CNN report says Pentagon delayed reporting US troop injuries during Iran conflict

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and a central figure in Pyongyang’s foreign policy, has launched a fierce verbal attack against the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) following calls for the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. In an official statement published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), she condemned the position adopted at last week’s annual ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila as “stupid and foolish”, dismissing regional hopes for nuclear disarmament as an outdated delusion. The dispute was triggered by the release of the ASEAN Regional Forum chair’s statement, in which foreign ministers from across the Indo-Pacific region expressed grave concern over North Korea’s continued development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. The joint declaration urged compliance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and called for international dialogue to achieve lasting peace and stability through a peaceful, denuclearised peninsula. Kim Yo Jong expressed strong dissatisfaction with the bloc, accusing ASEAN of displaying an undisguised hostile attitude and acting as a hired mouthpiece for the United States. She argued that adhering to the concept of denuclearisation represents a complete failure of strategic logic, stating that the objective has lost all meaning both conceptually and practically. She further accused the regional body of ignoring North Korea’s national constitution, which was updated in 2023 to formally enshrine its status as a nuclear-armed state. Pyongyang has maintained for years that its nuclear arsenal serves as an essential deterrence mechanism to protect national sovereignty, despite facing heavy international sanctions and prohibitions from the UN Security Council. Reaffirming the regime’s stance that its nuclear capabilities represent a “line of no retreat”, Kim Yo Jong emphasised that North Korea’s nuclear status is final and completely irreversible, adding that its arsenal will continue to be updated steadily without pause regardless of external pressure or diplomatic rhetoric.

Italy is confronting a growing childhood obesity problem as traditional Mediterranean eating habits are increasingly replaced by calorie-heavy and highly processed foods. The issue is particularly serious in southern Italy. In parts of the Campania region, more than 40% of children aged eight and nine are reported to be overweight. Naples and surrounding communities have become major areas of concern for health professionals. Doctors say they are seeing increasingly younger patients with severe obesity. At a hospital in Naples, specialists who once mainly treated adults are now treating teenagers with serious weight-related problems. In severe cases, patients may require bariatric surgery to reduce the size of the stomach. However, doctors say some teenagers are now arriving at weights that make such procedures too risky. Some are first given medical treatment to help control appetite and lose enough weight to undergo surgery safely. Health experts point to major changes in Italian eating habits as one factor behind the trend. The traditional Mediterranean diet, built around vegetables, legumes, whole grains, olive oil and fish, is becoming less common. Instead, children are increasingly exposed to processed snacks, sugary drinks, refined carbohydrates and calorie-dense foods. Experts say the problem is not necessarily one particular meal but the cumulative effect of frequent snacking and poor diet quality. Doctors also say many parents struggle to recognise when their children are overweight. In some communities, a heavier child may traditionally be viewed as healthy or well-fed, making it harder for families to identify a potential health problem early. Physical activity can also be difficult for some children. Many schools operate in historic buildings that were not designed to provide adequate space for modern sports and exercise. Authorities are now attempting to address the problem through schools and community programmes. A regional initiative in Campania plans to involve more than 17,000 students across 25 schools in nutrition education and healthy lifestyle programmes, with families also receiving guidance. Italy has also taken a broader approach to obesity. In 2025, it became the first country to introduce a national law recognising obesity as a chronic, progressive and relapsing disease. Campania is also being used to test new approaches, including a controlled “fast-mimicking” diet for overweight adolescents. Researchers hope the programme could improve metabolic health, although some paediatric specialists have raised concerns about the limited evidence and possible psychological effects of restrictive diets on young people. Health experts stress that tackling childhood obesity will require more than simply telling children to eat less or exercise more. Families, schools, healthcare providers and policymakers all have a role in changing the environment around young people.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Wednesday that she is stepping down from the Trump administration by the end of the month. She cited wanting more time with her family as the reason behind the decision. In a social media post, the 28-year-old explained that returning to the White House after having her daughter left her struggling to balance the demands of the role with being present for her two young children. She called it a bittersweet decision to move into a new chapter of her life. President Trump responded publicly, saying he understood and respected her choice. He added that Leavitt would remain part of his inner circle, describing her as one of his top outside advisors and an influential voice within the Republican Party going forward. The sudden announcement caught many off guard, sparking a wave of speculation online about what actually prompted her exit. No official replacement has been named yet, but multiple reports have pointed to Natalie Harp as a likely contender for the role. The 34-year-old serves as Trump’s executive assistant and is frequently seen by his side at public events. She reportedly manages much of his digital presence, including posting pre-approved content to his social media accounts after hours, according to a Wall Street Journal report from May 2026. Given her closeness to the president, Harp has emerged as one of the more plausible names being floated to take over the press secretary role. Alongside the succession talk, unverified theories have also surfaced online suggesting Harp may have played a role in Leavitt’s exit. Some reports, including one from the Irish Star, claim Harp accompanied Trump during a security-related jet switch amid threat concerns, while Leavitt was left behind, though this remains unconfirmed. A source told the Daily Mail that Harp holds an unusually close position within Trump’s team, describing her as closer to the president than anyone else on his staff. Separately, a widely circulated video appeared to show Leavitt seemingly sidelined during a tense exchange involving Trump and another woster believed to be Harp, shortly before her resignation announcement. None of these claims have been independently verified so far.