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RIO DE JANEIRO — A panel of judges from Brazil's Supreme Court has upheld a decision by one of its justices to block billionaire Elon Musk's social media platform X nationwide, according to the court's website. The broader support among justices is a setback for Musk and his supporters, who have accused Justice Alexandre de Moraes of being an authoritarian censor of political speech. The panel includes five of the full bench's 11 justices, including de Moraes, who last Friday ordered the platform blocked for failing to appoint a local legal representative, as required by law. X will remain blocked until it complies with his orders and pays outstanding fines that, as of last week, exceeded $3 million, according to his decision. De Moraes also imposed a daily fine of 50,000 reais ($8,900) on individuals or companies using virtual private networks, or VPNs, to access X. Some legal experts, including Brazil's bar association, have questioned the grounds for that decision and how it would be enforced. The bar association stated that it would request the Supreme Court review that provision. However, the majority of the panel on Monday upheld both the block and VPN fine — with one justice opposing the latter unless users are shown to be using X to commit crimes. Brazil is one of the largest markets for X, with tens of millions of users. This block marks a dramatic confrontation between Musk and de Moraes over free speech, far-right accounts, and misinformation.

Over 10,000 workers at 25 hotels across the United States began a strike on Monday, choosing Labor Day weekend to amplify their calls for better pay, more manageable workloads, and the restoration of services cut during the COVID-19 pandemic. The UNITE HERE union, representing the striking housekeepers and other hospitality workers, reported that 200 employees at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor were the latest to join the strike. Nearly half of the striking workers – or 5,000 – are housekeepers. Thousands of workers are also on strike in Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego and San Jose, California. The strikes, targeting Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt hotels, are expected to last one to three days. UNITE HERE stated that a total of 15,000 workers have authorized strikes, which could potentially spread to other cities, including New Haven, Connecticut; Oakland, California; and Providence, Rhode Island. Union President Gwen Mills explained that the strikes are part of a broader effort to secure fair compensation for service workers, comparable to more traditionally male-dominated industries. “Hospitality work overall is undervalued, and it’s not a coincidence that it’s disproportionately women and people of color doing the work,” Mills said. Unionized housekeepers are demanding the reinstatement of daily room cleaning at major hotel chains, citing unmanageable workloads and, in many cases, reduced hours and income. Numerous hotels reduced services during the coronavirus pandemic and have yet to fully restore them. However, hotels maintain that guests are no longer requesting daily room cleaning and certain other services. Michael D’Angelo, head of labor relations for Hyatt in the Americas, issued a statement on Monday indicating that the chain has contingency plans in place to minimize the impact of the strikes on hotel operations. “We are disappointed that UNITE HERE has chosen to strike while Hyatt remains willing to negotiate,” D’Angelo said. “We look forward to continuing to negotiate fair contracts and recognize the contributions of Hyatt employees.” Messages seeking comment were left with Marriott and Hilton on Monday.

