remaining

Aug. 30 (UPI) — The remaining 532 employees at the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which is the parent agency of the Voice of America, have received termination notices.

Kari Lake sent the pink slips to the respective workers on Friday evening, according to The Washington Post.

“Tonight, the U.S. Agency for Global Media initiated what is known as a reduction in force, or RIF, of a large number of its full-time federal employees,” Lake said in the termination notice.

“We are conducting this RIF at the President’s direction to help reduce the federal bureaucracy, improve agency service and save the American people more of their hard-earned money.”

Lake is the Trump administration’s official in charge of overseeing the eventual end of Voice of America.

The VOA originally was created to counter Nazi propaganda during World War II, and all of its staff members were put on administrative leave in March, Politico reported.

The Trump administration then stopped production at most of the VOA’s publishing outlets.

About 600 contractors were let go in May, and hundreds of employees received termination notices in June.

Many of the termination notices temporarily were rescinded due to errors, but they were told the agency would undergo an RIF sometime soon after.

Legal challenges were filed against the initial firings and likely will for Friday’s action, according to Politico.

AN American rock band has canceled their remaining tour dates, with the frontman making a confession about the ‘hardest decision’ he had to make.

Earlier this month, The Dangerous Summer, which was formed in 2006, revealed their summer tour would expand into the fall – but this is not the case anymore.

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Fans are gutted after learning that the band has unexpectedly canceled all of their remaining tour dates for the year.

Their frontman AJ Perdomo penned a touching statement about needing to step away from music for a while.

He penned, “There is no easy way to say this, but I am burning out from being on the road so often.

“It is the hardest decision in the world to make, but I have decided to cancel the remaining tour dates for the rest of the year.”

He added, “I need to go home and be a father, a fiancé, and a creative. I need to work on my life at home for a moment.

“I have the dreamer’s disease. Next year will be 20 years since this band has started.

“It has become such a large part of my existence, and how I value myself as an individual. I have been overworking to fill a hole in my heart that no amount of shows or success will be able to fill.”

Opening up further, AJ continued, “When I am standing up on stage singing a song like ‘What’s an hour really worth?’ I start to think about the life that is passing me by while I am away from home.

“It broke my heart to tell my band, my manager, and my team of agents—but they have been extremely supportive of my decision to take some time away from touring.”

Reassuring the band’s fans, AJ urged that this was not the end.

“This isn’t the end, and in fact, making new music is one of the driving factors in this decision,” he explained.

“Creating music is where my heart truly lies, and I need to get back to it.

“Please continue supporting live music, and the bands/venues that we had intended on hitting this fall/winter.

“Music and art need your support more than ever.”

Fans were quick to react to the sad news of the tour being canceled, but were understanding of AJ’s reasoning for doing so.

One fan replied to his post on X saying, “’ll speak for every fan and say take all the time you need! Cherish those moments with your fam and we’ll see you again later.”

A second added, “That sucks but totally understand AJ. Do what you need to do and see ya back on stage at some point.”

While a third wrote, “Much love and respect, AJ. Enjoy the time with your family.”

The Dangerous Summer had a “messy breakup” before reuniting.

They were initially together from 2006 until 2014 when they disbanded.

They then reunited in 2017.

When the band was not together, AJ had settled into a more lowkey lifestyle.

He had gotten into the groove of raising his daughter with his wife in L.A, as per a report three years ago.

“I loved the life I created,” AJ told Metro Times in 2022, adding, “I kind of loved having a nine-to-five. You know, the grass is greener.”

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Aug. 27 (UPI) — President Donald Trump is asking a New York appeals court to throw out the remaining penalties imposed against him in his civil fraud case after the roughly $500 million fine was dismissed last week.

Trump’s defense filed the motion in a New York appeals court Tuesday asking it to remove a three-year ban placed on the president from holding corporate leadership positions in the state, and a three-year ban on him and his companies receiving bank loans, among other punitive actions.

Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron fined Trump $454 million in February 2024, after Trump was found liable for financial fraud by inflating his net worth to secure favorable loans.

Last week, a divided appeals court threw out the massive monetary penalty, calling it excessive, but let stand the judgment.

After his financial penalty was erased, Trump claimed “TOTAL VICTORY” online.

“I greatly respect the fact that the Court had the Courage to throw out this unlawful and disgraceful Decision that was Hurting Business all throughout New York State,” Trump said on his Truth Social media platform.

“It was a political Witch Hunt, in a business sense, the likes of which no one has ever seen before.”

New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the case against Trump, said she will appeal to have the $500 million fine reinstated.

“It should not be lost to history: yet another court has ruled that the president violated the law, and that our case has merit,” she said Thursday in a statement.

There are only three bank holidays left in England and Wales this year

Mark your calendars, folks – it’s time to jot down the remaining bank holidays for 2025. In England and Wales, we’ve only got three more to look forward to this year, with the next one just over a month away.

Regrettably, there are no plans to add any extra days off to the total of eight we’re getting in 2025, as there aren’t any national events on the horizon. However, many Brits will be chuffed to know that one is scheduled during the peak of summer on August 25, offering us the opportunity to (hopefully) bask in some much-needed sunshine.

The remaining bank holiday dates for England and Wales in 2025 are:

• Summer bank holiday: August 25 (Monday)
• Christmas Day: December 25 (Thursday)
• Boxing Day: December 26 (Friday)

While England and Wales have just three bank holidays left, residents of Scotland and Northern Ireland still have four to enjoy in 2025. In Scotland, these fall on August 4, December 1 of St Andrew’s Day, in addition to Christmas and Boxing Day.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s bank holidays fall on July 14, marking the Battle of Boyne and August 25, followed by December 25 and 26. Those who also like to plan ahead can start pondering their 2026 and 2027 bank holidays now, as the Government has already unveiled its upcoming schedule.

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In 2026, for England and Wales, this includes:

• New Year’s Day: January 1 (Thursday)
• Good Friday: April 3 (Friday)
• Easter Monday: April 6 (Monday)
• Early May bank holiday: May 4 (Monday)
• Spring bank holiday: May 25 (Monday)
• Summer bank holiday: August 31 (Monday)
• Christmas Day: December 25 (Friday)
• Boxing Day (substitute day): December 28 (Monday)

For 2027, the Government also outlines:

• New Year’s Day: January 1 (Friday)
• Good Friday: March 26 (Friday)
• Easter Monday: March 29 (Monday)
• Early May bank holiday: May 3 (Monday)
• Spring bank holiday: May 31 (Monday)
• Summer bank holiday: August 30 (Monday)
• Christmas Day (substitute day): December 27 (Monday)
• Boxing Day (substitute day): December 28 (Tuesday)

According to the Express, Scotland’s dates for 2026 are:

• New Year’s Day: January 1 (Thursday)
• January bank holiday: January 2 (Friday)
• Good Friday: April 3 (Friday)
• Early May bank holiday: May 4 (Monday)
• Spring bank holiday: May 25 (Monday)
• Summer bank holiday: August 3 (Monday)
• St Andrew’s Day: November 30 (Monday)
• Christmas Day: December 25 (Friday)
• Boxing Day (substitute day): December 28 (Monday)

For 2026, Northern Ireland’s are:

• New Year’s Day: January 1 (Thursday)
• St Patrick’s Day: March 17 (Tuesday)
• Good Friday: April 3 (Friday)
• Easter Monday: April 6 (Monday)
• Early May bank holiday: May 4 (Monday)
• Spring bank holiday: May 25 (Monday)
• Battle of Boyne (Orangemen’s Day): July 13 (Monday)
• Summer bank holiday: August 31 (Monday)
• Christmas Day: December 25 (Friday)
• Boxing Day (substitute day): December 28 (Monday)

Substitute days happen when a regular bank holiday lands on a weekend. For example, these days, like Boxing Day in 2026, typically occur on a Monday.

