Elizabeth Siders, 33, and Gary Siders Jr., 36, were arrested alongside the children’s grandparents Gary Siders Sr., 73, and Christina Siders, 67, in the family’s home in Vinton County, rural Ohio. 

The arrests came after authorities discovered 16 children, aged between one to 18, living in squalor in a cramped and filthy 12 feet by 12 feet space at the house. Authorities from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Vinton County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at the family's home in Hamden on Tuesday, 30 June. 

The warrant was connected to a separate investigation and was not initially about child welfare. But while searching the property, officers found the 16 children living in what officials described as horrific, unsanitary conditions. Elizabeth Siders and Gary Siders Jr. (Southeast Ohio Jail) “We didn’t know there were going to be 16 kids there,” said Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson at a news conference, via AP. “It’s the type of thing that we’re not used to seeing here in America." 

The children were forced to live like ‘feral animals’ in a single room which was covered in human waste for at least four years. Authorities have described the home as ‘deplorable’ and said livestock live in better conditions than the children. 

Some of the children are unable to speak and none of them were enrolled in school. The eldest child, aged 18, is unable to write her name, according to investigators. The Siders' family home (YouTube/NBC4) The children were transported to hospitals across Ohio following the rescue. Officials said several were in serious condition, including two who were airlifted to trauma centres and at least one who required intubation. 

Back in November 2022, Siders delivered conjoined twin daughters Bailey Lee and Faith Lee Siders at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, according to local news outlet WOWK 13. 

Born at just 24 weeks’ gestation, the twins had thoracopagus, a condition where their faces and chests fused together in the womb. The twins died later that same day of natural causes, according to records. Gary Siders Sr. and Christina Siders (Southeast Ohio Jail) On Monday, the children's shocked uncle said the rest of the family had no idea how many children Elizabeth and Gary Siders Jr. had. 

Ronnie Fletcher told WOWKTV he had no idea of the conditions at the house but has still received death threats. He said: "We've been told that we need to be put in front of an execution line of guns and, you know, killed and burned. I mean, it's been bad. 

"We've had our pictures taken off our accounts and we've had to delete all our social media. "My wife's not been able to go to work because she works within the public and she's scared." 

The four defendants have each pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of child endangerment. A judge set their bail at $300,000 each. If convicted, they each face a maximum sentence of up to 192 years in prison.

The couple weren't shy about showing their love for each other on the ninth day of the tennis tournament and shared a passionate kiss in their seats while sat alongside their teenage daughters. 

The Taylor-Johnsons managed to distract a few attendees from what was unfolding on the court with their loved-up display - especially as them stepping out in public together is something of a rare occurrence. 

Aaron - who is an actor with an enviable CV thanks to his roles in hit films such as Kick-Ass, Avengers: Age of Ultron and 28 Years Later - looked dapper in an all-white ensemble. The couple enjoyed an afternoon of tennis on Tuesday (Ricky Vigil M / Justin E Palmer/GC Images) He wore a single-breasted suit and brown loafers, while his filmmaker wife Sam wore shorts and a waistcoat, and she was seen adoringly hanging off his arm. The pair brought their daughters Wylda, 15, and Romy, 14, along to experience Wimbledon with them too. 

And it appears Aaron, 36, might have been casting his mind back to the tips and tricks he learnt while starring in the 2008 film Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging when he was sat in the stands with his brood. 

Photographers captured the moment he and Sam shared an affectionate smooch on Tuesday afternoon while enjoying the tennis. 

Elsewhere, they were seen holding hands, smirking and giggling - suggesting their love is still burning strong, even after being together for almost two decades. 

Back to Black director Sam, 59, met the actor when she was 42 and he was 18 on the set of Nowhere Boy in 2009 - which is a film that she was at the helm of, while Aaron was taking on the lead role. They shared a smooch in the stands at Wimbledon (Karwai Tang/WireImage) Speaking about the dynamic they had while working together on set, Sam told Harper's Bazaar in 2019: "We were very professional through the entire film... but everyone on set knew. 

