1 day agoUSA UpdateComments Off on World Cup of Darts 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Final day UNDERWAY as Luke Littler and Humphries suffer SHOCK early exit – updates
THE final day of the World Cup of Darts is now UNDERWAY – but Luke Littler and Luke Humphries have suffered a SHOCK early exit at the hands of Germany.
Elsewhere, Belgian pair Mike De Decker andDimitri Van den Berghwere BEATEN by the Philippines, who went on to lose to now-favourites Wales with the pair of Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton.
The invite read: “Please join us for a baby shower. Join us to celebrate the upcoming arrival of a little bundle of joy.
“In honour of Chernobyl Hope.”
The time and place was redacted but the invite concluded with: “We can’t wait to celebrate together.”
Someone replied: “I refuse to believe this is real lol.” But the original poster added: “I have a feeling they don’t know what Chernobyl meant. I asked them where they got the idea from and said it just sounded nice????”
Another was unconvinced: “This has to be fake. There’s no way this is real.” But the OP doubled down: “Imagine my shock when I received the invite.”
The OP later explained how the parents of Chernobyl wanted their daughter to be known by the nickname ‘Cherry’.
“I’ll let you guys know when I have an update. This invitation was sent in a group chat and was also personally sent to me,” they added. “I just can’t believe they would name a baby girl Chernobyl. I’ll gather enough courage to tell them my thoughts.”
One comment read: “This has gotta be a top ten worst names posted in the sub.”
Someone else felt the baby name was finally suitable for the Reddit thread and said: “FINALLY! a child named after a LITERAL tragedeigh!”
One person hoped the parents-to-be could be convinced to change their unborn baby’s name: “Thankfully it’s just the baby shower; there’s still time for someone to talk sense into them.”
But another thought the name wasn’t that uncommon: “I worked with a lady named Chernobyl. She went by Che.”
The struggle of choosing a baby name
CHLOE Morgan, a Senior Writer at Fabulous, has revealed her dilemma on choosing a baby name...
At 35 weeks pregnant, by far the trickiest part of pregnancy for me in the past few months (minus the insomnia and countless night-time wee breaks!) has been trying to decide on a baby name.
The dilemmas are endless…
My partner and I went for a private scan to find out the gender as early as we could – partly due to the fact we thought it would make baby naming so much easier because we’d only have to come up with a list of names for one gender rather than two.
How wrong we were…
I was absolutely thrilled to be told I was expecting the baby girl I’d already dreamed of, but being one of the last of my friends to fall pregnant, I’ve had countless conversations over the years with excited pals discussing their top baby names…something which I wish I could go back in time and un-hear.
With each friend mentioning at least 10 possible monikers, I can’t help but feel like several are now a no-go even though I know it’s something that none of them would mind in the slightest – it’s a total me problem!
The debate comes up time and time again on social media forums – can you choose the same name that was a “potential” for a friend’s baby?
It’s a very divisive topic and opinions are always mixed…and I don’t want to be THAT person.
While some will argue there’s thousands of other names out there to choose from, others will say you need to choose YOUR favourite…after all, there’s no guarantee that person will even have another baby.
Then there’s also the issue of finding a name you adore…only to research it online and read one negative comment amongst hundreds of positives that you just can’t shake off.
I made that very mistake when I fell in love with a certain name (I won’t reveal it because I don’t want to ruin it for others!) …only to see someone point out that it constantly gets autocorrected on a phone to something rather rude instead.
So, back to the drawing board we went..
Just five weeks to go and it looks like our little one is going to be known as ‘baby gal’ for a little while longer!
“Kid is going to think it’s cool that she was named after a show and then find out the origins of her name, lol,” a Redditor remarked.
What is the meaning behind ‘Chernobyl’?
The word Chernobyl refers to the Chernobyl disaster which was a catastrophic nuclear accident that occurred on April 26, 1986, at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near Pripyat, in the Soviet Union.
GettyView of the Chernobyl Nuclear power after the explosion on April 26 1986 in Chernobyl[/caption]
During a late-night safety test, a sudden power surge led to a reactor explosion and fire, releasing massive amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere.