Although Paris enjoyed the celebratory atmosphere of the Olympics this summer, many are not pleased with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo's plan to keep the iconic Olympic rings on France's most famous landmark even after the Games end. “The decision is mine, and I have the [International Olympic Committee]’s agreement. So yes, they will stay on the Eiffel Tower,” Hidalgo said in an interview published in Ouest-France on Saturday. She told the news outlet that, thanks to the Olympics, the French “have fallen in love with Paris again” and that she wanted “this festive spirit to remain.” Hidalgo’s plan to permanently alter the Eiffel Tower's façade has sparked opposition from heritage conservation advocates, her peers, and even the family of the monument’s architect Gustave Eiffel.  The Association of Descendants of Gustave Eiffel, composed of about 100 of the architect’s relatives, said in a press release reported by French media on Sunday that “it does not seem appropriate to us” that the Eiffel Tower, a historic symbol of Paris and France, “should be added to the symbol of an external organization in a lasting way, whatever its prestige.” Built for the 1889 World’s Fair, the Eiffel Tower was initially intended to be dismantled after 20 years. But the structure was retained after Eiffel suggested that it be used for a variety of scientific purposes, including meteorological research and optical telegraph communications. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991. Olivier Berthelot-Eiffel, president of the descendants group, told AFP that while they “don’t see any problem” with the Olympic rings staying on the tower “a little longer” after the Paralympic Games, which conclude on Sunday, “the Eiffel Tower is not intended as an advertising antenna.” He added that Hidalgo should have consulted the Paris Council and other experts about such a decision. Meanwhile, heritage conservation group SOS Paris accused Hidalgo of trying to leave her personal legacy on the iconic architecture. “Using the most famous monument in France to establish one’s dogma and remind the whole world, forever, that Anne Hidalgo made the 2024 Olympics, is going really far,” the group said Sunday on X.  Even for Hidalgo, there are a few issues still to be ironed out. She said that the current Olympic rings attached to the Eiffel Tower, which are too heavy to permanently withstand winter weather conditions, will need to be replaced with lighter replicas from the same manufacturer. She also said that the city would have to think of a way to conceal the rings when needed, to protect it from breaching the Olympics’ political neutrality rules. (Last year, the tower was lit up with customized colors and messages in shows of solidarity with Ukraine and Iran.) A Change.org petition opposing the move to keep the Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower was started on Sunday and has garnered thousands of signatures as of Monday. “Once the party time is over, our emblematic monument must return to its natural state,” it reads. Culture Minister Rachida Dati, who unsuccessfully ran against Hidalgo for mayor in 2020, also weighed in on Sunday: “The Eiffel Tower is a protected monument, the work of an immense engineer and creator,” she said on X. “Before any decision is made or any announcement is made in this matter, it is important that all procedures and consultations aimed at protecting heritage are respected.” Criticisms have also reverberated among social media users, who are increasingly echoing calls to classify the Eiffel Tower as a historical monument. While the Eiffel Tower was listed as a historical monument in 1964, it has not been classified as one—a status that would give it the highest level of protection. In February, a proposal by Dati to classify the Eiffel Tower was rejected by Hidalgo. Others have decried the Olympic rings as having “spoiled” the Eiffel Tower.“Keeping the Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower after the Olympics,” a popular French account said on X, “is exactly like refusing to take down the Christmas decorations in your house because you had a great Christmas Eve.”

At 41, archer proved that he’s still at the top of his game—Para Archery, that is—when he won a gold medal in Paris on Sunday, beating China’s at the men’s individual compound open and setting a new Paralympics record with 149 points scored out of a possible 150. It’s a feat 12 years in the making since Stutzman’s debut at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, where he won silver. But it also comes as Stutzman’s Paralympic days draw to a close: “I knew going into this it was going to be my last Games, so there’s a lot of emotion, and I didn’t expect this medal, to be honest,” he recently , noting the physical toll competitive shooting has taken on his hips. Stutzman, who hails from Fairfield, Iowa, is distinct from many other para archers: while all have some form of , most are still able to use their arms to hold the bow. But Stutzman, who was born with no arms, uses his legs instead. For years, Stutzman was the sole armless archer competing in the Paralympic Games. But he’s been joined in Paris by three others: Belgium’s , Mexico’s , and India’s —the only woman and only teenager of the group. Debuting on the Paralympic stage at just 17, Devi stunned the world during the 1/8 elimination round of the women’s individual compound open event by opening with a bullseye that sent the crowd cheering and social media into a frenzy, wowing among others French soccer player and British broadcaster . observer her form as “poetry in motion.” Oh wowww… hear the crowd erupt 🤯 — Shekhar Dutt (@DuttShekhar) Devi ended up losing the match by a single point, but Team USA’s Stutzman, who has her, described Devi to on Friday as “the future of the sport. She’s going to probably inspire the next generation more than I inspired this generation.” Here’s what to know about the armless archers taking the world by storm. Matt Stutzman, the pioneer Stutzman was born without arms though doctors weren’t able to point to any specific condition or cause. “They did some research, and I’m just one in a million,” he in a Paralympic Games video profile earlier this year. While he learned to do common chores without arms like driving a car and typing, he said he struggled to find jobs as a visibly disabled person.  