Researchers reveal cause of Jupiter's x-ray aurorae An international research team led by YAO Zhonghua from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGGCAS) has explained the cause of Jupiter's X-ray aurorae, a mystery that has puzzled scientists for 40 years. The findings were published in Science Advances on July 9. It is the first time planetary researchers have described the entire causality chain for Jupiter's X-ray auroral flares. The mechanism in producing X-ray auroral flares at Jupiter may have potential applications in X-ray astronomy. The X-ray auroral spectra tell us these aurorae are produced by heavy ions with energies in the mega electron volt range. But how they are formed and why these ions enter Jupiter's atmosphere was previously unknown. To understand the energetic processes associated with Jupiter's polar emissions, researchers organized, over the last four years, a series of paradigm-shifting observation campaigns from Earth in tandem with in situ measurements by ESA's flagship X-ray observatory, XMM-Newton, and NASA's Juno spacecraft. These efforts included the most extensive X-ray campaign and the most extensive Hubble Space Telescope campaign ever conducted for Jupiter. Using these tools, the researchers were able to probe the physics behind the phenomenon and reveal the processes that lead planets to produce X-ray aurorae. "These are strikingly similar to the processes of producing ion aurorae on Earth, suggesting that ion aurorae share common mechanisms across planetary systems, despite temporal, spatial and energetic scales varying by orders of magnitude," said YAO Zhonghua, first author of the study. "What we see in the Juno data is this beautiful chain of events. We knew that the auroral ions are stored in the magnetosphere, originated from the volcanic activities of Jupiter's moon Io. In the magnetosphere, now we see the magnetic compression happen, the electromagnetic ion cyclotron wave triggered, the ions, and then a pulse of ions traveling along the field line. A few minutes later, XMM sees a burst of X-rays," said William Dunn from University College London, who co-led the study. It is noteworthy that Jupiter's X-ray auroral flares are often correlated with ultraviolet auroral flares, which are the most common auroral form. Indeed, the study of the latter may benefit from the wealth of Hubble Space Telescope data acquired through this research. "The discovery of Jupiter's X-ray processes may have implications for our understanding of stunning ultraviolet auroral flares," said Denis Grodent from the University of Liege, a co-author of the study. ### This story has been published on: 2021-07-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Air-powered computer memory helps soft robot control movements Engineers at UC Riverside have unveiled an air-powered computer memory that can be used to control soft robots. The innovation overcomes one of the biggest obstacles to advancing soft robotics: the fundamental mismatch between pneumatics and electronics. The work is published in the open-access journal, PLOS One. Pneumatic soft robots use pressurized air to move soft, rubbery limbs and grippers and are superior to traditional rigid robots for performing delicate tasks. They are also safer for humans to be around. Baymax, the healthcare companion robot in the 2014 animated Disney film, Big Hero 6, is a pneumatic robot for good reason. But existing systems for controlling pneumatic soft robots still use electronic valves and computers to maintain the position of the robot's moving parts. These electronic parts add considerable cost, size, and power demands to soft robots, limiting their feasibility. To advance soft robotics toward the future, a team led by bioengineering doctoral student Shane Hoang, his advisor, bioengineering professor William Grover, computer science professor Philip Brisk, and mechanical engineering professor Konstantinos Karydis, looked back to the past. "Pneumatic logic" predates electronic computers and once provided advanced levels of control in a variety of products, from thermostats and other components of climate control systems to player pianos in the early 1900s. In pneumatic logic, air, not electricity, flows through circuits or channels and air pressure is used to represent on/off or true/false. In modern computers, these logical states are represented by 1 and 0 in code to trigger or end electrical charges. Pneumatic soft robots need a way to remember and maintain the positions of their moving parts. The researchers realized that if they could create a pneumatic logic "memory" for a soft robot, they could eliminate the electronic memory currently used for that purpose. The researchers made their pneumatic random-access memory, or RAM, chip using microfluidic valves instead of electronic transistors. The microfluidic valves were originally designed to control the flow of liquids on microfluidic chips, but they can also control the flow of air. The valves remain sealed against a pressure differential even when disconnected from an air supply line, creating trapped pressure differentials that function as memories and maintain the states of a robot's actuators. Dense arrays of these valves can perform advanced operations and reduce the expensive, bulky, and power-consuming electronic hardware typically used to control pneumatic robots. After modifying the microfluidic valves to handle larger air flow rates, the team produced an 8-bit pneumatic RAM chip able to control larger and faster-moving soft robots, and incorporated it into a pair of 3D-printed rubber hands. The pneumatic RAM uses atmospheric-pressure air to represent a "0" or FALSE value, and vacuum to represent a "1" or TRUE value. The soft robotic fingers are extended when connected to atmospheric pressure and contracted when connected to vacuum. By varying the combinations of atmospheric pressure and vacuum within the channels on the RAM chip, the researchers were able to make the robot play notes, chords, and even a whole song--"Mary Had a Little Lamb" --on a piano. Click here to view a video of the robot playing piano. In theory, this system could be used to operate other robots without any electronic hardware and only a battery-powered pump to create a vacuum. The researchers note that without positive pressure anywhere in the system--only normal atmospheric air pressure-- there is no risk of accidental overpressurization and violent failure of the robot or its control system. Robots using this technology would be especially safe for delicate use on or around humans, such as wearable devices for infants with motor impairments. ### The paper, "A pneumatic random-access memory for controlling soft robots," is available here. The research was supported by the National Science Foundation. This story has been published on: 2021-07-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. On the internet, nobody knows you're a dog -- or a fake Russian Twitter account BUFFALO, N.Y. - Many legacy media outlets played an unwitting role in the growth of the four most successful fake Twitter accounts hosted by the Russian Internet Research Agency (IRA) that were created to spread disinformation during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, according to a study led by a University at Buffalo communication researcher. In roughly two years beginning in late 2015, these accounts went from obscurity to microcelebrity status, growing from about 100 to more than 100,000 followers. With its heavily populated follower base ready to spread the word -- like all heavily engaged Twitter audiences -- the IRA could strategically deploy messages and provide visible metrics, creating an illusion of authority and authenticity that often escaped the scrutiny of casual consumers and professional journalists. The frantic retweets, by what the study showed to be extreme ideological enclaves, certainly fueled the accumulation of followers, but Yini Zhang, PhD, an assistant professor of communication at UB, says that mainstream and hyperpartisan news media also significantly amplified IRA messaging and contributed to that follower growth by unknowingly embedding IRA tweets in their content. Zhang says there was an ideological asymmetry to the study's results. Of the four puppet accounts in the study, @TEN_GOP and @Pamela_Moore13 posed as conservative trolls, while @Crystal1Johnson and @glod_up imitated liberals. "We did not observe the same effect on the liberal and conservative accounts," she says. "The two conservative accounts received a huge boost from mainstream media and hyperconservative media quoting tweets in their news stories, but we did not see mainstream media and hyperprogressive media doing the same thing for the two liberal accounts." The findings, published in the Journal of Communication, reveal how large social media followings can often depend on a combination of the dynamics within a particular platform and the news media's treatment of the messages emerging from those platforms. The evidence revealed in the study provides insights into the ecology of the 21st century political communication environment, suggesting that people's tendency to seek confirmation and engage with pro-attitudinal information, as well as the media's drive for audience attention, can work in favor of successful political disinformation actors. In this case, constructive attempts to provide new information by integrating digital and legacy content ironically resulted in the unintended spread of disinformation, which Zhang defines as fabricated information that's intended to cause harm in ways that benefit its agents. "Examining how and why these accounts grew so quickly and to such astounding proportions allows us to understand the mechanisms of influence accrual in the digital era," says Zhang, the study's corresponding author and an expert in social media and political communication. "None of this was intentional. It's about operational realties. "But with this knowledge, we can begin to address and curtail the problem of disinformation." The research team started their work with 2,700 puppet accounts released in 2017 by the House Intelligence Committee, which received the information from Twitter. From that group, the researchers identified the four most retweeted English-speaking accounts: two conservative accounts and two liberal accounts. They collected data from Twitter about the tweets and retweets of the IRA accounts. They then searched more than 200 media outlets across the ideological spectrum to determine where the uptake of IRA tweets was occurring. "Strong social media posts can validate content," says Zhang. "But in their effort to turn heads, these legacy outlets were contributing to the growth of Russian sock puppet accounts." The processes of incorporating digital content into mainstream media makes sense, but requires careful consideration, according to Zhang. "Social media content looks very attractive given the cost cutting realities in mainstream media and lost advertising revenue," says Zhang. "But it also demonstrates a vulnerability within the current media economy. "Turning heads might also mean unintentionally contributing to the growth of fake accounts, which should be subject to the same questions of credibility as any other news source: Is this account in fact what it actually claims to be?" ### This story has been published on: 2021-07-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Hong Kong: CE rejects US' claims Chief Executive Carrie Lam said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's statement on the National Security Law contained sweeping and totally unsubstantiated remarks which represented blatant interventions into China's internal affairs. Mrs Lam issued a statement, further to the Government's response this morning on the business advisory released by the US Department of State, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of the Treasury to US businesses and individuals operating in Hong Kong. She said the Mr Blinken's statement represented utter trampling on the rule of law and once again, double standards of the US administration, adding that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government cannot allow such misguided remarks to go unchallenged. The Chief Executive pointed out that the National Security Law clearly stipulates that human rights and individual freedoms shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong SAR. However, under the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights as well as the constitutions of most countries around the world, it is clearly stated that certain basic rights and freedoms of individuals can be restricted through legislation for the purpose of safeguarding national security. The Hong Kong SAR Government has seen numerous decisions and actions under the US jurisdiction affecting other countries, businesses and individuals justified on grounds of safeguarding the national security of the US. It wondered how such obvious double standards could go unnoticed. Moreover, the international community has spoken up against the US' interference into China's internal affairs. At the recently concluded session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, over 90 countries expressed support for China in its efforts in restoring stability in the Hong Kong SAR. These countries clearly stood by the principle of non-intervention under international law as well as the principle of sovereign equality. Mrs Lam also noted that the great majority of Hong Kong people are patriotic and fully embrace the principle of "one country, two systems". They aspire for peace, stability and personal safety but prior to the enactment of the National Security Law, all these had been put at risk by rioters associated with or incited by external forces to subvert state power, very often under the guise of promoting democracy. The Hong Kong authorities are taking actions, including the arrests of suspects, in strict accordance with the law, she said. Mrs Lam emphasised that prosecution decisions are taken by the Department of Justice without any interference and trials are conducted by an independent judiciary. This is the robust legal system that Hong Kong is extremely proud of, and one enshrined in the Basic Law and also embedded in the National Security Law. No other government could or should fetter with these legal proceedings. She reiterated that it is simply wrong for Mr Blinken to allege that Hong Kong's business environment has deteriorated in the past year. Hong Kong remains an open and free economy, underpinned by the rule of law and a robust regulatory regime. As fully demonstrated by the relevant statistics, Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre has not changed and business confidence has not been shaken. Mrs Lam urged the US authorities to view Hong Kong matters in an honest and fair manner, and consider ways to further reward experiences of US businesses and individuals in Hong Kong, instead of intimidating them with the business advisory. This story has been published on: 2021-07-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. RTHK: French shocker 'Titane' wins Palme d'Or at Cannes Shock-fest "Titane" took home the top Palme d'Or prize at Cannes on Saturday, revealed early at the closing ceremony in an embarrassing slip-up by jury president Spike Lee. French director Julie Ducournau is only the second woman to scoop the prize, for a movie that was one of the wildest, sexiest and most violent ever shown at the Cannes film festival. "It's the first film ever where a Cadillac impregnated a woman. That blew my mind!" Lee said. "That's genius and craziness together." "Titane" tells the story of a woman who has sex with cars and kills without a care, with brutal scenes that had many cinema-goers shielding their eyes during the opening night. Lee, the first black man to lead the jury, read out the winner at the very start of the prize ceremony, rather than introducing the first award of the night for best actor. After an awkward pause and regrouping, the best actor award went to US actor Caleb Landry Jones for his chilling performance in "Nitram" about Australia's worst mass shooting. Making a film about the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, in which 35 people died, triggered harsh criticism of director Justin Kurzel in Australia. But critics were won over at the Cannes premiere, with Variety calling it a "devastating study of atrocity" that shows "quiet respect for the victims' dignity". It was a huge night, too, for the previously unknown Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve, who was rocketed to stardom by her role in "Worst Person in the World". Her role as a twenty-something searching for her identity and pinballing through relationships was a sensation, and caught the 33-year-old totally unprepared. "No one has seen me in anything," she said after the premiere. "The other day I woke up and I puked. And today I woke up and I cried." When it finally became time to announce the Palme d'Or for real, Lee said: "I apologise for messing up." But then he almost fluffed the presentation again, starting to announce the winner rather than presenter Sharon Stone, by which point Ducournau was giggling in the audience. She still broke into tears when the official announcement was made, and told the crowd: "This evening has been perfect because it's been imperfect. "Thank you for letting the monsters in." The only other woman to win the top prize is Jane Campion for "The Piano" in 1993. Other winners on the night included Leos Carax as best director for "Annette", the flamboyant rock opera starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, and written by eccentric Los Angeles pop duo Sparks. The second-prize Grand Prix was shared between Iran's two-time Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi ("A Hero") and Finland's Juho Kuosmanen ("Compartment No.6"), while best screenplay went to Japan's Hamaguchi Ryusuke and Takamasa Oe for "Drive My Car". The race had been wide open this year, with critics pointing to many possible successors to "Parasite", the South Korean hit which took home the last Palme in 2019 before making history by triumphing at the Oscars. Last year's festival was cancelled because of the pandemic. The jury members watched a lot of sex this year, from lesbian nuns in Paul Verhoeven's salacious "Benedetta" to a porn star returning to small-town Texas in "Red Rocket", which scored well with critics. There were doubts early in the festival about the Covid logistics, with some festival-goers grossed out by the spit tests required every 48 hours, and criticism on social media over unmasked attendees in the cinemas at early premieres. Restrictions were tightened, partying scaled back, and even though the stars couldn't quite keep themselves from hugs and kisses on the red carpet, the festival appeared to pass without a major outbreak. But there was still plenty of star power. Tilda Swinton was ubiquitous on the red carpet, appearing in five films of the official selection. She starred in "Memoria" by Thailand's former Palme winner Apichatpong Weerasethakul, which shared the third-place jury prize with "Ahed's Knee" by Israel's Nadav Lapid. But Swinton was clear that her proudest moment was receiving the Palm Dog award on behalf of her three spaniels, who appeared with her in "The Souvenir Part 2". "Honestly, this is the prize to get," she said at Friday's canine ceremony, as she tied the red collar prize around her neck. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2021-07-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. by Vladimir Rozanskij President Sandu's Pas party exceeds 50% of the vote. The pro-Russia bloc of socialists and communists defeated. The vote of Moldovans abroad made the difference. Sandu promises a peaceful solution for Transnistria. Natalia Gavrilitsa is likely to be the new premier. Moscow (AsiaNews) - Moldovan President Maia Sandu's pro-European Action and Solidarity (PAS) party won over 52% of the vote in the July 11 parliamentary elections. This is the first time since 2009 that a party has secured an absolute majority in the country squeezed between Russia, Ukraine and Romania. Pas also broke the communist record of 50.07% in 2001, the highest result in the 30-year post-Soviet period. Sandu has already announced that she intends to proceed with a one-party government, with no alliances with other parties. In second place was the pro-Russian bloc of socialists and communists. Led by former presidents Igor Dodon and Vladimir Voronin, the electoral cartel gained 27.2%. The Sor party of businessman Ilan Sor, with 5.8%, and the party of German businessman Renato Usatij, which won 4.1%, also entered parliament. All other parties failed to pass the 4% barrier, and will now have to redistribute their votes. Participation was the lowest in recent history in a parliamentary election, remaining 48.41% below the majority of voters. Following the dissolution of parliament in April, Moldova's parliamentary elections were held ahead of their natural expiry date; the 101 MPs now elected are expected to remain in office for a period of four years. Dodon's Socialists and his allies controlled the previous legislature: pro-Moscow formations tried hard to oppose the European integration policy of Sandu, the country's president since December 2020. The Constitutional Court had accepted the dissolution, given the inability of parliament - which Sandu described as "corrupt" - to vote on the formation of a government. The resounding result in Sandu's favour was mainly due to the votes of Moldovans living abroad, driven in particular by the protests in Transnistria. In the strip of land on the Black Sea, still partly controlled by the Russians and run by a separatist government, 41 polling stations had been opened. Sandu promised to find a solution for Transnistria without conflict with the Russian Federation. Crowds of Sandu's supporters celebrated in the square in the centre of the capital, where Pas is based, chanting slogans such as "we have the majority!" and "the country for the young!". The two Pas leaders, Igor Grosu and Natalia Gavrilitsa, were there to greet the crowd. Gavrilitsa is expected to form the new executive, thus completing the tandem of "democratic women" in power in Moldova. Corporate bonds issuance in first six months reach over $8.3 billion Corporate bonds issuances have been on an uptrend in June, led by banking and real estate groups. According to Bao Viet Securities Company (BVSC), the total issuance of corporate bonds in Vietnam in June 2021 reached over VND36.61 trillion ($1.6 billion), contributing to a total of VND190.66 trillion ($8.3 billion) of corporate bonds issued in the first half. Numbers from Fiin Group show that the banking group accounted for the largest portion of the total issuance value in June (52 per cent) with around VND18.87 trillion ($820.43 million). Following is the real estate industry, accounting for 26 per cent with over VND9.370 trillion ($407.4 million). In H1, the real estate industry accounted for the largest proportion (42 per cent) with a total issuance of VND80.665 trillion ($3,5 billion), followed by banking with 29 per cent or VND55.244 trillion ($2.4 billion). Enterprises with large deposits through the bonds in June include Trung Nam Dak Lak 1 Wind Power JSC (VND3.9 trillion or $169.57 million), LienVietPostBank (VND3.5 trillion, or $152.17 million), Orient Bank (VND3.5 trillion), Vietnam Construction and Import-Export JSC (VND2.2 trillion or $95.65 million) and ABBank (VND2.2 trillion). Compared to the same period last year, the total issuance value of corporate bonds in June fell by 44.38 per cent, BVSC commented. However, accumulated in the first six months of 2021, the total value of corporate bond issuance reached over VND190 trillion ($8.26 billion), up 6.18 per cent. After Decree No.81/2020/ND-CP came into effect from September 1, 2020, conditions for private bond issuance were tightened and then Decree No.153/2020 required investors in corporate bonds to be professional securities investors. "These led to a significant decrease in corporate bond issuances. Therefore, in 2021, there will likely be fewer issuances than in 2020," said BVSC. Will remote work trend prevail after COVID-19 in Vietnam? With the development of technology and Internet connectivity, remote work has become popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. Employees can work anywhere, at any time instead of being at the office for eight hours. (Photo: Dep/VietnamPlus) Hoang Nam Tien, Chairman of the FPT Telecom Joint Stock Company, said that businesses have got used to working from home over the past year. Currently, thousands of the companys employees are teleworking or work from home. Remote work will be common even after the pandemic. This is an inevitable trend, he said. Therefore, businesses should make preparations for necessary things right now. Ha Lam Tu Quynh, Director of Communications and Public Relations in charge of Vietnam at Google Asia Pacific, said like FPT or many other businesses, that remote work was implemented when the start of COVID-19 pandemic and everyone got used to this over the last 18 months. Whether remote work or work from home, Google has only a system of evaluating employee performance based on the progress and quality of the work they complete. Lu Thanh Long, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Misa Company, said that the company does not only have tools for staff to work remotely, but also builds a platform to help more than 12,000 businesses doing so. However, he said, it is a challenge when the whole company has to work from home or remote working as telework requires the availability of infrastructure, effective interaction of teams and labour efficiency. Ensuring security in some industries, especially software intellectual property, is also a problem. Experts, as well as businesses, believe that working remotely will prevail even after the pandemic as it is an inevitable trend. Thus, businesses should invest in adequate tools, protocols and processes so that many job positions can work remotely. For employees, working remotely helps save time on commuting and people have more time for their family. Researches show that individuals obtain up to 70 percent of their knowledge from job-related experiences. When not being able to communicate, work side by side with more experienced people and without the guidance of managers, it will be difficult for employees to learn and do better. Therefore, creating an environment for employees to work together in the office, interact and learn from each other is very important. From the perspective of the representative of Google Vietnam, its time for managers to change their mindset. The problem is not working remotely or from home, but management needs to shift its focus from relying on staffs physical presence at work to their work quality. For those, who work from home, this is an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to learn and adapt to changing circumstances, Quynh said. Xi urges APEC solidarity to fight COVID-19, promote economic recovery Xinhua) 09:05, July 17, 2021 Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the Informal Economic Leaders' Retreat of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) via video link in Beijing, capital of China, July 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) -- Over the next three years, China will provide another 3 billion U.S. dollars in international aid to support COVID-19 response and economic and social recovery in other developing countries. -- "Let us stand with each other in solidarity, promote anti-COVID cooperation and economic recovery, and work for a bright future of prosperity for all in the Asia-Pacific," said Xi. -- "The pandemic proves once again that we live in one global village, where countries stand to rise and fall together," said Xi. BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Addressing the Informal Economic Leaders' Retreat of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) on Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping called upon its members to enhance solidarity and cooperation to overcome the impact of COVID-19 and boost global economic recovery. "Let us stand with each other in solidarity, promote anti-COVID cooperation and economic recovery, and work for a bright future of prosperity for all in the Asia-Pacific," said Xi. The attending APEC members have committed themselves to realizing the Putrajaya Vision of an open, dynamic, resilient, and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040 for the prosperity of all their people and future generations, according to a statement released after the meeting. COOPERATION ON PANDEMIC RESPONSE "The pandemic proves once again that we live in one global village, where countries stand to rise and fall together," said Xi. He urged solidarity and cooperation to go through this difficult time and jointly work for a healthier and brighter future for humanity. As of Friday, there were more than 188 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections, the World Health Organization said. For the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, the twists and turns of the pandemic, including constant mutations of the virus, pose challenges to economic development and people's livelihood. To ensure affordability of and accessibility to COVID-19 vaccines, a powerful weapon to defeat the virus, China has pledged to make vaccines a "global public good." Overcoming the challenges of its own mass vaccination program, China has so far provided more than 500 million doses of vaccines to other developing countries. An airport worker transports packages of Chinese COVID-19 vaccine at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on July 10, 2021. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua) China will provide another 3 billion U.S. dollars in international aid over the next three years to support COVID-19 response and economic and social recovery in other developing countries, Xi said. "China will take an active part in cooperation initiatives to keep vaccine supply chains stable and safe and support the movement of essential goods, and take effective measures to ensure healthy, safe and orderly people-to-people exchanges," the Chinese president added. Echoing China's call for strengthening cooperation on the pandemic response, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin emphasized the importance of reducing the immunization gap and ensuring equal distribution of vaccines. Xi also mentioned China financed the founding of a Sub-Fund on APEC Cooperation on Combating COVID-19 and Economic Recovery. "Countries should avoid a 'low-lying land' of pandemic response. China has demonstrated responsibility as a major country to rally forces, join hands with others in weathering difficulties, and make concrete contributions," said Su Xiaohui, a researcher with the China Institute of International Studies. REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION Noting opening-up and integration is the "prevailing trend," Xi called for the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment and upholding the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core. The APEC is a group of mostly open trading economies. It is hence a top priority for members to uphold free trade and oppose protectionism, said James Laurenceson, director of the Australia-China Relations Institute from the University of Technology Sydney. Xi urged stepping up macroeconomic policy coordination, minimizing negative spillovers, and promoting regional economic integration, with a view to establishing a high-standard Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific at an early date. "China is among the first to ratify the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement," Xi said, adding that "We look forward to its entry into force this year." The RCEP agreement, the largest free trade pact inked to date globally, includes multiple APEC economies. A crane loads containers onto a cargo train at Erenhot Port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on April 11, 2020. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) As China has been taking concrete steps to further open up to the world and promote trade liberalization in the region, it is also working for a community with a shared future for the Asia Pacific by earnestly pursuing multilateralism, said Su. PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT To boost world economic recovery, Xi called for seizing opportunities from scientific and technological innovation, reiterating China's consistent support for "inclusive and sustainable development." "The digital economy is an important area for the future growth of the world economy," he said. He called on APEC members to further develop digital infrastructure, facilitate the dissemination and application of new technologies, and work for a digital business environment that is open, fair, and non-discriminatory. In terms of inclusive and sustainable development, Xi said China supports APEC in advancing cooperation on sustainable development, improving the List of Environmental Goods, and making energy more efficient, clean and diverse. Echoing China's stance on promoting green growth, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore is a small country vulnerable to climate change impacts. It is, therefore, willing to work with other countries to reach a consensus on the development of the green economy and strengthen environmental governance. A responsible stakeholder in countering climate challenges, China has pledged to strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. To this end, China has been taking concrete actions, and the country's national carbon market started trading on Friday. As an increasing number of countries have committed themselves to green development, China's drive for sustainable growth will provide more opportunities for green energy industries, and inject impetus into ensuring a promising prospect for generations to come, said Bambang Suryono, chairman of Indonesia's Asia Innovation Study Center. Full text: Remarks by Xi Jinping at the APEC Informal Economic Leaders' Retreat (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Bianji) Full text: Remarks by Xi Jinping at the APEC Informal Economic Leaders' Retreat Xinhua) 09:16, July 17, 2021 BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the Informal Economic Leaders' Retreat of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) held on Friday. Please see the attachment for the translation of the full text of the speech. Full text: Remarks by Xi Jinping at the APEC Informal Economic Leaders' Retreat Fighting COVID-19 and Leading Economic Recovery Through Solidarity and Cooperation Remarks by H.E. Xi Jinping President of the People's Republic of China At the APEC Informal Economic Leaders' Retreat 16 July 2021 The Right Honorable Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Dear Colleagues, It gives me great pleasure to attend this meeting. I thank Prime Minister Ardern and the New Zealand government for their great efforts to make the meeting possible. As we speak, the COVID-19 pandemic is undergoing many twists and turns, including the constant mutations of the virus. Controlling the pandemic still poses a difficult challenge, while global economic recovery is still on shaky ground. That said, peace and development remains the theme of our times, and the call for upholding multilateralism, strengthening solidarity and cooperation, and meeting challenges together is growing stronger than ever. The Asia-Pacific is a major engine for global economic growth. For member economies of the Asia-Pacific, defeating COVID-19 and restoring growth at an early date are our top priority for the time being. Since the start of the pandemic, APEC members have united as one and carried out active cooperation against the coronavirus. Being the first to gain the momentum for recovery, the Asia-Pacific economy has made contributions to driving the world economy. Last year, we adopted the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 and set ourselves the goal of an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community, charting the course for economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific. Under the current circumstances, we must enhance solidarity and cooperation to overcome the impact of the pandemic and boost global economic recovery. First, we need to strengthen international cooperation on COVID response.The pandemic proves once again that we live in one global village, where countries stand to rise and fall together. We must stick to solidarity and cooperation as we go through this difficult time and jointly work for a healthier and brighter future for humanity. Vaccines are a powerful weapon to prevail over the pandemic and revive the economy. China has been calling for closer international cooperation on vaccines to ensure that they are accessible and affordable in developing countries and that they become a global public good. Overcoming the challenges of its own mass vaccination program, China has provided more than 500 million doses of vaccines to other developing countries, and will provide another 3 billion US dollars in international aid over the next three years to support COVID-19 response and economic and social recovery in other developing countries. China supports waiving intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines, and will work with other parties to push for an early decision by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international institutions. China will take an active part in cooperation initiatives to keep vaccine supply chains stable and safe and support the movement of essential goods, and take effective measures to ensure healthy, safe and orderly people-to-people exchanges and restore normal business cooperation in our region at an early date. China has financed the founding of a Sub-Fund on APEC Cooperation on Combating COVID-19 and Economic Recovery, which will help APEC economies win an early victory over COVID-19 and achieve economic recovery. Second, we need to deepen regional economic integration.Opening-up and integration is the prevailing trend. It is important that we promote the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment and uphold the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core. We must remove barriers, not erect walls. We must open up, not close off. We must seek integration, not decoupling. This is the way to make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all. We need to step up macroeconomic policy coordination, minimize negative spillovers, and fully implement the APEC Connectivity Blueprint to promote cooperation on digital connectivity. We need to advance regional economic integration, with a view to establishing a high-standard Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific at an early date. China is among the first to ratify the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement. We look forward to its entry into force this year. Third, we need to pursue inclusive and sustainable development.Earth is the only home for humanity. We must follow a people-centered approach, foster a sound environment to buttress sustainable economic and social development worldwide, and achieve green growth. China attaches great importance to addressing climate change. We will strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. China supports APEC in advancing cooperation on sustainable development, improving the List of Environmental Goods, and making energy more efficient, clean and diverse. We need to enhance economic and technological cooperation, promote inclusive trade and investment, support the development of small- and medium-sized enterprises, scale up support for women and other vulnerable groups, share experience on eliminating absolute poverty and strive to deliver the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Fourth, we need to seize opportunities from scientific and technological innovation.The digital economy is an important area for the future growth of the world economy. The global digital economy is an open and close-knit entity. Win-win cooperation is the only right way forward, while a closed-door policy, exclusion, confrontation and division would only lead to a dead end. We need to ensure full and balanced implementation of the APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap, further develop digital infrastructure, facilitate the dissemination and application of new technologies, and work for a digital business environment that is open, fair and non-discriminatory. China has concluded a number of cooperation initiatives, including those on using digital technologies for the prevention and control of COVID-19 and on smart cities. We will host a workshop on digital capacity building and take forward such initiatives as bolstering the recovery of the tourism sector with digital tools, as part of our efforts to contribute more to Asia-Pacific cooperation on digital economy. Colleagues, China has embarked on a new journey toward fully building a modern socialist country. As China enters a new development stage, we will follow a new development philosophy and foster a new development paradigm. We will build a new system of open economy of higher standards, create a more attractive business environment, and advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. We hope to work with countries in the Asia-Pacific and beyond to achieve higher-standard mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. There is a Maori saying in New Zealand that goes, "Turn your face to the sun and the shadows will fall behind you." We have full confidence in humanity's victory over the pandemic through cooperation. We have full confidence in the prospects of world economic recovery. We have full confidence in a shared, bright future of humanity. Let us stand with each other in solidarity, promote anti-COVID cooperation and economic recovery, and work for a bright future of prosperity for all in the Asia-Pacific. Thank you. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Bianji) Xi calls for deepened friendships, exchanges with other countries Xinhua) 09:20, July 17, 2021 Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits an exhibition of diplomatic gifts exchanged between Chinese Party and state leaders and their foreign counterparts, on July 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for deepened friendships and exchanges with people across the world, and building a community with a shared future for humanity. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while visiting an exhibition of diplomatic gifts exchanged between Chinese Party and state leaders and their foreign counterparts. The gifts represent profound relationships between peoples of China and other countries and have witnessed diplomatic achievements made by the People's Republic of China (PRC), Xi said. The CPC is a party striving for the well-being of the Chinese people and the progress of humanity. It will uphold peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit and use China's new development achievements to provide the world with new opportunities, Xi said. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, also visited the exhibition. The exhibition displays more than 670 gifts, over 40 photos, and nearly 100 archives, abstracts, and multimedia materials, showing the glorious journey of breaking new ground on the country's diplomatic front by Chinese Communists. Among the exhibits is color footage of the founding ceremony of the PRC, presented by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Other items include the tapestry "The Amazon" from former French President Georges Pompidou and the telegram from the United Nations on the restoration of the PRC's lawful seat in the organization. There are also gift porcelain swans from former U.S. President Richard Nixon. Gifts from former and incumbent leaders of Britain, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kenya, Greece, Bolivia, and Fiji are also on display. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Bianji) Xi sends congratulatory letter to 44th session of World Heritage Committee Xinhua) 09:51, July 17, 2021 People watch a poster about the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO at Zhuzifang Block in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, July 14, 2021. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong) BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO, which opened Friday in Fuzhou, capital of east China's Fujian Province. The world's cultural and natural heritage is an important outcome of the development of human civilization and natural evolution, and an important vehicle for the exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, Xi said in the letter. "To well protect, inherit and make good use of these precious treasures is our shared responsibility, and is of vital importance to the continuity of human civilization and the sustainable development of the world," he said. Implementing the new development philosophy, China has earnestly adhered to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage with a sense of responsibility to the history and to the people, and has constantly improved its capability and caliber in heritage protection, Xi noted. Xi said China is willing to work with all countries across the globe and UNESCO to strengthen exchanges and cooperation, promote dialogue and mutual learning, support the cause of world heritage protection, jointly safeguard the cultural and natural treasures of humanity, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Bianji) China, EU have no conflict of fundamental interests: Chinese FM Xinhua) 09:53, July 17, 2021 A China-Europe freight train bound for Barcelona of Spain waiting for departure in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, April 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Yibo) The two sides should make joint efforts to expand the dominant aspects of China-EU cooperation, adhere to the main tone of mutual benefit and a win-win situation, properly manage differences and refrain from imposing their own will on others, Wang Yi said. TASHKENT, July 16 (Xinhua) -- There is no conflict of fundamental interests between China and the European Union (EU), Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Thursday. Wang made the remarks during a meeting here with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell. Both sides believe that the important principles of China-EU exchanges are mutual respect and seeking common ground while reserving differences, Wang said. The two sides should make joint efforts to expand the dominant aspects of China-EU cooperation, adhere to the main tone of mutual benefit and a win-win situation, properly manage differences and refrain from imposing their own will on others, Wang said. Representatives pose for a photo after the arrival of the China-Europe cargo train in Paris, France, June 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Xu Yongchun) It is hoped that the EU will view China's development in a friendly and positive way and from the perspective of the development of mankind, Wang added. Noting China welcomes the global interconnection initiative proposed by the EU, Wang said China advocates that communication and coordination can be carried out among various interconnection initiatives to create synergy. Having various consensuses in the general direction, China and the EU can certainly complement each other, work together to promote the interconnection among countries and accelerate the development and revitalization of Eurasia. For his part, Borrell said despite the differences between the EU and China, the EU believes it should respect China, does not want to confront China and will not participate in any form of new Cold War. The world needs more cooperation between China and the EU, and there is still much room for improvement of EU-China relations, Borrell said. A policeman checks an outbound China-Europe freight train at Horgos Pass in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 20, 2020. (Photo by Zhang Jia/Xinhua) The EU welcomes China's development and revitalization, and is willing to have candid dialogue on existing differences and promote the continuous improvement of EU-China relations, Borrell said, adding the interconnection initiative proposed by the EU is by no means a confrontation against the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The EU is ready to strengthen coordination with China to synergize its interconnection initiative with the BRI, and is also willing to step up cooperation with China in addressing climate change, said Borrell. The two sides also had in-depth exchanges on the Afghan issue and the Iran nuclear issue. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Bianji) World's largest carbon trading market opens in Shanghai Xinhua) 10:17, July 17, 2021 -- China's national carbon market started trading on Friday, a significant step to help the country reduce its carbon footprint and meet emission targets. -- Carbon emissions by more than 2,000 power companies involved in the first trading group are estimated to exceed 4 billion tonnes per year, making the market the world's largest in terms of the amount of greenhouse gas emissions covered. -- Companies are assigned quotas for carbon emissions and can sell surplus emission allowances to those that expect to exceed their pollution quotas. -- The start of the trading in the national carbon market came as China's latest effort in realizing its goals of peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- China's national carbon market started trading on Friday, a significant step to help the country reduce its carbon footprint and meet emission targets, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE). Photo taken on July 16, 2021 shows a view of the Shanghai Environment and Energy Exchange in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Cheng Siqi) Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng attended the launching ceremony in Beijing and announced the official start of the trading. Trading began at 9:30 a.m. at the Shanghai Environment and Energy Exchange, with the opening price for carbon quotas at 48 yuan (7.4 U.S. dollars) per tonne. The first transaction was priced at 52.78 yuan per tonne, with a total value of 7.9 million yuan. The first trading day concluded with total trading volume topping 4.1 million tonnes and a turnover of 210.23 million yuan. The transaction prices averaged 51.23 yuan per tonne. Carbon emissions by more than 2,000 power companies involved in the first trading group are estimated to exceed 4 billion tonnes per year, making the market the world's largest in terms of the amount of greenhouse gas emissions covered. Photo taken on July 16, 2021 shows a screen displaying real-time information of national carbon emission trading in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu) The scheme initially involves companies in the power industry. Carbon emitters from other sectors such as steel, paper making and aviation will be added gradually. Carbon trading is the process of buying and selling permits to emit carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. Companies are assigned quotas for carbon emissions and can sell surplus emission allowances to those that expect to exceed their pollution quotas. Commenting on the carbon market, Zhao Yingmin, vice minister of ecology and environment, said that it spurs high emitters to decarbonize industrial structure and energy consumption, and will help them become frontrunners in peaking carbon dioxide emissions. The market also provides a price fillip for related companies to upgrade low-carbon technologies and embark on green transformation, Zhao said. To maintain the healthy and stable development of the national carbon market, trading institutions have established a series of systems including price fluctuation limits, maximum position limits, large account reports, risk warnings and reserves, and abnormal trading monitoring. It is necessary to further strengthen the top-level design, refine the roadmap, introduce more industries and trading entities into the market, and enrich trading varieties to help the carbon market play a better role in controlling greenhouse gas emissions, said Liu Jie, general manager of the Shanghai Environment and Energy Exchange. Photo taken on May 28, 2021 shows an offshore wind farm of China Huadian Corporation in southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong) China's national carbon trading market was launched in 2017 after pilot operations in seven provincial-level regions in 2011. Behind its launch was the aim of exploring market-based mechanisms to control greenhouse gas emissions. The MEE will roll out trading regulations and improve relevant standards and management schemes while expanding the varieties and methods of trading. As data authenticity and accuracy are the bases of trading, the MEE will work to ensure the quality and transparency of emission data. Li Zhiqing, a researcher at Fudan University, said that there might not be abrupt price fluctuations in the emerging market. However, in light of the lower carbon trading volume and market prices compared with the international level, carbon prices are likely to rise in the mid- and long-term. Industry analysts, meanwhile, called for efforts to prevent speculative behaviors and excessive financialization of the trading market. The fundamental objective of this scheme is to help reduce emissions. The start of the trading in the national carbon market came as China's latest effort in realizing its goals of peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. Pursuing a green growth path, China has been working on all fronts to transform its coal-centered energy structure and build a clean and diversified energy supply system. Aerial photo taken on July 7, 2020 shows a photovoltaic industrial park in Gonghe County of Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang) Official data shows the country ranks first globally in newly-installed wind-power capacity, and is also a global leader in the production and use of solar energy and hydropower. By the end of 2020, more than 40 percent of China's installed power generation capacity came from renewable resources, supporting nearly one-third of the country's electricity consumption, according to data from the National Energy Administration. As a result, 15.9 percent of China's primary energy consumption came from non-fossil energy, surpassing the target of 15 percent set for 2020. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Bianji) Muslims situation in US shows countrys hypocrisy: FM Global Times) 11:12, July 17, 2021 Photo: Zhao Lijian/GT What the Muslims in the US have been experiencing, including discrimination and inequality, is like the monster-revealing mirror to show hypocrisy in the US on human rights and universal values, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a press conference on Friday. Recently, some media reported that Muslims living in the US have suffered from discrimination and inequality and the US also started wars in many countries including Iraq and Syria, causing casualties to millions of Muslim civilians. The US treatment toward Muslims has made it the opposite of the universal values it has boasted of. How the US has treated domestic and overseas Muslims has been seen clearly by the international community. The discrimination and inequality toward Muslims in the US is a long-standing problem, Zhao told the press conference on Friday. He said that after 9/11, Muslims in the US have suffered from unprecedented shock with discrimination in employment and faced various hate crimes and mistreatment. In January 2017, the US government put forward the Muslims ban, which made the situation worse. Some media said that like Catholics living 150 years ago, Muslims in the US have been suffering from political discrimination and isolation for their religious belief. Although the US government cancelled the Muslim ban, the statement made by the US president in April on Ramadan still showed that Muslims in the US are still the target of bullying, discrimination and hate crimes. Zhao said that according to a poll, 75 percent of adult Muslims in the US expressed concerns over the discrimination, and 69 percent of other Americans held similar views. Half of Muslims in the US thought it became more difficult to be a Muslim in the US. What Muslims have experienced in the US is like a monster-revealing mirror and shows US hypocrisy on human rights and so-called universal values, said Zhao. Zhao noted that the US also started wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria under the banner of counter-terrorism, which have caused countless casualties of Muslim civilians. The US has turned a blind eye to its own crimes and notorious record against Muslims, but still attacked Chinas Xinjiang, which is hypocritical and a double standard. Some people in the US like to say how much they care about Muslims in Chinas Xinjiang. Even with the sun rises from the West, we Chinese would not buy their nonsense, Zhao said, noting that what the US should do is to reflect on its own mistakes, take measures to protect the rights of Muslims and stop smearing other countries under the banner of caring for Muslims. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Bianji) China condemned U.S. sanctions and business advisory over Hong Kong CGTN) 11:20, July 17, 2021 The spokesperson of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) strongly condemned the so-called "business advisory" issued by the Biden Administration that warned the U.S. businesses about the risks to their operations in the Hong Kong as well as the sanctions imposed by the U.S. on seven officials in China's Hong Kong Liaison Office on Friday. In a statement, the office emphasized that the U.S. move has seriously violated international law and basic norms governing international relations. The statement said the U.S. moves aimed to smear Hong Kong's business environment and interfere in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs. China will not accept the "American bullying" and "American double standards" and will firmly counterattack. The National Security Law for the HKSAR ensures the development of Hong Kong is back on track and creates a more secure, stable, and predicable business environment for foreign investors, the statement said. Under this law, Hong Kong residents enjoy prosperity and stability without compromising their lawful rights and freedoms, the statement also said. The office urged the U.S. to stop playing tricks such as using sanctions to pressure China and undermine Hong Kong's prosperity and stability and called for an immediate cease in interferemce in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs. Read the full text of the statement: The spokesperson of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the HKSAR strongly disapproved and condemned the so-called "business advisory" issued by the US government, which smeared Hong Kong's business environment, and sanctioned officials of the Central Government in Hong Kong. This arbitrary and unreasonable bullying act has seriously violated international law and basic norms governing international relations, and grossly interfered in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs at large. All the Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots, will not accept it and will certainly counterattack. The spokesperson said that under the National Security Law for the HKSAR, the public order of Hong Kong has been restored, the rule of law principle upheld, and its development back on track. Hong Kong residents enjoy lawful rights and freedoms, and foreign investors in Hong Kong have a more secure, stable and predictable business environment. Lawful rights and interests of international stakeholders, including US enterprises stationed in Hong Kong, are better protected. A report released by the International Monetary Fund not long ago reaffirms Hong Kong's status as an international financial center. Moreover, media recently reported that the US business community in Hong Kong opposed the US government to issue a "business warning" for the city, calling it a crazy and counterproductive move. However, ignoring China's opposition and the voice of the business community, the US side insisted on concocting the so-called "advisory", talking down the prospects of Hong Kong and intimidating foreign investors in Hong Kong. "Worrying the Hong Kong's business environment" is just an excuse of the US; its true intention is to undermine Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, endanger China's national security, and contain China's development. The US plot is despicable and contemptible, and it will never succeed. The spokesperson pointed out that the US side once again used tricks like sanctions to pressure China, arbitrarily interfered in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs at large, and grossly trampled on international law and basic norms governing international relations. This is another example of "American bullying" and "American double standards". The US move goes against the historical trend, and all its pressure and sanctions are nothing but a piece of waste paper. They can neither undermine the steady and sustained implementation of One Country, Two Systems, nor stop the irreversible trend of the Chinese nation's rejuvenation. The Communist Party of China is celebrating its centenary and the time in which the Chinese nation could be bullied, opposed or subjugated by foreign forces was gone forever. Anyone who would attempt to do so will find themselves on a collision course with a great wall of steel forged by over 1.4 billion Chinese people. People of insight in the international community will firmly oppose US hegemony and power politics and stand on the side of justice. The spokesperson stated that China has embarked on a new journey towards building a modern socialist country, and is gearing up to advance and implement the 14th Five-Year Plan and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Strategy. As the National Security Law is implemented and the electoral system improved, Hong Kong's status as an international financial, trade and shipping center has been more stable, the rule of law and its business environment have been more sound, and the society has been more harmonious. The "Pearl of the Orient" will shine more brightly in integrating into the overall development of the country. We believe that all fair-minded international investors will make an objective judgment and rational decision based on Hong Kong's reality and their interests in Hong Kong. The spokesperson stressed Hong Kong belongs to China, Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs, and that Hong Kong's prosperity and stability must not be undermined. We urge the US side to cease and desist, immediately stop its political plot to disrupt Hong Kong and China as a whole, stop its bullying act of arbitrary sanctions, and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs at large in any form. In response to the US arbitrary move, the Chinese people will certainly fight back. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Bianji) UN rights body adopts resolution on tackling systemic racism Xinhua) 13:20, July 17, 2021 A protester holds a sign near the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on June 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) The resolution notes that the transatlantic slave trade is among the major sources and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and that Africans and people of African descent, Asians and people of Asian descent and indigenous peoples were victims of these acts and continue to be victims of their consequences. GENEVA, July 15 (Xinhua) -- The 47th session of the UN Human Rights Council adopted on Tuesday a resolution urging for actions to tackle systemic racism against Africans and people of African descent. The resolution is titled "Promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Africans and of people of African descent against excessive use of force and other human rights violations by law enforcement officers through transformative change for racial justice and equality." Recalling the tragic murder of George Floyd in Minnesota, the United States, on May 25, 2020, the resolution says that the event drew attention to the scourge of systemic and structural racism and galvanized efforts to address this global problem in the United States and around the world. Demonstrators participate in a Black Lives Matter protest in Budapest, Hungary, on June 20, 2020. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) The resolution notes that the transatlantic slave trade is among the major sources and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and that Africans and people of African descent, Asians and people of Asian descent and indigenous peoples were victims of these acts and continue to be victims of their consequences. The resolution decides to establish an international independent expert mechanism, comprising three experts with law enforcement and human rights expertise, to investigate governments' responses to peaceful anti-racism protests and all violations of international human rights law and to contribute to accountability and redress for victims. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Bianji) Philippines receives more Sinovac vaccines from China Xinhua) 13:45, July 17, 2021 MANILA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- China delivered an additional batch of Sinovac CoronaVac vaccines to the Philippines on Saturday morning to support the Southeast Asian country's campaign against the COVID-19 pandemic. The fresh shipment of CoronaVac vaccines procured by Philippine government from China's Sinovac Biotech arrived at the airport in Manila around 8:00 a.m. local time. China was the first to deliver coronavirus vaccines to the Philippines. It donated the first batch of CoronaVac to Manila on Feb. 28, allowing the country to kick off its vaccination drive on March 1. As of Saturday, China had been the biggest supplier of COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines. According to a nationwide survey published in May, Filipinos prefer China's CoronaVac vaccine over other COVID-19 vaccines, with 39 percent of the 1,200 adult Filipinos placing it as the first choice. The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) said the country has administered more than 13.8 million doses of vaccines, with more than 3.9 million people having been fully vaccinated so far. The DOH aims to vaccinate up to 70 million people this year. The Philippines has reported a total of 1,496,328 confirmed cases as of Friday, including 26,476 deaths. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Bianji) China ready to promote continuous development of relations with Kuwait: FM Xinhua) 15:04, July 17, 2021 Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, July 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Cai Guodong) China will continue to support Kuwait in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and is ready to strengthen the docking of the Belt and Road Initiative with Kuwait's Vision 2035, said Wang. TASHKENT, July 17 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to work with Kuwait to promote the continuous development of bilateral relations, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Friday. Wang made the remarks when meeting with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent. Noting that Kuwait was the first Gulf Arab country to establish diplomatic relations with China, Wang said both sides uphold that all countries should treat each other equally regardless of their sizes, and firmly support each other on issues concerning their core interests. The two countries have forged an unbreakable friendship through the test of international turbulence in the past 50 years, he added. Wang also said that China firmly supports Kuwait in safeguarding its own sovereignty, security and stability, and stands ready to work with Kuwait to promote the continuous development of bilateral relations. Chinese medical team members hold a meeting with their Kuwaiti counterparts in Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate, Kuwait, on April 29, 2020. (Xinhua) China will continue to support Kuwait in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and is ready to strengthen the docking of the Belt and Road Initiative with Kuwait's Vision 2035, he said. China is also willing to build a whole-industrial-chain strategic partnership in energy with Kuwait, and continuously open up new areas of cooperation in information technology, artificial intelligence and cyber security, Wang said. China appreciates the unique and constructive role played by Kuwait in regional affairs, and hopes to work with Kuwait to restart the free trade agreement talks between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as soon as possible, and promote the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum with more achievements. For his part, Ahmed said that Kuwait would like to take the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries to formulate a plan for trade and investment cooperation between the two sides in the next five years, so as to inject new vitality into the development of bilateral relations. Aerial photo taken on March 4, 2020 shows the project site of China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC) in Jahra Governorate, Kuwait. (Photo by Chen Cichao/Xinhua) He also expressed his gratitude to China for its strong support in Kuwait's fight against COVID-19, hoping that Kuwait and China strengthen cooperation in such areas as healthcare, food security, education, information technology, artificial intelligence and cyber security. Kuwait appreciates China's active role in mediating differences within the GCC, and stands ready to make positive efforts to restart the China-GCC free trade agreement talks, Ahmed said. He added that Kuwait is willing to actively participate in the construction of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and hopes to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with China on African and Asian affairs. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Bianji) Symposium held to mark first anniversary of enacting national security law in Hong Kong Xinhua) 10:54, July 17, 2021 A flag-raising ceremony is held at the Golden Bauhinia Square by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, July 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai) BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- A symposium marking the first anniversary of enacting the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was held in Beijing Friday. Xia Baolong, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, made a speech at the symposium. Xia underlined the importance of a speech by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, at the CPC centenary ceremony, which reiterates the firm position to fully and faithfully implement the "one country, two systems" principle and underscores the central government's overall jurisdiction over Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions (SAR) and implementation of the legal systems and enforcement mechanisms for them. Xia said Xi's important remarks are of profound significance for the steady and sustained implementation of "one country, two systems" under new circumstances, and for maintaining lasting prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao. The promulgation and enforcement of the national security law have reversed the chaos in Hong Kong at one stroke, achieving a major turning point and serving as a major milestone in the implementation of "one country, two systems," Xia said. The HKSAR has been unswervingly fulfilling its constitutional duty to safeguard national security and spared no effort to build an "iron wall" for national security. Being enforced vigorously, the national security law has worked as a safeguard for Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, he said. Xia said that Hong Kong, effectively safeguarded by the law, has an important role to play as the Chinese nation propels ahead to achieve its great rejuvenation. Stressing the strict implementation of the "patriots administering Hong Kong" principle, Xia required resolute efforts to exclude anti-China forces from the SAR's administrative structure. He also called for efforts to elect staunch patriots with a high caliber of administrative capabilities. The senior official said that such personnel should be competent in fully and accurately practicing "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong, solving tensions and problems facing the region's development, serving the public with practical actions, rallying and uniting all sectors for the development of Hong Kong, and working diligently with a sense of responsibility. Experts and scholars attending the symposium commended the progress made since the enactment of the national security law, calling for continuous efforts to enforce, study and promote the law, further implement "patriots administering Hong Kong," and ensure the steady and sustained implementation of "one country, two systems." The symposium was organized by the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, and was attended by over 300 people including chief officials of related central authorities, relevant officials from the two SAR governments including HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam and Macao SAR Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, public figures, experts and scholars from the mainland, the HKSAR and the Macao SAR. Officials, experts and scholars in Hong Kong and Macao attended the event via video link. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Bianji) China and Russia should work together to further expose miscellaneous "pseudo-multilateralism" to the international community and to prevent moves that compromise the international order under the pretext of "rules", State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. During a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the Uzbek capital Tashkent on Thursday, Wang stressed that the two countries should "firmly uphold true multilateralism". During their talk, Wang noted that both countries made great sacrifices in World War II, and they are both permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. Beijing and Moscow should maintain coordination and cooperation, take a clear-cut stand against external forces' interference in countries' internal affairs, jointly oppose bloc confrontation and moves that run against history's trajectory, and safeguard international peace and stability, Wang said. The two sides should firmly uphold the tenets and principles of the UN Charter and firmly safeguard the core role of the UN in international affairs, he said. Lavrov noted that some countries are keen on diplomacy for building cliques, they are only willing to listen to what they like to hear, and they attempt to rebuild a unipolar world, which Russia and China should resolutely boycott. Russia supports China in hosting the Beijing Winter Olympic Games next year and is willing to deepen cooperation with China within multilateral frameworks such as the BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the United Nations, he said. Moscow is willing to closely coordinate with Beijing on affairs such as hosting a summit of the five UN Security Council permanent members, preventing an arms race in outer space, safeguarding international biosafety and information security, he added. Responding to the situation in the Asia-Pacific region, Wang said that the two countries are expected to jointly boycott the Indo-Pacific Strategy that is full of Cold War mentality, and to promote peaceful development in the Asia-Pacific region. Lavrov said Russia also looks to strengthen communication and coordination with China on affairs in Central Asia and the Asia-Pacific region, guard against the Indo-Pacific Strategy's damage to the region's peace, and jointly safeguard stability and prosperity in the region and the world. The Afghanistan situation, the Iran nuclear issue and the COVID-19 fight were some other major topics of Wang's one-on-one meetings with a number of senior Asian and European diplomats, including Lavrov, on Thursday. They were meeting on the sidelines of a high-level international meeting on the regional connectivity of Central and South Asia. In a meeting with the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, Wang said Beijing is willing to keep communicating with Brussels on the Afghanistan situation and on resuming implementation and negotiations for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action of the Iranian nuclear issue. The goal is to prevent the outbreak of a full-scale civil war in Afghanistan and to put the JCPOA back on track, Wang said. Borrell said that the EU looks to work with the international community, including China, to promote stability in Afghanistan and the resumption of JCPOA implementation by the United States and Iran at an early date. Similarly, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud told Wang that his country hopes to strengthen communication and coordination with China on the Afghanistan situation, the Iranian nuclear issue, and further advance cooperation on COVID-19 vaccines. "The P.R.C. must not suppress rights and freedoms," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a tweet, referring to the People's Republic of China, the Beijing government's official name. Blinken said Friday's sanctions, along with a business advisory issued by the State, Treasury, Homeland Security and Commerce departments, showed that the U.S. would "continue to speak out for Hong Kong and promote accountability for Beijing's broken promises and repressive acts." Shortly before the sanctions were announced, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a regular news conference in Beijing that "China will respond firmly and forcefully to the measures taken by the United States." Friday's action targeted officials participating in the ongoing crackdown in Hong Kong, accusing them of breaking the 2020 Hong Kong Autonomy Act, which sanctions individuals who contribute to China's failure to preserve Hong Kong's legal autonomy. The action imposes asset freezes and other penalties against officials who are with China's Hong Kong liaison office, which represents China's interests in Hong Kong. The Biden administration has been undergoing a comprehensive review of its policy toward China. The administration already has targeted officials and businesses involved in human rights violations, including the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. "The situation in Hong Kong is continuing to deteriorate," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters. "The risks faced in mainland China are now increasingly present in Hong Kong." The United States on Friday sanctioned seven Chinese officials over Beijing's clampdown on democracy in Hong Kong, and it also warned U.S. companies about the risks of incurring legal and reputational damage if they conduct business in Hong Kong amid a shifting legal landscape in the former British colony. The top diplomat's remarks came as his deputy was set to travel Sunday to Northeast Asia, where China was said to be "directly and indirectly" on the agenda. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman is traveling to Japan, Korea and Mongolia July 18-25. China is not currently included on her announced itinerary. "There is no final decision" yet on whether Sherman is heading to China after meetings with U.S. allies in the region, according to a senior State Department official. The visit, should it occur, is expected to set the stage for a potential in-person meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at a G20 summit at the end of October. "We are open to engagement if it can be substantive and consequential," said the official. Sherman's meetings in China, if they occur, would be the first high-level U.S.-China in-person engagement since the contentious talks between top diplomats in Alaska in March. A senior State Department official was asked Friday about the level of trust between the two countries. "I don't think trust is really appropriate in this moment. It's about what work we can do together, and how we will manage a very complicated relationship going forward," the official said in response to a question from a VOA reporter. Taiwan Strait The policy review on China is expected to address human rights issues and trade as well as a clarification of Washington's policy on ensuring peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. This week, a Japanese government defense white paper for the first time said stability of Taiwan is important for Japanese interests. "I think you've already seen a heightened consolidation of our partners and allies in an approach to and concern for Taiwan. So, yes, I think that will continue to be how we approach this," the senior official said. On Thursday, Biden met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House. Germany has strong trade ties with China and has been more reluctant to join U.S.-led efforts to confront Beijing. "The situation in Hong Kong is deteriorating. And the Chinese government is not keeping its commitment that it made how it would deal with Hong Kong," said Biden, one day before the U.S. issued the business advisory warning companies operating in Hong Kong. Merkel struck a less confrontational tone, saying "it's legitimate for China" to be a leader in high tech and trade, while noting China needed to abide by "a level playing field." U.S.-France Talks On Wednesday, Blinken held talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, in which the State Department said the two addressed China's "human rights abuses, coercive trade practices and aggressive foreign policy." In comparison, a statement from the French government said it was taking a "pragmatic" and "a balanced approach regarding China" where the world's second-largest economy is "a partner, a competitor and systemic rival at the same time." When asked about whether the United States and European nations were bridging their differences over how to approach Beijing, the senior State Department official said, "Europe is much, much closer to the views of the United States" now than during former President Barack Obama's administration. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 90F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some passing clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Jim Seibert and Richard Lott were named the 2021 grand marshals of the Jersey County Farmers and Merchants Day Parade, colloquially known as the annual fair parade, which kicked off the week-long event earlier this week on Tuesday. Seibert and Lott were given the honor for their contributions to the community through the years, but more specifically for their role in securing the critical loan that the Jersey County Fair Association needed to build the present grandstand. In March 1998, an arsonist torched the former wooden grandstand. Built in 1925 and capable of seating a little over 1,000 spectators, the original grandstand served its purpose well for 73 years before going up in flames. aI came out to the fairgrounds around 10 am that morning and you could put everything that didnat burn on a one-ton truck,a Seibert noted. aThe fire was from the south and in the back. The fire went up and forward-- the end of the fair pavilion heated up even.a In June of that same year, the fair board announced their campaign to build the present grandstand, but it would be two years before it would be built in time for the fair. In the meanwhile, the two fair seasons that transpired featured a portable grandstand that was on wheels which could only seat around 1,400 people. aOur goal was to get it paid off in 20 years,a Seibert said. aAnd it was paid off in less than that.a Seibert, who has been a member of the Jersey County Fair board since 1969, was an assistant vice president at the Jersey State Bank alongside Lott, who was also an assistant vice president. Soon after, Seibert addressed the board at the bank to ascertain a loan and was able to lock in a cut rate of 8 percent interest instead of 10 percent, and not only that, but worked with fellow fair board members in the fundraising efforts that immediately followed. The fair board sold the surviving bleachers to one of the local schools for $2,500, sold raffle tickets for a trip to Florida that garnered $5,375 and sold blocks and bricks that line the entrance to the grandstand to this day. Seibert was intimately involved with its development. As he noted, there were several individuals who bought a $50 brick but would write checks for exponentially greater amounts, such as $500 or $1,000. Additionally, according to Seibert, the fact that the bricks line the walls instead of the walkway was his idea, as he thought folks would prefer much more to be able to enjoy stopping and looking at them straight ahead. The idea paid off, as to this day, folks will stop to admire the bricks and blocks and remember the contributions of their family and friends that went into paying off the grandstand. Tens of thousands of dollars were raised through the bricks and blocks fundraiser, which helped a great deal, considering the loan was $238,000 and the grandstand, when all was said and done, was about a $500,000 investment. Further assistance came from a $200,000 economic development grant that former Illinois Representative Tom Ryder and former Illinois Senator Vince Demuzio worked to procure for the project, but the blood, sweat and tears remained in the fair boardas court. Seibert noted that the community is very fortunate to have a modern grandstand that can seat double the original grandstand, as it has played a huge role in the success of the fair in recent years, but his eyes still grow wide as he considers some of the expenditures made along the way. One expense was worth $28,000, another for $32,000 and even one that amounted to $103,000. One baffling expense was $155,000. Though the numbers have to do with business, the motive behind Seibertas involvement goes back to his childhood, which was lived out on a farm. During the summer, he and his family were involved in showing livestock and over time, fairs just got in his blood. Obviously, for Seibert and his fellow fair board volunteers, the love behind their efforts shines through, as Lott pointed out. aI think the fair has been such a successful enterprise and thatas due to the board members and community support,a Lott said. Lott and Seibert worked together as colleagues for several years and their relationship has continued through the years, as was shown when Seibert made it clear that he would only agree to serve as the marshal so long as Lott was co-marshal with him. aJim sucked me into it,a Lott said, jokingly. Lott, though, is just as worthy of a candidate for his involvement with the local Salvation Army in Jerseyville, which he coordinates. But on a serious note, Lott, as well as Seibert, recognized the honor that comes with the distinction. aI just want to thank the fair board for asking me to be the marshal. Iam humbled by that,a Lott said. Now, the present grandstand stands out as one of the largest projects in the Jersey County Fairas over 150-year history in terms of size, expense, labor and in a host of other categories. A whole generation of board members, several of whom having already passed away, can bear the honor of having successfully stewarded the organization through some of its most trying days, coming out alright on the other side. Press Release July 17, 2021 De Lima seeks inquiry into the dumping of human waste by Chinese ships in the WPS Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima urged Congress to investigate the reported dumping of human waste and wastewater by Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the Kalayaan Group of Islands which damage coral reefs and marine life in the country's territorial waters. In filing Senate Resolution (SR) No. 778, De Lima said it is incumbent upon the Senate to determine the extent of the damage caused by waste-dumping in the country's territory and the action available to the government "to protect our marine resources within our territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone [EEZ]." "Unmitigated and deliberate waste-dumping will not only damage our marine resources, but will also endanger our food security by destroying the breeding grounds of aquatic species in the areas affected" she said. "This unregulated dumping of waste in our waters constitutes a direct affront to our sovereignty and an attack on our territory. If our government fails or refuses to act, it will prejudice the interests of our country, now and for future generations," she added. According to Simularity Inc., a software company which creates artificial intelligence technologies for satellite imagery analysis, swarms of Chinese vessels have dumped human waste and wastewater for years in the WPS. They noted that satellite images over the last five years show how human waste, sewage and wastewater have accumulated and caused algae in a cluster of reefs in the Spratlys region where hundreds of Chinese fishing ships have anchored in batches. Simularity further reported that sewage discharge led to increase in chlorophyll-A pigment, as evidenced by satellite imagery taken in mid-June, which was also seen in the Union Banks or Pagkakaisa Banks, a group of features in the Kalayaan Island Group that is part of Palawan. "The report said chlorophyll-A concentration leads to excess phytoplankton which cannot be consumed by the reef inhabitants, so they die and sink to the sea floor to be consumed by bacteria. These bacteria consume oxygen that would normally be available to the fish, creating a 'dead zone' for marine life," De Lima explained. De Lima, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, also underscored the need "to review existing laws to cover vessels that stay for extended periods of time in waters over which our country exercises sovereign rights." Notably, it is prohibited under Section 4 of P.D. No. 979 or the Marine Pollution Decree of 1976, to discharge, dump or suffer, permit the discharge of oil, noxious gaseous and liquid substances and other harmful substances from or out of any ship, vessel, barge, or any other floating craft, or other man-made structures at sea, by any method, means or manner, into or upon the territorial and inland navigable waters of the Philippines. "Imbes na magkaroon ng mabilisang imbestigasyon, mas kinilingan pa ng gobyernong ito ang pagsasabing peke ang balitang ito. Kungsabagay, mahirap talagang mapaniwala ang matagal nang nagbubulag-bulagan o nangungunsinte pa sa pang-aabuso't pambabalasubas ng Tsina sa ating sariling karagatan," said De Lima. People wait in queues, many ignoring health rules, at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Friday for Covid vaccine. Focus Bangla photo Hundreds of people showed up for receiving Covid vaccine in vaccination centres in the capital and elsewhere while about two lakh doses were administered across the country on Saturday. Long queues were seen in several major vaccination centres, including Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Shaheed Suhrawardi Medical College Hospital, where people of different age groups, mostly above 35 years, gathered for vaccine. Many vaccine recipients were not maintaining social distancing while they were in the queues in Dhaka, but almost all of them appeared wearing masks which was declared essential for receiving services. Scores of people came to the centres without getting text with mention of a date for jabbing as many of them alleged that they were waiting for about a week after completing their registration for vaccine through Surokkha app/website. I have completed registration about a week ago, but yet to get the text for receiving vaccine, Anwar Hossian, 38, said at Shaheed Suhrawardi Medical College Hospital. Some people, who got text with mention of a previous date, too came to the centres and authorities were allowing them to receive vaccine. Directorate General of Health Services director M Shamsul Haque said that the vaccination centres were asked to set schedules for administering vaccine according to priority set by the government from among the registered people. The centres also keep their capacity for administering vaccine in a day in considerations for sending the text, he said, adding that centres usually administer 200300 doses in the capital depending on their location and the number of total registrants. Relatively senior people considering their age and people in priority groups, including foreign-bound workers, frontline workers and students, get text on a priority basis, he added. At least 3,61,648 people registered for vaccine in 24 hours till 2.30pm on Saturday across the country, raising the total registrants to more than 1.05 crore since the launch of the campaign in February, according to the DGHS. Among them, about 66.31 lakh people have got the first jab and 43 lakh have received two doses as a total of over 1.09 lakh doses have been administered across the country, according to the DGHS. Some 20 lakh doses Sinopharm vaccine were set to arrive Dhaka in two flights by early Sunday under a commercial deal between Bangladesh and China, according to Chinese deputy chief of mission in Dhaka Hualong Yan. China will provide 1.50 crore doses of Sinopharm vaccine to Bangladesh under the agreement. China announced that it would give 10 lakh more doses of Sinopharm vaccine as gift to Bangladesh in addition to 11 lakh doses already delivered as gift, according to Chinese embassy in Dhaka. he United States will provide 30 lakh doses of Moderna Covid vaccine as gift to Bangladesh under Covax mechanism led by World Health Organisation, US ambassador in Dhaka Earl Miller said in a tweet on Saturday. The consignment is likely to arrive in Dhaka on Monday, according to international news agencies with confirmation from an unnamed official in Washington. Scientific teams and legal and regulatory authorities from both the countries have worked together to ensure the prompt delivery of safe and effective vaccine lots, the official said. With the arrival of these consignments, stock of Covid vaccinesModerna, Sinopharm, Pfizer and Covishield will be about 95 lakh doses by Monday, according to a DGHS. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Communist Party of India - Central Office New Delhi Tele: 011 23235546 e-mail: cpiofindia[at]gmail.com New Delhi, July 17, 2021 To, Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman, Hon. Minister for Finance, Government of India, New Delhi. Sub: CPI opposes to any move to privatize nationalised banks Respected Madam Nirmala Sitharaman, We are aware that in this years budget speech you had mentioned that the government has proposed to privatise two nationalised banks. Since privatisation of any Bank is not in the interest of our economy and people, we have expressed our strong opposition to the same, both inside the Parliament and outside. Our opposition to such privatisation of Banks is on account of the fact that our Banks today represent huge public savings of the common masses and these precious savings are safe only if the banks are in Government control. Large scale failure of many private Banks in those days was one of the reasons that necessitated nationalisation of banks. Further when many private corporate companies are the major loan defaulters in Banks, it would be imprudent to hand over the Banks to private hands, whose efficiency is also not guaranteed going by the recent experiences of some of the private Banks. Nationalised Banks have been greatly helping and supplementing the Governments efforts to boost the economy and hence need to be further strengthened with adequate measures from the Government. In this background, we observe that in the recent few weeks repeatedly, a section of the press is making the news that Niti Aayog has recommended the name of Central Bank of India and Indian Overseas Bank for privatisation. Even though these are news items not authenticated by any official agency of the Government, nonetheless, the same is creating a lot of anxiety and anguish amongst the employees and officers of these two Banks. I learn that even some deposits are being withdrawn by customers. Hence it will be desirable for the Government make statement clarifying the position. In case, if the Government has any such proposal to privatise any Bank, our party is opposed to it. Such decision must be reviewed and rescinded. With regards, Yours sincerely, S/d D RAJA General Secretary Communist Party of India Professional, easy-going, strong, willing trainers Nick Gallucci and John Pentland called on similar adjectives Friday night to describe their two-year-old pacing colt Gold Series winners Betterhavemymoney and Stonebridge Helios. The pacers took very different trips around the Woodbine Mohawk Park oval to get to the winners circle, but they tripped the teletimer in identical 1:51.4 clockings and both looked impressive in the effort. Starting from Post 6 in the first $103,800 division, Betterhavemymoney and driver James MacDonald spent most of the mile in the outer lane, had to dodge a breaking Coligny Hanover in the final turn, and laid down a :26.3 last quarter to earn their victory. Kolby Two Step, who did much of the work on the front end, finished one length behind the favourites in second and Erinwood Yves also closed like a rocket to be third. I was a little worried when that horse made a break in front of him in the turn, but he handled it like a professional. He does everything right this horse, said Nick Gallucci. And looking at him as a horse youd never guess that he could be that quick-footed, but once he gets those legs moving they fly. Its pretty amazing. Hes very stocky, he doesnt have a lot of leg underneath him, hes big bodied, but when he gets moving hes like a train, everything starts moving in the right direction. Millar Farms of Stouffville bred and own Betterhavemymoney, who is now a two-time Gold Series winner. The Betterthancheddar gelding also won his division in the July 3 season opener at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Gallucci and the rest of the Millar Farms team had always liked the gelding, but it was a June 25 qualifier clocked in 1:55.2 that made them think he might be something special. All along we had an idea that he was a nice horse, but the family hasnt really produced anything as of yet so we were kind of on pins and needles, said Gallucci. He did everything right all along, you could do anything you want with him in a race. He was always very professional and did his job, but I never really started thinking he could be special until that second qualifier. Obviously hes even gotten better from there. So long as he is happy and healthy following Fridays race, Betterhavemymoney will make his next start in the July 26 Battle Of Waterloo eliminations at Grand River Raceway. In the second $103,800 division, driver Bob McClure hustled Stonebridge Helios away from Post 7 and led the field to a :27.1 quarter. Im King Conn took over before the :56.2 half and Camealongway stepped to the lead before the 1:24.1 three-quarters. McClure sent Stonebridge Helios into the outer lane around the final turn and once the colt got an open look at the wire he laid down a :27 last quarter to record a three-quarter length victory. Camealongway settled for second and Bob Loblaw closed well for third. Fridays win was proof of what John Pentland had suspected since Stonebridge Helios arrived in his Dorchester, ON barn in mid-June. Owned by John Fleischman of Ottawa, ON, the colt was trained down by Dirk Simpson in Pennsylvania, qualified once at The Meadows Racetrack on June 15 and then shipped north for his Ontario Sires Stakes campaign. John Fleischman called and asked me if I would train the horse, he said he was just about to qualify at The Meadows and would I watch the qualifier. He was impressive in the qualifier and I was happy to take him, said Pentland. I have done very little. He was in good shape when I got him and he was hung up right, Im just driving the truck. Pentland said Stonebridge Helios settled in effortlessly in his new surroundings and would have been competing with Betterhavemymoney in the Gold Series opener if not for a bruised foot he suffered in the paddock after his June 25 qualifier at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The foot issue put a wrinkle in the Sunshine Beach sons training schedule, so instead of going postward in the July 3 Gold event he made his Ontario Sires Stakes debut in the July 9 Grassroots test, kicking home in :26.3 to finish second. That result was all the assurance his connections needed to enter Stonebridge Helios for the second Gold Leg. He is such a nice horse and hes just absolutely push button. Hes a big strong horse, hes the calmest horse in the world, whatever you want, he is happy to do, said Pentland. I think the colt is for real. Hes just so big and strong and happy to do it. Theres no issues. He just strikes me as a colt that is for real and might be able to hang around all summer. Unlike Betterhavemymoney, Stonebridge Helios is not headed to the Battle Of Waterloo eliminations. The colt will return to Gold Series action on Aug. 14 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Woodbine Mohawk Park on Tuesday, July 20 with five $22,000 Grassroots divisions for the two-year-old pacing fillies. (OSS) To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results Woodbine Mohawk Park. Saturday, July 17, 2021 at 11:00AM by Claudio Alves It's time to end the Cannes at Home project. Hopefully, these daily posts haven't been a bore. For me, as a writer and film lover, they've been a blast, a sparkling antidote to Cannes-induced FOMO. Thank you so much for reading along. Finally, to end on something special, I decided to rank all Palme d'Or winners from 1949 to 2019, eighty winners in all. For brevity's sake and because it's my birthday and I don't want to dwell on negativity, this write-up is only focused on the top ten, my absolute favorites of the bunch. If you're interested, the complete ranking's on my Letterboxd or you can read an old version of it on the Portuguese website Magazine.HD. And now, without further ado, here are my choices for the best Palme d'Or winners of all time 10) PARASITE (2019) Bong Joon-Ho One of the best Oscar champions to conquer AMPAS' biggest prize, the first non-English Best Picture winner, also happens to be one of the greatest films to be rewarded with the top honor at the Croisette. This uncategorizable masterpiece is undeniable, an intersection of sublime technique and savage social commentary, sagacious set design, and unimprovable acting. Not even the Academy could resist. Indeed, the magnetism it exudes is mind-bending. When I was unsure if movies would ever move me to tears again, Parasite did. All it took was a perfect montage and some nifty peach fuzz. Thank you for rekindling the flame of my hope. Streaming on Hulu and Kanopy. You can also rent it on most services. 