The explosion killed two workers immediately, and acute radiation sickness claimed 28 more lives within weeks.
However, around 600,000 ‘liquidators,’ involved in cleaning up the accident, were exposed to high doses of radiation, with various studies reporting that those affected by the blast could be in their thousands.
The Chernobyl disaster was a devastating tragedy, meaning it’s not a word associated with a person’s name.
But, there are other meanings to the word Chernobyl. One defended the possible new baby’s name, writing: “I mean, the word Chernobyl was originally the name of a common mugwort plant, a medicinal herb.”
They followed up their sentiment with the phrase: “But there’s a reason we don’t name children Adol[f] any longer, even if that name was relatively innocuous before 1939.”
“This is so, so bad. They have to be told. Give them a book about Chernobyl as a gift for the baby shower. Because no,” replied someone else.
Medium close up shot of mother holding newborn infant against chest during visit to doctors office
1 day agoUSA UpdateComments Off on I bought my first home at 26 on a $45,000 salary – how I did it with no savings or help from mom and dad
A WOMAN has bought her first home at the age of 26 with a modest salary and no savings to speak of.
With the property costing over six figures, it’s left questions about how it was possible to budget such a transaction.
GettyA woman bought her first home at 26 with no savings (stock image)[/caption]
SWNSThe three-bedroom residence (pictured) was initially listed at $95,000[/caption]
The first-time home buyer, Madison Hill, 30, told SWNS recently that four years prior, she didn’t have any “help from the bank of mom and dad and no savings” while looking for a place in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In July 2021, the three-bedroom house Hill decided on was $95,000, and she decided to go ahead with finalizing her offer at $105,000.
“It was listed for $95k, but as investors were buying for cash, I offered $10k over the asking price, and it worked,” she said.
That summer, Hill was working as a graphic designer in a position that only paid $45,000 a year, she had no cash in savings accounts, and there was no financial cushion from her parents.
“I was making $45k a year, I barely had any savings for a home and didn’t have to empty my account to buy the house,” Hill explained.
For perspective, the average hourly wage in Tulsa at the time was about $24.44, or around a $50,020 salary, per data from the Bureau of Labor statistics.
So, Hill was making under the average and bought a six-figure property, something that might make a financial advisor wince.
To get in the right position for the buy, Hill used her education to assist her in the buying process.
LOANS TO THE RESCUE
She knew that, given her salary, she was eligible for a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan.
“FHA loans are typically reserved for people with low to medium incomes, and they let you buy a home with a down payment of only 3.5%,” Hill said.
“I worked with a lender who was setting up the mortgage lending for me.”
Hill added that “the money goes from the person who is setting up the loan to whoever is selling the house to you.”
After getting approved, it meant she could put the 3.5% down payment on the property, contributing about $3,500 herself.
Then, she applied for a down payment assistance program that helps eligible homebuyers cover those amounts.
How can your home be sold without your consent?
Your home can be sold from under you for various reasons - here are three key things to look out for:
Tax Sale
A tax sale is the sale of property by a governmental entity to recover unpaid taxes by the owner who has reached a certain point of delinquency in their owed payments.
Before a tax sale takes place, there is a right-of-redemption period where the owner can pay off their debt and reclaim their home.
Each state has different laws surrounding tax sales but in most areas, the basic requirement is that adequate notice is given to the owner to pay the outstanding money, and any sale must be open to the public.
Foreclosure
Foreclosures can take place when lenders take control of a property after borrowers have failed to make their repayments.
Borrowers will receive a Notice of Default, triggering the foreclosure process.
Homeowners in HOA communities can also see their homes foreclosed by their HOA for falling behind on fees.
This means that even if you keep up with mortgage repayments, you could still lose your home if your HOA has a lien on your property.
When such a foreclosure takes place, the sale price only needs to be enough to cover the HOA debt meaning that properties can be sold for much less than they are worth.
Property Fraud
Criminals can use a fake or stolen ID to impersonate a homeowner in order to sell or mortgage homes.
Typical targets for property fraud include absent owners like landlords, owners who live abroad, and sole owners of unmortgaged homes.