He took up archery at age 28. In 2010, he saw it on TV, and was inspired to teach himself. After several practices, Stutzman entered competitions, alongside athletes without disabilities, and he won several events. While competing in Las Vegas in 2011, someone approached , which motivated him to enter qualifying tournaments. When he first competed in London in 2012, his expectations were low. He ended up winning a silver medal. Since then, Stutzman has fine-tuned his technique, and he went on to win silver at the 2015 Para Pan American Games. He has also won several medals at the : a team gold in 2015, an individual bronze in 2019, an individual gold in 2022, and a team bronze in 2023.  In December 2015, Stutzman for the furthest accurate distance shot, which was previously held by a person without disability.  Outside of archery, Stutzman is a adrenaline junkie: He enjoys jumping out of planes and racing cars over 300 km/h (186 mph). Stutzman has said that the 2024 Paralympic Games may be his last due to hip issues and that he is exploring other sports. But to him, his proudest achievement is inspiring others like him, he told : “There’re more armless archers involved in this sport now. You can take away all my medals, and I wouldn’t care, because that would be my medal.” Sheetal Devi, the rising star Devi is one of those next-generation armless archers. Born in 2007 with phocomelia, a rare congenital disorder leading to underdeveloped limbs, according to the website, she was strong-willed and enjoyed climbing trees as a child. The Indian Army observed Devi’s athleticism at an army camp in 2019, and has since been providing her educational and medical support, according to . It was only in 2022 that Devi took up archery, when she visited the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board sports complex more than 100 miles from her home and there met coaches Abhilasha Chaudhary and Kuldeep Vedwan, who introduced her to the sport, according to the . After prosthetics for Devi didn’t work out, her coaches reportedly looked to Stutzman’s method of shooting for her to follow. Devi has been on a rapid ascent ever since. At the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou in 2023, she took home gold medals in the individual compound open event and the mixed team compound open, and she also won silver in the women’s doubles compound open. At the 2023 World Para Championships in Pilsen, where , she won another individual silver medal. At the 2024 Paralympics, Devi started off the women’s individual compound open ranking round by breaking a record with 703 points scored out of a possible 720. (Turkey’s later topped that with 704.) And though she was eliminated from the individual event after a narrow loss to Chile’s , Devi is not finished in Paris just yet: She’s still hoping to medal alongside India teammate 39-year-old Rakesh Kumar in the .

TEL AVIV, Israel — A rare call for a general strike in Israel to protest the failure to return hostages held in Gaza led to closures and other disruptions around the country on Monday, including at its main international airport. But it was ignored in some areas, reflecting deep political divisions. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis had poured into the streets late Sunday in grief and anger after six hostages were found dead in Gaza. The families and much of the public blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying they could have been returned alive in a deal with Hamas to end the war. But others support Netanyahu’s strategy of maintaining relentless military pressure on Hamas, whose Oct. 7 attack into Israel triggered the war. They say it will eventually force the militants to give in to Israeli demands, potentially leading to the group’s defeat and ultimate annihilation. Israel’s largest trade union, the Histadrut, called for a general strike on Monday, the first since the start of the war. It aims to shut down or disrupt major sectors of the economy, including banking, health care and the country’s main airport. Airlines at Israel’s main international airport, Ben-Gurion, were halting outgoing flights between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Those flights either departed early or were slightly delayed, and travelers were seen lining up at check-in counters despite the limited disruption. Arriving flights were continuing as usual during that time, according to the Israel Airports Authority. The Histadrut said that banks, some large malls and government offices were all joining the strike, as were some public transit services, although there did not appear to be any major disruptions. Intercity trains were not included in the strike, and Egged, a main bus line, said only some drivers were