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Whenever some astounding corruption scandal explodes onto the front pages, the public is aghast and policymakers cobble together new reforms that promise to keep such outrages from occurring again. Occasionally, prosecutors (who are sometimes corrupt themselves) file charges. Soon enough, however, we learn about new abusesor some other scandal grabs the headlines.

Unfortunately, tamping down corruption is like rooting out wasteful spending in the federal budget. There is no line item titled “waste,” but instead it’s baked into a government that has amassed a $31.5-trillion debt. Likewise, corruption is inherent in a system where officials dole out public money and regulate almost everything we do.

What is corruption? Transparency.org defines it as “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.” As the website’s name suggests, transparency is a time-tested antidote. But let’s not kid ourselves. Corruption is a fundamental part of humanity. As far back as Genesis, its author discussed it: “And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.”

It’s crucial to recognize people can never be made incorruptible. We can, however, design governmental systems filled with checks and balances that limit the temptations. I often roll my eyes at progressives who look at our history and find glaring imperfections, or point to imperfect or corrupt behavior from some historical luminary and use it to undermine the nation’s founding.

Good luck finding any human who passes the perfection test. But the central takeaway is that our founding built structures that limit any official’s unchecked power through a series of independent and divided bodies. It guaranteed rights that appliedtheoretically, but with obvious glaring exceptionsto the least-powerful individuals. We have a president, not a king.

A new public-opinion survey published by Cambridge University Press found that “a wide range of the American people, of all political stripes, seek leaders who are fundamentally anti-democratic.” Large percentages said they want leaders who will protect them “by any means necessary.” If that’s an accurate representation, then we’re in for a long period of growing corruption.

The most corrupt nations are, of course, those where dictators, politburos, bureaucrats and security officials can do as they pleaseand where lowly citizens lack the right to free speech or due process. Our current government may be a far cry from the one the founders designed, but it attempts to limit government power, which is the main source of corruption.

The Declaration of Independence was a jeremiad against corruption: The King “has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.” The king’s minions used their power to enrich themselves, just as modern-day police departments use asset forfeiture to seize people’s cars and cash without convicting them of any crime.

Recently some conservatives, who traditionally strived to conserve the nation’s founding principles, have been tempted by authoritarian promises. Some national conservatives disdain the idea of a “neutral” political system that limits the size of government, but instead seek power to run the table on their opponents. Some have made pilgrimages to authoritarian Hungary.

That’s probably a rather small (albeit creepy) contingent. But modern progressives, who loudly decry our nation’s past and present injustices, seem intent on shifting even more power from individuals to government agents in an ever-expanding orbit of bureaucracy and regulation (e.g., single-payer healthcare and bans on anything that “threatens” the climate).

Early 20th century progressives such as California Gov. Hiram Johnson, the creator of our system of direct democracy, wanted to create the tools to fight against corrupt railroad robber barons. Despite the good-government rhetoric, progressives built aregulatory statethat empowered “experts” to re-order society in the name of the “public good.” By giving government so much power, they increased opportunities for the misuse of power. Individuals may be inherently corrupt, but so are the individuals given vast powers over others.

Some corruption is of the illegal variety, such as fraudsters who grabbed billions of dollars inillicit payments from California’s Employment Development Department. That was the result of the government having so much taxpayer cash to hand outand too little competence. Some of it is legal, as the way public-sector unions have exerted control over our government and enriched themselves with six-figure pensionsor how redevelopment agencies abused eminent domain on behalf of politically connected developers.

Everyone is corruptible, so of course private citizens operating in a market economy must be (and are) subject to the rule of law. But corruption fundamentally is a problem of government power, as official actors use immense powers to help themselves and their allies. If we wantless corruption, the solution is obvious: We need less government.

This column was first published in The Orange County Register.

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Bonuses to rise for Ryanair staff spotting oversized baggage

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Bonuses to rise for Ryanair staff spotting oversized baggage

Ryanair staff are to get more money for spotting and charging for oversized baggage, the company’s chief executive has said.

Michael O’Leary said he made “absolutely no apology” for catching people who are “scamming the system”.

The reward for intercepting passengers travelling with bags larger than permitted will increase from €1.50 (£1.29) to €2.50 (£2.15) per bag in November, and the monthly €80 (£68.95) payment cap will be scrapped, Mr O’Leary said.

At present, the budget airline allows travellers a free 40cm x 30cm x 20cm bag, which can fit under the seat in front, and charges for further luggage up to 55cm x 40cm x 20cm in size.