The U.S. Sun previously reported on a man whose vacation home worth $300,000 was sold by criminals for just $9,000 – they even had the deed to the property.
That was also approved, which took away the $3,500 out of pocket she would’ve had to pay.
Basically, the loans covered all of those initial costs.
“I did a master’s in city planning, and that is where I learned about programs like these,” she said.
Hill noted that she’ll only have to repay the loan from the down payment assistance program if she moves out or refinances the Tulsa house, but she currently only pays about $900 monthly for mortgage, insurance, property tax, and other costs.
Still, there was around $6,500 in closing costs to consider.
The $6,500 covers lawyers and surveyors final checks and ensures the transfer of property ownership and a securing of the mortgage is legal and financially sound.
EARLY WITHDRAW
To pay for this, Hill made a controversial decision, drawing the amount from her 401(k) retirement account.
Financial advisors typically tell account holders to refrain from withdrawing early, which would be before the age of 59.5, out of a 401(k) as much as possible.
Doing so could result in a 10% early withdrawal tax penalty if an exception doesn’t apply.
Some exceptions include financial hardship, which does include costs related to buying a primary home, so Hill would be exempt from that penalty.
“The purchase of your primary residence is an allowable reason for early withdrawal from your 401(k),” Hill emphasized.
Considering her situation, it was a smart move to secure the property and likely not a significant enough amount to cause a drastic decline in her future retirement fund savings.
There’s also a new “like you own it” program that helps renters save for their own homes with one crucial requirement.
Some Americans are also looking at tiny homes, and Amazon sells an option for $11,700 that’s “perfect” for families.
1 day agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Drivers face new $340 ‘road usage’ cost and multiple fee increases under law impacting everything from gas to new cars
DRIVERS could soon be hit with a wave of new costs, including a $340 annual charge, under a wide-ranging proposal targeting everything from gas pumps to electric vehicles.
The plan also tacks on new taxes for car sales and hikes fees for licenses and renewals.
GETTYDrivers could soon face a new $340 annual fee (stock)[/caption]
AFPThe proposal also hikes license renewal costs (stock)[/caption]
GettyOne of the most controversial parts is a mandatory road usage charge for electric vehicle owners (stock)[/caption]
Even gas prices are set to climb under the measure, which lawmakers rolled out Monday.
The changes are part of a 100-plus-page bill being debated in Oregon’s Legislature.
It’s part of Oregon’s House Bill 2025, also known as the Transportation Reinvestment Package.
One of the most controversial parts is a mandatory road usage charge for electric vehicle owners.
Starting July 1, 2026, EV drivers would have to pay per mile driven or opt for a $340 flat fee, The Bulletin reported.
The per-mile charge would be pegged at 5% of the state’s gastax.
According to Bike Portland, the gas tax itself would rise from 40 cents to 50 cents per gallon in 2026 and 2027.
In 2028, another 5 cents would be added, and by 2029 it would be tied to inflation.
New cars would be hit with a 2% “transfer tax” on the retail price.
Used cars wouldn’t escape, a 1% tax would apply to those sales.
Getting a new driver’s license plate would cost $33, up from $12.
Taking a driver’s skills test at the DMV would spike from $45 to $111.
Renewing a driver’s license would jump from $48 to $74.
What drivers could pay under the new plan
Gas tax:
Rising from 40 cents to 50 cents per gallon in 2026–2027
Increasing to 55 cents in 2028
Indexed to inflation starting 2029
Electric vehicles:
$340 flat annual fee starting July 2026
Or pay-by-mile option tied to gas tax rate
Car registration:
New vehicle fee: $43 to $113
License plate fee: $12 to $33
DMV fees:
Driver’s test: $45 to $111
License renewal: $48 to $74
Car sales tax:
2% transfer tax on new vehicles
1% tax on used vehicle sales
Payroll tax (for transit funding):
Increase from 0.1% to 0.3% by 2030
Delivery fleets:
New $20 per vehicle annual permit fee
Eight-year ID cards would increase from $44 to $66.
The bill would also raise the state payroll tax for public transit from 0.1% to 0.3% by 2030.