striking. Municipalities in Israel’s populated central area, including Tel Aviv, were participating in the strike, leading to shortened school hours and cancellations for public day cares and kindergartens. Many municipalities, however, including Jerusalem, were not participating. Israeli media reported that the state appealed to a labor court to cancel the strike, saying it was politically motivated. The demonstrations on Sunday appeared to be the largest since the start of the war, with organizers estimating that up to 500,000 people joined nationwide events and the main rally held in Tel Aviv. Israeli media estimated that 200,000 to 400,000 took part. They are demanding that Netanyahu reach a deal to return the remaining roughly 100 hostages held in Gaza, a third of whom are believed to be dead, even if it means leaving a battered Hamas intact and withdrawing from the territory. Many Israelis support this position, but others prioritize the destruction of the militant group over freedom for the hostages. Netanyahu has pledged “total victory” over Hamas and blames it for the failure of the negotiations, which have dragged on for much of this year. Israel said the six hostages found dead in Gaza were killed by Hamas shortly before Israeli forces arrived in the tunnel where they were being held. Three of them were reportedly scheduled to be released in the first phase of a cease-fire proposal discussed in July. The Israeli Health Ministry said autopsies had determined the hostages were shot at close range and died on Thursday or Friday. Netanyahu blamed Hamas, saying “whoever murders hostages doesn’t want a deal.” Hamas blamed their deaths on Israel and the United States, accusing them of dragging out the talks by issuing new demands, including for lasting Israeli control over the area. Hamas has offered to release the hostages in return for an end to the war, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners, including high-profile militants. One of the six hostages was Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, a native of Berkeley, California, who lost part of his left arm to a grenade in the Oct. 7 attack. In April, Hamas issued a video that showed him alive, sparking protests in Israel. He was one of the best-known hostages, and his parents had led a high-profile campaign for the captives’ release, meeting with President Joe Biden, Pope Francis, and addressing the United Nations last month. Biden on Sunday said he was “devastated and outraged.” The White House said he spoke with Goldberg-Polin’s parents and offered condolences. Some 250 hostages were taken on Oct. 7. More than 100 were freed during a cease-fire in November in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Eight have been rescued by Israeli forces. Israeli troops also rescued seven soldiers who escaped captivity in December. Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, when they stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7. Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed over 40,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not say how many were militants. The war has displaced the vast majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million people, often multiple times, and plunged the besieged territory into a humanitarian crisis.

HELSINKI — A white beluga whale named “Hvaldimir,” initially discovered in Norway close to Russian waters wearing a harness that sparked suspicions of it being a Moscow spy, has been found dead. The Norwegian public broadcaster NRK reported that the whale's carcass was discovered floating in Risavika Bay in southern Norway on Saturday by a father and son who were fishing. The beluga, named by combining the Norwegian word for whale—hval—and Russian President Putin's first name Vladimir, was lifted out of the water using a crane and transported to a nearby harbor for examination by experts. “Unfortunately, we found Hvaldimir floating in the sea. He has passed away, but it's not immediately clear what the cause of death is,” marine biologist Sebastian Strand told NRK, adding that no significant external injuries were visible on the animal. Strand, who has been monitoring Hvaldimir's movements for the past three years on behalf of the Norway-based Marine Mind non-profit organization, expressed deep sadness about the whale's sudden demise. “It’s absolutely horrible,” Strand said. “He was apparently in good condition as of (Friday). So we just have to figure out what might have happened here.” The 4.2-meter (14-foot) long and 1,225-kilogram (2,700-pound) whale was first spotted by fishermen near the northern island of Ingøya, not far from the Arctic city of Hammerfest, in April 2019, wearing a harness and what appeared to be a mount for a small camera and a buckle marked with the text “Equipment St. Petersburg.” This sparked allegations that the beluga was “a spy whale.” Experts confirmed that the Russian navy is known to train whales for military purposes. Over the years, the beluga was sighted in several Norwegian coastal towns, and it became evident that he was exceptionally tame and enjoyed interacting with people, NRK reported. NGO Marine Mind stated on its website that Hvaldimir displayed a strong interest in humans and responded to hand signals. “Based on these observations, it appeared as if Hvaldimir arrived in Norway by crossing over from Russian waters, where it is presumed he was held in captivity,” the organization stated. Norwegian media have speculated whether Hvaldimir could have been used as “a therapy whale” of some sort in Russia.