"And as soon as we finished, he told me he was going to marry me. We had never been on a date, or even kissed." Aaron added: "And a year to the minute after we met, exactly one year to the minute, I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me." 

Their love story snowballed quite quickly from there, as shortly after their engagement, the couple welcomed their first daughter Wylda Rae in July 2010.

Aaron and Sam were flanked by their two daughters (Karwai Tang/WireImage) Their second child, another girl called Romy Hero, was then born in January 2012, which is the same year that the stars tied the knot in Somerset. 

Aaron has also taken on the role of a fatherly figure in the lives of Sam's children Angelica and Jessie Phoenix, whom she shares with her ex-husband Jay Jopling. 

But it's not all been sunshine and roses for Aaron and Sam, as the pair have previously admitted that the constant discussion surrounding their 23-year age gap has gotten on their nerves. Sharing his thoughts on the running commentary about it online, Aaron previously told Vulture that he found the 'attention was intrusive'. Sam and Aaron, pictured in 2010, have previously addressed the backlash their relationship has received (Samir Hussein/Getty Images) "But having to deal with that early in my career probably got me to a place where I can more quickly just go, 'Oh, f**k it' instead of wanting to rip someone's head off for asking questions I don't like," he added. 

Sam has previously described her husband as 'an old soul', which might be why their age gap really doesn't mean much to them. 

"We spend every minute of the day together," she once told told the Sunday Times. "My friends call him Benjamin Button because he has — on the outside — such youth, and on the inside, he is so wise and settled. He doesn't like parties. He likes being at home and cooking for the family. He likes walking the dogs. He loves his chickens - he collects the eggs and makes breakfast for everyone." 

Aaron brands opinions of his relationship 'bizarre' 

Speaking of the discourse surrounding their difference in age in 2019, the mother-of-four told The Daily Beast: "We've been together for over a decade now, so I feel like it is less of a conversation for people.

"It doesn't worry me, and it's not something that is difficult to talk about because it's such a positive story, that we're a decade later together and working together and raising a strong family together. "That may be a positive message for people out there." 

Taking a tougher approach to their critics in 2024, Aaron said he finds people who are concerned about their relationship quite 'bizarre'. “What you gotta realise is that what most people were doing in their twenties, I was doing when I was 13," he said. 

"You’re doing something too quickly for someone else? I don’t understand that. What speed are you supposed to enjoy life at? It’s bizarre to me."

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is reshaping the global technology industry, but it is also creating new challenges for some of the world's largest tech companies. Apple has indicated that consumers may soon face higher prices for its products as soaring demand for memory chips pushes manufacturing costs upward.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently acknowledged that rising component costs are putting pressure on the company, highlighting how the AI revolution is affecting supply chains across the technology sector. While the company has not confirmed specific products that could see price increases, industry analysts believe future devices, including upcoming iPhone models, may be impacted.

Artificial intelligence has become one of the most influential forces in the technology industry. From advanced AI assistants and machine learning platforms to large-scale data centers, companies are investing billions of dollars into AI infrastructure.

This surge in investment has dramatically increased demand for high-performance semiconductors and memory chips, which are essential for processing and storing massive amounts of data. As a result, manufacturers are struggling to keep up with demand, creating shortages and driving prices higher.

Memory chips, particularly DRAM and other forms of RAM, are crucial components in smartphones, laptops, tablets, and AI-powered systems. Industry reports indicate that memory prices have risen sharply over the past several months, reflecting the growing pressure on global supply chains.

Speaking about the current market situation, Tim Cook suggested that the rising cost of memory components has created a challenging environment for technology manufacturers.

According to Cook, Apple has been working to absorb some of these increased costs in an effort to protect consumers from significant price hikes. However, the imbalance between supply and demand has become increasingly difficult to manage.

The Apple chief executive described the memory chip market as unstable, noting that demand continues to rise while available supply remains limited. Under these circumstances, maintaining current pricing levels may become increasingly difficult for device manufacturers.

