Thousands of residents in India’s capital New Delhi have filled public thoroughfares in a widespread demonstration that has come to be known as the ‘cockroach protests’, with demonstrators uniting around a single core demand: sweeping, long-overdue changes to the country’s education system. Viral video footage shared widely across social media platforms has captured the moment law enforcement officers responded to the unrest by discharging pellet guns into the crowd, a escalation of force that has amplified public anger and drawn sharp scrutiny from rights observers. The unusual ‘cockroach’ moniker for the protests has its roots in demonstrators’ framing of themselves as marginalized groups that have been ignored and dismissed by authorities for years, much like unwanted pests that are pushed aside rather than addressed. While the immediate trigger for the mass mobilization varies across different segments of protesters, the overarching grievance centers on systemic flaws in India’s education sector, including underfunding, inequitable access to quality learning, outdated curriculum structures, and persistent job gaps for graduating students. As footage of the pellet gun use continues to circulate online, the demonstration has grown in size, with solidarity protests popping up in other major Indian cities, and calls growing louder for central and state education officials to open formal negotiations with protest leaders to address the community’s demands.
作者： admin
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World chess chief faces endgame after EU announces Russia war sanctions
The global chess community is grappling with sudden upheaval after Arkady Dvorkovich, the sitting president of the International Chess Federation (Fide), announced he would voluntarily suspend his official duties after being added to the European Union’s latest package of sanctions targeting individuals linked to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
The 54-year-old, a former Russian deputy prime minister and one-time Kremlin advisor, now faces a full EU travel ban and an asset freeze over his public positions on Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. EU officials confirmed his inclusion on the sanctions list stems from his public support of the annexation, including referring to occupied Ukrainian cities as “new territories” of the Russian Federation. The bloc also noted that Dvorkovich serves on the board of the Chess Federation of Russia, which has organized competitive tournaments in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine.
In an official statement, Dvorkovich clarified that he is stepping back from his day-to-day powers and responsibilities but has not formally resigned from his post. He called the EU’s sanctions designation “unlawful and unfair”, claiming the measures were deliberately implemented to bar him from continuing to lead and run for re-election at Fide. Dvorkovich also pushed back against widespread claims that Russia has wielded outsized influence over Fide during his tenure, arguing that the federation’s governance structure contradicts these accusations. “Fide is based in Switzerland… our top executives include people from India, Norway, Latvia, the US, Italy, France… and other countries around the globe,” he noted in written responses to the BBC.
Ukrainian officials and chess leaders have celebrated the sanctions and Dvorkovich’s suspension as a significant diplomatic win. Volodymyr Kovalchuk, first vice president of the Ukrainian Chess Federation, stated that individuals who develop sport in service of an invading aggressor state have no place holding senior international leadership roles, adding that Ukraine hopes Dvorkovich never returns to a position of influence in global chess. Kovalchuk also argued that Moscow has long invested heavily in controlling Fide, framing chess as a symbol of Russian intellectual superiority and using the federation to promote narratives favorable to the Kremlin.
Malcolm Pein, the British Fide representative, described the development as “an earthquake and a massive diplomatic victory for Ukraine”. He noted that for nearly 80 years, first the Soviet Union and then Russia have dominated international chess and used it as a key tool of soft power, and Dvorkovich’s suspension could substantially reduce Moscow’s influence in the global chess ecosystem.
Dvorkovich was first elected to the Fide presidency in 2018 and won a second term in 2022, leading the federation through one of the most turbulent eras in the history of the sport. After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian national chess teams were banned from most top international competitions. However, Ukraine and its Western allies have alleged that Russian influence within Fide actually grew under Dvorkovich’s leadership, with Moscow pushing a “slow takeover” of the governing body by revising internal rules and pressuring delegates from other nations to support pro-Russia positions – a claim Moscow has repeatedly denied.
In 2024, a push led by pro-Russia factions to re-admit Russian national teams and officials to Fide competition failed, when the federation’s general assembly voted in September to maintain existing sanctions against Russia and its ally Belarus. Dvorkovich had been expected to run for a third term as Fide president at the organization’s upcoming general assembly in September, but his political future in global chess is now uncertain.