09) THE TREE OF WOODEN CLOGS (1978) Ermanno Olmi Looking like a Millet painting come to life, Olmi's The Tree of Wooden Clogs concerns the life of 19th-century peasants in the Italian region of Bergamo, Lombardy. While its three-plus hours may intimidate a prospective viewer, this immersion into the historical past is a besotting work. Structured through a collection of short scenes mostly framed in wide shots, there's a sense of quickness to The Tree of Wooden Clogs' seasonal storytelling, lives changing as trees change their foliage. It's cinematic poetry, a hymn for the working class, as simple as it is beautiful. Streaming on The Criterion Channel. You can also rent it on many platforms. 08) THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG (1964) Jacques Demy The Umbrellas of Cherbourg I see today isn't the same film I saw in college or high school. It's not that Demy's lush musical has changed, but that I have. Growing along with it, one finds new reasons to love the Technicolor melancholia, discovering new meanings along the way. Some of the best films have these mysterious properties, making a snowy farewell tragic one year, a pragmatic conclusion the next. Wait a bit of time, and the tragedy is back, though not the same sort that might have come through in teenaged years. It's the tragedy of growing up and out of young love. It's a process made of equal parts jubilation and yearning for what is lost in an adult's memory of youth. Streaming on HBO Max, the Criterion Channel, and Kanopy. You can also rent it on some platforms. 07) THE TREE OF LIFE (2011) Terrence Malick An epiphany, an explosion of euphoria, pure ecstasy such are words one could use to describe the majesty of Malick's The Tree of Life. From the Big Bang to the end of days, the film feels like it contains the entire universe within its celluloid dream. Emmanuel Lubezki has never shot a more breathtaking movie, one where an abstract flame can be both the beginning of everything that has ever existed and just the start of a single life. In this temple of cinema, those concepts can live in communion, so intertwined that it's impossible to know where one ends and the other starts. Available to rent on several platforms. 06) ALL THAT JAZZ (1979) Bob Fosse The curtains rise, the stage is set, the lights shine bright It's showtime! As the spectacle is about to start, Angels of Death beckon to their warm bosom, neglected daughters perform accusations as Burlesque, and old lovers dance up a storm of furious grief. Nearly predicting his end, Bob Fosse reshapes Fellini's ideas of a cineaste's autobiography into a sing-song hyper-choreographed self-portrait complete with jazz hands and spangles as far as the eye can see. Cruel vivisection of the artist by his own hand, All That Jazz is a glorious distillation of all things Fosse. You can find All That Jazz on Blu-Ray and DVD. The film even has a Criterion edition. 05) THE LEOPARD (1963) Luchino Visconti An epic mural about dying aristocracy, The Leopard could have only been directed by Luchino Visconti. A nobleman communist, the director presents the necessary end of an era while also showing empathy, even sympathy, to those who must now confront their obsolescence. He understands their pain while celebrating their downfall. This museum-like recreation of 19th century Italy is immersive in its material detail and lively ideals, but the camera always knows when to maintain the distance. As much as it is about the people on screen, The Leopard is the ultimate cinematic representation of historical movements, their unstoppable nature, and the miracle of progress. Streaming on the Criterion Channel. You can also rent it on many platforms. 04) THE CONVERSATION (1974) Francis Ford Coppola The 70s were a decade defined by paranoia, on and off the screen. Many of the essential films of New Hollywood Cinema are works dominated by that idea, by an ever-present unease, a suspicion that's marrow-deep. Coppola plays with POVs and the unknowability of what is hidden by the frame's limits by working with audiovisual idioms to create this inchoate mood. The Conversation is a wondrous hallucination of thriller filmmaking, an era-defining experience where subjectivity is centered so vehemently that human perception itself becomes the primal source of unrest. It also features the best performance in Gene Hackman's career, which is a big plus. Streaming on Hulu, Paramount+, Epix, and Sling TV. You can also rent it on various platforms. 03) THE THIRD MAN (1949) Carol Reed If the 1970s were the decade of paranoia, the latter half of the 40s were an age of nihilism. Reeling from the immediate trauma of World War II and the Holocaust, filmmakers worldwide explored the darkest depths of the human soul, perfecting the film noir as the perfect genre of its time. Set in the smoldering ruins of Vienna and shot like a shattering chiaroscuro nightmare, The Third Man is one of the most hopeless titles of this cinematic tradition. But, perchance because of that, it's also a haunting film. Long after the screen has faded to black, visions of spiritual rot persist in the mind. The Third Man is thus like a glistening dark diamond of evil crystallized. Streaming on the Criterion Channel and IndieFlix. You can also rent it on many platforms. 02) VIRIDIANA (1961) Luis Bunuel There are audacious filmmakers, and then there is Luis Bunuel. Viridiana, a film he directed during a brief visit to Franco's Spain in the early 1960s, is the most outrageous of his works, spitting on the face of the dictator with feverish delight. Furthermore, it's a jovial attack on the Catholic Church, and its hypocrisies, their support of fascistic oppression materialized in the figure of an aristocrat who wants to molest his nun niece. There's also a profanation of the Last Supper iconography and much more. Finally, Viridiana is a carnivalesque pageant of provocations, all of them presented with such feral angry conviction we have no choice but to applaud. Streaming on the Criterion Channel and Kanopy. You can also rent it on Apple iTunes and Amazon Video. 1) THE PIANO (1993) Jane Campion The first woman ever to win the Palme d'Or is also, in my opinion, the greatest victor in the award's history. Campion is my champion, a formidable cineaste whose work is constructed out of a negative gesture. She defines stories by what we don't see, what's denied, both by the camera and characters. Yet, paradoxically, hers is a cinema of viscerally detailed imagery. Erotic, sensual, alternatively brutal and delicate, her shots are so textured they feel tactile, gorgeous but never postcard-ready. As for The Piano, it's the director's top achievement, the kind of life-changing picture that can reframe how someone sees and appreciates art, how they regard the world, and understand themselves. It's the kind of thing that, by its mere existence, justifies cinema's purpose, its longevity, and, one hopes, its immortality. Available to rent on Amazon Video, Vudu, Redbox, Apple iTunes, and AMC On Demand. What films make up your Palme d'Or top 10? Would you please share the answer in the comments? A new Covid-19 Recovery Roadmap produced by Oxford Business Group (OBG) explores the key role that Bahrains growing private sector and investor-friendly regulatory environment are set to play in driving recovery and paving the way for post-pandemic growth. The report provides in-depth analysis of Bahrains response to the pandemic and economic development plans in an easy-to-navigate and accessible format, focusing on key data and infographics relating to the countrys socio-economic landscape. OBG shines a spotlight on Bahrains broad-based economy and diverse export portfolio, which provide firm foundations for a sustained economic recovery. The report also considers how Bahrain can build further on its close proximity to Saudi Arabia, with the reopening of the King Fahd Causeway helping to revive both trade and inbound tourism. The kingdoms successful efforts to encourage entrepreneurial activity and make small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) a priority are another focus. OBG charts the national drive under way to help smaller businesses tap opportunities overseas, with particular support being made available to women-owned SMEs. It also looks at the initiatives put in place in 2020 to support the segment when the pandemic arrived. Elsewhere, OBG tracks Bahrains digital transformation progress, noting that the countrys mature telecoms market and robust digital infrastructure, together with the recent addition of full nationwide 5G coverage, should provide a springboard for SMEs looking to harness digital tools for future growth. Other topical issues examined include the part played by Bahrains advanced Covid-19 testing and treatment capabilities, combined with an accelerated public vaccination programme, in keeping case-fatality rate significantly below the global average. Jana Treeck, OBGs Managing Director for the Gulf, said that although Bahrains economy contracted by 5.4% in 2020, with the pandemic weighing heavily on key sectors such as energy and tourism, the vaccine rollout across the Gulf and easing of restrictions point to a robust recovery. "Bahrain is benefiting from its concerted diversification efforts which have made it less susceptible to downturns in the commodities market," she said. "The widening fiscal deficit still presents a challenge. However, the kingdom looks set to rebound strongly, with the IMF estimating GDP expansion of 3.3% in 2021 - the highest growth rate in the GCC," she added.-TradeArabia News Service DP World, UAE Regions flagship Jebel Ali Port, shipped four mega polyethylene reactors, the largest weighing 227 tonnes, to Rotterdam, Netherlands, in collaboration with the CMA CGM Group, a world leader in shipping and logistics. The shipment was handled with the help of a floating crane from Drydocks World, a DP World Company, and was loaded on two consecutive sailings. As one of the largest project cargoes loaded on a container ship in the Middle East, the operation mobilised more than 100 specialists across the entire supply chain and involved methodical planning and safe execution, said a statement from DP World, UAE Region. In total, 839 tonnes of cargo, measuring 35 m long, 7 m tall and 7 m wide were transported, occupying 424 TEU slots. Shahab Al Jassmi, Commercial Director of Ports and Terminals - DP World, UAE Region said: "We firmly believe in constantly reinventing to meet the requirements of this dynamic market and our clients needs. The innovative solutions Jebel Ali Port offers make it the most preferred destination in the region." "As one of the largest in the Middle East, the port enables trade and offers seamless connectivity to more than 3.5 billion consumers. Our collaboration with the CMA CGM Group, and the completion of this operation underscored the importance of DP World, UAE Regions advanced capabilities, reaffirming the faith of key players in the industry," he stated. Romain Vigneaux, Dubai Agency General Manager, CMA CGM Group said: "This shipment is a milestone achievement for Jebel Ali, and the container sector in the UAE. It testifies our expertise in shipping highly technical projects, while offering key advantages such as regular and reliable sailings with high-frequency and fast transit time." "Thanks to the support of DP World, UAE Region, and its flagship port, we were able to load and transport the project cargo efficiently," he added. Jebel Ali Port is known for its multimodal connectivity, complemented by extensive logistics facilities. Its offerings such as assembling, warehousing and transport management, manufacturing and fabrication facilities, turnkey operations, and logistics solutions make it a premier gateway, connecting more than 150 ports worldwide. As the 12th largest port globally and the regions largest polyfunctional seaport, it has the capacity to handle 22.4 million TEUs, said the statement. The remarkable execution of this project proves the ports capability of handling the growing demand for heavy lift and project cargo, regardless of the size or weight, it added.-TradeArabia News Service Zain Bahrain, the leading mobile broadband network operator in the Kingdom, has reported a net profit of BD1.246 million in Q2, reflecting an impressive 61% increase year-on-year from a net profit of BD0.776 million for the same period in 2020. Announcing its financial results for the six-month period ending June 30, 2021, Zain said its revenues for the Q2 amounted to BD16.220 million, also an 8.5% increase as compared to BD14.954 million in Q2 2020. Its net profit hit BD2.774 million, representing a 28.5% increase Y-o-Y from BD2.158 million for the same period in 2020. Earnings per share grew to 8 fils for the six month in 2021 as compared to 6 fils in 2020 for the same period. Zain Bahrain generated revenues of BD32.728 million during the first six months of 2021, an increase of 4.166% Y-o-Y as compared to 31.419 million for the same period in 2020. Operating profit for the six month period in 2021 reached BD3.223 million, a 21.2% increase on the BD 2.658 million recorded in 2020. Operating profit for the period also saw an impressive 41.3% increase to BD1.491 million, as compared to BD1.054 million recorded in Q2 2020. Its earnings per share for Q2 increased to 3 fils per share as compared to 2 fils per share in Q2 2020. The outstanding profit increase was a result of consistent product and service innovation, operational efficiency and distinguished customer experience where Zain Bahrain further expanded its 5G network and invested significantly in accelerated data growth across its mobile and fixed networks. Zain Bahrain said its growth momentum continues as operator expands 5G network across the kingdom, including a focus on new housing areas. During Q2, the operator was also the first to invest heavily into newly developed housing areas of Bahrain, providing customers with much-needed connectivity to support remote schooling and working. At a balance sheet level, Zain Bahrain's total equity as at 30 June 2021 amounted to BD76.072 million, up by 0.781% from BD75.482 million for the year ending 31 December, 2020. The value of the company's assets at the end of Q2 2021 stood at BD122.969 million, down 2.2% from BD125.731 million as of 31 December 2020 as a result of reducing its liabilities. On the impressive results, Zain Bahrain Chairman Shaikh Ahmed bin Ali Al Khalifa said: "Zain Bahrain, like every entity during these challenging times, has had to evolve and respond robustly to changing market conditions." "The growth in profits we have seen during this period are a testament to our commitment to product innovation, digital transformation, network expansion, customer service and operational efficiencies. As usage has surged, so too has our diverse teams enthusiasm to enhance our customer experience, and to give back to society, who we are all working hard to keep safe,' he added. He pointed out that the increased demand from new customers joining Zain is contributing to the overall growth. "Our newly designed broadband and postpaid packages and services have attracted new customers and we have reported a Y-o-Y increase in customer base. All these remarkable achievements have resulted in a solid revenue and profit increase Y-o-Y," he added. Shaikh Ahmed said: "In Q2, we focused on the continued expansion of our 4G and 5G infrastructure, and became the first provider to enhance service in more newly-developed areas of the country." "We offered higher connectivity speeds for our customers by up to six times, whilst continuing to provide free access to Zains home broadband customers to essential services such as online learning and affordable options for work-from-home initiatives," he added. Shaikh Ahmed said: "The growth in revenue and profitability has increased even as we continue to contend with the pandemic. Going forward, Zain Bahrain will continue to invest in its people, its operations and innovation, accelerating its digital transformation cycle." "We are aware at a business level that true digital transformation in the mobile communication industry could only happen through a holistic network transformation strategy and execution, and this will continue to be our focus for the coming period," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Worldwide IT spending is projected to total $4.2 trillion in 2021, an increase of 8.6% from 2020, according to the latest forecast by Gartner. Even as many companies still suffer revenue declines, IT spending is accelerating ahead of revenue expectations, it stated. Boards and CEOs are much more willing to invest in technology that has a clear tie to business outcomes, and less so for everything else, it added. "Technology spending is entering a new build budget phase," remarked John David Lovelock, distinguished research vice president at Gartner. "CIOs are looking for partners who can think past the digital sprints of 2020 and be more intentional in their digital transformation efforts in 2021. This means building technologies and services that dont yet exist, and further differentiating their organization in an already crowded market," he stated. According to Gartner, the IT services segment is among the top three highest growth areas for 2021 primarily due to a boost in infrastructure-as-a-service spending that supports mission critical workloads and avoids high on-premises costs. The IT services segment is forecast to total $1.2 trillion in 2021, an increase of 9.8% from 2020, stated the leading research and advisory company. Lovelock pointed out that digital transformation could no longer be purchased overnight, and global IT spending projections reflect that. "As the world continues to open back up, enterprises will invest in tools that support innovation, anywhere operations and employee productivity and trust," he added.-TradeArabia News Service By Moreno Aguiari The most famous photograph of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), commonly known as Flying Tigers, was taken by R.T. Smith of the 3rd Squadron Hells Angels.. Born Feb. 23, 1918, in York, Neb., Smithlater known as R. T.attended the University of Nebraska before joining the U.S. Army Air Corps. He later resigned to sign up with the American Volunteer Group, which was formedtechnically, by American civiliansto fly for the Chinese government against Japanese invaders before the U.S. entry in World War II. The AVG became known as the Flying Tigers because the noses of their P-40 Tomahawk fighter planes were painted with rows of gleaming teeth, a trademark part of the groups glamorous image. R.T. Smith seldom took his camera on combat missions, he explained, because There was no place to stow it in the cramped space of a cockpit, which meant having to carry it on my lap secured only by a leather strap around my neck. Obviously the last thing a fighter pilot needs while frantically maneuvering in a combat situation is a camera flying around in the cockpit. by Sumon Corraya Bangladesh hospitals at saturation point, with about 200 deaths a day and people unable to buy medicines to treat their loved ones. Yet the government decides to relax measures to contain contagions ahead of Eid al-Adha. Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Bangladesh is struggling with a shortage of medicines, ventilators and beds in intensive care units. The government hospitals, to which most of the population turns because they are cheaper, are in difficulty lacking the resources to treat everyone. For example, in Comilla, near the capital, there are 20 intensive care units, but about 30 people a day need a bed. People's only hope is that someone will die or recover from the coronavirus. The situation is similar in all 63 districts across the country. In Jhalokati, southern Bangladesh, the Sadar State Hospital has dedicated nine out of 23 doctors to the pandemic. The health facilities run by the local Church have almost all turned into Covid hospitals. This is compounded by the problem of being able to buy medicine: "In one day I spent 10,000 Bdt [about 100 euro] to treat my wife who has Covid. It is not possible to buy more because of lack of money," a resident of Faridpur district told AsiaNews. Yesterday alone, 12,148 new cases and 187 deaths were recorded across Bangladesh. In the run-up to Eid al-Adha (the feast of sacrifice), the government has decided to relax measures to contain the infection, so until 22 July shopping centres, restaurants and livestock markets will be open to the public. Health experts warn that this can only worsen the situation. A report by Microsoft in collaboration with experts from Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto. The Candiru company allegedly used activist websites to hack into the devices. At least 100 people were killed in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, Turkey, Armenia and Singapore. Tel Aviv (AsiaNews/Agencies) - An Israeli company has helped several governments around the world, including Arabs, to spy on and hack into the movements of activists, journalists, embassy employees, diplomats and opposition politicians. A report issed by Microsoft reveals that the spyware was installed through bogus humanitarian web groups, including counterfeit Amnesty International and Black Lives Matter pages. The discovery was made in a study by Citizen Lab experts at the University of Toronto, who worked with Microsoft to uncover the 'malicious' activities of Candiru, a Tel Aviv-based company specialising in the sale of 'untraceable' spyware. According to the report, the technology made it possible to enter Microsoft Windows, infecting and monitoring the activities of owners of computers and mobile phones. Scouring the network, Citizen Lab reportedly identified more than 750 sites linked to Candiru's spyware infrastructure. "We found many domains masquerading as advocacy organizations, as well as media companies, and other civil-society themed entities," the group said. Bill Marczak, co-author of the report, told the Guardian that the sources often appeared to be trustworthy, but once penetrated, the spyware would execute "background code" to "quietly hijack" the "control of the computers" of those affected. The code, adds the expert, guaranteed 'constant access' to the computer or smartphone, allowing governments to steal passwords, documents, and turn on microphones or cameras of the people being spied on. And the victims around the world, he concludes, 'were not aware of anything'. The programme was able to infect iPhones, Android devices, Macs, PCs, iPads and cloud accounts and was used to target various organisations and individuals, including a Saudi dissident group and a left-wing Indonesian newspaper. Microsoft speaks of at least 100 victims in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, Turkey, Armenia and Singapore. "Candiru's growing presence and use of its surveillance technology on global civil society is a reminder," says Citizen Lab, "that the mercenary spyware industry is comprised of many actors and subject to widespread abuse." In the two years since it was founded, Candiru has reportedly turned over nearly million. Its clients are located in Europe, the former Soviet Union, the Persian Gulf, Asia, and Latin America. Among the countries that use Candiru are several Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar. Several Israeli companies, whose founders come from the intelligence and defence sectors, have developed technologies to hack and spy on mobile phones or computers. In June, Quadream, another Tel Aviv-based company, was accused of selling a programme called Reign to Saudi authorities, which is capable of stealing data from phones and using them as tracking devices, without using covert links to enter the devices. The spyware Pegasus, developed by Israel's largest surveillance company NSO Group, also uses zero-click technology and was sold to Saudi Arabia, among others. by Vladimir Rozanskij A law has come into force forbidding comparisons between the actions of the USSR and Nazi Germany. Texts showing Nazi symbols on the cover will be banned. The measure could affect texts on the August 1939 agreement between Stalin and Hitler. Moscow (AsiaNews) - Russian booksellers are in a state of panic. On July 12 a new law came into force in the country forbidding the "comparison of the actions of the USSR and Germany during the Second World War". It is one of the provisions that follow the constitutional amendments approved last year, which also include the 'correct reading of patriotic history'. In recent days, Vladimir Putin has published a controversial article on his presidential website about relations between Russians and Ukrainians, whom he describes as 'common heirs of the ancient Rus'. He points out that it was the Soviet Union that saved the 'unity of the Eastern Slavs' during the Nazi invasion. The piece is only the latest in a series of Kremlin interventions on the importance of a correct historical reading on the period of what Russians call the 'Great Patriotic War'. The new measure is accompanied by amendments to another law, the one on 'combating extremist activity'. Through this piece of law, Putin has eliminated the Navalnist opposition from the electoral competition, in which the 'use of symbols and images of Nazi criminals' is also forbidden. The authorities have therefore started a colossal audit of all publications: the aim is to ban those that might violate the new measures even remotely. The Russian booksellers' association appealed to the Kremlin, receiving a response from spokesman Dmitry Peskov: "If there are obvious figures on the cover that recall Nazi symbols, it is clear that this form of dissemination is not acceptable and is not permitted by law. According to Peskov, 'If it is [instead] a matter of general information in the text, or even images inside, then it is a different matter'. In short, books should be banned more for their visual effect than for their content. A special commission of the Russian Ministry of Justice met to shed greater light on the issue. It also invited representatives of the Union of Booksellers, the Russian Historical Society, the Guild of Publishers and the Association of Librarians. The commission is due to provide a detailed explanation of what the new law prohibits and permits in the next few days. Nonetheless, Booksellers are confused: Moskva, the main bookshop in the centre of the capital, has over 30,000 titles for sale. It is a rather complicated process to check them all. The authorities have not even clarified what will happen to the confiscated books: burning them in the public square seems out of the question, also because it would be reminiscent of Nazi demonstration rites. It is thought that they will be recycled, according to more contemporary practices. One of the people most affected could be the famous illustrator Andrej Bondarenko. For his frequent use of Nazi symbols in a symbolic-ironic key, his covers are particularly targeted by the new laws. One of the books he illustrated was the Russian edition of the novel 'Making History' by British actor and screenwriter Steven Fry. The hero of the story returns to the past and throws birth control pills down the sewers to prevent Hitler from being born. On the cover Bondarenko imagined a mouse in a Nazi uniform, which now risks having the volume taken off the shelves. Other texts and shows are also at risk of being cancelled, such as "Family Album", staged at the Majakovsky Theatre on the play by Thomas Bernhard, the great anti-fascist playwright: his posters show a Nazi hat placed upside down on a man's head. The Russian version of the historian Roger Moorhouse's book on the "devil's pact" between the Nazis and the Communists on the eve of the Second World War is also at great risk in terms of its content. Very popular in Russia and throughout the world, the text touches on the very burning issue that the new law has prohibited even touching on: the relationship between Stalin and Hitler and between the two great totalitarianisms of the 20th century. The program has allowed thousands of young people who were brought illegally into the United States as children, or overstayed visas, to live, work and remain in the country. Many of the recipients, commonly known as Dreamers, have now been in the U.S. for a decade or longer. In the summer of 1963, after peaceful sit-ins turned violent in Cambridge, Gov. J. Millard Tawes declared martial law. When Cambridge Mayor Calvin Mowbray asked Richardson to halt the demonstrations in exchange for an end to the arrests of Black protesters, Richardson declined to do so. On June 11, rioting by white supremacists erupted and Tawes called in the National Guard. The worst thing that Joe Torre can do is send out ballots to people that arent supposed to have them, he said. But it happens because we dont know that they moved. We dont know they passed away. Even though we have these tools in our toolbox that we use theres still some that slip by. Today A mix of clouds and sun. High 91F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 67F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow Mostly sunny in the morning then increasing clouds with some scattered thunderstorms later in the day. High 89F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Grantsburg, WI (54840) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 57F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. A 23-year-old man was shot Tuesday in the 4100 block of Patterson Ave. around 12:12 a.m. near New Islamic Baptist Church. He was taken to an area hospital after being found with a gunshot wound to the neck while sitting inside of a vehicle. Of course, rowdy behavior is hardly unheard of during Ocean City in June, that monthlong celebration of Senior Week. Thats when crowds of teens pack into rental houses, with loads of alcohol and little adult supervision to party after their high school graduations. Debauchery ensues as do citations for open containers of alcohol, drunkenness and fights. In years past, officials have tried to reach teens with messages urging them to stop jumping off balconies, something thats happened, often with tragic results. Locals nickname them, with affection and annoyance, June bugs. Co-workers repeatedly nominated Wright for her dedication to patients. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she consistently went above and beyond her duties to provide exemplary care, to talk and connect with patients, making them feel as comfortable as possible during their stay. We have been doing a lot of kayaking in the area, and we were looking at what we could do to challenge ourselves, said Mayr, 49. We looked at a map and it looked like something that we could probably tackle, so we [thought] lets challenge ourselves to do something a little bit out of the ordinary. The policy allows alcoholic beverages, including cocktails and mixed drinks, to be available for carryout or delivery from licensed establishments through at least June 30, 2023. There are several rules for how certain alcoholic beverages can be sold or delivered for off-premise consumption according to the liquor boards rules, including that they must be purchased along with prepared food other than prepackaged snacks. It is wonderful and beautiful and I came here to get my grandkids some help, Hall said. It is a relief and I know it will help. I am excited about this service, it can help my family and a lot of others. Harrod escaped around 1:30 a.m. Jan. 23, 2017, and was arrested by police eight hours later. He was returned to custody at the Maryland Reception, Diagnostic and Classification Center in Baltimore and charged with second-degree escape, court documents show. It is unclear whether he returned to state prison or house arrest. He was released nine months later. Ramos lawyers described him as a mentally sick man who lived alone in a studio apartment with his cat. They said he never had a close friend or romantic relationship and that his disorders led him to cut off ties with all his family. They are likely to expand on that tactic at his sentencing hearing. Todays decision then once more emphasizes how critically important it is that the Congress step up to reflect the will of a supermajority of citizens and voters in this country. That will is to see DACA recipients and other young immigrants similarly situated receive legislative action that will grant them a pathway to permanence and citizenship in our country, Saenz said. Even though I have never met you, listening to your sorrows changed me. I want to live every moment as if it were my last. After listening to your theory on going to work every day as being a reminder of losing your friends, I was saddened. Even though I didnt know the victims of that day, I dont think for one second they would want you to beat yourselves up. Dont allow this tragedy to dictate your retirement. Please make that your choice! After petrol, now the price of food items including sugar, wheat flour has been increased in Pakistan, amid its worsening economic situation. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet on Friday approved an increase in rates of sugar, wheat flour and ghee (butter) at the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) of Pakistan, reported The News International. The price of sugar was jacked up from Rs 68 per kg to Rs 85 per kg, ghee (butter) from Rs 170 to Rs 260 per kg and wheat flour from Rs 850 per bag to Rs 950 per bag at the USC owing to the increasing gap between the subsidised prices offered by the Utility Stores Corporation and the prevailing market prices. The committee approved revision in the prices of three essential commodities to rationalise provision of subsidies by the USC. The News International further reported that the minister for finance and revenue Shaukat Tarin chaired the committee meeting. The committee also approved the import of 200,000 ton sugar, subsidy on DAP fertiliser for cotton and rice crops and procurement of 200,000 cotton bales by the Trading Corporation of Pakistan. On Thursday, the Imran Khan-led Pakistan government has increased the petrol price by Rs 5.40 per litre and the high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs 2.54 per litre. Dawn reported that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government has increased the prices. As of now, the new price for petrol will be Rs 118.09 per litre, diesel will be Rs 116.5 per litre in the country. Meanwhile, the prices of kerosene and light-diesel oil (LDO) were increased by Rs 1.39 and Rs 1.27, respectively. The new price of kerosene will be Rs 87.14 and that of LDO will be Rs 84.67. The announcement was made by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Affairs (SAPM) Shahbaz Gill. He said that the premier had decided to give the public "huge relief" by not raising prices based on the recommendations of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority ( Ogra). According to the World Bank (WB) estimate, poverty in Pakistan has increased from 4.4 per cent to 5.4 per cent in 2020, as over two million people have fallen below the poverty line. Using the lower-middle-income poverty rate, the WB estimated that the poverty ratio in Pakistan stood at 39.3 per cent in 2020-21 and is projected to remain at 39.2 per cent in 2021-22 and might come down to 37.9 per cent by 2022-23, reported The News International. (ANI) Also Read: Pakistan will never allow 'corruption-accused' Shehbaz Sharif to leave country: Imran Khan govt If you are old enough to remember the hit comedy movie of 1980, Caddy Shack, then you will recall that a gopher infestation was threatening a golf course in Nebraska. The somewhat deranged groundskeeper was tasked with getting rid of the pest. His efforts at eradication include shooting, f The teen, whom the Tribune is not naming because he is a minor, was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery to a victim 60 years of age or older, according to court records. Judge John Lyke Jr. denied him bail during Saturday bond court after a prosecutor detailed the attack against Keith Cooper, 73, that was allegedly carried out by the 17-year-old and 18-year-old Frank Harris. Police said a 31-year-old man was shot in the head during an argument outside. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The gunman was still on the scene when officers arrived and was taken into custody, police said. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO, which opened Friday in Fuzhou, capital of east China's Fujian Province. The world's cultural and natural heritage is an important outcome of the development of human civilization and natural evolution, and an important vehicle for the exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, Xi said in the letter. "To well protect, inherit and make good use of these precious treasures is our shared responsibility, and is of vital importance to the continuity of human civilization and the sustainable development of the world," he said. Implementing the new development philosophy, China has earnestly adhered to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage with a sense of responsibility to the history and to the people, and has constantly improved its capability and caliber in heritage protection, Xi noted. Xi said China is willing to work with all countries across the globe and UNESCO to strengthen exchanges and cooperation, promote dialogue and mutual learning, support the cause of world heritage protection, jointly safeguard the cultural and natural treasures of humanity, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. China will provide new development opportunities for multinational companies, according to Gu Xueming, director of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation at the second Qingdao Multinationals Summit. The second Qingdao Multinationals Summit attracts global guests in Qingdao, Shandong province on July 15. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] The second Qingdao Multinationals Summit opened in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province on the evening of July 15. The summit, jointly held by the Ministry of Commerce and the Shandong provincial government, focuses on the position of multinationals in the global industrial chain system and the symbiotic relationship between multinationals and the Chinese market. A research report titled "Multinationals in China: New opportunities arising from a new paradigm" by the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation was released at the opening ceremony. The report lists in detail the new achievements and new space occupied by multinationals in the development of a new paradigm, analyzes new opportunities that the new development paradigm will create for multinationals, and puts forward new expectations for multinationals under the new paradigm. The report said that global foreign direct investment has entered a new stage, and the roles of developed and developing economies in attracting FDI are changing. The share of FDI flows into developing economies has increased steadily, from 27.6 percent in 2007 to 47.3 percent in 2019 and 66.3 percent in 2020. In recent years, FDI flows into Asia have shown a fluctuating upward trend. The continent's share of global FDI exceeded 50 percent in 2020. The manufacturing and service industries have been equally prominent in the absorption of FDI. Seventy percent of global manufacturing FDI flows to capital-intensive and technology-intensive industries, while 70 percent of FDI in global services flows to the producer services industry. Under these circumstances, multinationals are contributing more to the construction of a new development paradigm. Multinationals play a strong role in developing the high-tech industry in China. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, from 2015 to 2019, the actual use of foreign investment in China's high-tech industry increased from $16.58 billion to $39.06 billion, with an average annual growth rate of 25.9 percent. Its proportion in China's actual national use of foreign investment increased from 13.1 percent to 28.3 percent. Multinationals are a driving force behind the growth and increased quality of China's foreign trade. China has been the world's second largest receiver of FDI for the past four years. From 2015 to 2020, imports and exports of foreign-invested enterprises accounted for about 40 percent of China's total imports and exports. In 2019, imports and exports of high-tech products of foreign-invested enterprises to total imports and exports of foreign-funded enterprises accounted for about 60 percent of all national imports and exports of high-tech products. China in the future will explore pilot cross-border payment programs of the country's digital fiat currency or e-CNY, the central bank said Friday. Though technically ready for cross-border use, e-CNY is currently designed mainly for domestic retail payments, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) said in its white paper on the progress of e-CNY in the country. "Looking ahead, the PBOC will actively respond to initiatives of G20 and other international organizations on improving cross-border payments, and explore the applicability of central bank digital currency in cross-border scenarios," said the paper. The PBOC will explore pilot cross-border payment programs based on experience of domestic trials and international demand, and preconditioned on mutual respect for monetary sovereignty and compliance, the paper noted. It will also work with relevant central banks and monetary authorities to set up exchange arrangements and regulatory cooperation mechanisms on digital fiat currency, said the paper. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has been unswervingly fulfilling its constitutional duty and spared no effort to build an impregnable "iron wall" to safeguard national security in the region, a senior Chinese official said Friday. Xia Baolong, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, speaks at a high-level symposium marking the first anniversary of the enactment of the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in Beijing, capital of China, July 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Xia Baolong, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks when addressing a high-level symposium marking the first anniversary of the enforcement of the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR. Xia said the HKSAR government and its governing team have taken on the responsibility for fully implementing the law. As of the end of June, law enforcement agencies in the SAR had arrested 117 core members of the anti-China forces on suspicion of violating the national security law and prosecuted 64 individuals, Xia noted. Officials and patriots in the SAR have acted fearlessly in the face of illegal and groundless sanctions by the United States, he added. The Hong Kong police have strictly enforced the law, investigating a number of cases of crimes involving national security. Hailing their bravery against violence and chaos in the region, Xia said the Hong Kong police have lived up to their reputation of being the world's most outstanding police force. People from various sectors of Hong Kong society who love the country and the city have shown their support for the national security law and fostered a strong synergy for safeguarding national security in the region, the senior official said. The United Front Supporting National Security Legislation, a Hong Kong organization that consists of individuals from all walks of life, collected over 2.9 million signatures of local residents as a show of support in merely eight days, Xia said. People from the international community who believe in upholding justice have also spoken up, lending powerful support to China's just position on safeguarding national security, he added. China's national carbon market started trading on Friday, a significant step to help the country reduce its carbon footprint and meet emission targets, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE). Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends the launching ceremony of China's national carbon trading market via video link in Beijing, capital of China, July 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng attended the launching ceremony in Beijing and announced the official start of the trading. Trading began at 9:30 a.m. at the Shanghai Environment and Energy Exchange, with the opening price for carbon quotas at 48 yuan (7.4 U.S. dollars) per tonne. The first transaction was priced at 52.78 yuan per tonne, with a total value of 7.9 million yuan. The first trading day concluded with total trading volume topping 4.1 million tonnes and a turnover of 210.23 million yuan. The transaction prices averaged 51.23 yuan per tonne. Carbon emissions by more than 2,000 power companies involved in the first trading group are estimated to exceed 4 billion tonnes per year, making the market the world's largest in terms of the amount of greenhouse gas emissions covered. The scheme initially involves companies in the power industry. Carbon emitters from other sectors such as steel, paper making and aviation will be added gradually. Carbon trading is the process of buying and selling permits to emit carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. Companies are assigned quotas for carbon emissions and can sell surplus emission allowances to those that expect to exceed their pollution quotas. Commenting on the carbon market, Zhao Yingmin, vice minister of ecology and environment, said that it spurs high emitters to decarbonize industrial structure and energy consumption, and will help them become frontrunners in peaking carbon dioxide emissions. The market also provides a price fillip for related companies to upgrade low-carbon technologies and embark on green transformation, Zhao said. To maintain the healthy and stable development of the national carbon market, trading institutions have established a series of systems including price fluctuation limits, maximum position limits, large account reports, risk warnings and reserves, and abnormal trading monitoring. It is necessary to further strengthen the top-level design, refine the roadmap, introduce more industries and trading entities into the market, and enrich trading varieties to help the carbon market play a better role in controlling greenhouse gas emissions, said Liu Jie, general manager of the Shanghai Environment and Energy Exchange. China's national carbon trading market was launched in 2017 after pilot operations in seven provincial-level regions in 2011. Behind its launch was the aim of exploring market-based mechanisms to control greenhouse gas emissions. The MEE will roll out trading regulations and improve relevant standards and management schemes while expanding the varieties and methods of trading. As data authenticity and accuracy are the bases of trading, the MEE will work to ensure the quality and transparency of emission data. Li Zhiqing, a researcher at Fudan University, said that there might not be abrupt price fluctuations in the emerging market. However, in light of the lower carbon trading volume and market prices compared with the international level, carbon prices are likely to rise in the mid- and long-term. Industry analysts, meanwhile, called for efforts to prevent speculative behaviors and excessive financialization of the trading market. The fundamental objective of this scheme is to help reduce emissions. The start of the trading in the national carbon market came as China's latest effort in realizing its goals of peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. Pursuing a green growth path, China has been working on all fronts to transform its coal-centered energy structure and build a clean and diversified energy supply system. Official data shows the country ranks first globally in newly-installed wind-power capacity, and is also a global leader in the production and use of solar energy and hydropower. By the end of 2020, more than 40 percent of China's installed power generation capacity came from renewable resources, supporting nearly one-third of the country's electricity consumption, according to data from the National Energy Administration. As a result, 15.9 percent of China's primary energy consumption came from non-fossil energy, surpassing the target of 15 percent set for 2020. You are here: China A reusable suborbital carrier landed stably at an airport in Alxa League in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region during a flight demonstration and verification project on Friday. Earlier on Friday, the carrier was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gobi Desert. Its first flight mission was a complete success. Developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the reusable suborbital carrier can be used in the space transport system. The success of the flight has laid a solid foundation for the development of China's reusable space transportation. A research group left northwest China's Gansu Province on Thursday for a scientific expedition on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Focusing on "land-atmosphere interaction and its climate effects", the one-month research is part of China's second comprehensive scientific expedition on the plateau. It will approach multiple tasks around regional climate change, such as setting up land-atmosphere interaction and geographic information databases and creating three-dimensional model. More than 100 researchers from 18 institutes, colleges and universities will undertake a journey of about 6,600 km in the northwestern provinces of Gansu, Qinghai, and southwestern Tibet Autonomous Region, said Ma Yaoming, head of the group and a researcher at the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences. During the trip, researchers will take samples from the atmosphere, snow cover, water, sediments and soil, and collect data from field observers so as to better understand the interaction of the land and the atmosphere in this area. A 3D comprehensive observation platform of water and heat exchange between land and atmosphere, the multispectral images of unmanned aerial vehicles and satellite remote sensing will also be adopted in the expedition. Launched in 2017, the second scientific expedition to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is of great significance to advance sustainable development of the region and promote global environment protection. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) has launched an enforcement inspection of the Notarization Law, the first of its kind since the law took effect in 2005. From mid-July to mid-October, inspection teams will be dispatched to six provincial-level regions, including Beijing, Hebei, Liaoning and Shanghai. Legislatures in four other provincial-level regions were also entrusted with inspecting the enforcement of the law in their own regions, according to the first plenary meeting of the inspection teams held in Beijing Friday. The inspection will place emphasis on the establishment of notary agencies, the competence of related workers, the performance of notarial functions, as well as supervision and instruction of notarial practices, according to the meeting. The inspection teams will discuss the report of the law-enforcement inspection in early November and the NPC Standing Committee will hear and review the report in late December. The SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can only be the product of multi-step natural selection; hence, SARS-CoV-2 is unlikely to have had evolved in a market in a big city and even less likely to have been created in a laboratory, says a scientific article published Friday. The article, titled "On the origin of SARS-CoV-2 -- The blind watchmaker argument," was published in the latest issue of the journal Science China: Life Sciences. It was authored by 22 scientists working with universities and hospitals in China, or with institutions affiliated to the Chinese Academy of Sciences. According to its first and corresponding author, professor Wu Chung-I with the School of Life Sciences at Sun Yat-sen University, the evolution of highly adaptive traits is generally a gradual process driven by natural selection. As Richard Dawkins stated succinctly in "The Blind watchmaker": If natural selection is a watchmaker, it could only be a blind one who works step by step, each time selecting some slight improvements from random tinkering. "A species that perfectly adapts to its environment is not created all at once, but is the culmination of a series of small improvements from a large number of random mutations in a long time. SARS-CoV-2, as a 'perfect' virus, must be the product of natural selection as nobody could know in advance how to create a virus that perfectly adapts to humans," said Wu. He compared the process to the mobile phone marketing -- Even the most skilled electronic laboratory could not have leaked a design that leads to the world's most popular mobile phone in one attempt. "The perfect product must be based on market testing and repeated adjustments." A study on mice infection of SARS-CoV-2 proves that point. The study found that mice cannot be infected with the novel coronavirus, but scientists have found SARS-CoV-2 strains that could infect mice through artificial selection. Even so, these artificially screened strains could not cause a similarly vast outbreak in the mouse population. "By our reasoning, the virus had gone through repeated mutual infections between wild animals and people before the first reported outbreak of COVID-19 and, gradually, accumulated mutations adapted to the human body," said Wu. "In the process of human infection, the virus experienced repeated defeat until it evolved into the current strains that are extremely suited to mass transmission," he added. A research team led by Wu had proposed an incremental evolution model of SARS-CoV-2, in which the virus is believed to have originated in a habitat of animal hosts sparsely populated by humans, and the frequent and long-term animal-human interaction allowed it to evolve. In the meantime, both the animal and human hosts develop a degree of herd immunity. Then the virus could occasionally spread to somewhere outside the habitat with large human population which do not have the herd immunity, resulting in the first outbreak. You are here: World Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping started addressing the Informal Economic Leaders' Retreat of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) held on Friday. The meeting was initiated by this year's APEC chair New Zealand. Flash The Pakistani side should take solid and effective measures to strengthen security and protection of Chinese personnel and institutions in Pakistan, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Friday in a telephone conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. On behalf of the Pakistani government and people, Khan first expressed sincere sympathy to the Chinese government over the heavy casualties of Chinese nationals in a recent terrorist attack in Pakistan, and extended deep condolences to the bereaved families. He also briefed Li on the progress of Pakistan's investigation into the incident at this stage as well as the follow-up work. In the telephone conversation, Li expressed gratitude to Pakistan for carrying out fast rescue of the injured and prompt probe into the incident. A case involving human life should be treated with the utmost care, Li stressed, adding that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the safety of Chinese personnel and institutions abroad. The top priority at present is to spare no effort to rescue and treat the injured, minimize casualties, and properly handle the aftermath of the incident, Li said. A Chinese working group has arrived in Pakistan and is ready to coordinate closely with the Pakistani side, Li noted. The Chinese premier added he hopes that Pakistan can offer assistance to the working group, use all necessary means to find out the facts in a serious and responsible manner, and ensure that the perpetrators behind the incident are brought to justice. Li noted that he hopes Pakistan will do its utmost to prevent similar incidents from happening again. Noting that the global and regional situations are undergoing complex and profound changes, Li said the Chinese side attaches great importance to the China-Pakistan relations. The two countries are all-weather strategic cooperative partners, Li said, adding that China is willing to work with Pakistan to strengthen strategic communication and coordination, deepen practical cooperation, and safeguard regional peace and security, so as to better benefit the two peoples. For his part, Khan said the Pakistani side is working day and night and trying its best to rescue and treat the injured, and will spare no effort to make a thorough investigation into the incident and bring the real culprits to justice as soon as possible. Pakistan is ready to give its full support and cooperation to the Chinese working group, he said. The Pakistani side attaches great importance to the safety of Chinese personnel and institutions in Pakistan, Khan stressed, adding that his country has reinforced and will continue strengthening security measures, so as to guarantee the safe and smooth operation of Pakistan-China cooperation projects. Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone conversation on Friday with Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani. Xi noted that China and Afghanistan are traditional friendly neighbors, and have always been understanding and helping each other. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, he added, the people of the two countries have worked together with solidarity and mutual assistance, deepening the friendship and cooperation between the two countries. China is ready to continue to provide support and assistance for Afghanistan's fight against the disease, Xi said, adding that China hopes the Afghan side will strengthen the protection of Chinese citizens and organizations in Afghanistan. Xi stressed that China firmly supports the Afghan government's endeavor to safeguard national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, which is in the interests of the Afghan people and countries in the region. China always believes that political dialogue is the fundamental way to achieve national reconciliation and lasting peace in Afghanistan, Xi said, pledging China's continued support for the "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned" principle, the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan, and an early peaceful reconstruction of the country. The Chinese side is glad to see that the Afghan government and relevant parties in Afghanistan have reached positive consensus during the recent dialogue in Tehran, he said. China, he added, hopes that both sides engaged in the dialogue will put the interests of the Afghan people first, and agree on a political solution through negotiation at an early date. China will, as always, play a constructive role in the process, Xi said. For his part, Ghani noted that China has successfully handled the COVID-19 pandemic and taken the lead to achieve economic growth, which is of great benefit to countries around the world. He said that Afghanistan thanks China for offering precious support for Afghanistan's fight against the pandemic, and hopes to continuously advance cooperation with China in interconnectivity and other areas. The Afghan government is dedicated to seeking a political solution to the current crisis and achieving lasting peace in the country, he said. Noting that China has always been an important and positive force in maintaining regional security and stability, he said he looks forward to China continuing to play an important role in pushing for a political settlement of the Afghan issue. Flash Two hundred and twelve people were killed in the past week's violent protest happening in the eastern regions of South Africa, said the country's Acting Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni Friday when briefing the media. KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) reported 89 more deaths Friday, bringing the cumulative total to 180 fatalities, while Gauteng had a total of 32 deaths. The police has arrested 862 people in Gauteng and 1,692 more in KZN, according to the official. Ntshavheni said the situation in Gauteng and KZN is "gradually, but firmly" returning to normality since Thursday, but it remains tense in some areas in KZN. The police received reports of 1,488 cases in KZN overnight while no new incidence was reported in Gauteng. The police arrested two suspects in KZN with 4,000 rounds of ammunition and unlicensed firearms. The number of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) deployed has increased to 25,000. They remain in Gauteng's hotspots and have also been deployed in other provinces because "we don't want the instigators to take advantage of other provinces," said the official. Ntshavheni said the government is working on an immediate plan on ensuring economic recovery. The N2 and N3 highways are now reopened. The transportation of key goods, food, medical supplies and fuel has commenced. The recovery of stolen goods is underway and the police continue to receive tip-offs, she added. Flash The following is the full text of the statement issued on Friday following the Informal Economic Leaders' Retreat of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC): APEC Economic Leaders' Statement Overcoming COVID-19 and Accelerating Economic Recovery We, the APEC Economic Leaders met on July 16, 2021 to discuss the COVID-19 health and economic crisis and response. The pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on our region's people and economies. Our efforts to diagnose and treat COVID-19 continue to be essential. But we will only overcome this health emergency by accelerating equitable access to safe, effective, quality-assured, and affordable COVID-19 vaccines. We recognize the role of extensive immunisation against COVID-19 as a global public good. To that end, we will redouble our efforts to expand vaccine manufacture and supply, support global vaccine sharing efforts, and encourage the voluntary transfer of vaccine production technologies on mutually agreed terms. We must ensure our health systems cover all people and have the resilience to cope with current and future shocks. We welcome the varied and continuous efforts as well as the contribution of additional resources across APEC to combat the pandemic. We are committed to realizing our Putrajaya Vision of an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040, for the prosperity of all our people and future generations. Strong, Balanced, Secure, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth As we move beyond the immediate crisis, we will work to ensure all our people have the opportunities and resources they need to adapt to change - no one should be left behind. Noting the historic significance of the fiscal stimulus already provided, we have and will continue to support our economies for as long as necessary. Our Ministers are exchanging views on macroeconomic and structural policies to accelerate economic recovery in the region. We will target measures where they are needed to facilitate job creation and inclusive economic recovery, including actions that enable women to participate fully in the recovery. We will continue to promote seamless connectivity and resilient supply chains for all our businesses and people. In designing a sustainable recovery, and aligned with global efforts, we reiterate the importance of economic policies, cooperation and growth that contribute to tackling climate change and other serious environmental challenges. We will continue to promote sustainable financing and quality infrastructure development and investment based on relevant APEC work. Innovation and Digitalization Given the significant and diverse impact of COVID-19 on our people and businesses, now is a crucial time to pursue sound economic policies to sustain jobs, increase economic productivity, and advance innovation. Recognizing some people and businesses will need to move into new sectors, we will work together on a growth-focused structural reform agenda that delivers inclusive, resilient, sustainable, and innovation-friendly outcomes. We will support our people to adapt to the future of work. We will harness innovation that enables our people and businesses, particularly MSMEs, to emerge stronger through decent work and increased opportunities. We will move forward together towards a digital future, strengthening digital infrastructure and technologies. We acknowledge the importance of cooperation on facilitating the flow of data and strengthening consumer and business trust in digital transactions. We will support measures designed to foster digital transformation and contribute to bridging the digital divide, including digital literacy and skills. Trade and Investment We underscore the essential role of trade and investment and an interconnected regional economy in tackling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and in enabling a strong economic recovery for all our people. Our Ministers are working to ensure the region's supply chains support the safe and efficient distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and related goods. We are committed to working together to facilitate the flow of goods and services, especially those that most support our health and economic response at this critical time. We must pave the way for the safe resumption of cross-border travel, without undermining efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We acknowledge the importance of a free, open, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent and predictable trade and investment environment, which can help combat the far-reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We will advance economic integration in the region to facilitate recovery. At this critical juncture, the World Trade Organization should continue to demonstrate that global trade rules can support the recovery from the health and economic crisis, and we will work constructively to that end. We thank New Zealand for chairing and look forward to meeting again at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November. Haumi e, Hui e, Taiki e. Join, Work, Grow. Together. Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping's address at an informal meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) held on Friday boosted confidence in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and world economic recovery, experts have said. While addressing the Informal Economic Leaders' Retreat of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) via video link, Xi called on APEC members to strengthen solidarity and cooperation to overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and boost global economic recovery. Xi made a four-pronged proposal for Asia-Pacific cooperation, including strengthening international cooperation on COVID-19 response, deepening regional economic integration, pursuing inclusive and sustainable development, and seizing opportunities from scientific and technological innovation. Ronnie Lins, director of the China-Brazil Center for Research and Business, said Xi's speech is of great significance as it provides a feasible plan for the international community to cooperate in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and promoting economic recovery. As to the negative impact of COVID-19 on the world economy, Lins said that only by promoting multilateralism can the global economy recover sooner, adding that the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative will help enhance cooperation among countries along the routes. Liu Ziyang, a professor at Kyonggi University in South Korea, said he was impressed by Xi's expounding on shared future for mankind. "In the interlinked world, only by enhancing the sense of community, can people succeed in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic on a global scale," Liu said. Noting that the Asian region experienced its first negative economic growth in decades amid the pandemic, Liu said countries in the region are looking forward to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) as "an engine for future economic development." Lee Pei May, a political expert at the International Islamic University Malaysia, said that "RCEP is a good opportunity to bring countries closer and more integrated," calling on member countries to ratify RCEP as soon as possible. "By facilitating trade and reducing barriers, member countries are expected to enjoy significant economic benefits," she added. Wayne Huang, principal of the Institute of Commercial Education New Zealand, expressed his belief that China will play an important role in promoting an inclusive, sustainable and resilient recovery in the Asia-Pacific region and the rest of the world. "China's rapidly developing economy and its large consumer base provide a huge market for the Asia-Pacific region and the rest of the world," he said. Reality shows that China's peaceful development is "an anchor of stability and a driving force for growth," he added. Flash In a world that is undergoing turbulence and changes, it is necessary for China and Turkey, both major emerging markets, to strengthen strategic dialogue and conduct strategic cooperation, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday. Wang made the remarks during talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Uzbek capital Tashkent. China is ready to work with Turkey to implement the important consensus reached between the heads of state in recent phone talks, and promote China-Turkey cooperation in all respects, Wang said. The two sides, Wang stressed, should take great care to maintain their political mutual trust and abide by their political commitment. The mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Turkey has broad prospects and great potential. China supports Chinese enterprises in promoting bilateral cooperation in accordance with market rules, Wang said. China is also ready to strengthen coordination with Turkey on the current international and regional situation, push forward the political settlement of the Afghan issue and maintain peace and stability in the region, he added. For his part, Cavusoglu said Turkey attaches great importance to the bilateral ties. The recent call between the two heads of state is very important and successful. Turkey is ready to establish more frequent contact with the Chinese side and forge closer ties. Cavusoglu expressed gratitude to China for providing vaccines, adding that Turkey supports further vaccine cooperation with Chinese enterprises. Turkey firmly supports the one-China principle and backs the Chinese move to safeguard its sovereignty, the minister said. Cavusoglu said Turkey does not agree with or participate in any move by some forces to pressure China by using Xinjiang-related issues. Turkey is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with China on the Afghan issue, prevent the outbreak of a civil war in Afghanistan and promote peace and reconciliation among all parties in the war-torn country, he noted. Flash Meke Inotila Fanuel from Oshaandja village in the northern part of Namibia was inoculated with Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine donated by China due to its reported high efficacy rate. "I chose Sinopharm because of its strength and minimal side effects. It was also the only one of the two vaccines available at the start of the vaccination campaign," Fanuel said. Namibia is a country in Southern Africa with a population of 2.5 million. The country, however, has accumulated 109,956 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and has registered 2,270 related deaths so far. It received the first batch of 100,000 doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine early this year. More locals are embracing the vaccine. John Hangula, a media professional based in Windhoek, the national capital, got his first jab in June and recently the second. The decision to go for Sinopharm was informed by the international community and country experiences, particularly China. "I believe that China dealt with the pandemic better than most countries. So it was an easy decision to go for Sinopharm," he said. Meanwhile, inoculation with Sinopharm extends beyond health care and strives for herd immunity. Motivated by the commitment to boost the immune system and protect the immediate community, Calistus Mukahanama, a medical doctor in Windhoek, was also vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine. Local leaders have since also embraced Sinopharm. In May, Namibian Vice President Nangolo Mbumba, among many, also took the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine in Windhoek. Moreover, the Chinese-donated vaccine is cementing China-Namibia relations at the grassroots level across the country. Fanuel commended China for extending aid to Namibia. "This represents to me that Namibia and China will forever have a strong and long-term friendship. More so given that first doses of the vaccines were a gift with high hope that it will help our country better manage the pandemic," Fanuel added. Complementary with the vaccine, China has helped Namibia administer and promote equal health for its people, according to Hangula, the media professional. "China's aid came at a time we needed them the most, looking at the reported disparities in the distribution and in terms of availing the vaccine to the continent. So bravo to the Chinese government," he added. Experts concur. Marius Kudumo, director of international relations at Namibia University of Science and Technology, said that aid provided by China strengthens the cooperation between Namibia and China. "It deepens solidarity within the scope of bilateral and international cooperation," he said. In the interim, government has urged those eligible to consider vaccination. "Getting vaccinated is the most effective way to protect our country against the onslaught of this dangerous pandemic," said Kalumbi Shangula, minister of Health and Social Services. The Health Ministry has also finalized orders for doses of Sinopharm, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, according to Shangula. As of Thursday, a total of 133,863 people had received the first dose and 32,753 had been fully vaccinated, according to the Health Ministry. Flash United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed warned on Friday that the world is facing a "bloody surge" in humanitarian crises, while calling on member states and the Security Council to do everything possible to end attacks on humanitarians and assets. "We are facing a bloody surge in humanitarian crises around the world. Civilians in conflict zones are paying the highest price," the UN deputy chief told the Security Council ministerial-level briefing on the protection of humanitarian space under the protection of civilians in armed conflict agenda item. Briefing on behalf of the secretary-general, Mohammed said that this year the UN and its partners are seeking to assist 160 million people - its highest number ever. The "hurricane of humanitarian crises" is compounded by a "relentless wave of attacks" on humanitarian and medical workers, and the imposition of ever narrower constraints on humanitarian space, according to the UN deputy chief. "The secretary-general urges this Council to take strong and immediate action to support its numerous resolutions on the protection of civilians, humanitarian and healthcare workers, and humanitarian space," she told ministers and ambassadors. Shootings, bodily and sexual assault, kidnappings and other attacks affecting humanitarian organizations, have increased tenfold since 2001, according to Mohammed. "In the five years since this Council's landmark resolution calling for an end to impunity for attacks on healthcare systems, workers and patients have suffered thousands of attacks," she said. Meanwhile, it is becoming ever more difficult to provide vital humanitarian aid to people in need. "Turbo-charged" by COVID-19, humanitarian needs are outpacing the capacity to meet them, said Mohammed. While the UN engages in difficult negotiations to create lasting ceasefires and build sustainable peace, the delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid must continue and that requires the necessary humanitarian space. Member states and the Security Council have "a responsibility to do everything in their power" to end attacks on humanitarians and assets, and seek accountability for serious violations, the UN deputy chief underscored. Flash The list of human rights crimes committed by the United States at home and abroad is too long to draw, and the U.S. should face up to and address its own human rights abuses, said a statement issued on Friday by the Chinese Mission to UN at Geneva. In response to an earlier statement issued by the U.S. Mission in Geneva which criticized China on human rights issues, the Chinese mission said that the U.S. is playing a game of being the thief crying "stop thief". "What truly surprises us is that at a time when alarming human rights violations in the United States are there for everyone to see, it still has the courage to play human rights preacher, with no idea that it has already become the laughingstock of the world," the Chinese mission statement stated. If the United States dares to claim that it is committed to protecting the rights of individuals, then how about the rights of those "George Floyds" who could not breathe, the statement asked. "How about the rights of more than 600,000 Americans who died in the (COVID-19) pandemic? How about the rights of Americans who are struggling in poverty? How about the rights of migrant children in custody at the U.S. immigration centers? How about the rights of innocent civilians in other countries who lost their lives or families under indiscriminate bombings by the U.S. armed forces?" it continued. The statement further pointed out that if the United States dares to claim that it is committed to protecting the rights of individuals, then how about the rights of people in other countries who are starving and dying because of the unilateral coercive measures imposed by the United States? "The United States owes the whole world a serious answer," the statement said. Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the Informal Economic Leaders' Retreat of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) held on Friday. Please see the translation of the full text of the speech below. Fighting COVID-19 and Leading Economic Recovery Through Solidarity and Cooperation Remarks by H.E. Xi Jinping President of the People's Republic of China At the APEC Informal Economic Leaders' Retreat 16 July 2021 The Right Honorable Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Dear Colleagues, It gives me great pleasure to attend this meeting. I thank Prime Minister Ardern and the New Zealand government for their great efforts to make the meeting possible. As we speak, the COVID-19 pandemic is undergoing many twists and turns, including the constant mutations of the virus. Controlling the pandemic still poses a difficult challenge, while global economic recovery is still on shaky ground. That said, peace and development remains the theme of our times, and the call for upholding multilateralism, strengthening solidarity and cooperation, and meeting challenges together is growing stronger than ever. The Asia-Pacific is a major engine for global economic growth. For member economies of the Asia-Pacific, defeating COVID-19 and restoring growth at an early date are our top priority for the time being. Since the start of the pandemic, APEC members have united as one and carried out active cooperation against the coronavirus. Being the first to gain the momentum for recovery, the Asia-Pacific economy has made contributions to driving the world economy. Last year, we adopted the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 and set ourselves the goal of an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community, charting the course for economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific. Under the current circumstances, we must enhance solidarity and cooperation to overcome the impact of the pandemic and boost global economic recovery. First, we need to strengthen international cooperation on COVID response. The pandemic proves once again that we live in one global village, where countries stand to rise and fall together. We must stick to solidarity and cooperation as we go through this difficult time and jointly work for a healthier and brighter future for humanity. Vaccines are a powerful weapon to prevail over the pandemic and revive the economy. China has been calling for closer international cooperation on vaccines to ensure that they are accessible and affordable in developing countries and that they become a global public good. Overcoming the challenges of its own mass vaccination program, China has provided more than 500 million doses of vaccines to other developing countries, and will provide another 3 billion US dollars in international aid over the next three years to support COVID-19 response and economic and social recovery in other developing countries. China supports waiving intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines, and will work with other parties to push for an early decision by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international institutions. China will take an active part in cooperation initiatives to keep vaccine supply chains stable and safe and support the movement of essential goods, and take effective measures to ensure healthy, safe and orderly people-to-people exchanges and restore normal business cooperation in our region at an early date. China has financed the founding of a Sub-Fund on APEC Cooperation on Combating COVID-19 and Economic Recovery, which will help APEC economies win an early victory over COVID-19 and achieve economic recovery. Second, we need to deepen regional economic integration. Opening-up and integration is the prevailing trend. It is important that we promote the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment and uphold the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core. We must remove barriers, not erect walls. We must open up, not close off. We must seek integration, not decoupling. This is the way to make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all. We need to step up macroeconomic policy coordination, minimize negative spillovers, and fully implement the APEC Connectivity Blueprint to promote cooperation on digital connectivity. We need to advance regional economic integration, with a view to establishing a high-standard Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific at an early date. China is among the first to ratify the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement. We look forward to its entry into force this year. Third, we need to pursue inclusive and sustainable development. Earth is the only home for humanity. We must follow a people-centered approach, foster a sound environment to buttress sustainable economic and social development worldwide, and achieve green growth. China attaches great importance to addressing climate change. We will strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. China supports APEC in advancing cooperation on sustainable development, improving the List of Environmental Goods, and making energy more efficient, clean and diverse. We need to enhance economic and technological cooperation, promote inclusive trade and investment, support the development of small- and medium-sized enterprises, scale up support for women and other vulnerable groups, share experience on eliminating absolute poverty and strive to deliver the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Fourth, we need to seize opportunities from scientific and technological innovation. The digital economy is an important area for the future growth of the world economy. The global digital economy is an open and close-knit entity. Win-win cooperation is the only right way forward, while a closed-door policy, exclusion, confrontation and division would only lead to a dead end. We need to ensure full and balanced implementation of the APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap, further develop digital infrastructure, facilitate the dissemination and application of new technologies, and work for a digital business environment that is open, fair and non-discriminatory. China has concluded a number of cooperation initiatives, including those on using digital technologies for the prevention and control of COVID-19 and on smart cities. We will host a workshop on digital capacity building and take forward such initiatives as bolstering the recovery of the tourism sector with digital tools, as part of our efforts to contribute more to Asia-Pacific cooperation on digital economy. Colleagues, China has embarked on a new journey toward fully building a modern socialist country. As China enters a new development stage, we will follow a new development philosophy and foster a new development paradigm. We will build a new system of open economy of higher standards, create a more attractive business environment, and advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. We hope to work with countries in the Asia-Pacific and beyond to achieve higher-standard mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. There is a Maori saying in New Zealand that goes, "Turn your face to the sun and the shadows will fall behind you." We have full confidence in humanity's victory over the pandemic through cooperation. We have full confidence in the prospects of world economic recovery. We have full confidence in a shared, bright future of humanity. Let us stand with each other in solidarity, promote anti-COVID cooperation and economic recovery, and work for a bright future of prosperity for all in the Asia-Pacific. Thank you. Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for deepened friendships and exchanges with people across the world, and building a community with a shared future for humanity. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits an exhibition of diplomatic gifts exchanged between Chinese Party and state leaders and their foreign counterparts, on July 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while visiting an exhibition of diplomatic gifts exchanged between Chinese Party and state leaders and their foreign counterparts. The gifts represent profound relationships between peoples of China and other countries and have witnessed diplomatic achievements made by the People's Republic of China (PRC), Xi said. The CPC is a party striving for the well-being of the Chinese people and the progress of humanity. It will uphold peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit and use China's new development achievements to provide the world with new opportunities, Xi said. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, also visited the exhibition. The exhibition displays more than 670 gifts, over 40 photos, and nearly 100 archives, abstracts, and multimedia materials, showing the glorious journey of breaking new ground on the country's diplomatic front by Chinese Communists. Among the exhibits is color footage of the founding ceremony of the PRC, presented by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Other items include the tapestry "The Amazon" from former French President Georges Pompidou and the telegram from the United Nations on the restoration of the PRC's lawful seat in the organization. There are also gift porcelain swans from former U.S. President Richard Nixon. Gifts from former and incumbent leaders of Britain, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kenya, Greece, Bolivia, and Fiji are also on display. What's Included With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 319-283-2144 or email circ@oelweindailyregister.com. Coronado, CA (92118) Today Partly cloudy. High around 80F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low around 70F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. This is the perfect time to highlight all the great and unique things about Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont said in a news release. CTForMe is a new way our younger population can engage with each other and share their personal experiences of living and working in Connecticut. I encourage anyone who wants to tell their stories to use the hashtag or reach out lets work to get your story out there. Lucas Brewer, 15, a student at Plainville High, and Anthony Nagore, 17, who was visiting family in Plainville, have been missing since Thursday, when they are believed to have gone for a swim in the river on the Avon side at about 1 p.m. A nearby resident reportedly warned the boys that the water was dangerous due to the recent heavy rainfall, but they continued toward the river. Searches began Thursday night by water, land and sky, with state troopers in boats using sonar, and a helicopter and drone flying overhead. Police dogs were used along the riverbank. And by filing for relief under Chapter 11, the diocese said it will be able to more fairly and proportionately address the abuse claims. Without bankruptcy protection, the first abuse victim to obtain a judgment could possibly receive all available money, leaving little to no assets for others, the diocese said. Elizabeth Moore Staff writer Elizabeth Moore is an intern at The Virginian-Pilot. She's a North Carolina native and rising senior studying journalism and spanish at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As a reporter, she's driven by an investigative curiosity developed over 3 years reporting for The Daily Tar Heel. Hampton Commonwealths Attorney Anton Bell this year sponsored the camp and said its another opportunity to reach youth and for them to see positive interaction with law enforcement. There are some youths who are in crisis, but are afraid to speak up. If theyre at the camp, it may encourage them. Bell also hosts a criminal justice camp for middle school-aged children. Most youth are good and are trying to do the right thing, but Bell believes there also needs to be opportunities to help those youths who may really need it. Joint secretary Sanjay Awasthi said the process to notify the jurisdiction of the Krishna River Management Board and the Godavari River Management Board was initiated way back in 2014 when Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated. (Photo:DC) Hyderabad: The Union Jal Shakti ministry on Friday said the gazette notification establishing the jurisdiction of the Krishna and the Godavari river boards was issued after much deliberation and after taking all the issues and arguments into consideration. It rubbished reports of the ministry taking a 'unilateral decision' and issuing the gazette notification all of a sudden. It stated that it had acted as per the provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, and there was no violation of any norms as such. Ministry officials addressed a press conference in this regard in Delhi on Monday. Joint secretary Sanjay Awasthi said the process to notify the jurisdiction of the Krishna River Management Board and the Godavari River Management Board was initiated way back in 2014 when Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated. "The water allocation to AP and Telangana will be made based on AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. An Apex Council was set up as per Section 84 of this Act to resolve water sharing disputes between both the states. This council comprising the Chief Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh met for the first time in 2016 but could not resolve issues. It again met in October 2020 but without much outcome. We have taken a final decision on issuing gazette notification after a detailed discussion in the Central Water Commission," Awasthi said. He said under Schedule-I of the gazette notification, the names of all projects over the Krishna and the Godavari were mentioned. Under Schedule-II, the names of projects placed under the jurisdiction of the KRMB and the GRMB were mentioned. He said Central Industrial Security Force personnel will be deployed at all these projects. The projects mentioned under Schedule-III will be monitored by respective state governments as usual, he added. Hyderabad: A midnight gazette notification issued by the Centre late on Thursday night, taking control of all major and medium irrigation projects on the Krishna and the Godavari rivers from October 14 came as a rude shock to the Telangana state government. The sudden development came in the wake of the row over sharing of the Krishna waters between Telangana state and Andhra Pradesh, and both states lodging a series of complaints with the Centre against each other over the Rayalaseema lift irrigation scheme and enhancement of the capacity of the Pothireddypadu project by the AP government and hydel power generation on the Krishna river projects by the Telangana government. The Telangana government has been demanding all along that the Centre determine its fair share in Krishna water first before bringing the projects under the control of Krishna River Management Board (KRMB). Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Friday held an emergency meeting at Pragathi Bhavan with officials to take stock of the situation. The Telangana government is likely to move the Supreme Court against the gazette. He also held a meeting with TRS Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members on this issue. The Chief Minister asked the MPs to strongly raise their voices in the Monsoon session of Parliament set to begin from July 19 and bring pressure on the Centre to withdraw the gazette notification. The Chief Minister is learnt to have said the Centre took a unilateral decision on notifying the KRMB and GRMB (Godavari River Management Board) jurisdiction without consulting the state governments and without redressing the issue of final allocation of the Krishna water between the two states. The Union Jal Shakti ministry issued a gazette notification establishing the jurisdiction of the KRMB and GRMB for administration, regulation, maintenance and operation of the projects in their respective river basins, which will come into force from October 14, 2021. A total of 36 projects of different categories stand on the Krishna river in AP, Telangana and Karnataka, and 71 on the Godavari in the two Telugu states, Maharashtra and Odisha. According to the notification, the projects and its components like overhead works (barrages, dams, reservoirs, regulating structures), part of canal network and transmission lines come under the purview of the Centre. The boards were given powers to perform all the functions to regulate the supply of water and power generated from the projects. The Centre has stated that no person from Telangana and AP shall be appointed chairman, member-secretary, member and chief engineer of the KRMB and GRMB so as to make them impartial. Both the governments should stop all the ongoing works on unapproved projects as on the date of publication of this notification until the said projects are appraised and approved in accordance with the decisions taken in the 2nd meeting of the apex council held last October. If approvals are not obtained within six months after the publication of this notification, full or partial operation if any of the said ongoing unapproved projects shall cease to operate, the Centre said. The notification also said within six months from the date of publication of the notification, both the governments should complete the unapproved projects appraised and approved. For smooth functioning of the boards, both the Telangana and AP governments shall deposit Rs 200 crore each in bank accounts within 15 days of request received from the boards. The Centre said the principles, guidelines, directions and orders issued by the boards on matters relating to power generation, transmission and distribution should be implemented by both the states. It said if any dispute arose as to whether the KRMB had jurisdiction under sub-section (1) of section 87 of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, over any project, the same shall be referred to the Centre and its decision would be final. The notification said the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) would assist the boards in security aspects. Though both AP and Telangana governments are responsible for managing natural calamities, the boards shall advise them on management of disaster, drought or floods. Financial liability of any contract before the commencement of the notification, liability arising out of any case filed in any court or tribunal shall be the responsibility of the respective state governments, it said. The Centre had directed both the AP and Telangana governments to comply with its directions. It asked the boards to put in place appropriate organisational structure to perform functions within 30 days and appoint officers serving with the Centre in all categories of posts. Whats in and whats not The Centre has listed the approved and unapproved projects that will now be overseen by the Krishna and Godavari river boards Krishna river Approved: Srisailam project located both in AP and TS; Pothireddypadu head regulator and Srisailam right main canal; Nagarjunasagar project in AP and TS; Nagarjunasagar tail pond; Tungabhadra project; Bharavanitippa; Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme; KC Canal Project; Gajuladinne; Dr K.L. Rao Pulichinthala Project reservoir; Polavaram RMC-NS-LMC link; Godavari (Polavaram)-Krishna (Vijayawada) Link; Krishna Delta and others. Unapproved: Telugu Ganga: TGC head works; Veligonda project: Head regulator, tunnel and other components; Handri Niva lift irrigation scheme (LIS): Pump house; Muchumarri LIS: Pump house; Galeru Nagari Sujala Sravanti: Head works; Siddapuram LIS; Guru Raghavendra LIS; Reconstruction of Muniyeru project; Vempadu under Chinthalapudi LIS. Godavari Approved: Pedavegi reservoir scheme (Gummadipally) in TS and AP; Sri K.V. Rama Krishna (Surampalem) reservoir scheme; Musurumilli reservoir; Polavaram irrigation project; Sir Arthur Cotton barrage; Chagalnadu LIS; Bhupatipalem reservoir and others. Unapproved: Pattiseema LIS (will cease to operate after Polavaram becomes operational); Purushottapatnam LIS: Pump houses as Stages I and II (will cease to operate after Polavaram becomes operational); LIS at Chinthalapudi; LIS at Venkatanagaram. New Delhi: Ahead of the BJP government completing two years in Karnataka, speculations are rife that the central leadership could go in for a leadership change, replacing the 78-year-old Lingayat leader and chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa. However, Mr Yediyurappa, who met the BJP top brass, including PM Narendra Modi, rejected claims that he had been asked to quit or had offered to quit. The BJP government will complete two years in the state on July 26 and speculations are rife that the CM, during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, told him that the party leadership can replace him but not without agreeing to his conditions, including a successor of his choice and prominent positions for his sons in the state. However, Mr Yediyurappa, who was in the national capital since Friday and met party leadership including the PM, party president J.P. Nadda, Union ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, rubbished reports that the BJP leadership wanted to replace him and in fact said that he would be back again in August to meet the party leadership to seek more assistance from the central government for the state. Discussed on various matters including further strengthening the party's prospects in Karnataka ahead of 2023 general elections," tweeted the CM after meeting Mr Nadda. On reports of leadership change in the state, the CM said No one asked me for my resignation. No such situation arose. There was no discussion over leadership change in the state. After his meeting with the Union home minister later, Mr Yediyurappa said that the home minister asked him to work hard and come back to power in the state. He (Shah) asked me to work hard to come back to power in Karnataka and also that we must win more seats in Lok Sabha elections, Mr Yediyurappa added Meanwhile, a leading newchannel, citing sources, claimed that Mr Yediyurappa offered to resign citing ill health during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday evening. Sources, according to the news channel, said that the probable names for the CM's post are state home minister Basavaraj Bommai, mines minister Murugesh Nirani and parliamentary affairs minister Prahlad Joshi. Sources added that the chief minister has offered to resign on the condition that his son Vijayendra should get a good position in the state party unit. Though a section within the state BJP has been demanding a leadership change and have even cited alleged corruption charges against the CM to put pressure on the party leadership to heed to their demand, accommodations of Mr Yediyurappa's close aide Shobha Karandlaje in the PM's council of ministers, was perceived as an indication by many that the Lingayat strongman might finally agree to the leadership change. Keeping in mind the influential Lingayat vote bank and the past experience when Mr Yediyurappa had quit the BJP after being ousted from the CM's post in 2012, the BJP top brass is unlikely to antagonise the Lingayat leader. A photograph of Alec Wigginton with his pet cat is displayed at his memorial. A ribbon is cut on July 13 during a ceremony for the opening of Elk Groves newest transitional house, on Moon Creek Way in the Laguna area. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. About This Property Move right in to this recently renovated cape centrally located in Southeast Pittsfield! Recent updates include fully remodeled kitchen and two full bathrooms, brand new roof, windows, flooring and much more. Private, fully fenced yard, oversized and heated garage, and partially finished basement add to the list of features. Close proximity to coffee shops, playgrounds, Egremont Elementary School and many of Pittsfield's hot spots! Land Details Community Details Acres Apx: 0.15 Parking Type: Garaged & Off-Street Region: Berkshire - Central Elem School: Egremont Middle School: Theodore Herberg High School: Pittsfield Exterior Details Interior Details Color: White Style: Cape Construction: Wood Frame Exterior: Other,Wood Water: Public Sewer: Public Underground Oil Tank: No Garage: Attached,Heated,Oversized Total Rooms: 7 Total Full Baths: 2 Fuel: Oil,Propane Hot Water: Oil Electric: 100 Amp,Circuit Breaker Floor: Carpet,Ceramic,Laminate,Wood Lead Paint: Unk Heat/Cool: Hot Water Appliances Incl: Dishwasher,Microwave,Range/Stove,Refrigerator Accessibility: 1st Fl Bdrm,1st Flr Full Bath Search More Properties With these Features Bus-Public Composite/Recycled Decking Curbside Recycling Exterior Lighting Fenced Yard Patio Public Transportation within 1/2 Mile Trash Public Fireplace (s) Skylight(s) From left, Yim Si-wan, Lee Byung-hun, director Han Jae-rim and Song Kang-ho pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Emergency Declaration' at the 74th Cannes International Film Festival in southern France, July 16. AP-Yonhap Cannes was shaken Friday by a South Korean virus movie about a bio-terrorist attack on a passenger plane. Eerily evocative of the ongoing COVID pandemic, "Emergency Declaration" by director Han Jae-rim tells the story of a vengeful biochemist spreading a deadly mutant corona-like virus on an aircraft. As passengers start dying messily, the authorities on the ground scramble for solutions. Critics at the thriller's first screening instinctively adjusted their masks which are mandatory during Cannes screenings as they watched the fictional, airborne virus spread death through the plane. But while the actual coronavirus pandemic loomed large during the filming of "Emergency Declaration", it was never meant to be its theme. "It's not 'COVID, The Movie,'" director Han insisted. "When we prepared for the movie, there was no Covid-19. We knew SARS, but nobody was talking about the coronavirus," he told AFP. "At one level, it's an action movie, I wanted to make it entertaining," he said. "But I also wanted to show how people react when they are confronted with a catastrophe." Fast-paced action sequences and a tight storyline make the movie's 147 minutes fly by, with Han saying he aimed to make sure that "the situation is shown in a very realistic way" without sliding into panic-inducing "cliches." For cabin scenes with the aircraft in a tailspin, the production crew built a rotating cylinder, with camera operators filming inside, strapped tightly into rigs. "That is something that even Hollywood doesn't often do," Han said. Many scenes are filmed with handheld cameras so "viewers get the full experience inside the plane, and are not just distant spectators," he added. 'Humanity makes progress' Han goes further, exploring fear, cowardice and selfishness sparked by the virus crisis, but also bravery, solidarity and self-sacrifice. "Some are cowards, some run away, but you can also see that, despite everything, humanity makes progress because there are always people with courage," Han said. Filming, which took place entirely during the pandemic, was briefly interrupted in the summer of 2020 when there was a virus scare over one of the actors who was in contact with a positive case, but eventually tested negative. "In the beginning I thought COVID might help viewers to really immerse themselves in the film," lead actor Lee Byung-hun told AFP. But as the pandemic spread, he began to worry. "When reality gets more powerful than fiction, the film's force can be diminished. But now I realize that any viewer with experience of COVID can plunge into the movie even more intensely," Lee said. Apart from Lee, a superstar in Korea but also in Hollywood thanks to "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" and "The Magnificent Seven," the film also features Jeon Do-yeon, who won the best actress award at Cannes in 2007. Song Kang-ho, another famous Korean actor who sits on the festival's main jury this year, plays a police chief. South Korea which won the last Palme d'Or in 2019 with Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" has a booming film industry notorious for its hard-hitting thrillers and often gore-filled horror flicks. "Emergency Declaration" premiered out of competition at Cannes, which closed Saturday. (AFP) Only three customers dine at a restaurant in Incheon on July 12, the first day of the Level 4 social distancing measures. Yonhap By Yoon Ja-young With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing for more than a year now, there seems to be no way out for small business owners. The recent re-imposition of strengthened social distancing measures amid a fourth wave of the pandemic, and the increase in the minimum wage, are adding to their concerns. "Most of the evening customers used to come in groups of three or four. I have been maintaining the business thanks to our loyal customers, but I don't think things will be sustainable if the Level 4 distancing measures continue," said Ji who runs a restaurant on Yeouido, Seoul. The government had originally planned to ease social distancing starting July 1 to help small businesses get back on track by increasing the number of people allowed at private gatherings from four to six in the Seoul metropolitan area, and extending the operating hours of restaurants and cafes to 12 a.m. from 10 p.m. The plan, however, has been postponed indefinitely after new infections bounced back to record highs over the last week. The distancing rules were toughened to Level 4 on a new scale which includes a ban on gatherings of more than two people after 6 p.m. Small businesses have been suffering since the pandemic took hold here. According to the Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI), eight out of 10 saw their total sales decrease in the first half of this year compared with the same period last year. They reported an average 21.8 percent drop in sales. The KERI report is based on a survey of 521 small businesses in various sectors, including restaurants, cafes, convenience stores, private academies, hair salons, garment shops, florists and laundromats. Among those who reported a drop in total sales, 58.2 percent cited COVID-19 as the biggest reason. Three out of 10 also reported an average 17.7 percent decrease in net profit. Moreover, there is a generally pessimistic outlook for the second half of the year, with more than half of the businesses surveyed, or 65.3 percent, projecting a further fall in total sales over the period compared with 2020. "When considering that the survey was conducted before the recent resurgence in COVID-19 cases and the rise of the Delta variant, small businesses are likely to have an even worse outlook for the latter half of the year now," said Choo Kwang-ho, director of the Research Coordination Department at KERI. According to a joint analysis by the Seoul Institute and Shinhan Card, offline sales at stores in Seoul are estimated to have dropped an overall 9 percent last year amid COVID-19. Around the end of 2020 when the third wave of the pandemic hit the country, stores saw a 34 percent drop. The ROKN destroyer Munmu the Great / Yonhap One more service member of South Korea's Cheonghae anti-piracy unit patrolling off the coast of Africa has tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total caseload there to seven, the defense ministry said Saturday. Earlier this week, six service members of the 300-strong crew aboard the 4,400-ton destroyer Munmu the Great were confirmed to have been infected, and the authorities conducted virus tests on all other crewmembers. Fears of a mass infection have grown as around 80 others have shown symptoms consistent with COVID-19. The newly confirmed service member had shown symptoms of pneumonia and has been undergoing treatment at a local hospital where he was given a virus test, the ministry said. Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming / Yonhap The Ministry of Foreign Affairs made an implicit call Saturday for Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming to be "cautious" after his comments on a presidential front-runner raised questions over whether they could be construed as political interference. In a contribution to the local daily Joong-Ang Ilbo, Friday, Xing rebutted remarks by Yoon Seok-youl, a conservative presidential hopeful, from a recent interview about missile defense as "hardly understandable." Yoon had said that China should first remove its long-range radar systems on its border if it wants the U.S.'s THAAD anti-missile system to be withdrawn from South Korea. Seoul and Washington said the system deployed in 2017 is only meant to counter North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats. But Beijing has repeatedly pressed South Korea to order the missile system to be removed, claiming it could hurt China's security interests. Xing's contribution triggered criticism, with some arguing that his remarks about a prominent South Korean politician could affect the March 9 presidential vote to pick a successor to President Moon Jae-in. "Our government's position on the THAAD deployment remains unchanged," a ministry official said on condition of anonymity. "Given that the public expression of an opinion by a foreign diplomatic mission regarding remarks by a politician of a host nation could have a negative effect on the development of relations between the two countries, there is a need to be cautious," he added. In the interview with the Joong-Ang Ilbo published Thursday, Yoon, a former prosecutor general, stressed the need to strengthen cooperation with countries sharing the same values "based on the South Korea-U.S. alliance" an indication of his support for a stronger partnership with Washington. (Yonhap) Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun, right, with Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Koichi Aiboshi / Yonhap Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun called in Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Koichi Aiboshi, Saturday, to protest his deputy's "undiplomatic, rude" remarks disparaging President Moon Jae-in's efforts to improve ties between Seoul and Tokyo, according to the foreign ministry. The cable TV broadcaster, JTBC, reported Friday that Hirohisa Soma, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy, made sexually indecent comments during a lunch with its reporter, saying Moon was in a tug of war only with himself as Tokyo has little room to pay attention to pending issues between the two countries. "Vice Foreign Minister Choi lodged a stern protest over undiplomatic, rude remarks by a senior official of the Japanese Embassy, which greatly denigrated our leader's efforts to improve relations between the South and Japan," the ministry said in a press release. "He also demanded the Japanese government promptly take visible and due steps to prevent a repeat of such a situation," it added. The ambassador expressed regrets over Soma's remarks and said that he would relay Seoul's demands to his government, the ministry said. The two countries have been in talks over the possibility of Moon visiting Tokyo to attend the opening ceremony of the Summer Games later this month and have talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to help address protracted rows over wartime history and trade. Earlier in the day, Aiboshi said he had cautioned Soma over what he called "extremely inappropriate" remarks. "(The remarks) as a diplomat were extremely inappropriate and very regrettable," Aiboshi said in a press release. "I have sternly cautioned Minister Soma after receiving his briefing (on the matter)." The ambassador said that while Soma did make the controversial remarks, he has retracted them, which Soma also claimed were "by no means" directed at Moon. Soma's gaffe added to tensions between Seoul and Tokyo over the long-simmering issues of Japan's wartime forced labor and sexual slavery, as well as its restrictions on exports of key industrial materials to South Korea. Seoul has been cranking up diplomacy with Tokyo to address the issues through high-level talks and enhance cooperation in addressing shared challenges, such as North Korea's nuclear threats, amid Washington's push to bring its two Asian allies closer. (Yonhap) By Bahk Eun-ji An appellate court in Suwon upheld a lower court ruling, Friday, which sentenced three sisters to up to 10 years in prison for beating their mother resulting in her death, after they had been told to do so by a shaman. The Suwon High Court upheld the decision to hand down 10 years in prison to the victim's eldest daughter, 44, and seven years each to the second and third daughters, 41 and 39, respectively, for the bizarre killing. Korea Times file A poster for a special exhibition by Seoul Metropolitan Government depicting Yongsan District during the Korean War / Yonhap The Seoul Metropolitan Government has released footage of the U.S. Air Force bombing the Yongsan District of the capital in July 1950 during the Korean War, images that have previously been unseen here. On July 16, 1950, U.S. Air Force planes dropped bombs on the central Seoul district of Yongsan to halt invading North Korean forces from advancing further in the capital. The footage, which was obtained from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, shows the bombs being dropped on Yongsan, the area going up in smoke and bodies strewn on the ground. To mark the anniversary of the event, the city government is showing the footage 17 videos and 80 still photographs that have been abstracted from them at a special exhibition at the Yongsan City Memorial Exhibition. As part of the special exhibit, the city has also reorganized the hall's existing archives under four themes bombing, homecoming, restoration and reconstruction. This section of the exhibit chronicles the suffering of the people during the war and the reconstruction process after the armistice was signed in July 1953. The exhibit opened Saturday on a reservation-only basis, with a maximum capacity of 10 people per hour, in keeping with COVID-19 protocols. Reservations can be made online at: https://yeyak.seoul.go.kr. The exhibition will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every Tuesday to Saturday. The footage can also be viewed online at: (Yonhap) Main opposition People Power Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok speaks during a party meeting preparing for the next presidential election, held at the National Assembly in Seoul, July 9. Lee has recently stirred controversy by claiming that the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the Ministry of Unification need to be abolished in a move to establish a small but efficient government. Yonhap Controversy rises over main opposition leader's call to abolish unification, gender equality ministries By Jung Da-min Calls have arisen among some politicians for the abolishment of certain ministries, which they claim to have not achieved any notable results in recent years, after some potential candidates for the next presidential, slated for March, raised this issue. Lee Jun-seok, chairman of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), stirred the controversy by stating that the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the Ministry of Unification need to be abolished as part of a move to establish a small but efficient government. He said the ministries have not recorded any achievements and have ceased to have any reason to exist The claim by Lee was made after former four-term lawmaker Yoo Seong-min and Rep. Ha Tae-keung, both presidential hopefuls of the PPP, said they would abolish the gender equality ministry and replace it with a presidential gender equality commission, if elected. Expressing support for the idea, Lee further made the claim that the unification ministry also needs to be got rid of. But Lee's claim immediately drew criticism not only from the liberal bloc including the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the minor opposition Justice Party, but also within his own party. Both Unification Minister Lee In-young and Gender Equality Minister Chung Young-ai refuted his claim saying the ministries have done much work. Gender Equality Minister Chung Young-ai, left, and Unification Minister Lee In-young, center, attend a Cabinet meeting held at the Government Complex Seoul, July 13. Yonhap Those refuting Chairman Lee's claim said he lacks understanding of the unification ministry's role in dealing with North Korea issues, and of the gender equality ministry's role in overcoming the structural discrimination that still exists against women. They said the ministries' achievements should not be judged by visible outcomes in recent years as their function is for the long-term goals of achieving unification and gender equality. However, Lee stuck to his guns, saying he hopes the removal of the two ministries would be part of a wide ranging reorganization of government departments. He said this is needed to make the administration smaller but more efficient. In a radio interview with local broadcaster CBS, July 9, Lee said he has "always been calling for the dismantlement of the unification and gender equality ministries," as he believes the two ministries are not fulfilling their original purposes. "I hope the PPP's presidential candidate, whoever is selected (through the party's primary), makes it an election promise to abolish the unification and the gender equality ministries. And if our candidate wins the election, the next administration should carry out the promise by amending the Government Organization Act," he said. Lee said Cheong Wa Dae and the National Intelligence Agency have directly dealt with inter-Korean relations, meaning the unification ministry has made no notable contribution. Regarding the gender equality ministry, he said, "The ministry is incapable and unprepared to achieve equality; it just carries out campaigns," in an interview with local broadcaster SBS, July 7. Critics, however, have said abolishing the ministries was not the answer to making the government function more effectively. They said what's needed is decisions on how to operate existing ministries better rather than disregarding their functions. Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum presides over a Cabinet meeting at the Government Complex Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap Yoon Ji-woong, a public policy and management professor at Kyung Hee University, said the issue of dissolving government ministries should be approached carefully, as there were various factors to consider. "Efficient operation of government is not simply a matter of its size in a quantitative sense but rather the matter of value judgment," Yoon said. President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shake hands in the Peace House building on the southern side of the truce village of Panmunjeom in this April 27, 2018, file photo. Yonhap Rep. Kwon Young-se, head of the PPP's external relations council, said he believes the unification ministry should be maintained and the PPP leader Lee needs to be cautious in his words and actions. "In the early days of the Lee Myung-bak government, I was astonished by some of his aides' claims that the unification ministry should be abolished, as they said they had factorized the ministry's tasks into which could be distributed to other ministries. It is embarrassing to again hear that the unification ministry is useless. I agree that under the current administration the ministry has performed poorly, but we should not abolish it but make it work better after our party wins the next presidential election," Kwon wrote on Facebook, July 10. "Running a government is not about mathematics. There is no need for our party to be stigmatized as an anti-unification force. The unification ministry must be preserved," Kwon added. Cha Jae-won, a professor of special affairs at the Catholic University of Pusan, said Lee's calls to abolish the ministries is not winning support as he is offering no alternative, only calling for abolishment for abolishment's sake. "Lee's call for abolishing the gender equality ministry, in particular, seems to be made with the political intention of appealing to young men," Cha said. Young male voters, many of whom believe they are mistreated and victimized by extreme feminism, and who feel unhappy about the current administration's job policies, are believed to have contributed to the PPP's victory in the April by-elections for the Seoul and Busan mayoral posts, and the following election of Lee as party chairman. Women's rights activists hold a press conference in front of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) headquarters in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo District, July 9, to condemn party Chairman Lee Jun-seok's call for the abolishment of the gender equality ministry, saying such a claim fuels gender conflict. Yonhap Courtesy of Rosa Menkman By David A. Tizzard On Saturday, July 17, the Korean Brand Reserach Institute released their brand reputation rankings for male K-pop idols for the month of July. Want to know who the most popular male idols are this time around? Then keep on reading! What are the Brand Reputation Rankings? The brand reputation ranking is an index created through the use of big data brand analysis. The index is used to study and unearth the consumers' online habits and find out what impacts brand consumption. The brand reputation rankings also aim to discover the influence of a male K-pop idol, the volume of media interest in the male idol, the volume of interest the consumer has for the male idol, and the communication volume of the male idol. From June 17 to July 11, The Korean Brand Research Institute analyzed 92,747,866 pieces of big data concerning 632 individual male idol to determine the male idols' participation index, media index, communication index, and community index. Compared to the 91,756,256 pieces of big data in June 2021, the number increased by 0.79%. BTS Jimin is the Most Popular Male Idol for July 2021 Taking the throne this month is none other than BTS's Jimin with a brand reputation index of 5,772,316. Jimin has a participation index of 1,263,266, a media index of 1,148,795, a community index of 1,802,504, and a communication index of 1,557,750. Compared to his brand reputation index of 6,416,255, his index dropped by 10.04%. 2PM Junho is the Second Most Popular Male Idol for July 2021 Second place goes to 2PM Junho with a brand reputation index of 4,536,876. Junho has a participation index of 1,082,924, a media index of 1,014,975, a community index of 1,068,242, and a communication index of 137,735. Compared to his brand reputation index of 3,743,920 in June, his index rose by 21.18%. BTS V is the Third Most Popular Male Idol for July 2021 BTS member V ranked third place with a brand reputation index of 4,508,340. V has a participation index of 1,065,541, a media index of 978,986, a community index of 1,164,164, and a communication index of 1,299,650. Compared to his brand reputation index of 4,488,800, his index rose by 0.61%, ASTRO Cha Eun Woo is the Fourth Most Popular Male Idol for July 2021 K-pop's face genius Cha Eun Woo of ASTRO ranks at fourth place with a brand reputation index of 4,354,821. Cha Eun Woo has a participation index of 1,122,903, a meduia index of 1,006,561, a community index of 928,537, and a communication index of 1,296,820. Compared to his brand reputation index of 3,183,313 in June, his index rose by 36.80%. BTS Jungkook is the Fifth Most Popular Male Idol for July 2021 Wrapping up the top five is none other than BTS's golden maknae, Jungkook! Jungkook has a brand reputation index of 4,157,246. Jungkook has a participation index of 701,380, a media index of 629,490, a community index of 1,894,414, and a communication index of 931,692. Compared to his brand reputation index of 3,621,286 in June, his index rose by 14.80%. These are the TOP 30 Most Popular Male Idols for July 2021 1. BTS Jimin 2. 2PM Junho 3. BTS V 4. ASTRO Cha Eun Woo 5. BTS Jungkook 6. BTS Jin 7. Super Junior Heechul 8. BTS RM 9. BTS Suga 10. BIGBANG G-Dragon 11. SEVENTEEN S.Coups 12. 2PM Wooyoung 13. NCT Mark 14. SEVENTEEN Joshua 15. 2PM Chansung 16. BTS J-Hope 17. WINNER Kang Seungyoon 18. WINNER Song Mino 19. SEVENTEEN Dino 20. Super Junior Eunhyuk 21. HIGHLIGHT Yoon Doojoon 22. HIGHLGHT Yang Yoseob 23. NCT Jungwoo 24. THE BOYZ Younghoon 25. NCT Jisung 26. THE BOYZ Sangyeon 27. MONSTA X Shownu 28. THE BOYZ Juyeon 29. TXT Soobin 30. SHINee Minho Did your favorite male idol make it to the top 30? Tell us in the comments below! For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Alexa Lewis As the K-pop fandom grows bigger, several K-pop idols are also trying their best to communicate with their fans in the deaf community. In fact, groups such as BTS, TWICE, SEVENTEEN, MAMAMOO, and more used sign language in their choreography, touching fans' hearts. Previously, BTS received favorable responses from the deaf community after showing love and support to them by using international sign language. In particular, this gesture language is commonly used by deaf who can't learn to speak with sound. As more people become more interested in sign language, Single List, a Korean media outlet, listed other K-pop groups who shared their music with the deaf through their dance choreography. K-pop Groups Who Used Sign Language in Their Dance Choreo: 1. T-ara - TIAMO Released in 2016, T-ara included sign language in their choreography. In the last line of the chorus, the female act sings, "TIAMO, our own secret password." Using their pinky and thumb, they expressed the words, "to the one I love," to match the lyrics and the beautiful mood of the song. 2. B1A4 - A Lie In 2016 as well, the second-gen K-pop group also dropped a new song titled, "A Lie." In the whole dance choreography, they tailored three sign languages including the title. The action of hitting the ball of your hand twice and sticking the index finger in front of the nose means "it's a lie," moving the hands away from the sides means "leave," and stroking one's chin means "happiness." 3. BTOB - Missing You In 2017, BTOB also became a hot topic after releasing "Missing You." In the chorus part, BTOB sings the lyrics "I spend a year missing you." The voices of the male idols are already touching, but it becomes more heartwarming with the sign language used in their live performance. They particularly used sign language while singing the parts "a year" "go by" and "missing." 4. BTS - Permission to Dance (PTD) In the latest track released by BTS, they received favorable responses from the deaf community for using international sign language. The motion of waving up and down with only the thumb outstretched means "fun," the motion of raising the other hand in the shape of an "A" over one palm is "dance," and the motion of making a "V" with both hands symbolizes "peace." 5. MAMAMOO - Starry Night In 2018, MAMAMOO kicked off with "Starry Night." To described the title and its lyrics, they used sign language as well, such as crossing hands and closing-opening their hands to define "sparkle." This made the dance more meaningful. 6. SEVENTEEN - THANKS The song that SEVENTEEN released contained significant lyrics showing how thankful they are. There is also a line where they said they can't look for the right words to say "Thank you." In this sense, they used sign language for saying one is grateful as part of their dance choreography. 7. TWICE - FANCY in 2019, TWICE released their track, "FANCY." The overall dance is engaging and fun, but the point choreography is touching. During the chorus, the members folded their middle and ring fingers, leaving the thumb, index finger, and pinky open to express I, L, Y, a combination of English characters that symbolizes "I LOVE YOU." 8. Weki Meki - Butterfly "Butterfly" is specially composed of sign language throughout the choreography. It is a cheering track for the Winter Olympics, targeting paralympic games participants. 9. WEi - BTS "Spring Day" Dance Cover In 2020, WEi just started their career but they already captured fans' hearts with their heart-melting cover of BTS's "Spring Day." On Mnet's "M Countdown" broadcast, WEi added dance choreography that was expressed in sign language to cheer for everyone in the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Eunice Dawson A Colombian radio show, "La Mega," is currently under fire for mocking BTS success. Along with this, the hosts also disrespected South Korea by playing its National anthem in Dragonball Z cosplay. Korean netizens, as well as K-pop fans, were truly infuriated after BTS and South Korea were mocked in a Colombian radio show, "La Mega." On the 9th, the radio show's hosts introduced BTS's new song "Permission to Dance" as a song request from Colombian ARMYs (fans of BTS). Everything was going smoothly, not until the hosts started throwing disparaging remarks against BTS, including their success, nationality, and groundless claims. As a result, the whole fandom is determined to ask for an official public apology from the show and the hosts. La Mega Hosts Claimed BTS Success is "Brought By Money": " We don't have to like it just because it is a BTS Song." In the broadcast, the hosts described BTS as Chino (Chinese) and made groundless remarks about BTS's achievements, including their nominations for the Grammy Awards, saying, "They bought it with money, and there's definitely sponsors." They emphasized that their paid for their high ranks on music charts and implied that they are backed by the Korean Embassy that's why they entered the prestigious award. But the controversy just started, as they continue mocking BTS, along with South Korea and Japan. Colombian Radio Show Hosts Cosplayed Dragonball Z During Broadcast of Apologies As local fans poured out complaints, the hosts went on a broadcast of apologies. However, they appeared in Japanese animation "Dragonball Z " makeup and T-shirts with the Rising Sun Flag on them, showing a playful attitude while apologizing. This is extremely problematic, and mockery not only to BTS but as well to South Korea as this symbol reminds them of the painful and horrible faith that Koreans suffered back then under the Japanese ruling. They made the situation worse as they played South Korea's National anthem, "Aegukga," explaining that they are apologizing to the country in the Korean language. "This is our official apology in Korean." They continued to make racist remarks, inserting an unrelated empanada Korean advertisement, followed by playing Dragonball Z theme song. During the said "apology broadcast," they didn't show any signs of sincerity and were seen laughing and mocking them instead. ARMYs all over the world are already sending complaints to La Mega company, RCN Radio. Fans are also still waiting for a genuine apology from the show and radio hosts. On the other hand, HYBE Label on June 29 expressed that they will take strict legal actions towards malicious commenters and individuals that will be attacking their artists, including BTS. For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Eunice Dawson Combine two of the fastest-growing fields on the planet with a culture of performance, collaboration and opportunity and this is what you get. Leading edge technology in an industry that's improving the lives of millions. Here, innovation isn't about another gadget, it's about making health care data available wherever and whenever people need it, safely and reliably. There's no room for error. Join us and start doing your life's best work.(sm) The successful candidate will be ensuring that the Adverse Letters comply with all applicable State and Federal laws and consent decrees, as well as the applicable accrediting regulatory review agencies, including but not limited to CMS, NCQA, HIPAA, and all UHC policies and procedures as applicable. Youll enjoy the flexibility to telecommute* from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges. Work schedule requirement is Monday through Friday 9am to 6pm Pacific Time 10am - 7pm Mountain Time Primary Responsibilities: Coordinates internal reviews on denial letters to determine compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements of the State and Federal programs, while reviewing for efficiencies and effectiveness of procedures Performs internal Quality Control reviews on processes and activities while developing recommendations for improvement Serves as a catalyst for implementing an appropriate risk assessment process designed to identify and correct deficiencies Assists with the coordination of external audits and reviews conducted by our clients or contracting organizations Maintain extensive knowledge of regulatory and applicable accrediting body requirements becoming a Compliance resource for the team Proficient in interpreting benefits, contracts, and medical policy Review denial notice issued by the National Letter team to ensure accuracy and compliance, as well as providing recommendations for improvement, as needed Interact effectively with other departments Maintain knowledge of State rules, contracts and Federal legislation/regulations as well as UHG guidelines Establish and maintain good working relationships throughout the company to support goals and objectives Demonstrate flexibility, availability and dependability to conform to position responsibilities Ability to work independently or in a team environment The applicant should possess a high attention to detail, exceptional documentation abilities, and organizational skills Youll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in. Required Qualifications: Active and unrestricted RN license in your state of residence Bilingual English and Spanish. Must be able to read, write and speak Spanish and English Proven analytical and problem-solving skills while managing multiple tasks simultaneously Proven ability to meet critical deadlines consistently, while completing tasks accurately Proven ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously by working independently, as well as part of a team, in a fast-paced environment Knowledge of State and Federal Regulations Excellent computer skills with direct experience in Microsoft Office, Word and Excel Ability to work a Monday through Friday work schedule which includes a rotational Saturday every other weekend If you need to enter a work site for any reason, you will be required to screen for symptoms using the ProtectWell mobile app, Interactive Voice Response (i.e., entering your symptoms via phone system) or a similar UnitedHealth Group-approved symptom screener. When in a UnitedHealth Group building, employees are required to wear a mask in common areas. In addition, employee must comply with any state and local masking orders Preferred Qualifications: Managed care experience or experience with a regulatory or accredited body Demonstrated excellent written and verbal communication skills Careers with Optum. Here's the idea. We built an entire organization around one giant objective; make health care work better for everyone. So when it comes to how we use the world's large accumulation of health-related information, or guide health and lifestyle choices or manage pharmacy benefits for millions, our first goal is to leap beyond the status quo and uncover new ways to serve. Optum, part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, brings together some of the greatest minds and most advanced ideas on where health care has to go in order to reach its fullest potential. For you, that means working on high performance teams against sophisticated challenges that matter. Optum, incredible ideas in one incredible company and a singular opportunity to do your life's best work.(sm) The hourly range for Colorado residents is $25.63 to $45.72. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, etc. As of the date of this posting, In addition to your salary, UHG offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: Health, dental, and vision plans; wellness program; flexible spending accounts; paid parking or public transportation costs; 401(k) retirement plan; employee stock purchase plan; life insurance, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance; business travel accident insurance; Employee Assistance Program; PTO; and employee-paid critical illness and accident insurance. *All Telecommuters will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Groups Telecommuter Policy Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment Job Keywords: Sr. Clinical Administration RN, RN, Bilingual, RN, Quality Reviewer, Benefits, Contracts, Telecommute, Telecommuter, Telecommuting, Work from Home, Remote, Phoenix, AZ, Arizona, Denver, CO, Colorado, Portland, OR, Oregon, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, TX, Texas Conditions of Employment - We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies. Additional jobs may be filled. - The salary range indicated in this announcement reflects the minimum locality pay up to maximum locality pay for all duty locations listed. The range will be adjusted for selected duty location. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages. - This is a Bargaining unit position. - Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. - A 1-year probationary period is required. - Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer. - Undergo an income tax verification and review of prior performance/conduct. - Must successfully complete a background investigation, including a FBI criminal history record check (fingerprint check). - Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency. - If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so. - Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. These documents must be unexpired original or certified copies. - Provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. (Birth certificate showing birth in the U.S; Unexpired U.S. Passport; Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization; or Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. Citizen (Form FS-240)) - Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel. Qualifications Federal experience is not required. The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-timework is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume. You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have one year of general experience and/or education equivalent to one (1) year or twelve (12 months) of general experience equal to the next lower grade (GS -03) in the Federal government or two (2) years of education above the high school level (education may have been obtained in an accredited junior college, college, university, business, secretarial or technical school. General experience - Progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work that indicates ability to acquire the particular competencies needed to perform the duties of the position to be filled. This may be paid or non-paid experience. demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of the Tax Examining Technician, OR EDUCATION: two (2) years of education above the high school level (education may have been obtained in an accredited junior college, college, university, business, secretarial or technical school. Note: One full year of academic study is defined as 30 semester hours/45 quarter hours in an accredited junior college, college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school equaling 720 hours. OR COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. Options for qualifying based on a combination will be identified in the online questions. For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM's Qualifications Standards. Education For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected. A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click here for Foreign Education Credentialing instructions. Certified Child Care Teachers The Learning Tree Early Learning Center in Brunswick Maryland is now accepting applications and conducting interviews for certified child care teachers. For over 20 years Learning Tree Inc. have been providing quality affordable child care in Frederick Maryland and surrounding areas to children ages 2 - 12 years old. The health, safety and development of children is our top priority. The Learning Tree Early Learning Center of Brunswick offers many meaningful learning experiences that encourage the development of social and emotional skills. Our educational activities promote positive learning environments for each child, focusing on each age group to ensure that every child benefits! Each of our locations are fully licensed by the Maryland Department of Education, Office of Child Care and we are Maryland Excels Quality Rated Programs. We are open Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. We use pre-made curriculums and teacher ideas to explore themes using activities that promote language/literacy, mathematical thinking, art/creativity, science/sensory, social/emotional growth, physical development/health and more. Van driver experience preferred. Location: Chicago, IL Make banking a Fifth Third better(R) We connect great people to great opportunities. Are you ready to take the next step? Discover a career in banking at Fifth Third Bank. GENERAL FUNCTION: Provide excellent customer care to customers regarding daily transactions, addressing inquiries, and problem resolution, in accordance with Fifth Third Bank policies. Refer customers to the appropriate business partner for products and services uncovered during business interactions and/or conversations. Responsible and accountable for risk by openly exchanging ideas and opinions, elevating concerns, and personally following policies and procedures as defined. Accountable for always doing the right thing for customers and colleagues, and ensures that actions and behaviors drive a positive customer experience. While operating within the Bank's risk appetite, achieves results by consistently identifying, assessing, managing, monitoring, and reporting risks of all types. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Customer Experience Function: Promote good customer experience by consistently providing best in class customer satisfaction by adhering to and applying customer experience key behaviors in a friendly demeanor, exemplifying a can-do attitude, and portraying a willingness to help at all times. Have a developed rapport with the customer base and have knowledge of account ownership. Act with confidence by answering and/or finding answers to customer questions and finding solutions to customer issues. Be responsive and timely with correspondence and problem resolution. Maintain a position of trust and responsibility by keeping all customer business confidential. Follow the Bancorp Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and other related policies, maintaining ethical behavior at all times. Operations Function: Perform daily office responsibilities, working with the platform team, to maintain the efficient operation of the office. Maintain a balancing record that is in line with policy and have the ability to find and correct outages and to enlist help as needed. Maintain knowledge of the bank policies and financial center procedures, and take responsibility to keep up to date on any changes. Handle consumer and business customer problems with professionalism, directing more complex issues seamlessly to the Lead Customer Service Representative or other leadership as necessary. Demonstrate sound judgment in decision making, abiding appropriately to established guidelines and procedures. Referrals Function: Consistently meet or exceed sales referrals, as set by management. Actively involve self in daily huddles, sales meetings and staff meetings. Maintain a well-developed working knowledge of the complete line of Retail products and services offered, taking responsibility to keep up to date and request assistance for further development needs. Initiate conversations to uncover customer needs and effectively refer customers to business partners for the selling of bank products and services. Utilize appropriate tools for all referrals sent to business partners for tracking purposes. Consistent daily review of tools and dashboards for referral progression and monitoring of referral fulfillment to ensure proper disposition of referrals. Continuously increase knowledge and skills through self-motivation, formal education, seminars and in-house training. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None. MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED: High school diploma/GED. Work involves extensive cash handling, which requires ability to perform advanced math functions. Work involves contact with the public, necessitating the ability to present a professional image. Must have the ability to interact comfortably and confidently with the public and demonstrate the initiative to initiate dialogue. Work requires the ability to properly read and write well enough to communicate in both oral and written form. Position requires knowledge of retail policies and procedures in order to perform the essential duties. Work requires the ability to take initiative and utilize sound judgment in decision-making and diplomacy and tact in problem resolution. Must be able to work in a team environment with the ability to interact well, and in a positive manner, with co-workers and management. Need to have flexibility in scheduling. WORKING CONDITIONS: Normal office environment. Extending viewing of computer screens. Bilingual CSR/Teller - Little Village (Chicago) - Part Time LOCATION -- Chicago, Illinois 60623 Fifth Third Bank, National Association is proud to have an engaged and inclusive culture and to promote and ensure equal employment opportunity in all employment decisions regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, veteran status or any other legally protected status. Job Title Member Service Specialist - Bilingual Preferred Job Description Purpose of the Job The Member Service Specialist I primary responsibilities include providing every member-owner with an exceptional service experience, for understanding member-owners' financial needs, and for meeting those needs with Truliant product and services. The employee must engage in conversations with member-owners in order to identify, understand, and meet financial needs. Financial needs include consumer and business deposit products, consumer and business lending products, investment products, and other services. The Member Service Specialist I performs problem resolution and may also process transactions when necessary. Essential Functions and Responsibilities Accurately and efficiently processes transactions for members to help them manage their finances. Resolves discrepancies within allotted time as required. Ensures consistent adherence to Credit Union member service standards throughout every member-owner interaction, including problem resolution. Engages members in conversation to learn about their most important financial needs and goals. Executes the MFC's plan to ensure achievement of goals and objectives. Including but not limited to member service scores, loan production, deposit production, new member growth and partner lines of business referrals. Educates members on the various products and services available to meet their financial goals and offer to assist them with establishing those identified products and services. Proactively assists members by finding ways to make financial services more convenient for them. This includes educating members on the various technological tools available to them to improve their banking experience. Utilizes member relationship tools to record and enhance interactions. Provides information and processes loan requests on all loan products to member-owners, including mortgages, business service loans, service agreements and insurance while reviewing credit needs for further loan opportunities to benefit the member. Understands IRA process and products offered. Opens and provides maintenance for all IRA accounts. Adheres to Truliant's policies and supports company decisions and goals in a positive, professional, manner. Follows all security and fraud prevention requirements in order to protect the Credit Union and members. Adapts, as needed, to meet the ever-changing needs of our members and the communities we serve. Maintains integrity and confidentiality when handling member's accounts. Researches and resolve member account/service issues. Represents Truliant with a high level of integrity and professionalism. Exhibits a professional, business-like appearance, and demeanor. Researches and resolves account issues, elevating to problem resolution team as necessary. Other Duties and Responsibilities Provides assistance with member service when needed on the MSR line. Assists with other tasks and projects as assigned. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Must have National Mortgage Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) registration under the SAFE Act of 2008 Must have sound understanding of standard concepts, practices, procedures, regulations and compliance within the financial services environment Must have excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and written Strong interpersonal skills required Must have good arithmetic skills Must have basic personal computer skills Must have knowledge of advanced products and services Must be proficient in service recovery concepts as a vehicle to enhance member satisfaction Must understand basic concepts and principles of credit underwriting Must have Notary appointment within 3 month period Must attend Branch Lending Training within 3 month period Must be detail oriented and well organized Must be flexible and able to shift resources and priorities as required Must be able to complete all assignments with minimal supervision Physical Requirements Occasional standing, walking, and bending required Must be able to sit at a desk for moderate periods of time and use a computer Must be able to moderately lift or move up to 5 pounds and occasionally lift or move up to 10 pounds Education and Experience College degree or equivalent experience required A minimum of 3 years related experience in the retail industry or financial services preferred Previous sales experience preferred Previous lending experience preferred Location Hanes Mall Blvd. - Winston Salem, NC 27103 US (Primary) Category Customer Service Job Type Full-time Description The Dallas ISD Board of Trustees on Jan. 28 adopted three calendars for the next two school years, with the majority of schools set to have a traditional calendar. Click the appropriate calendar below to see your campuses schedule for the 2021-2022 School Year: Base Calendar Intersession Calendar School Day Redesign 1 School Day Redesign 2 Develop and implement lesson plans that fulfill requirements of the district's curriculum program and show written evidence of preparation as required Prepare lessons that reflect accommodations for differences in student learning styles Present subject matter according to guidelines established by Texas Education Agency, Board of Trustee policies, and administrative regulations Establish efficient classroom management procedures Establish and maintain standards of pupil behavior Establish a system of students evaluation within the guidelines prescribed in state law or adopted by the school district Continually evaluate and record various aspects of students' progress and report to parents as needed and required Teach within the course of study for the subject area at the grade level as prescribed in state law or adopted by the school district Understand and plan lessons leading to subject area objectives and assume the responsibility for written lesson plans for substitutes Provide a variety of planned learning experiences using a variety of media and methods in order to motivate students and best utilize available time for instruction Identify pupil needs and cooperate with other professional staff members in assessing and helping students resolve health, attitude, and learning problems Be available for counseling with students and parents before and after school. Share the responsibility of interpreting the educational programs to the community through such activities as open house and PTA meetings Plan and coordinate the work of aides and other paraprofessional and student teachers (when applicable) Participate cooperatively with the principal to develop the system by which he/she will be evaluated in conformance with the district's uniform guidelines for evaluation and assessment Keep accurate records of student information; compile, maintain, and file all reports, records, and other documents required by the school and district Performs all other tasks and duties as assigned Regular and punctual attendance at the worksite is required for this position WORK ENVIRONMENT: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Travel throughout the district is integral to this job. A remote working environment /alternate work arrangement is not an option for campus-based employees/campus-based positions because regular and punctual attendance at the worksite and performing all duties at the worksite are essential job duties for all campus-based personnel. Qualifications The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required of this job: Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university; valid Texas teacher certificate with required endorsements for subject and subject level assigned. Demonstrated general knowledge of curriculum and instruction. Demonstrated knowledge of various routine tasks, duties, and procedures and the ability to follow specific instructions with little or no previous experience. Present subject matter according to guidelines established by Texas Education Agency, Board of Trustee policies, and administrative regulations. Establish efficient classroom management procedures. Demonstrated flexibility to cope with the challenges of a rapidly changing world Demonstrated willingness to remain current with the latest developments in the profession A well Established Commercial HVAC Construction Company of 28 years is currently looking for a self-motivated individual that can multi-task in a fast paced environment while assisting with the many duties of the Accounting Department. Construction experience is highly preferred. The position is open due to our bookkeeper of 19 years retiring, we are a small office located in Central Florida. We are the main office to four branches. We offer premium benefits including health, dental insurance and vacation. This position's responsibilities are including but not limited too the following; Accounts Payable, verify invoices, pay and process payments,receive and process account receivable payments for four offices,verify subcontractor insurances for four offices,balance various general ledger accounts,reconcile and transfers,balance escrow and sales tax accounts,review, balance, and submit financials to the company president,assisting with A/R Collections,assisting others in the department with various other tasks,familiar with Foundation Software is a Plus. Job Type: Full-time Pay: $17.00 - $25.00 per hour recblid sj68oce02z34jym36gshvy882i487q Salary $86,424.00 - $131,996.80 Annually Location (Sequoia Plaza) *ART Bus Accessible*, VA Job Type Full-Time Department Department of Human Services Job Number 6346-22A-DHS-EM Closing 7/29/2021 11:59 PM Eastern Position Information The Department of Human Services is seeking a dynamic and experienced clinician for the position of Emergency Services Supervisor. This employee will have clinical and administrative oversight of the Emergency Services Program, a recovery-oriented and trauma- informed program within the Client Services Entry Bureau. Emergency Services provides crisis intervention, stabilization, and psychiatric services to individuals with imminent behavioral health crises while they are living, visiting, or working in Arlington County. Direct services are provided both in and office and through mobile outreach. This position will be responsible for managing and providing support for the Mandatory Outpatient Treatment program. Clients served by the program are typically experiencing serious mental illness and/or substance use issues. The Emergency Services Supervisor will collaborate with hospitals, Emergency Response Resources, Police, Clinical Supervisors, and Psychiatrists while leading a team of sixteen (16) Emergency Service Clinicians who provide 24/7 comprehensive crisis response in the community. To learn more about Arlington County's Behavioral Health Division, please visit DHS. Responsibilities include: Supervising clinicians and their workload to ensure documentation and service capture expectations are met; Planning, directing, and evaluating the implementation of 24/7 programs, services, policies, and procedures to confirm they are accessible, effective, and efficient while meeting quality standards and recommending service improvements; Leading, onboarding, training, and overseeing performance management of staff; Managing the program budget including analyzing revenues and expenditures, maximizing reimbursement opportunities, and creating summary reports; Collecting and analyzing monthly data on all aspects of Emergency Services for the program's Performance Measurement Plan and program utilization review; Providing oversight to all aspects of civil commitment hearings that involve Emergency Services staff; Overseeing expansion or Co-Responder and Diversion programs, including expansion of Office-Based Crisis Stabilization Unit; Representing the Department of Human Services on programs within the community, the region, and the state; and Attending required local, regional and state meetings related to Emergency Services. Arlington County DHS is committed to delivering client services in an effective, equitable, respectful, and trauma-informed manner. Our staff is dedicated to ensuring our clients are approached, engaged and cared for in ways that demonstrate competency, sensitivity and awareness of factors which impact the client experience including but not limited to: cultural identity, gender, racial, and ethnic diversity, religious/spiritual ascription, physical capability, cognitive and literacy levels, sexual orientation, and linguistic needs. Selection Criteria A complete application includes a letter of interest and resume. Minimum: A Master's degree from an accredited college or university in a clinical discipline including Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, Psychiatric Nursing, or other directly related clinical discipline, all of which required a clinical practicum involving diagnostic and treatment services prior to graduation; Considerable (at least three years) of full-time post-Master's Degree experience providing clinical therapy and other mental health services, which included the application of diagnostic and treatment services and experience coordinating/administering services; Prescreen certification within 90 days of hire; and Must be licensed as a professional counselor, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or psychologist and/or certification as a clinical specialist in psychiatric or mental health nursing in the Commonwealth of Virginia within 90 days of hire. Substitution: Directly related higher level clinical degrees may substitute for the Master's Degree education requirement and one year of clinical therapy and other mental health services experience. Desirables : Preference may be given to candidates with experience in one or more of the following: Managing programs which provide services to individuals experiencing a behavioral health emergency including experience with involuntary treatment; Current licensure as a LCSW, LPC, LCP, or LMFT; Collaborating with criminal justice partners (particularly law enforcement, correctional officers and court staff; and/or Leading large, macro systemic projects. Special Requirements Applicant must possess, or obtain by the time of appointment, a valid motor vehicle operator's license from the applicant's place of residence or the applicant must have the ability and willingness to use alternative methods of transportation to perform assigned duties and responsibilities at locations other than the primary worksite. If the applicant possesses or acquires a license, the applicant must provide or authorize Arlington County to obtain a copy of the applicant's official state/district driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent on a favorable review of the applicant's driving record. A pre-hire background check will be made on all candidates who are selected for employment. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You may be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information. Selected candidates must complete pre-hire federal background check and State of Virginia Central Registry Check. Additional Information An online application is required. Work Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Some evening, weekend or holiday work will be required. Incumbent will participate in a rotation of after-hours supervisory coverage by phone. Your responses to the supplemental questionnaire are considered part of the application process. Please do not give "see resume" as a response to the questions. Incomplete applications will not be considered. This position is part of an alternative pay program that includes career path and pay-for-performance elements. Starting pay within the band is based on a review of qualifications and experience. Pay potential will be based on performance and development. Arlington County Government employee benefits depend on whether a position is permanent, the number of hours worked, and the number of months the position is scheduled. Specific information on benefits and conditions of employment can be found on the Arlington County Human Resources Department website: (see application details) Permanent, Full-Time Appointments All jobs are permanent, full-time appointments unless otherwise stated in the announcement. The following benefits are available: Paid Leave : Vacation leave is earned at the rate of four hours biweekly. Leave accrual increases every three years until eight hours of leave are earned biweekly for twelve or more years of service. Sick leave is earned at the rate of four hours biweekly. There are eleven paid holidays each year. Health and Dental Insurance : Three group health insurance plans are offered - a network open access plan, a point-of-service plan, and a health maintenance organization. A group dental insurance plan is also offered. The County pays a significant portion of the premium for these plans for employees and their dependents. A discount vision plan is provided for eye care needs. Life Insurance : A group term policy of basic life insurance is provided at no cost to employees. The benefit is one times annual salary. Additional life insurance is available with rates based on the employee's age and smoker/non-smoker status. Retirement : The County offers three vehicles to help you prepare for retirement: a defined benefit plan, a defined contribution plan (401(a)), and a deferred compensation plan (457). The defined benefit plan provides a monthly retirement benefit based on your final average salary and years of service with the County. You contribute a portion of your salary on a pre-tax basis to this plan. General employees contribute 4% of pay; uniformed public safety employees contribute 7.5% of pay. Employees become vested in the plan at five years of service. The County also contributes to this plan. For general employees, the County also contributes 4.2% of pay to a defined contribution plan (401(a)) . The County also matches your 457 contribution, up to $20 per pay period, in this plan. The 457 deferred compensation plan allows you to set aside money on either a pre-tax (457b) or post-tax (457 Roth) basis up to the IRS annual limit. New employees are automatically enrolled with a pre-tax contribution equal to 2% of your base pay. Other Benefits: The County also offers health, dependent care, and parking flexible spending accounts; long-term care insurance; tuition assistance; transit and walk/bike to work subsidies; a college savings plan; wellness programs; training opportunities; and a variety of other employee benefits. Permanent, Part-Time Appointments: Part time employees who work ten or more hours per week receive paid leave and benefits in proportion to the number of hours worked per week. Limited Term Appointments: Benefits are the same as permanent appointments except that the employees do not achieve permanent status. Temporary Regular Appointments: Temporary regular employees who work 30 hours or more per week are eligible for health, dental, and basic life insurance as described above. They are also eligible for vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays. Temporary Seasonal and Occasional Appointments: Temporary employees who work on a seasonal basis or variable hours receive sick leave, but do not normally receive other paid leave or benefits. Exceptions are noted in individual announcements. Salary $52,416.00 - $74,256.00 Annually Location Arlington *METRO-accessible*, VA Job Type Full-Time Department Human Resources Department Job Number 1513-22A-HRD-EM Closing 7/29/2021 11:59 PM Eastern Position Information Arlington County Intern This is a one-year, full-time, paid Internship Program Most Internships will begin between July and September of 2021* Arlington County Arlington County is an exciting, innovative local government entity located in Northern Virginia. We are seeking bright, highly motivated individuals for an exciting one-year Internship in a variety of positions across the County. These positions offer a career opportunity to qualified individuals with little or no previous professional work experience to help them prepare for a career in a variety of fields of work. This Internship will provide new college graduates and currently enrolled graduate students with in-depth, hands-on learning opportunities in areas critical to supporting local government initiatives while participating in a developmental and training cohort with peers. Internship Over the course of a year, Interns work under the mentorship and supervision of senior staff members to gain valuable on-the-job training and real-world work experience. They support the County's efforts to consistently work toward greater efficiency and effectiveness by offering improved processes and fresh ideas, and by leveraging smart technologies, while becoming familiar with the public-sector work environment as a viable and fulfilling career path. Program Participation 2020 and 2021 college graduates with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and who have no professional work experience in an area related to the internship are welcome to apply. Applications will be considered from candidates who have earned a Bachelor's or Master's degree in 2020 or 2021 prior to the start date of the Internship or who are currently enrolled in a Master's degree program related to the internship. The successful candidate will possess the following traits: The willingness to explore and follow best practices; Self-motivation with a desire to excel; Excellent analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving abilities; Demonstrated experience managing multiple projects and/or tasks and easily switch focus as required; Ability to research and understand technical documentation; Interacting with multiple levels of staff and to express ideas articulately, verbally, and in writing to a variety of audiences; Exceptional attention to detail and strong organizational and planning skills; and Strong customer service skills. HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT The Human Resources Department has an exciting opportunity for a Compensation Intern located in the heart of Arlington. The selected candidate will learn to look at situations from multiple perspectives and gain a knowledge of public sector Human Resources. The Intern will be given the opportunity to develop solutions and enhance processes, provide fresh ideas, and leverage smart technologies while working towards building a career path in the field of Human Resources. Under the supervision of a senior staff member, the Human Resources Intern will assist Human Resources staff with a variety of complex compensation and classification assignments. These assignments are designed to provide educational and practical opportunities to develop new skills and to apply knowledge already gained through education. Responsibilities may include: Analyze the impact of new and proposed policies on employee pay; Assist with the development of new hire salary offers and solutions to pay compression issues; Gather and document information about employee qualifications (e.g. education levels, experience, certifications, etc.) to help build a database for pay analyses; Participate in desk audits, writing and updating job descriptions, and gathering and analyzing competitive market information; and Assist with documenting and tracking job studies. Selection Criteria *We anticipate filling these positions between July 1, 2021 and September 1, 2021. Therefore, applications will be accepted from candidates graduating with an undergraduate degree no later than August 31, 2021 and from candidates currently pursuing a Master's Degree in their field. Minimum: Must have earned a Bachelor's or Master's degree in 2020 or 2021 prior to the start date of the Internship or are currently enrolled in a Master's degree program related to the internship; Interns may not have professional work experience related to the internship; and G.P.A. of 3.0 or above. Applicants may be asked to provide certified official transcripts. Degree Requirements : Human Resources Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, IO Psychology, or a directly related field. Desirables: Preference may be given to candidates with experience with: MS Excel to perform statistical analysis; and/or Proficiency using the Microsoft Office Suite. Special Requirements For more information and to apply: (see application details) Additional Information Work Hours: Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. with some flexibility to work remotely. Applicants may be asked to provide certified official transcripts. Cohort Interns are eligible for health, dental, and leave benefits. Completion of the Supplemental Questionnaire is required as part of the application process for this position. You may further describe your experience by attaching a resume. However, please do not give "see resume" as a response to the questions. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Arlington County Government employee benefits depend on whether a position is permanent, the number of hours worked, and the number of months the position is scheduled. Specific information on benefits and conditions of employment can be found on the Arlington County Human Resources Department website: (see application details) Permanent, Full-Time Appointments All jobs are permanent, full-time appointments unless otherwise stated in the announcement. The following benefits are available: Paid Leave : Vacation leave is earned at the rate of four hours biweekly. Leave accrual increases every three years until eight hours of leave are earned biweekly for twelve or more years of service. Sick leave is earned at the rate of four hours biweekly. There are eleven paid holidays each year. Health and Dental Insurance : Three group health insurance plans are offered - a network open access plan, a point-of-service plan, and a health maintenance organization. A group dental insurance plan is also offered. The County pays a significant portion of the premium for these plans for employees and their dependents. A discount vision plan is provided for eye care needs. Life Insurance : A group term policy of basic life insurance is provided at no cost to employees. The benefit is one times annual salary. Additional life insurance is available with rates based on the employee's age and smoker/non-smoker status. Retirement : The County offers three vehicles to help you prepare for retirement: a defined benefit plan, a defined contribution plan (401(a)), and a deferred compensation plan (457). The defined benefit plan provides a monthly retirement benefit based on your final average salary and years of service with the County. You contribute a portion of your salary on a pre-tax basis to this plan. General employees contribute 4% of pay; uniformed public safety employees contribute 7.5% of pay. Employees become vested in the plan at five years of service. The County also contributes to this plan. For general employees, the County also contributes 4.2% of pay to a defined contribution plan (401(a)) . The County also matches your 457 contribution, up to $20 per pay period, in this plan. The 457 deferred compensation plan allows you to set aside money on either a pre-tax (457b) or post-tax (457 Roth) basis up to the IRS annual limit. New employees are automatically enrolled with a pre-tax contribution equal to 2% of your base pay. Other Benefits: The County also offers health, dependent care, and parking flexible spending accounts; long-term care insurance; tuition assistance; transit and walk/bike to work subsidies; a college savings plan; wellness programs; training opportunities; and a variety of other employee benefits. Permanent, Part-Time Appointments: Part time employees who work ten or more hours per week receive paid leave and benefits in proportion to the number of hours worked per week. Limited Term Appointments: Benefits are the same as permanent appointments except that the employees do not achieve permanent status. Temporary Regular Appointments: Temporary regular employees who work 30 hours or more per week are eligible for health, dental, and basic life insurance as described above. They are also eligible for vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays. Temporary Seasonal and Occasional Appointments: Temporary employees who work on a seasonal basis or variable hours receive sick leave, but do not normally receive other paid leave or benefits. Exceptions are noted in individual announcements. TOMY International, Inc., a leading designer, producer and marketer of innovative, high quality toys, collectibles, and hobby and infant care products has an immediate opening for a Customer Service Representative located in Dyersville, IA. This position serves as the primary internal liaison between sales support teams, retail partners, and the company. Essential skills include a strong customer focus, exceptional communication and computer skills, and the ability to work independently and as a team. Must be detail oriented, possess interpersonal skills, and the ability to exercise good judgment. An Associates degree in Business Administration and a minimum of 2 years of previous experience in customer service is required. If interested, and qualified, please send your resume to hr@tomy.com. TOMY International, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer About TOMY International TOMY International (www.tomy.com) is a leading global designer, producer and marketer of innovative, high-quality toys sold to children and adults under the TOMY, ERTL brands as well as products for parents, infants and toddlers under The First Years, Lamaze, JJ Cole Collections and Boon brands. TOMY International also markets its products under popular and classic licensed properties such as John Deere, Disney, and other well-known properties including TOMICA and Club Mocchi Mocchi. TOMY Internationals mission is to make the world smile. We value the unique abilities and talents each individual brings to our organization and empowering new and prospective employees who have a significant interest in diversity in the workplace. TOMYs foundation is a welcoming and supportive environment for all employees regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, background, or physical ability. recblid d75hofd7bhf5az0gxywvbi43uqhlav If you already subscribe to our eEdition edition, sign up for FREE access to our online edition. Thanks for reading the El Campo Leader News. One of the Big Boy steam engines will make an overnight stop in Prescott during August. Magnolia, AR (71754) Today Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms. High 86F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Partly cloudy. Low 69F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. I think that were born with these inclinations, and so we always do what we love, and we do it over and over again until we become good at it, he told Tolliver in their November interview. They call it talent, but its really just a matter of following your inclinations ... I guess your heart, is a better way to say it. This year, our leaders in the General Assembly including Senate Appropriations Chairman Pat Browne stood up and ensured that more than $280 million in American Rescue Plan funds were allocated to an industry that truly needed to be rescued: long-term care. : Qiguoji (), : Military : 7/16 BBC: UK 5 : BBS (Fri Jul 16 12:56:23 2021, ) https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57867990 Covid: UK daily cases pass 50,000 for first time since January More than 50,000 daily coronavirus cases have been reported in the UK for the first time since mid-January. There were 51,870 cases recorded - the highest figure since 15 January - and 49 deaths within 28 days of a positive test. From Monday, lockdown rules will end in England - although some guidance will remain. Earlier, England's chief medical officer warned hospital admissions could hit "scary numbers". Prof Chris Whitty said the number of people in hospital with Covid was doubling roughly every three weeks. The UK is "not out of the woods yet" and people should act with caution as restrictions are eased on Monday, he added. How are Covid rules changing on Monday? Where will I need to keep wearing a mask... and why? What's happening with the self-isolation rules? The highest number of daily cases the UK has recorded so far is 68,053 on 8 January. Health Secretary Sajid Javid had previously warned case numbers could reach 50,000 a day by 19 July, and as high as 100,000 over the summer. Number of coronavirus cases compared to autumn 2020 Presentational white space Number of coronavirus patients admitted to hospital compared to autumn 2020 Presentational white space Meanwhile, separate Office for National Statistics data suggests Covid infections have risen again in much of the UK. Latest figures from swab tests in the community suggest in England one in every 95 people has the virus - up from one in 160 in the previous week. In Scotland, one in every 90 people is estimated to be infected, while in Northern Ireland it is one in 290 and in Wales one in 360. The more infectious Delta variant accounts for almost every case. It is estimated that just over 650,000 people, or 1% of the population in the UK, would have tested positive for coronavirus in the week to 10 July - up from 400,000 people the previous week. The ONS says the percentage of people testing positive has "continued to increase" in England and Scotland, whereas the "trend is uncertain" in Wales and Northern Ireland. line Analysis box by James Gallagher, health and science correspondent Passing 50,000 cases a day feels like a worrying landmark, but is it? We were last at those levels around the peak of the second wave in January, when it took a tough lockdown to prevent hospitals buckling. But now more fuel is being thrown on the fire as restrictions ease in England and Scotland on Monday, and Wales on Saturday. Cases will go even higher. How high? Nobody knows for sure. Letting this happen is possible only because vaccines have transformed the danger posed by a summer wave. Without them, we'd be debating locking down. Yet vaccines have not eliminated the Covid threat. Letting the virus spread could still put pressure on hospitals, leave people with long Covid and be hugely disruptive as large numbers of people need to isolate. Reaching 50,000 daily cases doesn't mean the same as it did six months ago, but doesn't mean it will be smooth sailing. line As cases rise, more people are being forced to isolate, with businesses warning of staffing shortages. More than half a million self-isolation alerts were sent to people using the NHS Covid-19 app in England and Wales during the first week of July - a rise of 46% on the previous week. Alerts are sent through the app to tell individuals they have been in close contact with a positive coronavirus case and should to isolate for 10 days. The number of people being admitted to hospital with Covid is also rising - but at a much lower rate than during previous waves because of the impact of vaccinations. More than 46.1 million people in the UK have had their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine - 87.6% of adults, while more than 35.5 million - 67.5% of adults - have had both doses, according to the latest figures. UK daily coronavirus deaths Presentational white space It comes ahead of almost all legal restrictions on social contact being lifted in England on Monday. Lockdown rules are also being eased in Scotland on the same date, although there will still be some curbs, including on how many people can meet. In Wales, restrictions are easing slightly on Saturday but most will remain in place until at least 7 August. Northern Ireland is due to lift more restrictions on 26 July. Earlier, Solicitor General Lucy Frazer said that while cases would rise in the coming days, there were "consequences for not opening up". But she told Sky News the government could not rule out reintroducing restrictions in England if the virus situation became "unacceptable". -- :WWW mitbbs.com [FROM: 69.] Sayre, PA (18840) Today Sunny skies this morning. Scattered showers and thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. High 88F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Variably cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. Low 63F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. The Trump administration's removal of safeguards in Alaska's Tongass National Forest, the world's biggest intact temperate rainforest, was reversed by the Biden administration on Thursday. The United States Department of Agriculture announced its intention to "repeal or replace" a Trump-era rule that obliterated Tongass protections by lifting Clinton-era logging restrictions across 9.3 million forested acres and reclassifying 188,000 acres immediately suitable for harvesting, including 168,000 acres of old-growth timber. Repealing Trump's Law According to the release, the government said it will stop large-scale commercial harvesting of old-growth timber in the forest and instead "focus management resources to support forest restoration, recreation, and resilience, including for climate, animal habit, and watershed improvement," according to the release. In addition, old-growth tree harvesting would be limited for communal and cultural purposes, such as the construction of totem poles and boats. In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, "This strategy will help us map the way to long-term economic possibilities that are sustainable and respect Southeast Alaska's unique cultural history and beautiful natural resources." According to the agency, it also intends to invest $25 million in community and economic development. Related Article: Bolsonaro's Neglect Will Be the Downfall of Amazon Rainforest, Activists Warn Protecting "America's Amazon" Protecting the 17-million-acre Tongass National Forest, dubbed "America's Amazon" by many environmentalists, is seen as crucial to combating global climate change. According to the US Department of Agriculture, it stores roughly 8% of total carbon isolated in forests in the Lower 48 states and an incredible 44 percent of all carbon stored in national forests in the US. President Joe Biden signed an executive order on his first day in the office asking the Department of Agriculture to investigate Trump's reversal in Tongass. It was excellent news for environmentalists, who had been dismayed in previous months by the administration's lack of a firm commitment to stop cutting mature and ancient temperate forests in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. In May, Beverly Law, a professor emeritus at Oregon State University and a specialist on the forest carbon cycle, told HuffPost that, "Once they are gone, these are trees that have stored [carbon] for hundreds of years, it will take that long to acquire it back. It also implies that the majority of that carbon will return to the atmosphere in the coming decades. And that isn't going to get us any closer to our climate targets. On the contrary, it's only going to make things worse." Amazon Emission The news comes only one day after Brazilian researchers discovered that portions of the Amazon rainforest in South America are now spewing more carbon dioxide than they absorb, indicating that the world's biggest rainforest has hit a tipping point. Biden has attempted to exert pressure on Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil's far-right president, to reduce deforestation in the Amazon, only for the Brazilian administration to bring out the US' own history of heavy logging. Importance of the Tongass The Alaska Wilderness League's Andy Moderow said in a statement Thursday that "we shouldn't be contemplating the ongoing clearcutting of a natural climate solution that exists here in our own backyard" since "we are suffering climate consequences more intensely than others." Also Read: Only 3% of the World's Ecosystems Still in Pristine Conditions For more news update about Environmental Action, don't forget to follow Nature World News! On Wednesday, dozens of goats from an upstate farm were released into Riverside Park on the Upper West Side to graze on weeds in hard-to-reach spots, delighting nature-deprived city dwellers. Annual Running of the Goats During the annual Running of the Goats event, which was placed on a COVID-19-fueled pause last year, twenty-four of the four-legged weed whackers ate a double dosage of poison ivy, mugwort, and other unwanted plants. Animal lovers rejoiced with the return of the beloved billy goats. "The goats do an excellent job of eating all of the weeds. We enjoy having them here. We're delighted they're back," said Susan Pane, 68, of the Upper West Side, who was among more than 150 people cheering on the herd. According to the Riverside Park Conservancy, five of the goats - Skittles, Chalupa, Buckles, Mallemar, and Ms. Bo Peep - will be on duty throughout the summer. All-You-Can-Eat Buffet for Goats "Putting goats to work in 'Goatham' is like giving them an all-you-can-eat buffet since goats are naturally efficient weed whackers. It's excellent for the goats and good for the environment," said the conservancy's president, Dan Garodnick. The animals had their job cut out for them after the weeds were left unmanaged last year, mostly on the park's steep north side. "After this, they won't be [hungry]." They barely made it through the gate. Janet Pierce, a neighbor, described the scene as "very packed." Related Article: World's Toughest Animals: From Whales to Insects G.O.A.T New Yorkers may vote for the finest goat on the conservancy's website - dubbed "G.O.A.T." - after the animals were just "retired" from their Green Goats Farm in Rhinebeck. Skittles is a "seasoned park veteran," while Ms. Bo Peep is a wildcard "rookie," according to the conservancy, which offers a brief description of each animal's behavior and history. Buckles has been called the greenspace's "cheerleader," but he occasionally has trouble distinguishing porcelain berry from mugwort. On the other hand, Chalupa keeps his head down and gets the work done, whereas Mallemar, according to the site, is a lover of all park visitors. Kicked Out Four of the 24 animals were kicked out of the greenspace in 2019 after consuming so many weeds that there weren't enough to go around. Goatscaping On mixed farms, cattle can graze weeds directly or eat mowed weeds, chaff, and screens. Goats are browsers that specialize in controlling woody plants like aspen and rose. Thistles are also eaten by goats. Leafy spurge may be efficiently controlled by sheep. While it is an exaggeration to say that goats have an iron stomach and a fondness for eating tin cans, they like to consume various noxious or invasive plants such as kudzu, poison hemlock, and Himalayan blackberry. "It's a pleasant coincidence that nearly all of what we consider invasive plants in North America can not only be ingested by goats but also turn out to be goat favorites," says Aaron Steele, owner of Goats On the Go in Ames, Iowa. Because goats can consume a variety of noxious plants, they remove the need for pesticides that might pollute lakes or streams, as well as machinery that emits emissions. They may also go to locations that are dangerous for humans or machinery. Also Read: Beware! 7 Cute Animals that Can Actually Kill a Person For more animal news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! Firefighters spent day 11 making efforts to overpower and stop the raging wildfire in southeastern Oregon that has burned over 377 square miles and led to the destruction of not less than 21 homes. The Bootleg Fire In an update Friday about the blaze incident, commander Rob Allen said the perimeter of "The Bootleg Fire" is over 200 miles long, which is a great amount of line to build and hold. Rob says they are continuing to make use of every resource from dozers to air tankers to engage where it's not risky to do so mostly with the dry, hot, windy conditions forecasted to get worse into the weekend. The intensity of the fire is enough to make a weather of its own, bringing huge pyrocumulus clouds produced by heat into the atmosphere. On Thursday, Fire officials said that there was a collapse of one of those clouds and this sent embers dissipating from the fire, prompting a new round of evacuation orders for areas on the east side of the fire. The Bootleg Fire is one of dozens blazing across the western United States, triggered by drought, wind, heat, and also sparked by lightning in most cases. Thousands have been forced to relocate from their homes due to the flame and multiple houses in their path have also been destroyed. Because of the fires and great response needed to stop them, on Wednesday the NIFC moved the nation to the highest category of wildfire activity. Here's a look at some of the major wildfires blazing in the western U.S. states as of Friday afternoon. Oregon The Bootleg Fire had burned over 377 squares mile of land and was about 7% contained. People were afraid that it and a less intense fire burning nearby - the Log Fire, could come together and become very powerful. A fire operations spokesperson, Holly Krake, told the Oregonian that powerful winds were forcing the Bootleg Fire to the Log Fire. Also Read: Oregon's Bootleg Fire Nearly Quadrupled in Size as it Continues to Ravage the West Washington One of four large fires burning in Washington was The Red Apple Fire, this fire has scorched over 17 square miles and causing threats in over 1,500 homes north of Wenatchee between Seattle and Spokane. In this area, Chelan County Emergency Management lifted or reduced some evacuation notices. The fire was about 10% contained but crews were fighting to maintain control, as per the Associated Press. Idaho The NIFC is tracing not less than 17 large fires in Idaho, the greatest of any state. Snake River Complex is the largest and has burned through over 156 square miles. It's sited about 20 miles south of Lewiston. While most of the fires in Idaho are less intense than those in other states, Gov. Brad Little is afraid the situation could become worse. California This state is already on pace to beat the 2020 record fire season. The largest fire currently blazing in the state is The Beckwourth Complex, which remained at about 68% contained. It had affected over 163 square miles and led to the destruction of several structures on its way. Six other large fires were blazing throughout the state. Related Article: 'Worst Wildfire Season'- Oregon, Washington Take Preparation to Highest Level as Wildfires Worsen For more news, updates about wildfires and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News! Flagrant disregard for Covid-19 protocols and general laxity in following recommended guidelines at tobacco auction floors have made them a hotbed for the coronavirus. The Ministry of Health and Child Care recently identified auction floors as Covid-19 hotspots. The tobacco marketing season started on April 7 and ended on Wednesday last week. However, contract floors will continue until further notice, while mop-up sales will be held on August 5. No single case was reported during the 2020 marketing season. Although the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB) believes the rise in cases in the sector is being driven by new transmissible variants, a visit by The Sunday Mail Society revealed how a cavalier approach to protocols is putting workers and farmers at risk of contracting the deadly disease. One of the countrys biggest tobacco marketing companies, Tobacco Sales Floor (TSF), was last week closed as management battled to contain the spread of the virus. Today, we are only taking deliveries. Sales have been suspended after some workers tested positive for Covid-19. The affected workers were given two weeks to recuperate and get treatment, said one of the security guards who were manning the main entrance to the floors. Despite the outbreak, vendors and farmers could be seen milling outside the company premises, defying laid down health restrictions. Justin Mbudzana a tobacco farmer said he was forced to spend two days at one of the auction floors. With the lockdown restrictions, I could not conclude both the delivery and sales on the same day. As a result, I spent much time here, he said. Last season, farmers were not gathering to sell their crop at auction floors as they scrupulously observed guidelines. Informal trading outside the floors was banned and farmers were not allowed to sleep outside the auction floors. But of late it has been business as usual for vendors. We have since gathered that a number of workers at auction floors tested positive for Covid-19, therefore, putting the lives of tobacco farmers at risk. As a result, we have been telling our members to be vigilant and to adhere, in totality, to the health protocols, said Dr Shadreck Makombe, president of the Commercial Farmers Union of Zimbabwe. But some of the auction floors are doing their best to comply.For instance, at Boka Tobacco Floors (BTF), the biggest auction floor in the country, there were few farmers and no vendors in sight. BTF chief executive officer Mrs Chido Nyakudya spoke about the need to follow the World Health Organisation (WHO) advice to the letter. Just like last season, one of our major priorities is to make sure that our workers and clients are protected from Covid-19. Due to minimum contact, we are yet to record any Covid-19 cases, she said. Industry regulator, (TIMB), last season introduced sector-specific regulations to curb the spread of the virus. Some of the measures included decentralising the auction floors for easy access and to prevent gatherings. TIMB public affairs officer Ms Chelesani Moyo attributed soaring cases to the new variant. This season we have had to deal with a new variant of the virus and new cases have been reported in all sectors, not only at the auction floors. The new wave means that the regulations put in place at the onset of the marketing season had to be strengthened and serious monitoring undertaken to ensure everyone complies, Ms Moyo said. She said all stakeholders participating in the marketing of tobacco are being encouraged to get vaccinated to protect themselves and those around them. TIMB is yet to collate statistics on the number of cases reported at auction floors since tests are done independently by the companies. Sunday Mail The trial of MDC-Alliance vice president Tendai Biti on allegations of manhandling a Russian national during an altercation outside Harare Magistrates Court hit another brick wall yesterday after his lawyer claimed that his client was self-isolating after getting into contact with a Covid-19 positive person. Mr Alec Muchadehama tendered to the court a letter from certain lawyers which claimed that indeed Biti had met a person who later tested positive to Covid-19. The lawyer told Harare magistrate Mrs Vongai Guwuriro-Muchuchuti that Biti was within the court premises in the car park but could not be in court since he was self-isolating. Senior prosecutor Mr Micheal Reza, who is prosecuting the matter together with Mr Tafara Chirambira, applied for a warrant of arrest against Biti arguing that he was supposed to appear in court since he was warned to do so. We do not know whether the accused tested positive to Covid-19 or not. A letter from lawyers cannot be a substitute of Covid-19 results, he said. Mr Rezas application prompted Mr Muchadehama to ask for a brief adjournment in order to bring Biti in court. When the court resumed, Biti went into the dock and the matter was then remanded to July 28 for trial. Biti recently had his application for the recusal of Mr Reza dismissed because of lack of merit. In her ruling, Mrs Guwuriro said the court was not convinced that Mr Reza was likely to affect fairness in the trial. The defence provided nothing before the court which proved that Mr Reza was likely to prosecute unfairly in this trial, she said. She further ruled that the defence did not provide reasonable grounds why Mr Reza should be recused from the matter. It is the States case that Ms Tatiana Aleshina was allegedly insulted and assaulted by Biti outside the courtroom but within the complex premises. Ms Aleshina filed a report with the police and has also lodged two further complaints with the Law Society of Zimbabwe. Ms Aleshina wants Biti investigated for alleged gross unprofessional conduct and alleges she and her workmates were intimidated and verbally abused outside the court each time they came for proceedings. Ms Aleshina is one of the witnesses in case involving building contractor George Katsimberis who is alleged to have defrauded a land developer with whom he had entered into a joint venture to build cluster houses in Harares Borrowdale suburb. In the matter, Katsimberis is accused of using plans that were not approved by council which led to the show house being demolished. Ms Aleshina is the chief operating officer of the land developer. She claims that on November 30 last year as she was about to leave the court gallery after a court session, Biti allegedly threatened to harm her. It was clear to all people who were in the court gallery that Biti