Customers face fines of up to £75 for an oversized item if it is brought to the boarding gate.

“I make absolutely no apology for it whatsoever”, Mr O’Leary said.

“I am still mystified by the number of people with rucksacks who still think they’re going to get through the gate and we won’t notice the rucksack”, he added.

More on Ryanair

Around 200,000 passengers per year are charged bag fees at airport gates.

“We have more work to do to get rid of them”, Mr O’Leary said.

“We are running a very efficient, very affordable, very low-cost airline, and we’re not letting anybody get in the way.”

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The airline does not support a European Union proposal to ensure customers get a free cabin bag, he said.

Air fares

After a 7% fall in air fares for the year to 31 March, Mr O’Leary said he expected ticket prices to go back up this financial year.

“We expect to get most of last year’s 7% decline, but not all,” he told reporters in a news conference.

“We have sold about 70% of our September seats, but we have another 30% to sell, and it’s those last fares, what people pay for all those last-minute bookings through the remainder of September, that will ultimately determine what average airfares are.”

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World

UN told Israeli strike on Gaza hospital was ‘premeditated’ – as Sky News uncovers new details about the attack

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UN told Israeli strike on Gaza hospital was 'premeditated' - as Sky News uncovers new details about the attack

The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations has condemned Israel’s attack on Nasser Hospital as “a premeditated strike on medics and journalists”.

The envoy’s comments are the latest condemnation of the 25 August attack that killed 22 people, including five journalists. They come as an investigation by Sky News raises new questions about the incident.

The IDF said the strike targeted an “observation camera” used by Hamas to monitor troop movements from the hospital, adding that six of those killed were “terrorists”.

But the camera that the IDF struck was broadcasting a live stream for the news agency Reuters, and the IDF has said that the journalist operating this camera was “not a target”.

The Israeli military has not indicated that any other camera was on the balcony, and the hospital’s director says the only person on the balcony was the Reuters journalist.

Sky News did find evidence that one of the six people named by the IDF was a militant, but we also found evidence that he was killed in a separate incident, not at Nasser Hospital.

Most of those killed died when the IDF launched a second strike on the same stairwell, around eight minutes after the first, as rescue efforts were under way. Video seen by Sky News shows two missiles hitting the hospital in the second strike.

Speaking at the UN Security Council on 27 August, Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour said: “The second strike on Nasser hospital was a premeditated strike on medics and journalists who arrived at the scene after the first strike.

“While the world demands a permanent ceasefire, Israel continues its crimes. Where else is the killing of so many civilians and journalists tolerated?”

Here’s what we know

At around 10am on Monday 25 August, journalist Hossam Al Masri, 49, was operating a Reuters live stream from the top floor of Nasser Hospital, in Khan Younis.

Footage from the livestream shows Hossam filming the busy market outside the hospital, before raising the camera and zooming in on a cloud of black smoke rising in the distance.

At that moment, the feed froze. Reports emerged, starting at 10.09am, of an explosion at the hospital.

Soon, footage showed smoke rising over the building, and a chunk of concrete missing from the exterior stairwell where Hossam had been filming.

Journalists and rescue workers quickly rushed to the site in search of survivors. They found two bodies, including Hossam’s.

At 10.17am, as rescue efforts continued, a second Israeli strike hit the stairwell.

Three loud bangs could be heard at the moment of impact.

Footage from the ground shows at least two projectiles impacting in quick succession, with just milliseconds between them.

An Israeli military official told the Press Association that the strikes were carried out by tanks.

Amael Kotlarski, weapons team manager at defence intelligence company Janes, told Sky News that the shape of the projectile and resulting damage is consistent with powered, precision-guided munitions such as Lahat laser-guided missiles.

These can be fired from tanks or helicopters. “The IDF is known to have stocks of the air-launched version, it is unclear if the gun-launched version were procured,” he says.

“If these Lahats were fired from the ground, then at least two tanks would have been involved, as the interval between the two impacts is far too short.”

Sky News analysis of the footage suggests that the projectiles were fired from the northeast.

Satellite imagery taken approximately five hours after the attack shows six tanks stationed at a fortified base around 2.4km northeast of the hospital, though Sky News is unable to say whether they were involved in the attack.

Why did Israel attack the hospital?

Footage filmed from the ground shows smoke billowing out of the hospital as people flee.

As the smoke cleared, rescue workers returned to the scene. What they saw is too graphic to publish – at least seven bodies scattered throughout the stairwell.