Although Apple has not announced when potential price increases could take effect, the company has not ruled out adjustments for future product launches.

One of the biggest questions among consumers is whether upcoming iPhone models will carry higher price tags.

Market analysts believe that future Apple devices could reflect the increased cost of critical components. Premium smartphones require larger amounts of memory and more advanced hardware, making them particularly vulnerable to rising semiconductor prices.

Some industry experts estimate that new Apple smartphones could cost up to $150 more than comparable current-generation models if component prices continue to rise at their current pace.

While Apple has built a reputation for balancing premium features with consumer demand, continued pressure on manufacturing costs may force the company to pass some of those expenses on to customers.

Memory technology plays a central role in the performance of modern electronic devices. It affects everything from application speed and multitasking capabilities to advanced AI-powered features.

As smartphone manufacturers integrate more artificial intelligence tools directly into their devices, memory requirements are increasing significantly. Features such as on-device AI processing, intelligent assistants, image generation, and advanced language models all require greater computing resources.

This trend is driving demand for larger and faster memory configurations, which in turn increases production costs for manufacturers.

Apple is far from the only company dealing with these challenges.

Several major technology brands, including Samsung, Sony, and Nintendo, have also reported cost pressures related to semiconductor supply and memory pricing. At the same time, chip manufacturers are experiencing unprecedented demand from companies building AI infrastructure.

The growing competition for semiconductor resources is affecting nearly every segment of the technology market. From consumer electronics and gaming devices to cloud computing platforms and enterprise AI systems, organizations are competing for the same critical components.

Industry forecasts suggest that the average selling price of smartphones worldwide could increase by approximately 20% during 2026 if current market conditions persist.

Such increases would likely affect not only flagship devices but also mid-range smartphones. Since most manufacturers rely on similar suppliers for memory and semiconductor components, rising costs could spread across the entire market.

Consumers may therefore encounter higher prices when upgrading their devices, while manufacturers face difficult decisions about how much of the additional cost they should absorb themselves.

Despite concerns about rising costs, Apple continues to experience strong sales performance in several key markets.

Demand for the company's products remains robust, supported by customer loyalty and growing interest in AI-enhanced features. China, in particular, has remained an important market for Apple, contributing significantly to overall sales growth.

The company's ability to maintain strong revenue while navigating supply chain challenges highlights the strength of its brand and ecosystem. Many consumers remain willing to pay premium prices for Apple products, even during periods of economic uncertainty.

The AI boom shows little sign of slowing down, and demand for advanced semiconductors is expected to remain strong throughout the coming years. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into everyday devices, manufacturers will require even more memory and processing power.

For consumers, this could mean continued upward pressure on the prices of smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other electronic devices. For technology companies, the challenge will be balancing innovation, profitability, and affordability in an increasingly competitive market.

Unless supply conditions improve and chip production expands significantly, higher hardware costs may become a defining trend across the global technology industry. The growing influence of artificial intelligence is not only transforming how devices function—it is also changing the economics behind how they are made and sold.

Doctor Philip Ovadia has carried out over 3,000 heart surgeries and said some food 'in most people's kitchens' right now was the culprit behind many folks needing to go under the knife. In fact, there are 11 items he says everyone needs to cut out of their diet immediately. 

"This food drives insulin resistance, triggers chronic inflammation, and is slowly destroying your heart," the surgeon said, explaining that when he was operating on someone, he could see exactly what had caused their heart attack. 

He described seeing build up of plaque that was 'soft, unstable, and highly inflammatory' which 'suddenly ruptures and blocks the artery', and 'hard, calcified plaque' that had 'gradually choked off that blood supply going through that artery'. 

