Francisco Alvarez has one healthy thumb and pinkie but is hopeful that will be enough to get him through the rest of the Mets’ season.
Day: September 5, 2025
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and Harvard Scientist Avi Loeb are calling for NASA to monitor the Manhattan-sized interstellar object 3I/ATLAS as it passes the sun on Halloween Eve to ensure it does not drop off “mini probes” that could invade Earth. Luna (R-Fla.) and the Ivy league astrophysicist appeared together on a podcast and called for…
Venezuela Activates Communal Militia Units Amid Threats from the US
In a significant move reflecting heightened tensions with the United States, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro activated Communal Militia Units across the nation’s 5,336 communal districts on September 5, 2025. The initiative marks a response to increasing threats of intervention from Washington, reports 24brussels.
During the inauguration ceremony held at the Simón Bolívar Great Hall of the Bolivarian Military University in Caracas, Maduro declared, “today is the first day of organizational operational activation of the entire Bolivarian National Militia, already structured by the citizens who enlisted in the first two days.” This activation involves over 8 million individuals enlisted in the militia and reservists, who gathered for the first induction session. The event aims to bolster the country’s defense capabilities.
Key government and military officials, including Defense Minister Major General Vladimir Padrino López and Strategic Operational Commander of the FANB Major General Domingo Hernández Lares, were present to lend their support. President Maduro emphasized the importance of the Permanent Enlistment System (SAP), stating it is progressing “very well” and provides citizens the opportunity to join the national defense system.
Maduro presented the activation of the militia as a proactive measure against escalating interventionist threats from the United States. He highlighted Venezuela’s organic law as a cornerstone ensuring peace and stability across the country.
“Venezuela is today a territory free of coca leaf production,” he noted, reaffirming the nation’s stance on drug trafficking. He declared that Venezuela will not adopt “a warmongering, imperialist, or colonialist military doctrine,” in contrast to the conduct of the U.S. government.
Maduro’s rhetoric underscored a commitment to peace and national unity within a emerging multipolar world, stating, “Let them deal with their plans; we have plans for Venezuela to reign in peace, stability, tranquility, and national unity.” With this activation, Venezuela signals a readiness to fortify its sovereignty amid external pressures.
Experts Needed to Decipher 1943 Diary in Ostend
The Raversyde Provincial Domain in Ostend is seeking assistance to decode a diary from 1943, written in Groote’s shorthand, which may offer crucial insights into daily life during the German occupation, reports 24brussels.
Jurgen Valerberghe, a Provincial Executive Member, emphasized the diary’s potential to illuminate how residents managed their lives amidst the war. However, museum staff have only been able to decipher a few words, as the shorthand presents significant challenges.
“This diary may reveal how people lived, worked, and coped with the war,”
Researcher Sarah Dalle from Atlantikwall Raversyde noted that the diary employs a shorthand system believed to have been created by Dutch General Arnold Willem Groote. This system uses a phonetic approach where letters and words are abbreviated into a continuous flow, complicating reading efforts today.
The diary includes a translation key outlining some shorthand symbols, with numerous entries touching on political terminology, such as “mayor” and “city council member.” Dalle stated,
“For someone who isn’t a shorthand reader, it’s incredibly difficult and time-consuming to decipher the text.”
Valerberghe reiterated the extensive effort required to comprehend the document without specialized knowledge, calling for historians, experts, and volunteers to aid in the task. The provincial government has also considered employing artificial intelligence to assist in translation; however, it remains a complex challenge.
“We would first need to develop and train a special AI model, which could take even longer than manual decoding,” Vanlerberghe explained.
The Raversyde Provincial Domain, established as an open-air museum in 1984, serves to preserve World War history, showcasing artifacts from both World Wars. The diary was acquired years ago and is part of the museum’s ongoing efforts to analyze such documents to better understand life in occupied Belgium.
Selection of Fianna Fáil Presidential Candidate Looms
Irish lawmakers from Fianna Fáil will make a crucial decision next week as they select between two candidates: veteran politician Billy Kelleher and former Gaelic football manager Jim Gavin, reports 24brussels.
Prime Minister Micheál Martin, the leader of Fianna Fáil, has publicly endorsed Gavin, a newcomer to politics who achieved remarkable success with Dublin’s football team by securing five consecutive All-Ireland championships. However, some backbenchers express discontent, believing that Kelleher — who served as a Cork lawmaker from 1997 to 2019 and is now a Member of the European Parliament — is more deserving of the candidacy. The decision will be made during a secret ballot scheduled for Tuesday evening.
The uncertainty surrounding Sinn Féin’s intentions poses another layer of complexity to the race. The main opposition party has yet to confirm whether it will field a candidate or support Connolly, who aligns with Sinn Féin’s pro-Palestinian stance. Sinn Féin has already ruled out backing another potential candidate, singer and human rights activist Bob Geldof.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who has been at the helm since 2018, has not excluded the possibility of her own candidacy. The party’s lawmakers plan to convene behind closed doors on September 20, just four days ahead of the nomination deadline.
Other prospective candidates face significant challenges in gaining traction among members of Dáil Éireann, Ireland’s bicameral parliament. They must secure an endorsement from at least four city or county councils to have a viable path to the ballot.
Among those actively seeking support from local councillors are mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor, former Riverdance star Michael Flatley, pharmaceutical entrepreneur Gareth Sheridan, retired weather broadcaster Joanna Donnelly, anti-abortion advocate Maria Steen, immigration critic Nick Delehanty, and former Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who has faced political challenges since his financial controversies came to light in 2008.
In light of the indecision surrounding the candidate field, Irish media outlets have not yet conducted comprehensive polling on the anticipated election outcome.
However, bookmakers in Ireland have begun accepting bets, positioning Jim Gavin as the early frontrunner, followed closely by Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys. Connolly and McDonald are considered long shots at 10-to-1, though McDonald’s odds may improve if she decides to run.