Health officials have since put the total number killed at 22, including a rescue worker, a doctor, three hospital staff and five journalists.

On Tuesday, the IDF said that Israeli troops had targeted a camera “that was positioned by Hamas in the area of the Nasser Hospital [and] that was being used to observe the activity of IDF troops”.

However, Sky News has confirmed that the initial strike hit Reuters cameraman Hossam Al Masri, who was operating a livestream for the international news agency at the time of the attack.

Footage from the aftermath of the first strike shows that it hit the top balcony on the hospital’s exterior stairwell.

Sky News was able to confirm that the livestream recorded by Hossam was taken from this balcony, based on the buildings visible and a wooden beam obstructing the camera’s field of view.

This conclusion is supported by eyewitness testimony, as well as the fact that the feed cut unexpectedly, but without showing any attack on the hospital, and that Al Masri’s death was the first to be reported, at 10.18am.

The IDF said that Al Masri was “not a target” of the strike. It did not specify whether his camera was the same one it believes was positioned and used by Hamas.

The IDF has not suggested that there was any other camera on the balcony.

Speaking to Sky News on Wednesday, the director of Nasser Hospital, Dr Atef Al Hout, said that Hossam “was the only one on that floor in that moment”.

On Monday, Israeli outlet Channel 12 published an undated aerial photograph of a camera, shared by an anonymous military source, which Sky News matched to the same balcony.

The unnamed source pointed to a white towel placed over the camera as evidence that it was being concealed.

An undated aerial photograph showing a camera on the stairwell of Nasser Hospital, Khan Younis. Pic: Channel 12
Image:
An undated aerial photograph showing a camera on the stairwell of Nasser Hospital, Khan Younis. Pic: Channel 12

Medics and journalists at Nasser Hospital told Sky News that towels, such as the one visible in the photo, are used to prevent cameras from overheating, and this specific location is frequently used by media workers.

Reuters had been delivering daily livestreams from the position for several weeks before the attack.

And the video below, uploaded on 10 June, shows multiple journalists using the space to record video or get phone signal.

Among those visible in the video are journalists Mariam Abu Daqqa and Mohammed Salama, who were killed in Monday’s attack.

“This is among the deadliest Israeli attacks on journalists working for international media since the Gaza war began,” the Foreign Press Association said in a statement on Monday, adding the strikes came “with no warning”.

Brian Finucane, who spent a decade advising the US State Department on conflict law, says hospitals are protected from attack under international law.

“Hospitals may lose this protection if they are used to commit acts harmful to the enemy outside of their normal humanitarian function – but only if prior advance warning is given to allow for the termination of such harmful acts,” he says.

Former United States Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Stephen Rapp told Sky News that “an independent investigation is clearly warranted”.

Sky News asked the IDF whether any advance warning was provided to the hospital, but did not receive a response to this question.

Hamas denied using the camera targeted by the IDF, describing this allegation as “a baseless allegation devoid of any evidence, intended solely to evade legal and moral responsibility for a fully-fledged massacre”.

Who was killed?

In its statement on Tuesday, the IDF said that six of those killed were “terrorists” and part of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Sky News examined social media pages and obituaries for each of these six people.

We found evidence that one of those named, Omar Abu Teim, had been a combatant.

But while obituaries by family and friends of the other five individuals all reference the attack on Nasser Hospital, those for Abu Teim do not.

A neighbour and childhood friend of Abu Teim’s told us he had died while taking part in an attack on a new IDF position east of Khan Younis – not at Nasser Hospital.

Omar Abu Teim's neighbour told Sky News that he was killed while fighting the IDF east of Khan Younis.
Image:
Omar Abu Teim’s neighbour told Sky News that he was killed while fighting the IDF east of Khan Younis.

A Hamas-branded obituary identifies Abu Teim as a “hero of the storming of the new site” alongside four others. Sky News has not been able to verify whether Abu Teim was formally part of Hamas or a different militant group.

Ramy Abdu of Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor told Sky News his team saw the Abu Teim family searching for their son’s body the day before the hospital strike, adding that the body has still not been recovered.

Abu Teim’s neighbour also said his body has not been recovered, and Gaza’s health ministry told Sky News it had not received his body in any of its hospitals.

The IDF told Sky News it was examining whether Abu Teim was killed in a separate incident.

Hamas has denied that any of its fighters were killed in the attack on Nasser Hospital.