While Dr Ovadia said most people assumed red meat, saturated fats and salt were the prime suspects, the heart surgeon said 'highly processed carbohydrates' were the real culprit. This food is worse than saturated fat for your heart (YouTube/I Fix Hearts by Dr. Ovadia) Describing the main factors that resulted in people having plaque that results in heart attacks as 'insulin resistance, chronic high blood sugar, inflammation, and visceral fat', he listed all sorts of foods people eat on a regular basis. 

"I don't just mean candy and soda," the heart surgeon explained, advising that people completely cut out all of the following foods from their diet: 

• white bread 
• bagels 
• breakfast cereals 
• crackers 
• pasta 
• crisps 
• granola bars 
• flavoured yogurt 
• fruit juice 
• instant oatmeal 
• most wholegrain packaged products 

Dr Ovadia added: "Even foods marketed as healthy, like low-fat granola, whole wheat bread, and rice cakes are loaded with these refined carbs. "These foods spike your blood sugar and your insulin repeatedly, they promote chronic inflammation, they drive visceral fat storage.

"And they create exactly the inflammatory environment that turns into that soft, unstable plaque I see causing heart attacks every week in the operating room." 

His advice to people is to cut out the processed carbs from their diets as they're the foods he sees doing 'the most damage' to people's hearts, and he reckons people ought to replace them with 'real whole foods' like vegetables, animal proteins and 'healthy fats in their natural form'. 

Fellow heart surgeon Dr Jeremy London agrees that heavily processed foods are really bad for your heart, as he told people to stay well away from things packed full of additives and artificial ingredients but are light on actual nutrition. 

Basically, it was pretty much any food he reckoned 'your grandmother wouldn’t have' somewhere in her kitchen. Meanwhile, NHS doctor Chris van Tulleken said heavily processed foods had 'overtaken tobacco as the leading cause of early death on planet Earth'. 

The symptoms of a heart attack A heart attack can be mistaken for indigestion (Getty Stock Images) According to the NHS, the symptoms of a heart attack include: 

While Global warming is a huge concern today in 2026, way back before the concept of the Earth's rising temperature was even thought about, the Book of Revelation gave a sinister warning. 

It suggested in 95–96 AD that if the Euphrates river system, located in west Asia, runs dry, the apocalypse is not far behind. The Bible says that the waters of the Garden of Eden are split into four, creating the Tigris, Euphrates, Pishon and Gihon rivers. Only the Tigris and Euphrates still exist, but scientists are concerned as the giant river is ever shrinking. 

It is the longest river in western Asia and runs nearly 1,800 miles from eastern Turkey through Syria and Iraq, before joining the Tigris River and flowing into the Persian Gulf. Throughout history, mankind has set up camp around the river and used it for fresh water.

Droughts have been causing problems in the Euphrates river and surrounding regions (Photo by Assad NIYAZI / AFP via Getty Images) Now though, scientists say droughts are worsening, as well as temperatures increasing and growing populations placing more and more pressure on the resources. According to Metro, climate experts fear Euphrates could dry out by 2040, if things keep going the way they are. 

What did the Book of Revelation say about the Euphrates river? Before Armageddon arrives, the river is described as drying up after an angel pours out one of the symbolic ‘seven bowls’ of judgment. The Bible verse states: "The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East." 

Is the Euphrates river really drying up? Scientists have studied satellite images of the river, with images showing a shocking loss of water - 34 cubic miles of freshwater have dried up since 2003. To put that into context, that's roughly the same amount as 13 Olympic size swimming pools. The Book of Revelation made a chilling prediction regarding the Asian river system (Getty Stock Image) There was a severe drought back in 2007, which much of the area has never recovered from, warns Jay Famiglietti, a hydrologist and professor at the University of California. 

'Demand for fresh water continues to rise' He said the data shows 'an alarming rate of decrease in total water storage in the Tigris and Euphrates river basins, which currently have the second fastest rate of groundwater storage loss on Earth, after India'. 