In recent years, competitive chess has experienced unprecedented global growth, with record audience numbers drawing major corporate sponsorships and elevating top players like Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen to household name status. Now, industry observers are widely speculating that the potential permanent departure of one of the most powerful and divisive figures in international chess could open the door to a new era of leadership for the sport.
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NBA star LeBron James to join Philadelphia 76ers
After months of swirling trade speculation across the league, 41-year-old NBA icon LeBron James has made a bombshell announcement that will reshape the landscape of the league for the upcoming season: he is set to join the Philadelphia 76ers, and the franchise will mark the final stop of his legendary professional basketball career.
The 18-time All-Star made the revelation public via social media platform X on Friday, closing an months-long guessing game that had dozens of teams linked to the future Hall of Famer. James wrapped up eight consecutive seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers this year, and enters free agency having cemented his status as one of the greatest players to ever step onto an NBA court.
The 76ers beat out a stacked field of suitors to land James, with the Cleveland Cavaliers — where James launched his hall-of-fame career and won his first championship — the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and four-time champion LeBron James’ former team Miami Heat all previously reported to be in the running to sign the veteran.
In his official announcement posted to X, James shared his enthusiasm for the next and final chapter of his playing career. “I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time,” James wrote.
As of Friday, details of James’ contract with the 76ers have not yet been released to the public. More updates on this developing story are expected to emerge in the coming days as the team prepares for James’ official introduction.
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Nigeria’s president approves largest military expansion in recent times
Nigeria is pushing forward with its most ambitious military expansion in modern history, as President Bola Tinubu has signed off on a major restructuring and personnel boost to address the persistent security crises that have shaken communities across the country. The new executive order authorizes the recruitment of an additional 28,000 soldiers and the establishment of four new army divisions, bringing the service’s total number of divisions to 12. Three new regional army headquarters will also be constructed in Nigeria’s violence-plagued northeast and central regions, hotspots that have long battled Islamist militant insurgency, widespread banditry, and recurring resource conflicts between farming and pastoral communities.
The expansion comes as the Nigerian government faces mounting public and international pressure to rein in the rising tide of violence carried out by a loose network of armed groups, ranging from jihadist insurgents and separatist militants to criminal kidnapping gangs that target civilians for large ransoms. Just one week before the announcement of the military restructuring, two high-profile attacks underscored the ongoing threat: an armed gang massacred at least 20 villagers in northwestern Nigeria’s Zamfara State, and 46 school students were abducted from a campus in Borno State in the northeast. While all 46 students were rescued by Nigerian army forces within hours of their kidnapping, the incidents highlighted how criminal and militant groups continue to operate with relative impunity across large swathes of the country.
Nigerian government officials argue that the current military structure has struggled to keep pace with evolving security threats. Under the existing framework, existing army divisions are forced to cover massive, cross-state territories that leave operational resources stretched thin when responding to coordinated or sudden attacks. The new divisions and regional headquarters, officials say, will streamline inter-unit coordination, improve cross-regional intelligence sharing, and cut critical response times when violence erupts. In recent years, violence that was once concentrated in northern and central Nigeria has also spread to southern parts of the country, amplifying urgency for reform: in May, coordinated attacks on schools in southwestern Oyo State left 44 pupils and teachers abducted.
While Nigerian security forces have made incremental progress pushing back against armed groups in recent months – including killing senior Islamic State leader Abu-Bilal al-Minuki during a months-long counter-insurgency operation centered on the Lake Chad Basin – criminal and militant networks have grown more sophisticated in their tactics, and violence remains a daily reality for millions of Nigerians. Analysts note that the global Islamic State movement has increasingly shifted its operational focus to sub-Saharan Africa over the past five years, with roughly 90% of all IS-linked attacks now occurring in the region. Nigeria’s IS-affiliated branch is the most active jihadist network on the continent, continuing to carry out regular attacks despite recent counter-insurgency gains. In December 2025, Nigerian and U.S. forces concluded a joint counter-terrorism operation that targeted the Lakurawa militant group in northwestern Nigeria, including Christmas Day strikes, but jihadist cells have continued to launch attacks in the months since the operation wrapped up early this month.