No explanation given for second strike

The Israeli military has not explained the reason for the second strike on the stairwell, which occurred while rescue efforts were under way and caused the greatest number of deaths.

Such ‘double-tap’ strikes carry significant risks for emergency personnel and journalists, who often gather at the scene of attacks.

Sky News asked the IDF who was being targeted in the second strike, but the military did not respond to this question.

Emily Tripp, executive director of conflict monitoring group Airwars, says that double-tap strikes are something they have seen “consistently” throughout the war, although the intensity of the bombardment has made it difficult to confirm timings.

Her team has documented 24 separate double-tap strikes across Gaza since the war began.

At least 190 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

The Aid Worker Security Database has also documented 536 killings of aid and rescue workers as of 2 August. This number does not include the 139 reported deaths among workers from Gaza’s Civil Defence rescue agency.

Reuters did not respond to a request for comment.

Additional reporting by Freya Gibson, OSINT producer, and production by Michelle Inez Simon and Celine Al Khaldi.


The Data and Forensics team is a multi-skilled unit dedicated to providing transparent journalism from Sky News. We gather, analyse and visualise data to tell data-driven stories. We combine traditional reporting skills with advanced analysis of satellite images, social media and other open source information. Through multimedia storytelling we aim to better explain the world while also showing how our journalism is done.

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Environment

Lectric launches long-range XP Trike2 750 with $493 preorder bundle, Bluetti backpack stations from $199 low, Rad Power, more

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Lectric launches long-range XP Trike2 750 with 3 preorder bundle, Bluetti backpack stations from 9 low, Rad Power, more

We’ve got another big EV release headlining today’s Green Deals, as Lectric has officially launched its new XP Trike2 750 Long-Range eTrike for preorder with a $493 bundle at $1,799 – and you’ll also find the new standard XP Trike2 getting its largest post-launch bundle yet. Next, Bluetti’s latest sale has some 48-hour flash offers alongside some top backup support picks, led by the returning low prices on the Handsfree 1 and 2 Backpack Power Stations starting from $199. There’s also Rad Power’s pet-focused accessory deals for National Dog Day that are joining its ongoing Labor Day Sale, as well as an EGO chainsaw offer, a one-day-only Fremo power station low, and more waiting for you below. Plus, all the hangover savings are at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s first-ever Ride1Up VORSA e-bike discount, the Segway Navimow robot lawn mower Labor Day savings, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Review: The ST3 Pro e-scooter brings serious suspension alongside smart controls and more as Navee’s latest flagship

As a long-time rider of Segway electric scooters, my expectations are quite high for new brands looking to climb their way up to the standard that the household-name has set in stone at this point. Only within the last few months did Navee come onto my radar, with the brand offering me the chance to test out its latest flagship model, the ST3 Pro Electric Scooter, which has been quite the surprise, to say the least. At first, it seemed like it was full of gimmicks that were destined to fail, but after riding around for several weeks now, I can happily say that Segway may just have found a new challenger. Head below to get my hands-on impressions of this high-end e-scooter that still retains accessible pricing for the stunning list of features.

To get our full hands-on impression of this new flagship e-scooter, be sure to check out our review here.

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man and woman riding Lectric XP Trike2 750 e-bikes down residential street

Lectric launches upgraded XP Trike2 750 long-range eTrike for preorder with a $493 bundle at $1,799, more

As part of Lectric’s ongoing Labor Day Sale, the brand has officially launched its new XP Trike2 750 Long-Range eTrike with a $493 bundle for preorder at $1,799 shipped, while the standard XP Trike2 is seeing its biggest bundle yet of $242 in free gear at $1,499 shipped. The standard model only hit the market last month during the brand’s Prime Day sale with a $227 bundle, which is now increased to a $242 value, whereas the new long-range variant is starting with over double the value of bundled free gear. This new model will be getting steel-encased front and rear cargo baskets, a support seat with a backrest, an Elite headlight, a suspension seat post, a pair of mirrors, and an accordion-style bike lock. Head below to learn more about these two models or check out the brand’s full lineup of Labor Day deals here.

Lectric’s eTrikes have been among the most popular on the market, and this new generation takes everything fans have loved and goes even further with the upgrades (not to mention the wide array of colorway options). Starting with the variances, the standard XP Trike2 sports a Stealth M24 500W rear hub motor (peaking at 1,092W) and a 624Wh battery combo, while Lectric’s newer XP Trike2 750, as the name implies, comes with a more powerful 750W motor upgrade and a larger 840Wh battery. While both max out at 14 MPH top speeds, the standard can give you five levels of pedal-assisted support for up to 50 miles, while the 750 model extends that range up to 70 miles of travel. They both offer a power-limiting preset feature too, letting you take things slow and get to know your new ride before ramping up to its fastest settings.