A new $20-per-vehicle permit fee would be charged to corporate delivery fleets.
Oregon dropped earlier plans to raise the $15 bicycle tax, which will now stay the same.
Lawmakers say the cash, which is expected to generate $125 million a year, is going toward overdue projects.
For example, officials say it would fund the state’s “Anchor Project Account” — covering major efforts like the I-5 Rose Quarter and the Abernethy Bridge.
The bill also sets aside money for bike lanes, safer school routes, and fixing “orphan highways.”
Another $125 million would go to the state’s “Great Streets” program for safer road designs.
There’s also $25 million per year marked for Safe Routes to Schools — and $5 million annually for wildlife-vehicle collision prevention.
The initial version of the bill changed within hours of its release and is still being debated.
1 day agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Minnesota ‘assassin’ Vance Boelter’s best friend reveals haunting text gunman sent after he ‘killed Melissa Hortman’
THE best friend and roommate of the suspected Minnesota assassin revealed the final chilling text he received from the alleged killer.
FacebookVance Luther Boelter, 57, has been named by police as a suspect in connection with the Minnesota political killings[/caption]
TMJ 4Best friend of the suspected shooter, David Carlson, revealed his roommate’s final text messages[/caption]
FBIThe shooter was seen wearing a latex mask and police uniform[/caption]
Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were both killed at their homeFacebook
The alleged shooter’s friend, David Carlson, has now detailed his childhood pal’s final goodbye message, according to KARE.
Reading his text messages with Boelter, Carlson said: “David and Ron, I love you guys.
“I made some choices, and you guys don’t know anything about this, but I’m going to be gone for a while.
“May be dead shortly, so I just want to let you know I love you guys both and I wish it hadn’t gone this way.”
Footage showed the suspected political assassin‘s friend read the eerie messages in front of his home in North Minneapolis.
He continued to read the texts: “I don’t want to say anything more and implicate you in any way because you guys don’t know anything about this.
“But I love you guys and I’m sorry for all the trouble this has caused.”
Fearing his friend may have done something to harm himself, Carlson immediately called the cops.
The 59-year-old, who met Boelter, 57, all the way back in fourth grade, was shocked at the prospect that his friend could have carried out the ruthless killings.
“He wasn’t a hateful person,” Carlson said.
He added: “But he needed help.”
The haunting texts were revealed after the accused killer’s wife was detained following a dramatic traffic stop – before cops said they found weapons and passports in her car.
Jenny Boetler was stopped by police while driving with several relatives near Onamia, Minnesota, on Saturday at around 10am, according to KTSP.
InstagramHoffman and Yvette have both undergone surgery and are said to be in a stable condition[/caption]
Minnesota Department of Public SafetyBoelter was last seen wearing a light-colored cowboy hat in the Twin Cities area on Saturday morning[/caption]
Pguards.netThe wife of the suspected political assassin Jenny Boetler was stopped by police and questioned[/caption]
In the car she also had cash and ammunition, local cops said, adding that the wife was also held for questioning but not arrested.
It is currently unclear whether the Boetlers lived together – since Vance is understood to have lived at a residence in Camden, Minnesota.
The couple are understood to have joint-ran Praetorian Guard Security Services, a Minnesota-based security company.
Their website says: “Here to set up security options and provide security services right to your doorstep and property to keep what you own safe and secure.”
The site also says that Boelter had experience working with “security situations” across Eastern Europe, Africa, North America and the Middle East.
Online biographies also showed he was the CEO of Red Lion Group – which is based in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Additionally, he is said to have worked with Minnesota Africans United – a local organization working with African immigrants in the state.
2022 footage showed Boelter speaking about Red Lion Group’s ventures in the DRC, claiming to have business ventures there in fishing, farming, media, security, and motorcycle-taxis.
Last month, his online profiles said he was open to work.
Boelter’s longtime pal Carlson seemingly confirmed his search for work, and added that his friend was experiencing financial trouble, according to CNN.