Even with the government’s plan to expand force numbers, security experts warn that a major hurdle remains: convincing young Nigerians to enlist amid the heavy casualties the military has suffered in recent months of counter-insurgency operations. This latest military expansion is just one part of the Tinubu administration’s broader security push. Before approving the military restructuring, President Tinubu issued a public ultimatum to all armed groups operating in Nigeria, ordering them to surrender or face the full military force of the state. Last month, Tinubu also announced plans to recruit more than 50,000 new police officers and signed a national budget that allocates a record 5.41 trillion naira ($4 billion USD) to national defense and security – the largest ever single-year investment in the country’s security apparatus.
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Senegal appeal date set after Afcon win overturned
A long-running dispute over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title is set to move forward this fall, as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has confirmed a formal hearing date for Senegal’s challenge against the decision to strip the nation of its tournament victory.
The controversy traces back to January’s chaotic final, hosted by Morocco. The match took a dramatic turn late in regulation when officials awarded Morocco a stoppage-time penalty with the score still tied at zero. In protest of the call, Senegal’s entire squad walked off the pitch, forcing a 17-minute suspension of play. When the team ultimately returned to the field, Moroccan playmaker Brahim Diaz saw his penalty saved by Senegal’s goalkeeper, and Pape Gueye scored the decisive go-ahead goal for Senegal in extra time, securing a 1-0 final win.
Weeks after the match, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) overturned the on-pitch result, ruling that Senegal had forfeited the game by walking off. Caf awarded Morocco a default 3-0 victory and named the host nation the new 2025 Afcon champion. Senegal, which previously claimed the 2021 Afcon title, refuted Caf’s ruling and formally filed its appeal with CAS on March 25, asking the international sports court to overturn Caf’s decision and restore its status as tournament winner.
Negotiations to speed up the appeal process fell through after Caf and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) declined to approve an expedited timeline. CAS confirmed that the hearing will proceed on October 8, in line with the court’s standard procedural schedule. Per the request of both Caf and FRMF, the hearing will not be open to the public, and will instead be held behind closed doors at CAS’s headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. CAS has noted that it cannot confirm a timeline for releasing a final ruling on the appeal, and that a decision will not be issued on the same day as the hearing.
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Dancing with Shakira at World Cup was ‘very, very, very, very, very good’ – Ghetto Kids
For a group of young Ugandan dancers who grew up amid hardship in Kampala’s underprivileged neighborhoods, a once-impossible dream became a tangible, life-changing reality this summer when they stepped onto the world’s biggest sports stage: the halftime show of the men’s football World Cup final. Performing alongside global superstars Shakira and Burna Boy, the Ghetto Kids dance collective marked another career milestone that capped off a years-long journey of perseverance, community support, and unwavering commitment to their craft.
Ten-year-old troupe member Sierra summed up the experience with unfiltered, childlike enthusiasm: “very, very, very, very, very good.” While some critics argued that adding a large-scale, Super Bowl-style performance to football’s most prestigious match diluted the sport’s traditional spirit, the children’s energetic routine drew hundreds of millions of viewers from across the globe, turning the young dancers into overnight inspirations for millions.
Speaking to BBC’s Newsday programme, the young dancers and their manager, Dauda Kavuma, opened up about the challenges of rising from humble, often difficult beginnings while balancing growing fame with their primary commitment: schoolwork. Sierra, who says dancing gave her the chance to access education she otherwise could not afford, shares a simple, powerful message for other young people facing barriers: “Never give up… pray to God. Listen to your parents, education is first, that’s all.”
