media narrative: Such a donation would probably generate follow-up stories around implementation, progress, and the beneficiaries.

Conclusion & Recommendation

In summary:

• Kylian Mbappé is genuinely philanthropic and has made meaningful donations and commitments in the past.

• The specific claim that he donated £20 million to Jamaica is not backed by credible, publicly-accessible sources at this time.

• If you’re writing an article or piece about this, you should clearly state that the claim remains unverified and provide the context of his previous philanthropy.

• You may also consider contacting Mbappé’s foundation, his management, or Jamaican charitable organisations/government to seek confirmation or clarification before presenting it as fact.

Attached is a news article regarding kylian mbappe donating 20 million to Jamaica

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQgw0sKEcYm/

Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley 

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