The Justice Department charged five Chinese nationals on Tuesday for allegedly photographing an American military installation in Michigan. The five individuals are former University of Michigan students Zhekai Xu, Renxiang Guan, Haoming Zhu, Jingzhe Tao, and Yi Liang. The charges stem from an incident in August 2023 when authorities say they were caught taking pictures of military equipment during joint training exercises between the National Guard and the Taiwanese military at Camp Grayling in northern Michigan.  They were accused of making false statements, conspiracy, and destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in federal investigations over the incident. The five men were in the United States as part of a partnership between the University of Michigan and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. According to an affidavit from FBI special agent Caroline Colpoys, the five were found on August 23, 2023, between 12:30 a.m. and 1:00 a.m., at a lake adjacent to the Grayling Military Installation. They were at a boat launch with headlamps and cameras. “This encounter happened during Northern Strike, one of the largest U.S. National Guard training exercises held in the United States, which included U.S. military personnel from across the United States and, in August 2023, members of the Taiwan military,” Colpoys said.   When a National Guardsman confronted them, they allegedly falsely claimed to be members of the media. In later interviews with FBI investigators, they said they were just looking at the stars, according to the affidavit.  After being confronted, the FBI said the five left the area and checked into a nearby motel. While they told investigators that the trip had been spontaneous, records showed that they had pre-booked the motel and were aware that there was a military installation at Camp Grayling.  Am I Racist? Is In Theaters NOW — Get Your Tickets Here! Investigators later said that they found pictures of military vehicles and other equipment on Guan’s phone after the group discussed deleting the photos from their devices so law enforcement could not discover them.  DOJ spokeswoman Gina Balaya said that the five men, who graduated in 2024, had not been arrested. “The defendants are not in custody. Should they come into contact with U.S. authorities, they will be arrested and face these charges,” she said on Wednesday.  Colpoys, an agent focused on counterintelligence and investigating national security threats, referenced previous instances of Chinese nationals trespassing on military installations. In one incident, multiple Chinese nationals studying at the University of Michigan were sentenced to prison for taking pictures of the U.S. Naval Air Station in Key West, Florida.

Julian Assange, the controversial founder of WikiLeaks, delivered his first public remarks on October 1, 2024, since being released from a UK prison earlier in June. Speaking to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France, Assange addressed his tumultuous legal journey and reiterated the core principles that led him to his years-long battle with U.S. authorities. His speech, laden with a critique of the legal system, emphasized his unwavering belief in the role of journalism in exposing corruption and holding governments accountable. Assange began by reflecting on the decade of legal struggles that have defined his life. “I am not free today because the system worked,” he told lawmakers. “I am free today after years of incarceration because I pled guilty to journalism.” In his address, Assange stressed that his imprisonment and legal fight were a direct result of his pursuit of information, saying, “I pled guilty to seeking information from a source, guilty to obtaining information from a source, and guilty to informing the public what that information was”. Breaking: The Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly has voted to confirm that Julian Assange was held as a political prisoner. pic.twitter.com/UkHdmD1aI5 — WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) October 2, 2024 Assange’s release in June 2024 came after years of high-profile legal battles. Most notably, he had been charged under the U.S. Espionage Act for publishing classified military documents. These documents included revelations about U.S. conduct in Iraq and Afghanistan, which many have argued exposed war crimes committed by American forces. The leak, one of the largest in U.S. military history, put Assange at the center of an international firestorm​. In his remarks, Assange portrayed his plea deal with U.S. prosecutors as a grim necessity. The deal led to his freedom after over a decade of confinement, which included years of self-imposed exile in Ecuador’s London embassy, followed by his arrest and detention at the UK’s maximum-security Belmarsh prison. While the deal allowed him to return to his native Australia, Assange expressed a deep sense of injustice over the outcome. He lamented that he would never have the opportunity to challenge the U.S. espionage accusations in court, effectively barring him from ever defending his actions in full​. NEW: Julian Assange just exposed the CIA in his first public hearing since his release. He says that they tried to assassinate him within the embassy, tried to attain DNA from his sixth-month-old son, had a CIA asset permanently track his wife, and attempted to hack and plant… pic.twitter.com/VWCNwPIR1Q — Green Lives Matter (@Ultrafrog17) October 1, 2024 The WikiLeaks founder’s release was met with widespread attention. Assange’s wife, Stella, who had long campaigned for his freedom, had previously stated that he would need time to recover both physically and mentally from his years in solitary confinement. During his address, Assange hinted at the toll that this period had taken on him, mentioning that he was still grappling with the effects of his long imprisonment. “Isolation has taken its toll which I am trying to unwind,” he said, reflecting on the years he spent fighting extradition​. Assange’s remarks also touched on broader themes of whistleblower protection and the role of the press in holding governments accountable. He emphasized that the pursuit of truth through journalism had led to his predicament, but also to significant global conversations about the importance of press freedom. WikiLeaks, founded in 2006, became internationally famous in 2010 after it published hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. military documents, revealing the inner workings of U.S. military actions and diplomatic efforts​. Assange’s story is one that has sparked debate over the limits of press freedom and government transparency. While many view him as a champion for free speech and a defender of the public's right to know, others see him as a criminal who endangered lives through his reckless dissemination of classified information. U.S. authorities, in particular, have long argued that his leaks endangered the lives of soldiers and diplomats, while Assange and his supporters maintain that his actions were in the public interest. Looking ahead, Assange said his appearance at the Strasbourg hearing marked the first step in his efforts to raise awareness about the need to protect whistleblowers and journalists. Though he acknowledged that his personal legal battles might never fully be resolved, he expressed hope that his case could inspire broader reforms to ensure that those who expose government wrongdoing are protected, not persecuted​. The post Julian Assange Declares ‘I Pled Guilty to Journalism’ in First Public Address Since Release appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