For 11-year-old Josephine, the highlight of the day at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium – where Spain defeated Argentina to claim the World Cup title – was getting a glimpse of the sport’s biggest icons. “I saw Messi and Lamine Yamal!” she exclaimed, referencing Argentine captain Lionel Messi and Spanish teenage star Lamine Yamal. Recalling the rush of performing for a global audience, she added, “I was so happy to see Messi and people watching us. I felt so excited and I was smiling, and a little bit nervous.” For Sierra, the warm kindness of Colombian pop legend Shakira stood out most from the experience.
When the performance wrapped, the children ran to embrace both Shakira and Nigerian music icon Burna Boy in a spontaneous moment of joy that was captured in viral photos. Manager Kavuma was quick to emphasize that the hugs were not a scripted part of the routine, but a natural outpouring of affection for the stars who gave the young dancers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Kavuma recalled the group’s reaction when they first learned they had been selected for the halftime show: the children ran in circles, cheering and shouting with excitement at the news.
The collaboration with Shakira was particularly meaningful, Kavuma explained, because the Ghetto Kids had already performed her hit Waka Waka – a remake of 1980s Cameroonian classic Zangaléwa by Golden Sounds – during their 2023 run on Britain’s Got Talent. “But it was now a great moment to see that Shakira invited us… to perform with her. It means a lot and it’s life-changing,” he said.
Kavuma’s own story laid the foundation for the Ghetto Kids collective. As a child, he lived on the streets of Kampala before a teacher’s kindness changed the trajectory of his life. Determined to give back to the community that helped him, he became a teacher himself before founding the dance troupe for children who were homeless or unable to afford school fees. His core belief? There is no shortage of raw talent in Uganda’s ghettos – it just needs support and opportunities to shine.
Blending dynamic traditional African dance styles, playful comedy, and infectious joy, the group quickly caught the attention of regional stars, including Ugandan musician Eddy Kenzo, who cast the kids in several of his music videos. Leveraging the power of social media to reach global audiences, the Ghetto Kids earned their first major mainstream break in 2017, when they appeared in French Montana’s music video for Unforgettable. To date, the video has racked up more than 1.9 billion views on YouTube, opening doors that would have otherwise been closed to the young performers.
That viral fame catapulted the group to new heights: they reached the final of Britain’s Got Talent in 2023, then competed on America’s Got Talent the following year. The growing platform has also allowed Kavuma to expand his community project, providing housing, food, and school tuition to hundreds of disadvantaged children across Uganda.
The 2026 World Cup final halftime performance marks the group’s biggest stage to date, but it is far from their first major sporting event. In 2023, the troupe met French star Kylian Mbappé and performed at the halftime of a top-tier French league match between Paris Saint-Germain and Reims. Most recently, a documentary feature titled *Ghetto Kids Documentary: No Plan B* was released to tell their extraordinary story to a wider audience.
Even as their fame grows, the group has stayed grounded thanks to a strict “education first” rule instilled by their parents and Kavuma. All content for the troupe’s millions of social media followers is filmed on weekends, leaving weekdays fully dedicated to classroom learning. When the kids travel for international performances, they attend online classes with their Kampala teachers and catch up on missed assignments immediately upon returning home.
Both Sierra and Josephine say they plan to pursue careers as doctors when they finish school, but they will never give up their lifelong passion for dance. “Dancing changed my life – I went to school because of dance,” Sierra says. Josephine echoes that sentiment, noting, “Dance is what I know and that makes me happy because that’s my talent.”
When asked what message they have for other children growing up with talent but limited opportunities, Josephine had a warm, encouraging response: “To love themselves, believe in God, and pray. Be with their talents – don’t deny them. And we love them.”
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First person gets new experimental vaccine for Ebola
A new chapter in the global fight against Ebola opened recently at the University of Oxford, when 37-year-old British healthcare worker Ed Hunt made history as the first person in the world to receive an experimental vaccine targeting the strain currently driving a deadly outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). For Hunt, the opportunity to participate was a long-awaited chance to contribute to global public health after missing out on joining COVID-19 vaccine trials due to professional constraints.