In the first two seasons of Industry, we've gotten to know Rishi Ramdani, played by Sagar Radia, as a mid-level trader at Pierpoint whose foul-mouthed comments constantly push the workplace boundaries. Industry is a show that never takes its foot off the gas, and in some ways, Rishi's absurd quips, high-strung attitude, and crude language have brought levity to the show. Season three of Industry gives a closer look at Rishi's world in an episode that focuses entirely on the character. The fourth episode of the season, which airs on Sept. 1, follows Rishi through a particularly intense and chaotic day, showing what makes him tick—other than his love of dealing in large sums of money. Radia tells TIME that he's seen an innate confidence grow in Rishi as his character changes throughout the series. He was surprised when he learned he'd be leading an episode but felt ready for the challenge. “Once you get a script like that, you’re like, ‘Cool, let’s get to work,’” he says.  Titled “White Mischief,” the episode begins with a tense mood in the office after the disastrous ESG conference in the previous episode and the implosion of Lumi. Rishi joins his coworkers to discuss what to do next and suggests a trade that's a huge risk but still seems to find support among the team. Then, Rishi is with his wife, his in-laws and their new baby, celebrating Boxing Day. But things aren’t going well for him: while Rishi is watching a video on his phone he gets a notification alerting him to a declined payment. His nose starts to bleed—signaling stress and that he may be overdoing it on drugs. Later, Rishi and his wife are home when they hear a knock at the door. A guy named Vinay is looking for him because Rishi owes him a lot of money. Over the course of the episode, we learn that Rishi is in ₤200,000 of gambling debt and that's why he pushed the “high risk, high reward, mega bullish” trade at Pierpoint. And at work, HR is after him about his uncensored language, while MD on the CPS desk Eric Tao (Ken Leung) is increasing his warnings about the high-risk trade.  Radia says filming the episode was difficult, not only because of the intensity and physicality of the scenes, but because the episode was shot out of sequence (which is typical of most professional productions). He leaned on the director, Zoé Wittock, to make sure they hit the emotional beats they both were hoping for. He also gives credit to the show's creators for fostering a collaborative work environment that allowed for more ease to figure out the right rhythm they wanted to hit. One of the first scenes they filmed appears towards the end of the episode and Radia says, “When you’re trying to drop yourself into an emotional situation like this on day one, if something’s not working, you’re not like beating yourself up about it.” He continues, “They’re just like, ‘We’ll find it, let’s go again.” Though Rishi is firm in his hunch about the trade, his anger and anxiety are spiraling out of control. He storms out of Pierpoint to meet Vinay,  who has a “friend” in the car with him as he tells Rishi he needs to pay  the debt. Vinay asks what everyone is thinking: “How are you in finance and you’re so broke?” Vinay seems to take some pity on Rishi, even offering him extra cash. But Rishi declines and takes the money he should have given to Vinay and gambles. He wins big, gets a section at a club, gets into a fight, gambles more, and loses everything. Things get worse—at Pierpoint, another meeting is called about anonymously reported concerns over Rishi’s language. He is at a low point, with a battered face, black eye, and a bruised ego, and pleading for support from Anraj, who is afraid of him. Thankfully, the risky trade ends up being the right move—Rishi rakes in millions of pounds. Toward the end of the episode, we see Rishi and his wife, Diana, getting into a screaming match. He finally reveals how much debt he’s in and Diana agrees to bail him out using money she’s made from her job, and sticks by his side. He calls Vinay and tells him he has his money, but continues to gamble with his money and his life. This moment, Radia says, was the toughest to get through. It’s a culmination of all the issues that Rishi has been facing up until now, he says, noting an affecting line from Diana: “It’s much easier to raise strong boys than fix broken men.” “Rishi’s been through this whole thing and she says that and he has to sit with it,” he says. “He starts to question his morality and he starts to question the type of man he wants to be now.”