"The rate was especially striking after the 2007 drought, meanwhile, demand for fresh water continues to rise, and the region does not coordinate its water management because of different interpretations of international laws," he explained. When you factor in the basin where it meets the Tigris river, the loss is even greater, warns the expert, at a shocking 90 cubic kilometers. Climate change and a growing population is placing pressure on the river, named as one of four from the Garden of Eden in the Bible (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP) (Photo by DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images) “That's enough water to meet the needs of tens of millions to more than a hundred million people in the region each year, depending on regional water-use standards and availability,” he said, according to NASA. Communities in Iraq are already feeling the pressure of water shortages. 

Naseer Baqar, a climate activist and field coordinator at the Tigris River Protectors Association in Iraq, told the British Medical Journal about the damage spreading across the country due to water shortages from the river. 

"Diarrhoea, chicken pox, measles, typhoid fever, and cholera are currently spreading across Iraq because of the water crisis, and the government no longer provides vaccines to its citizens," he said.

The rockstar saw his chance and he took it, when greeting the monarch at a charity event earlier this week. 

They were all gathered at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the King's Trust, along with the likes of TV presenters Ant and Dec, pop stars Rita Ora, Anne-Marie, and Craig David, as well as Jools Holland. 

Benedict Cumberbatch, Sir Idris Elba, and George Clooney were all there too. King Charles and Queen Camilla recently spent four days over in the US, hosted by Donald and Melania Trump. According to Sky News, Stewart couldn't resist making a quip, congratulating King Charles: "May I say, well done in the Americas. You were superb, absolutely superb."

He'd been cast in a production called Brighton Beach Memoirs alongside Rochelle 'Rocky' Parker, who played his auntie. Dempsey was just 18 years old at the time, and he'd set his sights on a large-scale career in showbiz, while Parker worked as a part-time actress, part-time stage coach. She was also a 44-year-old mother-of-three when they first met. 

Despite playing family in the production, the palpable chemistry they struck up reportedly continued long after the audience had left the theatre, and the pair embarked on a passionate love affair.

Dempsey was just 18 when they met (Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images) The couple dated for three years - during which Dempsey hired Parker as his official manager, and reportedly forged a close friendship with Parker's son, Corey - and in 1991, they tied the knot. The future Grey's Anatomy star was 21 when he and Parker, 48, exchanged vows. 

According to reports, their marriage was kept a secret for several years in a bid to avoid criticism over their 26-year age-gap. While working together professionally, Dempsey landed his first major feature film role in the wartime blockbuster In The Mood, subsequently going on to land the lead in coming-of-age hit, Loverboy. 

Within years, he'd become an established Hollywood name in TV and film, appearing in Sweet Home Alabama, Iron Jawed Angels, and Scream. By 1994, however, his relationship with Parker was said to have taken a dark turn, with Parker filing for divorce, citing 'irreconcilable differences'. The couple were born 26 years apart (Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images) The rumour mill alleged they'd butted heads professionally, while Hollywood gossip suggested infidelity one one of their parts, neither of which have ever been confirmed. During the proceedings, Parker claimed Dempsey had assaulted her on the set of the 1987 movie, Can't Buy Me Love. She later retracted this allegation, however, claiming she'd been 'advised to make' them by her legal representatives. 

Only on a handful of occasions has the actor addressed his first marriage, which he described during a 2006 interview with Barbara Walters as a 'Freudian nightmare that is public knowledge'. He continued: "I think I needed a mother. There were a lot of negative things that I'm still undoing from it. She had a son one year older than me." 

Three years after the pair's divorce, Dempsey married make-up artist Jillian Fink, going on to father three children with her.

Dempsey later remarried (James Gourley/Stringer/via Getty) Though they later planned to divorce amid some marital tensions, the couple stuck with it and have been together ever since. In 2014, Parker died of lung and throat cancer at just 74. 

Over on her TikTok page, the Kylie Cosmetics founder shared a backdated video of her doing make-up on a private flight as she gets ready for a date night with her BF of three years. "Get ready with me for date night in New York," the 28-year-old said in the clip captioned 'drafts'. 