APMinnesota Gov. Tim Walz called the shootings ‘an act of targeted political violence’[/caption]
Minnesota Department of Public SafetyCops believe Boelter is attempting to flee the area and are asking the public for any information[/caption]
UnpixsNo Kings protest fliers were found in the suspect’s vehicle[/caption]
Carlson said: “He was looking around, but maybe things didn’t work out and he just gave up and decided to go out in a blaze of glory.
“I have no idea what he was thinking.”
Boelter was twice appointed to Minnesota government by different Democratic governors.
In 2016, then Governor Mark Dayton appointed Boelter to the Workforce Development Council.
Later in 2019, current Governor Tim Walz enlisted him to serve a four-year stint on the Workforce Development Board, according to documents.
Despite his work under Walz, roommate and friend Carlson revealed that Boelter had voted for Donald Trump at the last election.
The security services worker also last registered to vote in 2022 as a Republican, according to the New York Post.
FBI announces $50k reward for arrest and conviction
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Vance L. Boelter, the suspect in Saturday’s targeted shootings of Minnesota lawmakers and their families in Champlin and Brooklyn Park.
Anyone with information about these shootings or Boelter’s location should call the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) tip line at 877-996-6222 or email bca.tips@state.mn.us. The public is asked to call 911 immediately if they see Boelter. Do not approach him.
The FBI, BCA, Brooklyn Park Police Department and Champlin Police Department along with other local and state law enforcement officials continue searching for Boelter.
Source: Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Carlson added that he wasn’t aware of what Boelter’s political leanings on state politics were, however.
He also shared that Boetler was also strongly anti-abortion – but not in a way that could have motivated him to kill.
“It wasn’t the thing that defined him,” Carlson said.
“I mean, it wasn’t his total existence. He would talk about other things.”
Boelter lived at Carlson’s home in North Minneapolis just a few days a week, according to the roommate.
He explained how Boelter was not at the residence at the time officers executed a search warrant on Saturday.
melissahortman.comMelissa Hortman and her husband Mark are survived by their two children[/caption]
Minnesota SenateSenator John Hoffman Minnesota and his wife were shot multiple times[/caption]
Vance Boeltner/FacebookVance Boelter, A former appointee of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is being sought in connection with the shootings[/caption]
Cops were called to Senator Hoffman’s home at 2:08am on Saturday and responded to Rep. Hortman’s home at 3:35am — where they exchanged gunfire with the suspect.
The shooter was seen on home security footage released by the FBI outside one of the victim’s homes, wearing a fake police uniform and an eerie latex mask.
As cops launched an extensive manhunt for the killer who is still at large, they named 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter as a suspect in the shootings.
He should be considered armed and dangerous and the public should not approach him, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has warned.
A $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction has been announced by the FBI.
A motive has not been released by cops, but the shootings come as millions take to the streets as part of the anti-Trump No Kings movement.
Minnesota State Patrol Col. Christina Bogojevic said: “We don’t have any direct links, however there were some fliers that said ‘No Kings’ within the suspect’s vehicle.
“And as we know, the events planned throughout the state of Minnesota is a No Kings event.”
Boelter was last seen in the Twin Cities area wearing a light-colored cowboy hat, a dark long-sleeved shirt and light pants.
He is described as 220lbs and 6 foot 1 and cops believe he is trying to flee the area and may be carrying a dark bag.
The public should call 911 or sent tips to bca.tips@state.mn.us or call 877-996-6222.
1 day agoMalaysianComments Off on Si Bakhil dengan Bunganya Episod 5 Tonton Video Drama
Kepala Bergetar Tonton Si Bakhil dengan Bunganya Episode 5 Astro Ria Drama Video Terbaru Basahjeruk Online Free HD. Watch Si Bakhil dengan Bunganya Ep 5 via Myflm4u and DFM2U with smooth, secure streaming in high definition. Enjoy the latest Malay drama Si Bakhil dengan Bunganya Episod 5 Terkini on Astro Ria without a subscription—accessible on both …
1 day agoMalaysianComments Off on Trump flexes military might at parade as protests sweep US
President Donald Trump hosted the largest US military parade in decades on his 79th birthday on Saturday, as protesters rallied across the country to accuse him of acting like a dictator.