From there, the only difference is Lectric’s standard model has a cadence sensor vs. the XP Trike2 750’s torque sensor upgrade, with them otherwise sharing the other stock features, including a Cloud 50 suspension fork for less strain on older riders’ joints. There’s also the puncture-resistant tires with fenders to go over all three, hydraulic disc brakes, headlighting/tail lighting that brings amber side lighting, turn signals, brake lighting into the mix, as well as an IPX5 water-resistance construction, parking brakes, a rear cargo rack, a TFT LCD screen, keyless riding functionality, and more.

Be sure to check out Lectric’s full Labor Day Sale lineup in our original coverage here, which includes the largest bundle on the XP4 Folding Utility e-bikes, as well as a surprise $500 price drop alongside a $220 package on Lectric’s premium ONE Long-Range Belt-Drive Commuter e-bike at a new $1,899 low, among others.

BLUETTI Handsfree Backpack power station being used by man to power laptop on mountain top
Photo: BLUETTI

Bluetti’s latest sale drops the Handsfree backpack power stations to best prices starting from $199, more

Bluetti has an ongoing Emergency Power Sale that seems to be taking the place of any officially named Labor Day Sale, and which is taking up to 46% off the brand’s power stations. Among the lineup, we also spotted a particularly notable 48-hour flash sale that is offering the Handsfree 1 and Handsfree 2 Backpack Power Stations for $199 shipped and $299 shipped. These two highly portable power solutions normally go for $429 and $599 at full price, which have mostly dropped down to $299 and $399 during sales, save for the occasional flash events where we’ve seen these low rates pop up. You’re getting another chance to score either at the best prices we have tracked, giving you $230 or $300 in savings, and beating out Amazon prices of $349 for the Handsfree 1 and $449 for the Handsfree 2. Head below for more on these and some of the other offers during this sale.

If you want to learn more about these backup power solutions, or the other flash offers/top picks, be sure to check out our original coverage of these deals here.

man riding Rad Power e-bike and towing dog in Trailer

Celebrate National Dog Day with these Rad Power pet-focused add-on accessory deals starting from $21.75

As part of its ongoing Labor Day Sale running through September 3, Rad Power Bikes is celebrating National Dog Day with four pet-focused add-on gear units – some of which are already discounted – getting 25% in additional savings and starting from $21.75 shipped. These add-on accessories range from basket-dwelling carriers to full-on hitch-ready trailer carriers – and if your cart totals $150 or more, you’ll be getting free shipping too! Just keep in mind that the extra savings will be added in your cart. Head below to see what you can expect from this gear and be sure to also give your puppers a little head scratch for me. Woof!

If you want to learn more about all these pet-focused add-on accessories for your e-bike, be sure to check out our original coverage of these deals here.

man cutting through log with EGO Power+ 56V 16-inch cordless chainsaw

Tackle storm cleanup and fall/winter firewood needs with EGO’s 56V 16-inch cordless chainsaw kit at $220

Amazon is offering the EGO Power+ 56V 16-inch Cordless Chainsaw with 2.5Ah battery at $219.99 shipped. This particular kit usually goes for $279 at full price, which we saw enter 2025 at $249 and falling as low as $219 for a two-month period before jumping back up in price at the start of June. While we’ve seen it go lower in the past, you’re looking at the second-best rate of the year which cuts $59 off the tag and lands it just $1 shy of the lowest price we have tracked in 2025.

If you want to learn more about this chainsaw’s capabilities, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

man and woman sitting outside at table with Fremo X300 Portable Power Station

Fremo’s X300 portable power station is an 8-pound solution for personal devices at its $180 low (Today only)

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the Fremo X300 Portable Power Station at $179.99 shipped, while it’s currently out of stock on Amazon. This unit would normally fetch $330 at full price, which we’ve regularly seen dropping between $200 and $190 over 2025 in these one-day-only sales, with Amazon having seen it go as low as $180. That low price is available here through the rest of the day, saving you $150 off the tag price and giving you a more compact power solution for your personal devices.

If you want to learn more about this compact backup power solution, be sure to check out our original coverage of this one-day-only sale here.

Best Summer EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

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