Speaking to reporters after receiving his injection, Hunt explained that graphic news coverage of the ongoing Ebola crisis in the DRC pushed him to step forward. “After seeing news from DR Congo I thought I’d like to do my bit,” he said, echoing a widespread desire among ordinary people to support frontline responses to dangerous infectious disease outbreaks.
The newly developed candidate vaccine leverages the same viral vector technology that underpinned the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, a platform that has already been proven safe and effective for hundreds of millions of people across the globe. Remarkably, the Oxford research team completed development of the new Ebola vaccine in just eight weeks, a breakthrough timeline that researchers say builds on more than 30 years of accumulated work in vaccine technology.
Professor Teresa Lamb, who leads the Ebola vaccine research program at the University of Oxford, emphasized that there is zero risk of participants contracting Ebola from the vaccine itself. “We will not be giving anybody Ebola in this trial or any trial,” she confirmed, addressing common public concerns about experimental clinical studies. This first phase of human trials is focused on two core goals: verifying the vaccine is safe for human use, and measuring whether it triggers a robust, protective immune response against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola – the variant responsible for the current DRC outbreak.
Currently, four candidate vaccines targeting Bundibugyo Ebola are in development globally, but the Oxford candidate is the first to advance to human trials. Existing licensed Ebola vaccines only work against the Zaire strain, offering no protection against Bundibugyo, leaving affected regions without a targeted tool to stop the current outbreak.
Hunt is the first of 50 healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 55 who will be enrolled in this initial safety trial in the UK. Following the completion of this phase, a second small-scale trial is scheduled to launch soon in neighboring Uganda, before a large, final efficacy study is conducted directly in the DRC where the outbreak is concentrated.
In a major step to prepare for rapid deployment if trials prove successful, India’s Serum Institute has already pre-manufactured 600,000 doses of the vaccine, allowing for immediate rollout to affected areas if the candidate is approved. As of the latest official counts, the ongoing DRC outbreak has recorded more than 2,500 confirmed Ebola cases, with over 1,000 deaths attributed to the virus, underscoring the urgent need for an effective targeted vaccine.
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‘He goes with my blessing’: Craig Bellamy’s touching message to Cameron Munster as Harry Grant gives an update on his injury
In a surprising display of selflessness that has turned heads across the National Rugby League (NRL), long-time Melbourne Storm head coach Craig Bellamy has publicly given his blessing to star five-eighth Cameron Munster, should the Queensland captain choose to finish his professional playing career with the expansion PNG Chiefs. The unexpected development comes after it was confirmed earlier this week that the Storm has granted Munster permission to begin contract negotiations with the Papua New Guinea-based franchise for a 2028 move. Now in his 13th season with the Melbourne Storm, Munster still has one full year remaining on his current contract with the club, keeping him tied to Melbourne through the 2027 season. At 31 years old—with his 32nd birthday just weeks away—the veteran playmaker would bring elite experience and on-field leadership to the new-look Chiefs side, where he is slated to partner dynamic halfback Jarome Luai in the halves if the transfer goes through. While a permanent move to PNG remains far from finalized, and a contract extension to keep Munster in Melbourne is still a possible outcome, Bellamy emphasized that his star player has more than earned the right to pursue a lucrative contract with the expansion franchise. “I think ‘Mun’ has done a whole heap for our club, and he’s done it for a long period of time,” Bellamy told reporters. “He’s been a wonderful player for our club, so if he sees that he wants to go to the team in Papua New Guinea then I’d be happy to let him go.” Bellamy noted that final roster decisions are ultimately made by club leadership, not just himself, but added that Munster’s decades of loyalty and service to the Storm justify his right to prioritize what is best for his career and his family’s long-term future. “There are other people in the club that make that decision, and I don’t know if that will be the same decision as me, but he’s done a lot for our club, has been a valuable servant and very loyal,” Bellamy said. “If he wants to do that and that’s going to help him in later life then I’m willing to say OK, but there’s got to be a bit of water that flows under the bridge before he goes there, so we’ll just see what