"I got my hair done quickly before I left, and now I'm gonna do my makeup because when I land, it'll be, like, 7:30am. "I got a spray tan last night, and I feel didn't like it was dark enough so I got another spray tan before I left. 

"So I have to shower. I've been doing my makeup and then I have to shower. This is a new Kylie Cosmetics primer that I've actually had forever and ever." Kylie Jenner has faced some backlash over her video (TikTok/@kyliejenner) She then explained that 'this trip was very last minute' and that she's 'literally going for, like, 24 hours'. "We're in New York for a day. I can't believe I did this. I'm so excited," Kylie added. 

The post was met with some backlash in the comments, as one person wrote: "Does anyone else feel like this is too much? Taking a private plane to visit a city for less than 24 hours to go on a date? "I thought we cared about the climate, but yet everyone is cheering in the comments."

Some users suggested that the celebrity should have kept the video in her 'drafts' (TikTok/@kyliejenner) Another penned: "Anyways, everyone remember to use your paper straws and carpool whenever you can." While a third added: "Another day where a billionaire makes choices only caring about themselves not the environment or other people living in the same planet." 

"The turbulence always hits when I’m doing my mascara," someone else wrote. Not everyone was against her decision, however, as others thought it was unfair to blame one celebrity on the state of the planet. Kylie has been pictured courtside with her boyfriend in New York (Sarah Stier/Getty Images) "You may have a point. However, the amount of corporations that cause much much much more damage to our climate and nobody say anything about them or boycott them," one person said. 

"I completely agree that corporations are a HUGE part of the problem. People are definitely talking about that as well and boycotting those businesses," another added. Make-up company Maybelline also commented on the post: "24h in NYC has never looked this good."

Three people have died following a hantavirus outbreak onboard a Dutch cruise ship that set sail from Argentina on April 1. 

There's since been another five confirmed cases of the virus in connection to those onboard MV Hondius. Typically hantavirus is linked to rodents but it's believed that this strain, the Andes virus, could be because of person-to-person transmission. 

Today (May 10), the remaining passengers onboard the cruise ship are being evacuated in Tenerife. The Spanish authorities will begin evacuations of the ship by nationality. There's said to be 17 Americans onboard. Once everyone is off the ship, there's expected to be six repatriation flights to elsewhere in the European Union and four non-EU flights.

MV Hondius anchored near the port of Granadilla in Tenerife in the early hours of this morning (Europa Press Canarias via Getty Images) If people test negative and are not displaying symptoms, they will be taken straight to a chartered repatriation flight staffed by medical professionals and containing personal protective equipment such as face masks. 

As the passengers prepare to exit the vessel, the first person who died from the virus on the ship has been named as 70-year-old Dutch national, Leo Schilperoord. Schilperoord was a ornithologist who had been traveling around South America with his wife, Mirjam Schilperoord. Sadly Mirjam has since died from the virus as well. 

How did they contract the virus? Leo Schilperoord has been identified as 'patient zero' (Facebook) The Dutch couple are said to have been keen bird-watchers and has visited a rat-infested Argentina landfill in late March in the hopes of capturing a glimpse at rare species of Patagonian birds, including the White-bellied Seedsnipe. 

Supposedly the landfill, located four miles outside the city of Ushuaia, is popular with bird-watchers with this in mind. But Gastón Bretti, a photographer and local guide, warned that this particular site is 'a mountain of waste that today far exceeds the limit initially established by the authorities', he told Ansa Latina. 

It's thought that his landfill is home to long-tailed pygmy rice rats, which are known to carry the Andes strain of hantavirus. It's here that the authorities think the Schilperoords inhaled particles from the feces of these rats, the New York Post reports. They boarded the MV Hondius just a few days after visiting the landfill. The Argentinian landfill is reportedly a popular bird-watching spot (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

The symptoms of the Andes strain of hantavirus and how it spreads 

The Andes strain of hantavirus is very rare. Microbiologist Dr Gustavo Palacios told CNN there have only ever been 3,000 known cases. It is the only documented form of hantavirus with human-to-human transmission. One study showed that window for patients to be infectious was about a day, when they develop a fever. But they also found it was transmissible through only brief proximity to an infected person. 