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While many people relish the day off on a bank holiday, it’s vital to remember that you’re not always guaranteed to get paid leave. It’s worth having a chat with your employer about your options.

Bank holidays can also impact how and when benefits are paid. If your payment date falls on a weekend or bank holiday, you’ll likely receive your money the working day before. However, this may differ for the Child Benefit.

You can visit the Government’s website for further information on upcoming bank holidays and benefits payment information.

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Full list of previous England and Wales bank holidays in 2025:

So far in 2025, there have been five bank holidays. They include:

• New Year’s Day: January 1 (Wednesday)
• Good Friday: April 18 (Friday)
• Easter Monday: April 21 (Monday)
• Early May bank holiday: May 5 (Monday)
• Spring bank holiday: May 26 (Monday)

Government escalates row with university over demands to curb pro-Palestine student activism and change racial diversity policies.

The administration of US President Donald Trump will move to sever remaining federal contracts with Harvard University, escalating a row centred on issues such as pro-Palestine student activism and racial diversity.

The New York Times and Reuters news agency reported on Tuesday that a draft letter from the General Services Administration (GSA) instructs all federal agencies to review and possibly cancel existing contracts with Harvard, worth an estimated $100m.

A copy of the draft letter shared by the Times states that Harvard has continued to engage in “race discrimination, including in its admissions process” and that the university’s failure to halt alleged acts of anti-Semitism suggests a “disturbing lack of concern for the safety and wellbeing of Jewish students”.

The move would be the latest effort by the government to use federal funds to force universities to accept changes sought by the Trump administration, including greater control over curricula, harsher steps against pro-Palestine students, and an end to policies that encourage racial diversity and greater opportunities for racial minorities.

The Trump administration has portrayed efforts to encourage greater racial diversity at US universities as a form of discrimination that prioritises racial identity over merit. Supporters say that such efforts, such as using race as one factor of many in admissions decisions, are necessary to remedy long histories of racist discrimination and exclusion in US higher education.

“GSA understands that Harvard continues to engage in race discrimination, including in its admissions process and in other areas of student life,” the letter reads.

The administration has also taken an aggressive stance on pro-Palestine activism on university campuses, which erupted after the beginning of Israel’s most recent war in Gaza in October 2023.

Critics have portrayed those steps as part of a larger assault on US universities, which Trump has depicted as hotbeds of political dissent and radical ideas at odds with the goals of his administration.

“The Trump administration has gone after Harvard because of the pro-Palestinian protests, and also has made a list of demands that goes far beyond any of that,” Al Jazeera correspondent Patty Culhane reported from Cambridge, Massachusetts, where Harvard is located.

“It wants detailed information on foreign students that Harvard is refusing to give. It wants basically a political audit to see where people’s ideologies are. So Harvard University has sued in court to stop many of these moves, and this will undoubtedly be the next one that goes before a judge.”

In March, the GSA and the Departments of Education (DOE) and Health and Human Services (HHS) announced an official review of $255.6m in Harvard contracts and $8.7bn in multi-year grants, stating that the review was part of an effort to combat alleged anti-Semitism on college campuses.

The administration also cut $400m in grants to Columbia University in New York City in March, despite a series of concessions to government demands.

The administration has said that campus protests against Israel’s war in Gaza and the US provision of billions of dollars of weapons to Israel are driven by anti-Semitism and create an unsafe environment for Jewish students on campus.

Several international students have been arrested and detained by the administration for their involvement in pro-Palestine activism, including a Turkish international student named Rumeysa Ozturk at Tufts University, who was arrested on the street by federal agents for co-signing an op-ed calling for an end to the war.

Trump has consistently threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status, and moved last week to block the university’s ability to accept international students, who currently make up about 27 percent of the university’s total enrolment.

A judge blocked that effort, which Harvard had called an act of retaliation for “our refusal to surrender our academic independence and to submit to the federal government’s illegal assertion of control over our curriculum, our faculty, and our student body”.