happens. I’ll go on the record as saying that if he wants to go and his family wants to go, then he goes with my blessing.” Current Melbourne Storm captain Harry Grant echoed Bellamy’s supportive stance, arguing that Munster has every right to explore his options at this stage of his career, particularly with Munster currently sidelined recovering from a knee injury that has given him time to consider his future. “It’ll probably be a busy time with the World Cup and everything like that later in the year, so it’s probably not a bad time for him to have that look,” Grant said. “That’s just part of the game. The NRL has brought a couple of new teams in so I don’t think you can fault players for having that opportunity to talk to them.” The positive discussion around Munster’s future was overshadowed by fresh injury news for the Storm, however, as Grant himself became the club’s latest high-profile player to go down with a soft tissue injury. The world-class hooker was forced to leave the field just before halftime during Melbourne’s narrow 28-26 defeat to the South Sydney Rabbitohs, after suffering a hamstring strain while accelerating during play. The injury leaves Melbourne’s hopes of scraping into the top eight for the 2024 playoffs hanging by only a mathematical thread. Grant told reporters that while injuries are an unavoidable part of rugby league, the recent spike in soft tissue injuries coming out of the State of Origin series deserves closer review from league officials. “It’s just part of footy, but it’s disappointing,” Grant said in the post-match sheds. “It was just running when I was accelerating. It’s part of the game and it’s a pretty common occurrence at the moment from last week into this week on the back of the Origin period. I think that’s got to be looked at a bit.” The skipper added that he is hopeful of returning to complete the 2024 season once he receives the results of an upcoming scan to assess the severity of the injury. “It feels pretty similar to the other ones on my left leg, but you’re just going off your feeling and the memory of last time,” Grant said. “I’ll get a scan and go from there. Fingers crossed I play again this year, but you’re a little bit blind until you go for scans and get some feedback.”
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How Jimothy the raccoon became the internet’s latest animal obsession
As pop star Charli XCX prepares to launch her new album and ignite what she hopes will be a cultural ‘Brat summer’ of 2026, a far more unexpected furred figure has already stolen the seasonal spotlight: Jimothy, the unconventional Seattle raccoon that has taken the internet by storm.
The viral sensation first made its public debut in a casual Instagram video shared by local Seattle resident Kiana Hall. In the clip, Hall can be heard exclaiming in surprise as the oddly proportioned raccoon bolts across a downtown sidewalk and scrambles up a nearby set of steps. Hall captioned the clip identifying the creature as ‘Jimothy the raccoon with short spine syndrome,’ a description that quickly stuck despite no official confirmation that the animal actually lives with the congenital condition. By last Friday, the humble reel had racked up more than 8 million views, with comments pouring in from social media users across the globe.
Many commenters have connected with Jimothy’s story on a personal level. One user, who shared that she was born with a congenital spine condition, wrote, ‘I hope that someone can care for Jimothy as a wild animal… he will get older and need more care,’ praising the raccoon’s unexpected fame for drawing broader public attention to spinal conditions. Jimothy is not the first animal with short spine syndrome to capture online attention: Australian YouTube channel Lessons in Meme Culture notes that a dog named Pig enjoyed a brief viral moment in 2014 for the same unique trait.
Following in the viral footsteps of earlier beloved internet animal stars like Moo Deng the hippo and Neil the Seal, Jimothy fits neatly into a longstanding internet tradition of charming, distinctive, seemingly chaotic animals that capture public imagination. His rise to fame also reflects shifting modern digital dynamics, according to Dr. Idil Galip, a digital culture researcher at the University of Amsterdam. ‘As cities expand and food waste increases, humans and raccoons cross paths more often,’ Galip explained. ‘More encounters mean more footage of raccoons being funny, and in today’s fast-moving, saturated feeds, that footage can become a meme almost instantly.’
Jimothy’s fame has quickly spilled over from social media feeds into the physical world and mainstream culture. A local Seattle artist has already painted a large mural of the raccoon in Ballard, the Seattle neighborhood where he was first spotted. Even former President Donald Trump’s White House social media team has jumped on the trend, sharing a Jimothy meme on X that depicts the animal wearing a red hat emblazoned with the slogan ‘Trump was right about everything.’