Andes virus (ANDV) is primarily found in South America and has a high fatality rate, between 20 and 40 percent. It can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), which attacks the lungs. Symptoms start one to eight weeks after infection and the first signs can include: 

• Fatigue 
• Fever 
• Muscles aches 
• Headaches 
• Dizziness 
• Chills 
• Nausea and vomiting 
• Diarrhoea 

Later symptoms include: 

The 22-foot statue is a little on the nose, literally placing golden Trump on a pedestal with his fist in the air, reminiscent of the infamous picture captured during his attempted assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania. 

It was unveiled at a dedication on Wednesday by Mark Burns from 'Pastors for Trump', with the statue overlooking the president's own golf course in Florida. Sharing his shiny new likeness, President Trump said this week: "The Real Deal – GOLD – At Doral in Miami. Put there by great American Patriots!!!"

But the religious parallels of holy men raising up a golden statue and showering it with idolatry is, well, so obvious that even Pastor Burns had to address it as criticism rolled in. “Let me be clear: this is not a golden calf,” he said.

Other statues of Trump have been put up but for satirical reasons, like this of the president and former associate Jeffrey Epstein (Heather Diehl/Getty Images) The pastor continued: “This statue is a celebration of life. It is a symbol of resilience, freedom, patriotism, strength, and the will power to keep fighting for the future of America.” 

But even if the statue is no 'golden calf', a reference to the story from Exodus where the Israelites begin worshipping a golden statue of a cow while Moses goes to Mount Sinai to be handed the Ten Commandments, there are plenty of other biblical reasons to not erect a giant statue. 

There is also the story of King Nebuchadnezzar from Daniel 3, who builds an equally massive statue and instructs the people of Babylon to bow down before it, but is shown the error of his ways by three holy men who refuse to worship a false idol. 

This is all to say that, most, men of the book would be extremely hesitant to raise up a golden statue to a country's leader, which many pointed out when the statue was revealed. But one holy man who lined up to defend it was ridiculed for his defense of the statue, with MAGA pastor Robert Jeffress saying: "It looks like President Trump has a better understanding of what the Bible teaches about the role of government than the Pope has."

   

Q: What’s your favorite Bible verse?

Trump: I wouldn't want to get into it because to me that's very personal. You know, when I talk about the Bible it's very personal.

Q: Are you an Old Testament guy or a New Testament guy?

Trump: Uh, probably equal. think it’s just an… https://t.co/3NDmc5lRmd pic.twitter.com/JlqcQkzfnq

— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) May 9, 2026

This claim from a holy man, which is fairly easy to disprove, was blasted as 'stupid' by many, with other saying it was proof that the president's supporters were a cult. One infuriated social media user responded: "This Pastor must be absolutely stupid to make a statement like that. Its because of him and Christians like him that we have the worst disruptor of world peace in the White House." 

While Pope Leo XIV has spent literal decades studying the Old and New Testaments, as well as centuries of Catholic doctrine and debate on the meaning of the text, in one interview, Trump could not even name a favorite Bible passage. 

When asked, he responded: I wouldn't want to get into it because to me that's very personal. You know, when I talk about the Bible it's very personal." Then, when the interviewer made it more simple and asked half of the Bible he preferred, Trump unconvincingly said: "Uh, probably equal. think it’s just an incredible….the whole Bible is an incredible."

Ruhi Çenet found himself hit with a huge backlash from the public after photos of him attending the wedding which took place on May 3 began to circulate online, reports Türkiye Today. This is the the very same day that the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that it was investigating an outbreak on the ship. 