Despite the devastating flash floods overwhelming Southwest Virginia, one resident’s outdoor BBQ is still standing tall! She caught some impressive footage of the sturdy appliance holding its ground against the water rushing into her backyard. Although the current seemed incredibly strong, the BBQ was stronger. This woman’s videos of her stubborn backyard grill are providing some much-appreciated levity as her community deals with the effects of intense flood waters. @rainbowfrogbtq Our entire yard may have been under water, but our Charcoal Grill held on for its life That sucker didn’t budge even when a 5ft culvert passed through our backyard. Who would have ever imagined a hurricane from Florida hitting SW VA like this. #hurricane #helene #hurricanehelene #virginia #southwestvirginia #flashflood ♬ original sound – The Bocas Breeze “Our entire yard may have been under water, but our Charcoal Grill held on for its life,” wrote the Virginia resident in one of her captions. “That sucker didn’t budge even when a 5ft culvert passed through our backyard.” Commenters were truly impressed that the flood waters couldn’t seem to wash away the heavy grill. Many joked that the footage would make an excellent commercial for the BBQ brand. “You should send the company of the grill this video,” wrote one user. In another post, the Virginia woman shared an update. After the flood waters in her backyard subsided, her BBQ was right where she left it. Although it may not be the most conventional symbol of hope, seeing this outdoor item untouched by storm damage has brought smiles to many faces. @rainbowfrogbtq The update eveeyone has been asking for! Sergeant Char-Broil still stands #hurricane #helene #hurricanehelene #virginia #southwestvirginia ♬ original sound – Movieclips – Movieclips It looks like the residents of Virginia are pretty tough, too. According to WTVR, winds and flooding from Hurricane Helene have already destroyed over 200 homes in the state of Virginia alone. Virginia’s Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) is hard at work trying to get the affected communities back on their feet. “We saw huge sinkholes that just exposed all the utilities, bridges completely jammed up with debris coming down the water,” said VDEM Director Shawn Talmadge. “The force of the water was just remarkable, and the damage was absolutely extreme.” However, he noted that the dire situation seems to have been bringing out the best in the people of Virginia. “You know, they are faced with probably the worst disaster of their life, the worst day of their life, yet they are worried about other people,” Shawn said. “It’s just amazing.” You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Built Tough: Flood Waters Sweep Through Backyard, But They Can’t Take Out This BBQ! appeared first on InspireMore.

'Made it more difficult'

'What this bill is going to end up doing is taking money away from hard-working, caring, loving family members'

A post shared on X claims Iran destroyed 20 Israeli F-35 aircraft. BREAKING: More than 20 5th generation F-35 fighter jets were destroyed in Israel Say goodbye to your American taxmoney! pic.twitter.com/bXFeF5IZ9c — Dr. Anastasia Maria Loupis (@DrLoupis) October 1, 2024 Verdict: Misleading There is no evidence that F-35s were destroyed in the Iranian attack. The Israel […]

'This was done knowing full well media and Democrats would seize on provocative details'

In rock music, artists have long paid homage to their peers and inspirations, weaving tributes and references into their songs. Whether as a nod to their influences, a friendly rivalry, or a way to connect with the musical tradition, these moments create a shared history that bridges generations of musicians. This article brings together ten essential rock songs that mention other musical artists, highlighting the creativity and respect musicians have for one another. Each track on this list not only stands out in its own right but also carries the weight of a broader musical conversation. From Bruce Springsteen name-dropping The post 10 Essential Rock Songs That Mention Other Musical Artists appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

During an annual half-marathon in Newfoundland, a strange individual was seen among the runners during the final few miles. A goat, seemingly excited by all the motion, was happily trotting along between the sneaker-shod bipedals on the road through Conception Bay South. The occasion was the annual T’Railroad Trek Half Marathon on Newfoundland’s east coast. […] The post Goat Named Mr. Joshua Runs Last 4k of Local Marathon Winning Medal and Local Adoration appeared first on Good News Network.