Brands and digital creators have also raced to capitalize on Jimothy’s sudden viral fame, a modern standard practice for trending moments. A search for ‘Jimothy’ on Google now triggers a custom animation of the raccoon across the search results page. Crypto enthusiasts have launched multiple meme coins named in his honor, following a pattern of tying digital tokens to viral cultural moments. The raccoon is even set to receive an unofficial cameo in the popular online game World of Warcraft, with fan creators planning to add a Jimothy-inspired non-player character to the game’s world of Azeroth.
Like many viral wild animal sensations before him, Jimothy has prompted a public safety warning from local officials. Washington State’s Department of Health has urged members of the public not to approach, pet, feed, or cuddle the raccoon to protect both the animal and human visitors. ‘As long as you don’t try to pet him, cuddle him or feed him, Jimothy poses zero public health risk,’ the department noted in a post on Threads.
Despite the warnings, many internet users say Jimothy’s viral moment has provided a much-needed break from the relentless stress of online news and discourse. Blogger Jamie Slack summed up the widespread public affection for the raccoon in a post on her blog *Totally the Bomb*, writing: ‘The internet is a lot. It is too much, constantly, in every direction. And then Jimothy shows up and for one brief weird moment everyone is on the same page – rooting for this little gremlin, giggling at his name, feeling weirdly connected to strangers over absolutely nothing.’
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Wisconsin officials open investigation into fatal police shooting
A high-stakes homicide investigation is now underway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin following the fatal shooting of 38-year-old Corey Ruiz at the hands of a local law enforcement officer, an incident that has already ignited public anger and street protests after amateur footage of the encounter spread widely across social media platforms.
Madison Police Chief John Patterson addressed reporters Thursday, confirming his department’s full commitment to cooperating with independent state investigators leading the probe. “We will not hide from any aspect of this investigation,” Patterson stated, reinforcing early promises of accountability amid mounting public pressure.
The sequence of events that led to Ruiz’s death began Wednesday, when local residents called police to report a suspicious individual attempting to break into parked cars in a downtown Madison neighborhood. Authorities say Ruiz fled the area on a bicycle, but four responding officers quickly tracked him down, eventually stopping him when he fell or was pulled from the bike. In the ensuing physical struggle, Ruiz pulled out a knife and wounded one of the responding officers, according to official police accounts.
One officer attempted to subdue Ruiz with a conducted energy taser, but the less-lethal weapon failed to stop him, Patterson confirmed. The injured officer then fired three rounds at Ruiz, who was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Notably, none of the four officers involved in the encounter were wearing activated body cameras at the time of the incident, a detail that has amplified calls for greater transparency from the community. The case has also drawn extra scrutiny due to its location: the shooting unfolded on the exact same Madison street where, 11 years earlier, a white police officer fatally shot Tony Robinson, a biracial man. That 2015 killing resulted in no criminal charges against the officer, a unresolved grievance that has added fuel to current public anger over the latest incident.
Per standard protocol for officer-involved shootings, all four officers connected to the encounter have been placed on paid administrative leave. The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Criminal Investigation Division will lead the independent homicide probe, a standard arrangement when law enforcement officers are involved in a fatal shooting. Chief Patterson also confirmed that investigators will publicly release the name of the officer who fired the fatal shots once initial procedural steps are completed.
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway has pledged that the inquiry into Ruiz’s death will leave no stone unturned. “It does not matter who you are or what your past is; you should not lose your life as a result of an encounter with law enforcement,” she said in a public statement this week, echoing widespread community demands for a thorough, impartial probe.
Patterson acknowledged that bystander video circulating online captures one vantage point of the encounter, but noted that not all evidence and perspectives have been made public yet. His Thursday press conference was interrupted by a group of protesting community members, who challenged the integrity of the investigation and reiterated demands for full transparency around the shooting.