Addressing the situation in an Instagram post on Friday, Çenet explained: “On the date I attended the wedding, the Hantavirus epidemic was not announced by the World Health Organization,” 

He has since been quarantined ‘just in case’ as a precautionary measure, but has not shown any symptoms of the disease. Cenet, 35, boarded the cruise on April 1 in Ushuaia, Argentina. Hantavirus has been confirmed as the cause of death for three passengers Initially things got off to a good start, until the Captain of the ship announced the death of a 70 year old Dutch passenger on April 11 that was attributed to ‘natural causes.’ 

According to Çenet the Captain then went on to make an announcement the following day, which he claims stated: “Whatever health issues he was struggling with, I'm told by the doctor, were not infectious, so the ship is safe when it comes to that.” 

In a video clip, supplied to NBC News, the message continued: "The ship is safe. This gentleman, unfortunately, succumbed to natural causes. And like I say, we do what we can in order to continue in a safe and dignified way.” As a result, the cruise passengers were ‘not well informed,’ Çenet told the outlet, adding, "It's very scary because it was nothing that we were ready for.” The influencer was on board the Cruise ship MV Hondius when the first person died. (AFP via Getty Images) For the remaining days on board the cruise, Çenet self-isolated alongside his cameraman, but revealed that the ship operated normally for a full 12 days, allowing passengers to mix onboard the ship for meals and without any need for masking or distancing. 

The deceased passenger was removed from the ship on April 24, the same day that Çenet left the ship at St.Helena. "I wish we did not land there after the first casualty, because along with us, there were a hundred more passengers, and they were interacting with the islanders," Çenet told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"This is one of my regrets, because the island is the most remote one, and they don't have enough medical centres, enough doctors.” Just two days later, the deceased passenger’s wife, a 69 year old Dutch woman boarded a flight to South Africa, but sadly also succumbed to the illness and died on April 26. Çenet was also on board this flight. 

As of Friday, May 8, there are currently eight suspected cases, including three deaths. Six of these cases have been’"laboratory-confirmed as hantavirus infections, with all identified as Andes virus (ANDV),’ according to WHO.

Horner, 34, was sentenced to death earlier this week for kidnapping and killing Athena in November 2022. The child was taken from her home near Fort Worth, Texas, on the day the former FedEx driver delivered a Christmas gift to her home. 

Athena's body was found two days later not far from where she lived, with Horner later arrested and charged with aggravated kidnapping and capital murder, which he pleaded guilty to in court. After being placed on death row by a Texas court earlier this week, Horner will now spend his final years at the Polunsky Unit, known as one of the most brutal death row prisons in the country. 

Prisoners awaiting execution are kept segregated and are said to spend up to 22 hours a day confined to their cells, which are just 60 square-foot wide. Tanner Horner was sentenced to death earlier this week (Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News via Getty Images) Horner's cell will be furnished with just a metal bunk bed and thin mattress, while a metal desk, toilet and sink will sit just feet away from where he will sleep. 

The killer will eat all of his meals in the cell and will be limited to having a pen and paper to write with. He will not have access to entertainment found in other prisons, instead just being given reading materials to study. 

As the Polunsky Unit is one of the most dangerous prisons in the US filled by many murderers, staff conduct regular surveillance, which continues throughout the night. Because of this, inmates are unable to get regular and continuous sleep. 

Horner will be let out of his cell for around an hour of exercise per day, but even that is conducted in a cage in the outdoors to ensure inmates do not mix. Conditions at the prison have been described as 'inhumane' and 'torture' by advocacy group SolitaryWatch. The prison is one of America's most brutal (United States States District Court Southern District of Texas Houston Division) Yancy Escobar, the wife of inmate Juan Balderas, who has been on death row for 11 years, told Telemundo Houston last month: "He lives there in a small cell for 24 hours. 

"Suddenly, they take him out to shower two, three times a week. The only time you can leave that cell is when you go to shower, and they take you in handcuffs. They put you in there, take off the handcuffs, you shower for 15 minutes, and they take you back to your cell." 

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues or want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives calls from throughout the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico. 

If you have experienced a child bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends on (877) 969-0010.