took delight not only in verbally abusing me, but in trying to intimidate me and felt that, as a woman and foreigner of Russian origin, he would use every extra judicial means to crush me or harm or destroy me for daring to be a witness in the criminal matter against his client, she stated in her complaint. Herald PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwas ally, Kudakwashe Tagwireis Sakunda Holdings yesterday donated US$5,5 million in cash and equipment to government to help improve peoples livelihoods during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tagwirei also donated $170 million for purchase of COVID-19 vaccines. Presenting the donation to Mnangagwa at State House in Harare, the Sakunda proprietor said the donation would cover various sectors including tuition fees for university students. Sakunda Holdings acknowledges commitment by the government to positively impact the livelihoods of the people of our great nation Zimbabwe, Tagwirei said. Sakunda has noticed the effects of COVID-19 on the well-being of Zimbabweans among them, the following: some parents have lost their ability to pay university tuition fees for their children; our health care system is inundated with a huge number of COVID-19 patients; increase in number of citizens who now require urgent COVID-19 vaccination and compromised livelihoods of the people, especially young people. Sakunda is also donating six truckloads of assorted medical consumables which include injections, airway management, products, wound care products, among others for rural hospital worth $91 million. The fuel magnate also donated five double-cab trucks and fuel for the police homicide department in addition to $30 million for purchase of specialised equipment to enhance its operations. As a company, we are further handing over 500 heifers and 25 bulls to His Excellency the President, ED Mnangagwa to support heifers projects for the youths, he said. Mnangagwa urged other private companies to emulate the firm. Apart from Sakunda, Beitbridge contractors donated US$500 000, while CBZ Bank chipped in with US$250 000. ZB Bank, property mogul Ken Sharpe and Insurance Council of Zimbabwe each weighed in with US$50 000, while another gold dealer Pedzisayi Scott Sakupwanya donated US$100 000. Tagwirei, who is on the United States sanctions, has also in the past refurbished public hospitals, such as United Bulawayo Hospitals, Parirenyatwa and Mpilo, among others, for use during the COVID-19 pandemic, apart from availing his 30-bed Arundel Hospital for use by government. He has often been accused of accessing government tenders under controversial circumstances. Newsday A Kwekwe man who was found in possession of a snake in his vehicle, bringing business to a standstill in the city centre on Tuesday, has denied any connection to the reptile. Tatenda Mutema (31), handed himself to the police after the snake, which had attracted the attention of hordes of people, was successfully retrieved from his Toyota Wish by rangers from the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks). He was charged for possession of a python which is a protected species. The Chronicle news crew caught up with Mutema soon after his court case failed to take off and he narrated what transpired. Mutema, a soldier based at 5 Infantry Brigade just outside Kwekwe, said the owner of the vehicle owns a plot near the army barracks. I do not even know the name of the owner of the car to be honest. I met him one day when I was on my way to Kwekwe from the barracks. He asked me if I had a drivers licence which I produced and he gave me the vehicle to drive, narrated Mutema. He said on the following day, the owner of the vehicle asked him to drive him to Bulawayo. I drove him to Bulawayo together with two other women. Upon arrival, he and the ladies hopped into a brand-new Honda Fit Hybrid. He then asked me to drive back to Kwekwe as he said he was on his way to South Africa, said Mutema. He said the vehicle owner told him not to use the money he collected from passengers but to take it to his family at the farm. I then went to the farm where I left some cash and drove away. On my way from the farm, I gave another man a lift whom I asked what exactly the owner of the vehicle did in life because I had seen brand new cars at his farm and was shocked. The man told me all he knew was that the man was a sangoma, he said. Mutema said he never took it seriously and went about with his business. Disaster struck when Mutema picked up a female friend and decided to use some money he had collected to buy the friend lunch. I took a US$10 note to buy lunch. Upon returning I opened the door and was shocked to see part of the dashboard broken. When I checked at the back seat I noticed a huge snake and quickly grabbed the girl and locked the car, he said. The rest is history as hordes of people thronged the car in a bid to see the reptile. I did not run away, I was there when the rangers removed the snake. I was still in a state of shock and I feared the peoples response, he said. Rangers from Zimparks said there was nothing sinister about the snake. Chronicle Business is always about getting as many eyes on your brand as possible, he said. I dont know how big BLAPP will become but we will definitely benefit from it. Black business dont always make a lot of money so every little bit helps. Around 12:00 a.m. Friday four hours after he tried to snatch Jacob Diaz on Hillside Ave. near Myrtle Ave. in Richmond Hill on Thursday McGonagle and the man believed to be his father were spotted by a police officer at the East Flatbush hospital, cops and a high-ranking law enforcement source said. I know ... I know. Just relax, Kennedy assured the man as he peered under his blood-stained shirt. When the bystander rushed back outside with a $2 bag of Lays potato chips, Kennedy ripped it open, dumped out the contents and called for someone to go back inside the bodega and find some tape. I heard four shots and Q came running around the corner. He fell, boom, right in the middle of the street, face down, said James, 50. The 32-year-old victim was standing on W. 111th St. just off Fifth Ave. in Harlem when a gunman approached him from behind and shot him in the back of the head about 4 p.m., police and sources said. One man was killed and another man was clinging to life Saturday after the Maserati they were in flipped, split in half and caught fire during a horrific crash at a Brooklyn intersection. The woman and her 23-year-old son were climbing up the stairs to leave the Q train station at Broadway at 10:45 a.m. when a man crept up behind them, grabbed the sons backpack and pulled, dragging him down the stairs. One week later, he was arrested yet again on the same charges after repeatedly slipping into a Queens bar during the course of three hours. Authorities alleged he first came in at 10:30 a.m., poured himself a drink, and knocked it back before leaving. During his murder trial in May, Bahena Rivera claimed for the first time publicly that he was abducted by two masked men, who forced him to assist in the murder before dumping Tibbetts body in his trunk. His testimony came the same day both Maki and Jones ex-girlfriend came forward, though the defense was not made aware until after they had already rested their case. By Saturday, authorities still feared finding more people dead, but said numbers unaccounted for had dropped constantly, without offering specific figures. In Belgium, 103 people were listed as missing Saturday, but the crisis center said lost or uncharged cellphones and people taken to hospitals without identification who hadnt had an opportunity to contact relatives were believed to be factors in the tally. Bennett, 25, alleges that Cuomo asked her if she would date older men and whether she was monogamous in her relationships while the pair were alone in his Albany office last year. She also said the 63-year-old suggested he was open to having relationships with women in their twenties. When my daughter attended Hamilton Grange Middle School, she was told she had to read To Kill A Mockingbird. This book was written by a white person and tells a story about the Jim Crow South as seen through a white perspective. After a couple of chapters, my daughter was so upset about the narrative of the book that I immediately called her teacher and told him to find a book about Jim Crow through the lens of a Black person who lived through it. This is just one example of how Black children have been schooled through a white lens for decades and then punished when they cant comprehend the material because they dont identify with the curriculum. When I started seeing the same hopelessness I had felt being instilled in my own children, I knew I had to use my voice as a parent to advocate for a brand new, diverse curriculum. Police say Perez-Domingo was supposed to drive the young girl to daycare in Homestead early Friday morning. She drove the girl to her own home first the daycare wasnt open yet and then got distracted and forgot about the child until returning to the vehicle seven hours later. New York, US (PANA) - Ensuring COVID-19 vaccines for all will be critical if the world is to defeat the pandemic, the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Munir Akram, said on Friday in his address to the closing of its high-level segment New York, US (PANA) - There is a bloody surge impacting humanitarian crises around the world, with civilians in conflict zones paying the highest price, the UN deputy chief told the Security Council on Friday A look at some of the major movers in the small cap world in the week ending 17 July Fast-fashion retail group ( ) was the top-performing small-cap this week on the back of a reassuring trading update. The shares rose 36% to 13.275p after the retailer said that while trading remains affected by the various restrictions on social activities and events, sales in the second quarter of 2021 were in line with expectations. Sales through QUIZ's own websites totalled 4.6mln (2020: 2.2m) with revenues steadily improving through the reporting period. Sales through third party websites totalled 1.8mln (2020: 1.2mln) with this channel affected by the cessation of sales through the Debenhams website from early April 2021. Gross margins compared favourably with those seen in the same period of last year and in the pre-pandemic corresponding quarter of 2019, although the group did not reveal how favourably. Star Phoenix Group Ltd (LON:SAT) was lifted by news that it has commenced arbitration proceedings against LandOcean. The AIM-listed oilfield services provider is claiming various sums, currently estimated in excess of US$8.4mln, from LandOcean. There are additional claims of US$1.8mln that fall outside of the arbitration request, and the company is exploring options of bringing these claims separately in the courts of Trinidad and Tobago a touch of the old Trouble In Paradise, there. Star Phoenixs shares were 32% higher at 1.85p, lifting its stock market value to 2.8mln. PLC ( ), a marketing and brand consultancy, climbed 22% to 22.25p after it announced an increase in full-year profits on reduced revenue. Adjusted profit before tax in the year to the end of March rose 46% to 3.0mln while statutory profit before tax which includes so-called exceptional items soared 601% to 2.1mln. Revenue declined 11% to 22.8mln but the second half of the financial year saw revenues 8% higher year-on-year. The company specialises in automated prediction products so presumably had some grounds for claiming it plans to remain profitable and to continue to generate cash in the current financial year. ( ) was lifted by results of a MIMDAS induced polarisation geophysical survey at the Footrot prospect on its Bushranger copper-gold exploration project, located in the Lachlan Fold Belt of New South Wales, Australia. The project is located seven kilometres southeast of the companys Racecourse asset, where phase two drilling has just commenced on schedule. "We are pleased that the Footrot prospect is demonstrating a similar geophysical signature to Racecourse. Arising from the Phase One drilling programme and geophysics testing at Racecourse we have learned much about the mineralisation patterns relative to geophysical models. In addition, we have learned that strong pyrrhotite and pyrite mineralisation is a good indicator for copper mineralisation. We plan to undertake further geophysics using drone technology over the Racecourse project whilst identifying the best drill site to test the Footrot geophysical signature, said Colin Bird, the executive chairman of Xtract. Never has a man sounded so happy talking about Footrot. Xtract shares were up by a fifth this week as were the shares of ( ), which on Friday projected a 50% plus upgrade in the resource at one of the sections on its Talitha project in Alaska. An internal analysis of the SMD-B sequence encountered by the Talitha #A well has led to a new estimate of 2.6bn barrels of oil in place (OIP) and a mean recoverable contingent resource (P50) of 404mln barrels. The previous estimate across all three SMD intervals was 1.8bn barrels OIP and a 483mln barrel P50 recoverable resource. ( ) said it has received approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for its d2p antimicrobial food contact technology. The shares hardened 17% to 22p after the company explained the FDAs approval applies to all types of polyolefin and polyester film for wrapping bread, instead of just linear low-density polythene; as a result, Symphony expects an acceleration of the commercial process in the near term. Petro Matad Ltd ( ), down 55% at 3.255p, was the weeks worst performer after it raised roughly US$10mln by offering shares at a heavily discounted price of 3.5p. Trading in the shares of Immedia Group PLC ( ) resumed this week sharply lower after the supplier of multi-media content and digital solutions terminated bid talks with Sprift Technologies. When the potential reverse takeover was first announced in March 2021, Immedia agreed to provide Sprift with a secured loan facility of 900,000 for working capital purposes. Sprift has drawn down the full 900,000 and the loan is now repayable in full within the next 12 months. The board of Immedia believe Sprift will be able to pay back the loan but this may depend on Sprifts future trading performance and its ability to secure additional working capital funding as and when required. Immedia shares are now trading 51% below the level at which trading in the shares was suspended. A round-up of the announcements from small-cap energy companies in the last week ( ) projected a 50% plus upgrade in the resource at one of the sections on its Talitha project in Alaska. An internal analysis of the SMD-B sequence encountered by the Talitha #A well has led to a new estimate of 2.6bn barrels of oil in place and a mean recoverable contingent resource (P50) of 404mln barrels. ( ) has noted an announcement from regarding the Oza Field in Nigeria. The Decklar announcement said that the drilling rig and related equipment are set up on location at the Oza-1 well site and have been tested and inspected and are currently pulling existing tubing out of the well. i3 Energy Plc ( ) completed the drilling of its first two new wells in the Marten Hills Clearwater acreage in Canada and is expecting both wells to be online later this month. It completed drilling the second well, which targeted the Clearwater C zone, and successfully drilled eight lateral sections penetrating the reservoir. The well was completed on time and on budget, the company added. ( ) confirmed it completed its acquisition to own 100% of Project Peregrine in Alaska. It has issued a total of 633.4mln shares to the vendor, which 88 Energy noted was around 190mln fewer shares than previously expected as several tranches were reduced through agreed final reconciliation mechanisms. 88 Energy Ltd (LON:88E, ASX:88E, OTC:EEENF) told investors further geochemical analysis of core samples from the Merlin-1 well have again shown the presence of hydrocarbons. Results of analysis of Phase Two of side-wall core trim analysis are expected in the next few weeks, it added. Additionally, Volatiles Analysis Service (VAS) and gas analysis results are also due. ( ) said logging and analysis confirmed some 300 feet of net oil bearing reservoir sands in the Saffron-2 well in Trinidad and it is now being prepared for a production test later this month. Logging measured some 1,400 feet of gross reservoir sands across the Upper, Middle and Lower Cruse formations. In the Lower Cruse, the primary reservoir of interest, the well encountered 63 feet of net oil-bearing reservoir sands and a further 70 feet is potential is also indicated. Mosman Oil and Gas Limited ( ) has increased its interest in the Winters lease in Polk Country, East Texas. The oil and gas group acquired a 23% interest in the Winters lease as part of its recent purchase of Nadsoilco, which is the operator. ( ) described its second quarter as another positive period, both financially and operationally. Towards the end of the quarter, we delivered on our key objective as we spudded the WR-B1 well, which, after significant planning and dedication from the team, seeks to provide a material boost to our production in Georgia, highlighted chief executive Paul Haywood. Zephyr Energy PLC ( ) said drilling has started on the State 16-2LN-CC appraisal well, a couple of weeks ahead of schedule. ( ) has inked a deal to acquire a portfolio of planned rooftop solar projects in Vietnam. The portfolio, comprising 150 megawatts of generating capacity, is being bought from Vinh Phuc Energy (VPE) and the deal begins with a low-cost entry, starting with a 5 MW pilot project. ( ) has confirmed another notable helium gas show in the Tai-1 well, which is now being sidetracked due to a setback to the programme in Tanzania. The gas shows were encountered above the wells primary target zone, with the shows seen between a depth of 552 metres to 561 metres, and, were observed visually at surface as bubbles in drilling mud. Some of the mining sector's stories this week in snapshot ( ) said it expects iron ore and copper shipments to remain at the low end of guidance after declines in output of both metals in its latest quarter. Costs are also rising said the miner with iron production costs this year up by 4% due to rises in diesel and labour, costs related to mine heritage management and Coronavirus (COVID-19). Bradda Head Holdings Limited, a lithium focused exploration company, said it is raising 6.2mln as part of its AIM flotation. The company, previously AIM-listed Life Science Developments Limited, and before that , expects to have a market capitalisation on admission of 16.1mln based on the issue price of 5.5p. ( ) announced the launch of a discovery fund to assess potential investments in discovery-stage mineral exploration companies. The wholly-owned fund, Asgard Metals Fund, is being developed as part of Ariana's proprietary Project Catalyst Strategy. (LON:BSE, ASX:BSE) is boosted by comments made at a conference by a government official who said an extension to the Kwale Special Mining Lease (SML 23) has been approved. The licence will be issued soon according to the comments by the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining at a Kenyan Chamber of Mines conference, Base said in a statement. ( ) upped production slightly in its latest quarter but left its estimate for the current year unchanged at between 64,000 to 72,000 gold equivalent ounces. The miner also said it expects to produce a maiden resource estimate for the new Zafar deposit in Azerbaijan either by the end of this month or early next. ( ) told investors it believes its two gold projects in Western Australia, Northern Zone and Jundee East, could each deliver significant shareholder value over the medium term. Chief executive Naheed Memon, in a statement, highlighted excitement around the companys findings and plans in Western Australia. Alien Metals Limited ( ) said its planned drilling programme at the Donovan 2 copper-gold project in Mexico remains little changed after reviewing new data. ( ) ( ) ( ) shares surged as much as 29% higher intra-day after drilling intersected significant visible copper mineralisation at the Big One Deposit in Mt Isas copper-belt, Queensland. Drill-hole BO_318RC intersected visible copper mineralisation in two distinctive zones 11 metres from 89-100 metres and 34 metres from 153-187 metres (apparent thickness). Central Copper Resources Limited has confirmed its intention to float on AIM. The company is focused on delivering a high-grade copper project into production and exploration of assets in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and in the Republic of Zambia ( ) announced record quarterly production and offtake sales from the Minto copper-gold-silver mine in the Yukon territory. During the second quarter, 8,323 wet metric tonnes of concentrate were produced, up from 7,023 wet metric tonnes in the first quarter. ( ) reported a 12.3% increase in gold production to 201,608 ounces for the year to end June 2021, boosted by underground operations at its Barberton and Evander mines in South Africa. Gold output was also 3.4% higher than the revised production guidance of about 195,000 ounces given in May 2021. Caerus Mineral Resources PLC ( ) and Jubilee Metals Group ( ) have committed to an immediate pilot sampling and investigation programme at Caeruss portfolio of copper-gold assets in Cyprus. The programme is part of the option agreement under the terms of which Jubilee can elect to convert any of the multiple 'Waste to Revenue' candidate sites within Caerus' portfolio into a joint venture. ( ) reported its highest quarterly tungsten concentrate production to date at 106.4t from the La Parrilla mine in Spain in the second quarter. During the quarter, the company completed the construction of the first water dam, enabling it to access higher-grade ore once again, after heavy rain had hampered production in the preceding quarter. (LON:HZM, TSX: HZM) said significant progress has been made on its Araguaia nickel project in Brazil. Competitive tendering for the supply of key processing equipment, electric furnace and project management (EPCM) services have been completed, and financing talks remain on track. ( ) said drilling is underway at its Zulu lithium and tantalum project in Zimbabwe and that a second drilling rig is expected on site this weekend. The AIM-listed company also said that pegmatite, the primary source of lithium, was intersected as expected in drill-hole ZDD55. Posted by Liam on at 10:15 PM CST Matthew Vaughn Justin Lin Neill Blomkamp Leigh Whannell David F. Sandberg Welcome,readers! This week weve been extensively covering, the multimedia project that launched in 2008 and continued in 2010 with. If you missed our Expand Your Mind segment, make sure to check out that article which goes into depth on the story, world, characters, and history of the project. Then please follow us this week as we dive into more detail!Generally, with our Force Casting section, we like to imagine what actors we like to see play thecharacters we havent seen in films or television yet. With, theres a wrinkle, because nobody but Sam Witwer can play Starkiller. He embodies the role in the same way Mark Hamill does for Luke Skywalker or Harrison Ford does for Han Solo.If Witwer returns, then it would only make sense for the rest ofcast to return, including Nathalie Cox as Juno Eclipse, Cully Fredricksen as Rahm Kota, Adrienne Wilkinson as Maris Brood, and David W. Collins as PROXY. Jimmy Smits already returned to play Bail Organa in, and Temura Morrison as Boba Fett would be a given.So instead of looking at casting, were taking a dive behind-the-scenes. Whether were talking about a feature film, a limited series, a spinoff show, or just an appearance by Galen Marek inor one of the other Disney+ shows, well need a bigfan and master filmmaker to do the story justice. Disney has frequently found great filmmakers to take onprojects, so weve selected five directors who might have an interesting take onIt was rumored that Vaughn was one of the top choices to directbefore J.J. Abrams landed the gig, and hes made it no secret that hes a massivefan. Vaughn is one of the best directors working today, and hes an expert at entering established universes and bringing a stylized, action-packed adventure that combines heart and humor. Hes helmed the excellent prequel, the underrated crime thriller(Daniel Craigs breakout role), another underrated film with the Neil Gaiman fantasy, the hilarious superhero satire, and every installment of the popularfranchise. It would be a perfect fit to see his unique visual style adapt the wayreimagines the methods Jedi and Sith use the force.J.J. Abrams broke the barrier for a director to helm both aandfilm, so wed like to seefilmmaker Justin Lin continue the crossover. While you may or may not be a Trekkie, that film certainly proved that Lin could respect a sagas heritage and explore emotional character relationships. Action is a huge part of, so why not get someone like Lin, who directed five of themovies?has always been about making bold, innovative sci-fi choices; before he did, George Lucas began his career with the experimental science fiction classic. It would be exciting to see one of the most original voices in sci-fi today give his take on Starkiller and, and Neill Blomkamp would bring serious philosophical questions alongside unrivaled production design, creative worldbuilding, and incredible action. Blomkamps first film was the Best Picture nominated sci-fi masterpiece, and hes also helmed the underrated dystopian thrillerand the upcoming horror film Demonic. He may be busy working on, but maybe hed take a detour to come to the galaxy far, far away?In addition to being one of the most action-packed and emotionalstories,is also one of the scariest. Starkillers torture at the hands of Vader, the brutal killing of the Jedi, and the frightening new uses of force powers all have a distinctly horror feel, and a full onhorror film or series is something fans have been clammoring for. Worldbuilding and canonical consistency is as important in horror as it is in sci-fi fantasy, and Leigh Whannell is known as one of chief creators of theandfranchises. Hes grown into an impressive filmmaker too; after stepping up to the director plate for, Whannell directed the wildly underrated dystopian action thrillerand the critically acclaimed new version of. Just imagine how incredible it would be to see him tell Starkillers story through a horror perspective.A greatfilm or series needs to be well-balanced; you need that right tonal balance to feel connected to the canon, but you also want to see stories that are different from what has come before. David F. Sandberg is a director who has the range to do it. He may have started out in the horror field with the frightening (yet surprisingly emotional)and the acclaimed prequel, but he turned to a more action-packed and heartfelt tone when he brought to life one of the best DCEU movies to date,Sandberg may be in full swing working on the sequel, but perhaps when his schedule clears up he could find time to explore theuniverse.Any new project from Disney that adaptsor includes the characters means the value of the existing merchandise will only increase. Make sure to check out our Expand Your Mind article to hear about all the bestcollectibles youll want to claim as your own.What do you think? Do any of these great directors seem like a good fit for? Which idea excites you the most? Do you have a dream director youd like to see reintroduce Starkiller? Let us know in the comments below, and may the force be with you! A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. In a shocking incident, a woman allegedly killed her two kids by pushing them into a well following a dispute with husband in Kandhamal district of Odisha, police said on Saturday. According to police, Bhagyalaxmi Patra, a resident of Raikia Block in the Kandhamal district had left home with her five-year old son and 9-year old daughter after having a quarrel with her husband M. Rajesh Patra on Friday afternoon. According to sources, Bhagyalaxmi Patra had a quarrel with her husband M. Rajesh Patra over some unknown issues. Angry over the quarrel, the woman left the house along with her two children. On Saturday morning, when Rajesh searched for them, found his wife near the well and was shocked to learn that Bhagyalaxmi pushed their two kids into the well. With the help of local fire service personnel, police have recovered the dead bodies from the well. "We suspect that the woman had pushed the kids into the well. The woman, Bhagyalaxmi, got a minor injury on her leg but she is stable. This incident is the fallout of a family dispute. Further investigation is on," sub-divisional police officer, G. Udayagiri, Tirupati Rao Patnaik told IANS. The police have come to know that Rajesh was having an extra marital affair, for which, there were quarrels between the two. Staff working in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Secretariat have been banned from wearing jeans and T-shirts during office hours. This order was issued by Narendra Kumar Mishra, Joint Secretary in the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat. The order says that now all the employees of the secretariat will wear clothes according to the dignity of the secretariat. This instruction has been issued to all the officers and employees of the secretariat. Now no one is allowed to enter the Secretariat wearing jeans and T-shirt or other casual wear. The order has asked all the officers and employees to wear only formal dress during office hours, as per the dignity of the secretariat. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is on a visit to Lakhimpur Kheri, on Saturday met the woman candidate of the Samajwadi Party who was allegedly molested during the block pramukh elections held recently in Uttar Pradesh. Priyanka Gandhi demanded that the panchayat polls where violence took place should be held again. She said she will write to the state election commission in this regard. Priyanka Gandhi said women will become the head, block chief, MLA, MP, chief minister, even the prime minister by their sheer hard work and BJP 'goons' cannot stop them. "I will write to the State Election Commission for justice to all my sisters, citizens, victims of violence by BJP in Panchayat elections," she said. Priyanka Gandhi visited Semra village in Pathgava block of Lakhimpur Kheri district and met the victim and assured her of justice and said that she would write a letter to the Election Commission and demand cancellation of the block chief elections where violence took place. In a meeting of about 20 minutes, she also hugged the victim woman, who was allegedly attacked and misbehaved with when her sari was pulled in full public view in Lakhimpur Kheri during the local polls. Targeting the UP government, Priyanka Gandhi said during the nomination of the block chief on July 8, when the woman candidate was misbehaved with, the police kept watching. She said that she demands that this election be cancelled and strict action should be taken against those who are guilty in this incident. Questioning the violence in the UP Panchayat elections, Priyanka Gandhi said that Prime Minister Modi praised chief minister Yogi Adityanath for the victory in the Panchayat elections, but they do not see the truth here. Several videos of incidents of violence have surfaced. Two women were molested. The administration remained silent. "If this is not the murder of democracy, then what is it?" she questioned. She said that the CO who tried to save the victim was suspended by the government. The rest of the officers who were present there did nothing. Priyanka alleged that any person with 10 goons can create a ruckus and win elections. Is this democracy? Should this kind of democracy be practised in the country and the state? The tenets of democracy have been flouted openly and the Prime Minister is praising the performance of the Yogi government in the Panchayat elections. She insisted, "if this is what you intend to do, then why women's reservation?" Congress state president Ajay Kumar Lallu, legislature party leader Aradhana Mishra Mona, former MP Zafar Ali Naqvi, senior leader Deepak, All India Congress general secretary Dheeraj Gurjar, District president Prahlad Patel and other Congress leaders and workers were also present. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday wrote to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, urging him not to take decisions on the subjects falling under the Delhi government's purview. This comes amid a standoff between the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government and the Centre-appointed L-G on appointing special public prosecutors in cases related to the farmers' tractor rally on Republic Day and 2020 northeast Delhi riots. In his letter Sisodia pointed that L-G has been chairing meetings with officials of different department of the Delhi government and instructing them without informing the concerned ministers. "It has also come to my notice that the officials in L-G's office are pressuring Delhi government officials to comply with directions issued by the L-G," Sisodia's letter read. "I thought several times before writing this letter to you, but it is not about the personal relations but about protection of democracy. If the Centre appointed-L-G would sideline the elected government and start taking decisions on every subject on his own, then the democratic system which we have gained through fighting for years will be destroyed," it stated. Sisodia said it is not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution that the Centre appointed-L-G will call meetings and pass arbitrary decisions and force the officials to comply with directions on subjects which directly fall under the elected government. "The Constitution allows you to take decisions on three subjects - Police, Land and Public Order and other than these three subjects, the elected government is free to take its own decisions. Being the L-G of the national capital, you have veto power to differ with the decision taken by the elected government," the letter read. Sisodia cited the Supreme Court's order on July 4, 2018, which read, "The Lieutenant Governor of NCT of Delhi is bound by aid and advice of the Council of Ministers and this position holds true so long as the Lieutenant Governor does not exercise his power under the proviso to clause (4) of article 239AA. A Lieutenant Governor has not been entrusted with any independent decision-making power. He has to either act on 'aid and advice' of the Council of Ministers or he is bound to implement the decision taken by the President on a reference being made by him." Afghan security forces repelled an attack by the Taliban on Shiberghan city, capital of Jawzjan province, killing and injuring dozens of militants, a police officer said. Sporadic fighting started early Friday when dozens of Taliban militants armed with guns and heavy weapons entered from two directions in the south and east of the city, provincial police officer Abobakar Jilani told Xinhua news agency. "The Afghan army, police backed by local public uprising fighters repelled the attackers and prevented them from advancing to the central part of the city," he said. The Afghan Air Force conducted several airstrikes on militants' positions on the outskirts of the city, 390 km to the north of national capital Kabul, an official from the Afghan National Army told Xinhua. "Within the past 24 hours, 60 militants have been killed and many others wounded. The army personnel will soon reopen two provincial highways which connect Shiberghan city with neighbouring Balkh and Sari Pul provinces," he said. The daughter of Najibullah Alikhil, the Afghan envoy to Pakistan, was abducted and tortured on her way home in Islamabad, Afghanistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Saturday. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan states with deep regret that on July 16, 2021, the daughter of the Afghan ambassador to Islamabad, Ms. Silsila Alikhil, was abducted for several hours and severely tortured by unknown individuals on her way home," the statement said. After being released from the kidnappers' captivity, Alikhil is under medical care at a hospital. The statement said that the MoFA strongly condemns the heinous act and expresses its deep concern over the safety and security of diplomats, their families, and staff members of the Afghan political and consular missions in Pakistan. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the Government of Pakistan to take immediate necessary actions to ensure full security of the Afghan Embassy and Consulates as well as the immunity of the country's diplomats and their families in accordance with international treaties and conventions. "While the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs is following the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, we urge the Pakistani government to identify and prosecute the perpetrators at the soonest possible time," the statement added. Its possible Afghanistan will avoid a return to the chaos and brutality of the 1990s, but the memory of that time will drive many Afghans with means to leave home. by Anwar A. Khan Afghan war on the part of America was quite an unjust war. It was to destroy a country, a nation, a civilization with no reasonable ground, at all. You cannot punish millions of people for the sake of one man only. President Bush is a war criminal and rightly awarded with throwing of shoes. He shall surely suffer in the world as well as in the after world for his heinous crime against humanity. It is also likely that the humanitarian crisis will spill over into neighboring countries. The more than 2.5 million Afghan refugees worldwide remain one of the largest and longest-running displaced populations. Iran and Pakistan host the vast majority. Millions of Afghan refugees have returned home since 2001, including almost 860,000 last years as the pandemic ravaged communities and economies in their host countries. But those flows could soon be moving in the opposite direction. Over 100,000 civilians have been displaced internally already this year. If civil war now continues, many will have no choice but to flee the country. Its possible Afghanistan will avoid a return to the chaos and brutality of the 1990s, but the memory of that time will drive many Afghans with means to leave home. If past is prologue, the withdrawal of Western troops will be followed by a reduction in the foreign aid upon which the government and economy are existentially dependent. A combination of brain-drain, economic implosion, and collapse of public services will drive many more into grinding poverty and across borders in search of a better future. The bottom line is that the region is facing the prospect of another major displacement crisis. Donors will need to surge support to neighboring countries that host Afghan refugees. In return, donors should seek better treatment and conditions for refugees by regional host countries. Compact experiments like the one in Jordan build resilience by creating jobs and education for refugees and host communities alike. They offer an important model for the way forward. European countries also have a responsibility to act. NATO is pulling out of Afghanistan in parallel to the U.S. withdrawal. As fighting spreads, Afghans will seek refuge in Europe, where they already make up the second-largest group of asylum seekers. Yet tens of thousands of Afghans have been forcibly returned to Afghanistan from Europe and Turkey in recent years, and the number granted protection in EU countries is rapidly decreasing. Europe will need to change course, suspend deportations, and open its doors to Afghan asylum seekers. A first step would be for European leaders to acknowledge what their troops already know: Afghanistan is not safe for return not any part of it. The only thing we learn from history" in the words of German philosopher Friedrich Hegel "is that we learn nothing from history. Consequently, those who fail to learn from history as per British PM Churchill are condemned to repeat it. All the main stakeholders in Afghanistan like the United States, Taliban and Pakistan et al have badly failed to learn from Afghanistan historys black chapter of the 1990s and are on the path of committing the same blunders. It seems history is bent on repeating itself in Afghanistan, with repercussions of unmanageable magnitude. In 1989, the (former) USSR left Afghanistan the bleeding wound as Mikhail Gorbachev called it without healing it and without bringing any reconciliation between the smug Mujahideen and the weak and handicapped government of the then president Dr. Najibullah. The reconciliation between the two warring parties was also ignored by the Mujahideens supporters in the Geneva Accord signed in 1988. Moreover, the US abandoned Afghanistan after bleeding the USSR (Soviet Union) for a decade and disintegrating it with the help of Afghan blood. These blunders led to the civil war and chaos of the 1990s which ultimately paved the way to the rise of the Taliban. Though the US and Pakistan were said to have learnt from their blunders of the 1990s and committed that they would not be repeated, unfortunately, the fact is that they have learnt nothing from the past and have been repeating the same blunders. In addition, the Taliban are also repeating the same blunders committed by the Mujahideen in the 1990s. Reconciliation between the Dr Najibullah government and Mujahideen was a prerequisite for peace and stability in the post-Soviet withdrawal. But the Soviet Union, the US and Pakistan agreed on a roadmap in the Geneva Accord and left intra-Afghan reconciliation for the future. This weakened Dr. Najibullah's government and boosted the morale of the Mujahideen. The Mujahideen considered Dr. Najibullah's government as a puppet of the Soviet Union and thus gave no importance to it. And, while the Mujahideen's victory became possible with the sophisticated weapons of the US, overflowing money by the Arabs, unflinching support by Pakistan and blunders of the Soviet Union, they started to attribute it to their own strength and faith. So, they insisted on the occupation of Afghanistan by force. Meanwhile, different Mujahideen groups became embroiled in a civil war that devastated Kabul and created chaos in Afghanistan. This brought the Taliban on the scene who ultimately defeated and kicked out the Mujahideen and established their regime. The US also faced the music of its blunders when Afghanistan became a nightmare and a basecamp for Al-Qaeda. The 9/11 incident brought back the US to Afghanistan, but this time as an occupier. Now the US is going back after two decades of a futile stay in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, it has repeated the blunders of the 1990s and pushed Afghanistan towards devastation, civil war, and chaos. Ideally, the US should have brought about a reconciliation between the Afghan government and the Taliban prior to its withdrawal. That would have helped the US pressurize the warring parties for a meaningful solution. President Ashraf Ghani also considered reconciliation with the Taliban to be the end of his own government. Which is why he did not seem too pushed about reconciliation. Pakistan, being prone to any fallouts of Afghanistan, should have pressured Kabul and the Taliban for reconciliation prior to facilitating the US-Taliban deal. But Islamabad too left the intra-Afghan reconciliation for the future and helped the US-Taliban deal. As long as American troops were present in Afghanistan, the most difficult task of bringing stability was on their shoulders and the easiest task of creating instability was in the hands of anti-American powers. But now once all the American forces withdraw, Washington's dependency on Pakistan will end. The equation will reverse and the challenging task of stability in Afghanistan will fall on neighbours like Pakistan. It is common sense that if the US wants to create trouble for Russia, China, Iran and Pakistan, then the easiest way to do so is to cause instability in Afghanistan. That is why intra-Afghan reconciliation is the primary need of Pakistan and other regional powers, and they should use all means at their disposal to bring together Afghan warring parties for a meaningful reconciliation. Moreover, the Talibans should also keep in mind that as long as they were fighting against the US, they had the sympathies of some of the local population and regional powers like Russia, Iran, and Pakistan etc. But the local population and regional powers will not support their fight against Afghans and will not endorse their regime. The Taliban should not make decisions on the basis of the current weak position and broken morale of the Afghan government. This time strong resistance will not come mainly from the Afghan government but from Tajik, Uzbek, Hazara, and Turkmen nationalities of Afghanistan. Though today these communities seem somehow weak or uninterested, if the Taliban establish their regime by force, then some regional powers like in the past will jump on the bandwagon in support of ethnic resistance. If today they do not come out in direct resistance, the only reason is that Afghans are fed up with war and bloodshed. But if the Taliban cause war and bloodshed in Afghanistan like the Mujahideen did in the 1990s, then Afghans will certainly rise and the Taliban's fate will not be much different from that of the Mujahideens. More bleeding will spill-over the entire country. Considering the present status, Afghanistan is now a terrified inhabited place! -The End The writer is an independent political analyst based in Dhaka, Bangladesh who writes on politics, political and human-centred figures, current and international affairs by Isabella Maria Bello Arocha On May 25th, as part of the Geneva Lecture Series concepted and conducted by prof. Anis H. Bajrektarevic, a large number of international affairs specialists, faculty fellows, practitioners and diplomats gathered for a special session devoted to Democracy and Human Rights. The lecture given by H.E. Kjell Magne Bondevik, was the highlight of this mesmerizing and content intensive event. Excellency Bondevik served his native country of Norway as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1990s, but also as its longest-serving non-Labour party Prime Minister (1997-2000 and 2001-2005). He was a founder and the first president of the well-known Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights (2006-on). Opening the day, the Swiss University Rector reminded the audience that modern day democracy and (respect for) human rights do not have any alternative, since they represent the highest achievement of the human civilisation. Opening his talk, H.E. Kjell Magne Bondevik gave a comprehensive analysis of the role that human rights and democracys role plays on maintaining peace and stability worldwide. He tackled issues, including recent events, such as Covid and the decrease of democracies, human rights and the many dilemmas which surround them; including the double standards, the relationship between democracy and human dignity, and what the Oslo Center is contributing to this issue. Excellency Bondevik continued his lecture by stating that, in general, over the past 30 years democracies have been on the rise, but as of recently they have seen a rapid decrease which can be interpreted as a direct threat to peace and stability. This is because as according to him, lasting peace depends on real democracy and human rights as well as inclusive societies. With this in mind, His Excellency presented two dimensions which are the key in preserving democracy, peace, and stability in future: 1) Build up strong politically democratic institutions that are sustainable and not dependent on one or few strong political leaders, and 2) create more inclusive societies were different groups are included and the civil society is strengthened. Notwithstanding, building this framework is a challenge and it all depends on how local communities and other institutions are organized. His Excellency stated that this issue was emphasized by the COVID crisis because it created a debate concerning national and international institutions and their responsibilities. This concluded that strengthening of international institutions and cooperation is extremely important for the overall well-being. Then, the Former Prime Minister, addressed human rights and the many dilemmas surrounding them and the disconnect in the international discourse. First, His Excellency stated that abuse of human rights, authoritarian and totalitarian regimes, and encroachments of human dignity will consequently lead to uprise and violent conflicts as can be seen in history. Hence, there are 2 dilemmas: 1) the disconnect between human rights as international discourse, and 2) political practices. Moreover, His Excellency specified that the disconnect has 2 further facets: 1) the discourse of the UN, western governments, and academics, as opposed to the experienced reality; 2) which can be seen in regimes that are good at rehearsing their human rights discourse, which is used as a smokescreen for systematic violations. Therefore, we have to move on from the historical ties of human rights and place them in a contemporary political and human experience context and become much more worried about their universality. Furthermore, His Excellency stated that, human rights are seen to be only relevant and feasible in mature democracies where power holders can be held accountable, otherwise, they may only be seen as theoretical construct and theme for International conferences. Therefore, the lack of correspondence between discourse and practices that is present nowadays is what has led to a moral and credibility crisis for international human rights. To solve this, His Excellency affirmed that a step in the right direction would be the improvement of effective assessment and credible tools for human rights and the prosecution of their violations and violators. In Addition, H.E. Bondevik addressed the growing issue of double standards between various nations concerning human rights. In this regard, His Excellency affirmed that the US and Europe have lost credibility as protectors of human rights, because the standards used to measure them in one country must be the same used in another, even if one is a ally and the other an enemy. Hence, this constitutes another discontinuity that threatens the universality of human rights, since all states should guarantee freedom to allow societies to change and improve internally. Moreover, His Excellency stated that he believes in human rights but that its also important to address the social and political realities that undermine their universality and critically assess our own discourse, we must relentlessly breach the gap. Furthermore, H.E. Bondevik tackled democracy more in-depth and stated that it is the consequence of the fundamental value that is human dignity. His Excellency elaborated on the previous statement and described fragile states and weak democracies as having internal conflicts characterized by political, ethnic, and religious divides as well as frail state policy. Moreover, weak states have coalition governments which are the result of political compromises which lack a common political platform, and so, they often have short histories of political cooperation and democratic governance. Thus, it is extremely important to promote cooperation because it may serve as a pre-condition or successful post-conflict reconciliation. Lastly, H.E. Bondevik, as Founder and Executive Chair of the Oslo Center, addressed what the organization can contribute in regard to democracy and human rights as basis for lasting peace. He affirmed that the focus of the organization will be to provide context-sensitive advice to political leaders, parties, and different government apparatus on power-sharing, coalition building, and enhancement of dialogue and cooperation. Notwithstanding, it will continue to lead projects in countries such as Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, North Macedonia, and Georgia to create development mechanisms. However, more importantly, the Oslo Center will continue to align its work in the form of partnerships with the main political institutions of each country as these are the individuals actually on the ground and the key to (change and) success. The former Prime Minister of Norway, His Excellency Kjell Magne Bondevik, confirmed the earlier statement of his host prof. Anis H. Bajrektarevic that confrontation is what you get, and cooperation is what you are fighting for, by concluding his lecture with following words: Democracy is about how to share power and respecting the will of the people, it is a continuous and ongoing process about political and public dialogue - and dialogue is the only tool to build better relations between communities and regions. Therefore, respect for democracy and human rights is a conflict prevention and peace tool. About the author: Madrid-based junior researcher specialized in law and international relations. Covers International Institute IFIMES before the UNWTO and other Iberia-based international organizations. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Pickhardt said he has asked health officials to come back next week and do another round of COVID testing to catch any more of the asymptomatic cases and confine the spread. We have always been prudent and mindful of how we manage during the pandemic. We are following standard protocol just in case of the possibility of one or two further being identified. Photographer Mike Stocker and writer Andrew Boryga won first place for their photo story, Making peace with the emptiness which, through words and pictures, examined the abandonment of normal life and previously populated city locales during the COVID-19 lockdown. The koozies made their debut just as COVID-19 cases were skyrocketing in Florida, the state with one of the highest case rates in the U.S. That means more sickness, hospitalizations and deaths on top of the more than 38,000 lives already lost to a virus and its stronger variant that now stalks us, especially the many unvaccinated, with renewed vengeance. As much as I have reflected on the GOPs core desires over many years, I keep coming back to these two. Republicans appear to be willing to swallow absolutely anything as long as they retain power and that they keep as much of their money from being taxed as possible. There does not seem to be any real philosophy, only a determination to make sure that if taxes must be paid, they must not come out of their pockets. The Karl Lagerfeld firm arrives in Marbella at the hands of Sierra Blanca Estates with the design of five villas on the Golden Mile. It is the exclusive design company's first residential project in Spain. The mansions will be built on a 9,000-square-metre plot in the exclusive few kilometres that separate the urban centre of Marbella from prestigious Puerto Banus. The luxury residential complex will be made up of five unique villas whose individual size will range between 500 and 900m2, all of them built with environmentally friendly materials. Diyar Al Muharraq, a leading real estate development company in Bahrain, has announced the launch of Tumouh, a vocational training programme for Bahraini graduates holding a bachelors degree in civil engineering, electrical engineering, or architecture. The training programe was initiated with an introductory meeting in the presence of the CEO of Diyar Al Muharraq Engineer Ahmed Ali Alammadi, alongside a representative from the Human Resources department. During the meeting, the vision and masterplan of Diyar Al Muharraq were communicated, in addition to current and future projects within the City. The trainees were also given an overview of Diyars core values in order to effectively familiarise them with the companys corporate culture. On the new programme, Alammadi said: "On behalf of Diyar Al Muharraq, I am very pleased to welcome all Bahraini graduates enrolled in the Tumouh training programme. The launch of this initiative comes as part of our efforts to contribute towards developing promising Bahraini talent within both the real estate sector and engineering fields, as well as supporting trainees in advancing their skills and gaining new experiences in order to excel in their future careers." The Tumouh programme, which will run for six consecutive months until December of this year, aims to train and develop young graduates under the supervision of an experienced team at Diyar Al Muharraq. During the aforementioned period, the participants will receive practical training opportunities within the company in the fields of engineering and real estate, in addition to online training programs delivered by global institutions. "The Tumouh programme highlights our commitment towards enabling young talent to grow and develop in their specialized fields, by providing them with requisite vocational training and actively involving them in the implementation of development projects in Diyar Al Muharraq," he stated. "We aim to provide a distinguished training experience for the members of the program, through which we look forward to enhancing their opportunities in attaining prestigious positions within the labour market in the near future," he added. Diyar Al Muharraq is one of the largest integrated cities in the kingdom, offering a variety of housing solutions and a luxurious modern lifestyle while persevering the core family values in Bahraini society. It offers a unique, balanced mix of residential, commercial, recreational, and healthcare facilities, creating a fully integrated and futuristic model city.-TradeArabia News Service Lucknow, Jul 17 (UNI) The construction work of Noida International Airport, Jewar, one of the world's largest airports, may start anytime soon as the land lease agreement was signed at a virtual ceremony in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath here on Saturday. The foundation stone of this airport is proposed to be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi next month. The function could be held on August 15 next or thereafter. The process to give 1,334 hectares of land to Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL) by the state government on a 90-year lease for Jewar Airport had been completed. The share holder agreement between airport developer company Zurich Airport International (AG), Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd, a 100 percent subsidiary of Zurich Airport International which is incorporated a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to develop the Greenfield airport, and NIAL was also formalised at the ceremony. In a program organised at the Chief Minister's residence on Saturday, CM Yogi expressed happiness over the progress of the work of Jewar Airport in a time bound manner even in the midst of Corona pandemic. He said that this airport would not only prove to be a milestone in the development of Uttar Pradesh, but would also give a new dimension to make air connectivity universal and world class in the country. Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that during the last four years, there had been a lot of development in the field of civil aviation in UP. In 2017, there are only four functional airports in the state, out of which only Lucknow and Varanasi were regular while remaining Gorakhpur and Agra used to have infrequent flights. "Today, we have eight fully functional airports in UP. Before 2017, we had only 25 destinations from Lucknow and Varanasi, Gorakhpur and Agra but today the service expansion is almost three times in terms of destinations, " he pointed out adding " there are 10 airports under construction." He further informed that the work on Kushinagar International Airport had been almost completed may start international flights anytime. Watching the presentation on the occasion, the CM said that the airport terminal should be a unique example of Indian architecture. CM Yogi said that very idea of Jewar Airport did send across a positive message but the same people became active who had earlier obstructed the development works by becoming middlemen during the formation of Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway Authority. He said that in such a situation, the district administration interacted directly with the farmers. The farmers of all the villages under the Jewar Airport project and the officials of the local administration gave full cooperation and finally the land acquisition and resettlement work was completed without any dispute. CM Yogi recalled that the same area was witness to violence, agitations and severe law and order crisis over development works in the past but the land acquisition for this project was all smooth and in a peaceful manner. "Jewar Airport is a great medium for us to pursue the future prospects, which will help in making Uttar Pradesh a one trillion dollar economy," the CM enthused confidence. Earlier, Minister of Civil Aviation, Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi, said that the Jewar Airport will become a global identity of Uttar Pradesh. Several officials of the Civil Aviation Department, CEO of Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority and representatives of Zurich Airport International (AG) were present at the event. UNI MB SHK1804 New Delhi, Jul 17 (UNI) As return of the Taliban in Afghanistan seems more and more likely, this could have severe repercussions not only for the region but for the West as well, because Afghanistan may become a breeding ground for international terrorists. Speaking at a webinar on 'US Exit from Afghanistan: Repercussions for Afghanistan, India, Region and US' Friday evening, Afghan Ambassador to India Farid Mamundzay said that Taliban victory in Afghanistan could give an impetus to terrorism which would be detrimental not merely for the region but also for the West. "Taliban has a symbiotic relationship with international terrorists. A recent UN report points out the cooperation between Taliban and Al Qaeda. Taliban leaders of the Quetta Shoura participated in the coronation ceremony of bin Laden's son as his successor, Al Qaeda's second in command declared loyalty to Taliban Amir Mulla Akhtar Muhammad Masood. ISIS and Al Qaeda both pose intension and capability to harm the west. Western countries are a high priority target for these terror groups," he said. The ambassador listed three broad outcomes due to the foreign troop pull-out from Afghanistan and the potential return of the Taliban. "The US before withdrawing should have considered three possibilities, firstly the security instability, which would cause a lot of suffering to the Afghan people. Due to the escalating violence, the past three months have seen 4000 deaths and about 300,000 people have been internally displaced. Second consequence would be the rise of terror networks, and finally all gains of past 20 years would be lost due to Taliban return to power," he said. He warned that a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan maybe a strategic challenge for India. "History has shown that conflict within Afghanistan does not stay within it's borders, India would face challenge from an insecure and unstable Afghanistan. Pakistan based anti India groups have tied with the Taliban. Groups like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Lashkar-e-Islam, Jaish-e- Mohammed, and Al Badr have been spotted fighting alongside the Taliban in sizable numbers. In the event of Taliban gaining more ground, there is a likely-hood that Indians, and their interests would be targeted home and abroad. China seeks to play a greater role in a Talibanised Afghanistan, and Beijing could gain from India's projects," the Afghan Ambassador said. He felt that Pakistan is likely to be the biggest gainer from Taliban returning to power. "Pakistan, which is the home to almost all Taliban Shouras has the greatest influence over the Taliban, hence it is likely to benefit the most by the return of the Taliban. It would not only be limited to strategic gains, but would be better placed to crush Pashtun nationalism," he said. UNI RKM SHK1650 Srinagar, Jul 17 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory (UT) Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said that government officials must take proactive steps to facilitate the return of Kashmiri Pandits, who were forced to flee their homes and now settled in various parts of the country. It is government's responsibility to make sure the dream of thousands of Kashmiri migrants returning their homeland turns into reality Mr Sinha said adding we must ensure that the entire population of Kashmiri Migrants is registered with the J&K Government. Lt Governor Sinha made these remarks during a meeting he chaired to review the functioning of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction (DMRR&R) Department here at Raj Bhavan today. JORDAN MEAD is News Editor for The Vidette. Contact her at jnmead@ilstu.edu. Follow Mead on Twitter at @meadjordan19 IF YOU SUPPORT THE VIDETTE MISSION of providing a training laboratory for Illinois State University student journalists to learn and sharpen viable, valuable and marketable skills in all phases of print and digital media, please contribute to this most important cause. Thank you. France pulled off one of the greatest heists ever. It left Haiti perpetually impoverished remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. SHREVEPORT, La. Could a mask mandate return to Caddo Parish? Thats what the Caddo Parish Commission will decide at its work session Monday. A proposed emergency ordinance calls for people to again begin wearing masks or facial coverings in certain businesses and public places. The mandate if advanced then approved at the July 22 meeting would be effective outside of municipalities in the parish. The city of Shreveport would not be included, for example. The ordinance, proposed by Commissioner L.B. Johnson, states there is a need for people to go back to wearing masks to stop the upward trend of COVID-19 infections in the parish. The mandate would affect businesses with 50 or more indoor occupants, and that includes employees and patrons. Exempted would be children under the age of 2, public safety personnel, those with medical conditions that make wearing masks unsafe, outdoor areas where six feet of social distancing is possible and family members in the same household. The proposed ordinance states the sheriffs office is authorized to enforce the order, with violators facing fines of $250 for the first violation. The commissions work session is at 3 p.m. Monday at Government Plaza. Commissioners also will discuss COVID-19 protocols for public meetings held there. Fort Polk, LA (71446) Today A few isolated thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 84F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable. SHREVEPORT, La. -- Approximately 80 Haitian immigrants were dropped off in the city Thursday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and local officials are warning there may be more busloads to come. The influx of immigrants came in two waves to the SporTran Intermodal Terminal at Texas and Murphy streets in downtown Shreveport, according to a SporTran official who did not want to be identified. ICE confirmed the arrival of two buses. But the influx came with apparently little or no warning to City of Shreveport government and law enforcement officials. Marquel Sennet, spokeswoman for Mayor Adrian Perkins, said the city was notified the same day. Local government officials confirmed to KTBS-3 News that one bus arrived Thursday with about 50 immigrants on board. A second bus arrived later at about 5:30 p.m. with 29 people aboard -- 22 men and seven women. A source with SporTran told KTBS that the men all had money, and all made travel connections, most on Greyhound. Some even had airline tickets and headed straight to the airport. But that source said some of the women had little or no money. They were helped by the Church for the Highlands, confirmed pastor John Henson, who said they provided transportation, telephones, WiFi and help with travel logistics. The Bible says to help aliens and people in distress, those who are in need, and thats exactly what we are doing, Henson said. Another local non-profit which did not want to be named confirmed it provided funding for hotel rooms for some of the immigrants. KTBS also contacted the ICE field office in New Orleans responsible for the drop off. The head of the office, Caridad Cephas-Kimbrough, declined to comment on the operation over the phone, but instead referred KTBS to a public information officer, Sarah Loicano. Loicano released a written statement that read, in part: ICEs enforcement and removal operations New Orleans field office is transporting individuals, in accordance with COVID-19 protocols, released from ICE custody to regional airports or bus stations. Individuals released from ICE custody have a transportation and a temporary support plan in place prior to release." SporTran sources were told up to 17 more bus loads of immigrants and refugees are coming to Shreveport. Loicano told KTBS Friday that number may be high. However, she could not provide a specific number, nor a time frame for those arrivals. Two local law enforcement agencies also confirmed to KTBS-3 News that they were not told of this plan by ICE. They expressed concern and said they are watching the situation closely. And it's not just Shreveport. KTBS-3 News is getting reports of similar drop offs in communities all over Louisiana and Mississippi. Halls Sophie Garner-MacKinnon has been named the 2020-21 Gatorade Connecticut Softball Player of the Year, according to a release from Gatorade. Garner-MacKinnon is the first Gatorade Connecticut Softball Player of the Year to be chosen from Hall High School. Downtown Building To Be Demolished Today By West Kentucky Star Staff PADUCAH - The Precision Machine Shop building that was destroyed by fire in May will be demolished in downtown Paducah today.South Third Street will be closed beginning at 7 a.m. between downtown and the Southside.The closure will happen again on Sunday if necessary. Rep. Chris Freeland's Legislative Update By Representative Chris Freeland WESTERN KENTUCKY -Perched just across the Kentucky River from the Capitol is a 150-year old building that celebrates our commonwealths rich military history. The legislature approved $8,000 to construct the building that houses the Kentucky Military History Museum during the 1850 Regular Session after an earlier arsenal was lost to fire. Because the arsenal was used for the manufacture, maintenance, and storage of volatile weapons and substances, the legislature wisely stipulated the building be located away from the building that served as the center of state government at that time. That allocation was certainly not the first legislative measure aimed at strengthening our military presence, as over the past few years we have worked hard to ensure our state is military friendly and welcoming to those who serve our nation.During the 2021 Regular Session, we passed several measures with this intent, and I thought I might share a few with you in this weeks update.Protections for Military Families - HB 109 ensures that deployed service members who have custody of their children do not lose permanent custody due to their deployment. Known as the Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act, HB 109 allows custodial responsibility to be temporarily granted to a non-custodial parent during the deployment.Preventing the Patriot Penalty - HB 196 prohibits automobile insurance companies from implementing a Patriot Penalty, by using a lapse in coverage due to deployment as cause to raise rates.Kentucky Operator's License Requirement Exemption for Armed Forces Families - HB 277 provides an exemption to the Kentucky operator's license requirement for a member of the Armed Forces, their spouse, or dependent child. Under the provisions of this bill, Kentucky will recognize a valid driver's license issued by the state of their permanent residence.Streamlining Services for Kentucky Veterans - HB 398 is a reorganization for the Kentucky Commission on Military Affairs aimed at streamlining services for Kentucky veterans.Construction Contracts - SB 99 exempts facilities at Bluegrass Station from the requirement to have construction contracts executed under the supervision of a licensed architect or professional engineer. The bill would relate only to facilities measuring 20,000 feet or less and used in the furtherance of security or defense contracts, grants, or agreements with the United States federal government located on property owned by the Commonwealth.Kentucky Emergency Response Commission - SB 133 requires the executive director of the Department of Military Affairs serve as vice-chair of the Kentucky Emergency Response Commission.Department of Military Affairs Reorganization - SB 147redistributes powers and responsibilities from the Facilities Division of the Department of Military Affairs to the department's adjutant general.National Guard Leadership - SB 161 reflects updated job titles for Air National Guard leadership and permits National Guard leadership to be employees of the Commonwealth.Before I conclude, I would like to share that the Kentucky Military History Museum is open to the public. It is operated by the Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky Department for Military Affairs, but my office can help make arrangements for your visit. If you are interested, please let me know. I can be reached here at home anytime, or through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. Feel free to contact me via email at Chris.Freeland@lrc.ky.gov. If you would like more information visit the LRC website www.legislature.ky.gov. Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-16 21:44:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TASHKENT, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan and Pakistan have signed a strategic partnership agreement, vowing to boost bilateral trade volume by five times, Uzbek president's press service announced Friday. The agreement was signed by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who jointly hosted a bilateral business forum on regional connectivity. Following the talks, several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements with a total worth of 500 million U.S. dollars were inked to strengthen cooperation in diverse areas, including transit trade and the simplification of visa procedures for businessmen and tourists. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-16 22:41:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, July 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Cai Guodong) TASHKENT, July 16 (Xinhua) -- There is no conflict of fundamental interests between China and the European Union (EU), Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Thursday. Wang made the remarks during a meeting here with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell. Both sides believe that the important principles of China-EU exchanges are mutual respect and seeking common ground while reserving differences, Wang said. The two sides should make joint efforts to expand the dominant aspects of China-EU cooperation, adhere to the main tone of mutual benefit and a win-win situation, properly manage differences and refrain from imposing their own will on others, Wang said. It is hoped that the EU will view China's development in a friendly and positive way and from the perspective of the development of mankind, Wang added. Noting China welcomes the global interconnection initiative proposed by the EU, Wang said China advocates that communication and coordination can be carried out among various interconnection initiatives to create synergy. Having various consensuses in the general direction, China and the EU can certainly complement each other, work together to promote the interconnection among countries and accelerate the development and revitalization of Eurasia. For his part, Borrell said despite the differences between the EU and China, the EU believes it should respect China, does not want to confront China and will not participate in any form of new Cold War. The world needs more cooperation between China and the EU, and there is still much room for improvement of EU-China relations, Borrell said. The EU welcomes China's development and revitalization, and is willing to have candid dialogue on existing differences and promote the continuous improvement of EU-China relations, Borrell said, adding the interconnection initiative proposed by the EU is by no means a confrontation against the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The EU is ready to strengthen coordination with China to synergize its interconnection initiative with the BRI, and is also willing to step up cooperation with China in addressing climate change, said Borrell. The two sides also had in-depth exchanges on the Afghan issue and the Iran nuclear issue. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 00:01:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A road is blocked by protesters in Beirut, Lebanon, on July 16, 2021. Lebanese protestors closed roads in Beirut for the second day on Friday, a day after the resignation of Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri. Hariri announced on Thursday his failure to form a cabinet, citing irreconcilable disagreements with President Michel Aoun. The announcement has prompted a dozen of protests across the country. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) BEIRUT, July 16 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese army said on Friday that 10 soldiers were injured when a hand grenade was hurled towards the armed forces during a standoff against a group of protesters in Jabal Mohsen area of Tripoli, northern Lebanon, the National News Agency reported. A day after the resignation of Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, protesters in Jabal Mohsen took to the streets, venting their dissatisfaction against the failure of government formation and the deterioration of living conditions in the country. Hariri announced on Thursday his failure to form a cabinet, citing irreconcilable disagreements with President Michel Aoun. The announcement has prompted a dozen of protests across the country. Lebanon has been running without a cabinet since Aug. 10, 2020, when then caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned following the Beirut port's explosions. The absence of an efficient government has exacerbated the country's crisis. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 00:54:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on May 8, 2021 shows a digital Chinese yuan (e-CNY) payment card used at the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- China's central bank on Friday released a white paper on the progress of the country's digital fiat currency, the e-CNY, saying that it will steadily push forward pilot schemes of its digital yuan. The e-CNY is the digital version of the fiat currency issued by the People's Bank of China (PBOC). It is a value-based, quasi-account-based and account-based hybrid payment instrument with legal tender status and loosely coupled account linkage, the white paper clarified, adding that the e-CNY is "mainly a substitute" for cash in circulation and will coexist with physical yuan. PURPOSE OF DEVELOPMENT As the digital economy develops, the share of transactions made using cash is rapidly declining in China. Meanwhile, a variety of so-called cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin pose potential risks to financial security and social stability, given their lack of intrinsic value, acute price fluctuations, low trading efficiencies and huge energy consumption, the white paper noted. In many countries and regions, central banks or monetary authorities have kept a close eye on fintech development and sought to digitalize fiat currency. The development of the e-CNY system in China aims to create a new form of RMB that meets the public demand for cash in the digital economy era. "Supported by a retail payment infrastructure that is reliable, efficient, adaptive and open, the e-CNY system will bolster China's digital economy, enhance financial inclusion, and make the monetary and payment systems more efficient," read the white paper. PROGRESS As the top-level design, functional development, and system testing have been basically completed, the PBOC has so far initiated pilot programs in certain representative regions. It has ensured the programs run in a steady, safe, managed, innovative and practical manner. The PBOC began its e-CNY research and development (R&D) project at the end of 2017. Large commercial banks, telecom operators and internet companies with significant assets, large market shares and strengths in technology development were selected to participate in the project. Since the end of 2019, the PBOC has launched e-CNY pilot programs in Shenzhen, Suzhou, Xiong'an and Chengdu. Since November 2020, Shanghai, Hainan, Changsha, Xi'an, Qingdao and Dalian have joined the pilot programs. As of June 30, 2021, the e-CNY has been applied to over 1.32 million scenarios, covering utility payments, catering services, transportation, shopping and government services. More than 20.87 million personal wallets and over 3.51 million corporate wallets have been opened, with a total of 70.75 million transactions and a transaction value totaling approximately 34.5 billion yuan (about 5.33 billion U.S. dollars). FUTURE OUTLOOK In the future, the PBOC will continue to prudently advance the pilot e-CNY R&D project in line with China's 14th Five-Year Plan, with no preset timetable for the final launch. Efforts will focus on areas including expanding test scenarios to cover all possible scenarios in selected pilot regions, optimizing the e-CNY ecosystem, and improving relevant institutional arrangements and rules, the white paper noted. Though technically ready for cross-border use, the e-CNY is currently mainly designed for domestic retail payments. "Looking ahead, the PBOC will actively respond to initiatives of the G20 and other international organizations to improve cross-border payments, and explore the applicability of the central bank digital currency in cross-border scenarios," read the paper. It will also work with relevant central banks and monetary authorities to establish exchange arrangements and regulatory cooperation mechanisms on the digital fiat currency, the paper noted. Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 01:33:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Wu Wei (2nd L), head of China's cross-departmental joint working group to Pakistan and deputy director-general of the Department of External Security Affairs of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong (not in the picture) visit the injured Chinese nationals from the Dasu terrorist attack at the Combined Military Hospital in Rawalpindi, near the federal capital Islamabad, Pakistan, July 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Jiang Chao) ISLAMABAD, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Wu Wei, head of China's cross-departmental joint working group to Pakistan, and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong Friday afternoon visited the injured Chinese nationals from the Dasu terrorist attack at the Combined Military Hospital in Rawalpindi, near the federal capital Islamabad. Wu, also deputy director-general of the Department of External Security Affairs of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Nong asked about the condition of and treatment for each wounded Chinese national. Wu conveyed the care, solicitude and sympathy of the Chinese leadership to the injured one by one, saying that their compatriots in China care a lot about their safety. The joint working group has got in touch with a cross-departmental team from the Pakistani side, Wu said, adding that both sides will continue to spare no effort to conduct medical treatment for them. Wu said that he hopes the injured Chinese nationals can set their mind at rest and get recovered at an early date. China's cross-departmental joint working group left Beijing for Islamabad early Friday morning Beijing time, and met with people from different relevant Pakistani departments after their arrival. At around 7:00 a.m. local time Wednesday, the shuttle vehicles of the Dasu Hydropower Project for which a Chinese company is contracted to build, were hit by a blast when they were heading to the construction site in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, leaving nine Chinese nationals and three Pakistanis dead, according to the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 01:58:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAPE TOWN, July 16 (Xinhua) -- South African Parliament on Friday said President Cyril Ramaphosa has informed the legislature about the authorization of 25,000 army members to fight against the ongoing unrest in the country. The deployment is effective from July 12 to August 12, 2021, and is expected to incur expenditure of 615 million rands (about 42.8 million U.S. dollars), the parliament said in a press release. The government originally planned to deploy 2,500 members, but later submitted a request for deploying about 25,000 members to Ramaphosa for approval, in consideration of views of the president and opposition parties, defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula on Wednesday virtually briefed the Joint Standing Committee on Defence of the Parliament. The latest official figures said 212 people were killed in the past week's unrest happening in the eastern provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, triggered by the imprisonment of former South African president Jacob Zuma, with roads being blocked, properties and vehicles damaged and burned. The situation is "gradually, but firmly" returning to normality since Thursday, but it remains tense in some areas in KwaZulu-Natal, the government said Friday. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 02:24:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOSCOW, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that "we must act together, joining forces" in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences. The issue of accessibility and fair distribution of test kits, vaccines, medicines and personal protective equipment has not been dealt with, Putin said while addressing the Informal Economic Leaders' Retreat of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) via video link. "In light of the persisting high risks, we believe that our priority is to increase the scale of vaccination. We are ready for close collaboration with our APEC partners in important areas like the organization of large-scale vaccination," he said. In the face of the pandemic, Putin considered it important to expand cooperation in Asia-Pacific in digitalization, including using modern information technology in healthcare, education and social welfare. He also underlined the significance of creating a transparent, predictable and non-discriminatory environment for trade and investment across the Asia-Pacific region. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 02:30:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- China's national carbon market started trading on Friday, a significant step to help the country reduce its carbon footprint and meet emission targets. -- Carbon emissions by more than 2,000 power companies involved in the first trading group are estimated to exceed 4 billion tonnes per year, making the market the world's largest in terms of the amount of greenhouse gas emissions covered. -- Companies are assigned quotas for carbon emissions and can sell surplus emission allowances to those that expect to exceed their pollution quotas. -- The start of the trading in the national carbon market came as China's latest effort in realizing its goals of peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- China's national carbon market started trading on Friday, a significant step to help the country reduce its carbon footprint and meet emission targets, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE). Photo taken on July 16, 2021 shows a view of the Shanghai Environment and Energy Exchange in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Cheng Siqi) Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng attended the launching ceremony in Beijing and announced the official start of the trading. Trading began at 9:30 a.m. at the Shanghai Environment and Energy Exchange, with the opening price for carbon quotas at 48 yuan (7.4 U.S. dollars) per tonne. The first transaction was priced at 52.78 yuan per tonne, with a total value of 7.9 million yuan. The first trading day concluded with total trading volume topping 4.1 million tonnes and a turnover of 210.23 million yuan. The transaction prices averaged 51.23 yuan per tonne. Carbon emissions by more than 2,000 power companies involved in the first trading group are estimated to exceed 4 billion tonnes per year, making the market the world's largest in terms of the amount of greenhouse gas emissions covered. Photo taken on July 16, 2021 shows a screen displaying real-time information of national carbon emission trading in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu) The scheme initially involves companies in the power industry. Carbon emitters from other sectors such as steel, paper making and aviation will be added gradually. Carbon trading is the process of buying and selling permits to emit carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. Companies are assigned quotas for carbon emissions and can sell surplus emission allowances to those that expect to exceed their pollution quotas. Commenting on the carbon market, Zhao Yingmin, vice minister of ecology and environment, said that it spurs high emitters to decarbonize industrial structure and energy consumption, and will help them become frontrunners in peaking carbon dioxide emissions. The market also provides a price fillip for related companies to upgrade low-carbon technologies and embark on green transformation, Zhao said. To maintain the healthy and stable development of the national carbon market, trading institutions have established a series of systems including price fluctuation limits, maximum position limits, large account reports, risk warnings and reserves, and abnormal trading monitoring. It is necessary to further strengthen the top-level design, refine the roadmap, introduce more industries and trading entities into the market, and enrich trading varieties to help the carbon market play a better role in controlling greenhouse gas emissions, said Liu Jie, general manager of the Shanghai Environment and Energy Exchange. Photo taken on May 28, 2021 shows an offshore wind farm of China Huadian Corporation in southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong) China's national carbon trading market was launched in 2017 after pilot operations in seven provincial-level regions in 2011. Behind its launch was the aim of exploring market-based mechanisms to control greenhouse gas emissions. The MEE will roll out trading regulations and improve relevant standards and management schemes while expanding the varieties and methods of trading. As data authenticity and accuracy are the bases of trading, the MEE will work to ensure the quality and transparency of emission data. Li Zhiqing, a researcher at Fudan University, said that there might not be abrupt price fluctuations in the emerging market. However, in light of the lower carbon trading volume and market prices compared with the international level, carbon prices are likely to rise in the mid- and long-term. Industry analysts, meanwhile, called for efforts to prevent speculative behaviors and excessive financialization of the trading market. The fundamental objective of this scheme is to help reduce emissions. The start of the trading in the national carbon market came as China's latest effort in realizing its goals of peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. Pursuing a green growth path, China has been working on all fronts to transform its coal-centered energy structure and build a clean and diversified energy supply system. Aerial photo taken on July 7, 2020 shows a photovoltaic industrial park in Gonghe County of Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang) Official data shows the country ranks first globally in newly-installed wind-power capacity, and is also a global leader in the production and use of solar energy and hydropower. By the end of 2020, more than 40 percent of China's installed power generation capacity came from renewable resources, supporting nearly one-third of the country's electricity consumption, according to data from the National Energy Administration. As a result, 15.9 percent of China's primary energy consumption came from non-fossil energy, surpassing the target of 15 percent set for 2020. (Video reporter: Ding Ting, Wang Moling, Cheng Siqi, Chen Yunfu; Video editor: Zhao Xiaoqing) Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 02:57:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the Informal Economic Leaders' Retreat of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) via video link in Beijing, capital of China, July 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) -- Over the next three years, China will provide another 3 billion U.S. dollars in international aid to support COVID-19 response and economic and social recovery in other developing countries. -- "Let us stand with each other in solidarity, promote anti-COVID cooperation and economic recovery, and work for a bright future of prosperity for all in the Asia-Pacific," said Xi. -- "The pandemic proves once again that we live in one global village, where countries stand to rise and fall together," said Xi. BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Addressing the Informal Economic Leaders' Retreat of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) on Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping called upon its members to enhance solidarity and cooperation to overcome the impact of COVID-19 and boost global economic recovery. "Let us stand with each other in solidarity, promote anti-COVID cooperation and economic recovery, and work for a bright future of prosperity for all in the Asia-Pacific," said Xi. The attending APEC members have committed themselves to realizing the Putrajaya Vision of an open, dynamic, resilient, and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040 for the prosperity of all their people and future generations, according to a statement released after the meeting. COOPERATION ON PANDEMIC RESPONSE "The pandemic proves once again that we live in one global village, where countries stand to rise and fall together," said Xi. He urged solidarity and cooperation to go through this difficult time and jointly work for a healthier and brighter future for humanity. As of Friday, there were more than 188 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections, the World Health Organization said. For the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, the twists and turns of the pandemic, including constant mutations of the virus, pose challenges to economic development and people's livelihood. To ensure affordability of and accessibility to COVID-19 vaccines, a powerful weapon to defeat the virus, China has pledged to make vaccines a "global public good." Overcoming the challenges of its own mass vaccination program, China has so far provided more than 500 million doses of vaccines to other developing countries. An airport worker transports packages of Chinese COVID-19 vaccine at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on July 10, 2021. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua) China will provide another 3 billion U.S. dollars in international aid over the next three years to support COVID-19 response and economic and social recovery in other developing countries, Xi said. "China will take an active part in cooperation initiatives to keep vaccine supply chains stable and safe and support the movement of essential goods, and take effective measures to ensure healthy, safe and orderly people-to-people exchanges," the Chinese president added. Echoing China's call for strengthening cooperation on the pandemic response, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin emphasized the importance of reducing the immunization gap and ensuring equal distribution of vaccines. Xi also mentioned China financed the founding of a Sub-Fund on APEC Cooperation on Combating COVID-19 and Economic Recovery. "Countries should avoid a 'low-lying land' of pandemic response. China has demonstrated responsibility as a major country to rally forces, join hands with others in weathering difficulties, and make concrete contributions," said Su Xiaohui, a researcher with the China Institute of International Studies. REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION Noting opening-up and integration is the "prevailing trend," Xi called for the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment and upholding the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core. The APEC is a group of mostly open trading economies. It is hence a top priority for members to uphold free trade and oppose protectionism, said James Laurenceson, director of the Australia-China Relations Institute from the University of Technology Sydney. Xi urged stepping up macroeconomic policy coordination, minimizing negative spillovers, and promoting regional economic integration, with a view to establishing a high-standard Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific at an early date. "China is among the first to ratify the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement," Xi said, adding that "We look forward to its entry into force this year." The RCEP agreement, the largest free trade pact inked to date globally, includes multiple APEC economies. A crane loads containers onto a cargo train at Erenhot Port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on April 11, 2020. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) As China has been taking concrete steps to further open up to the world and promote trade liberalization in the region, it is also working for a community with a shared future for the Asia Pacific by earnestly pursuing multilateralism, said Su. PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT To boost world economic recovery, Xi called for seizing opportunities from scientific and technological innovation, reiterating China's consistent support for "inclusive and sustainable development." "The digital economy is an important area for the future growth of the world economy," he said. He called on APEC members to further develop digital infrastructure, facilitate the dissemination and application of new technologies, and work for a digital business environment that is open, fair, and non-discriminatory. In terms of inclusive and sustainable development, Xi said China supports APEC in advancing cooperation on sustainable development, improving the List of Environmental Goods, and making energy more efficient, clean and diverse. Echoing China's stance on promoting green growth, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore is a small country vulnerable to climate change impacts. It is, therefore, willing to work with other countries to reach a consensus on the development of the green economy and strengthen environmental governance. A responsible stakeholder in countering climate challenges, China has pledged to strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. To this end, China has been taking concrete actions, and the country's national carbon market started trading on Friday. As an increasing number of countries have committed themselves to green development, China's drive for sustainable growth will provide more opportunities for green energy industries, and inject impetus into ensuring a promising prospect for generations to come, said Bambang Suryono, chairman of Indonesia's Asia Innovation Study Center. Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 06:15:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on July 16, 2021 shows roads and houses damaged in flood disaster in Schuld, a town in Ahrweiler, Germany. (Photo by Joachim Bywaletz/Xinhua) In Germany, the death toll climbed to 103 as of Friday afternoon local time, with many more people still missing. In Belgium, a national day of mourning has been set for July 20 for the victims of the severe weather in recent days. BRUSSELS/BERLIN/GENEVA, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Devastating flash floods due to intense rainfalls have swept through several western European countries in the past few days, killing more than one hundred and causing damages. Some countries in Western Europe received up to two months worth of rainfall in two days, with Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg strongly affected, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported on Friday. In parts of western and southern Germany, towns and communities were hit by catastrophic flash floods after heavy and continuous rainfall this week. As of Friday afternoon local time, the death toll climbed to 103 in the country, with many more people still missing, according to local authorities. The federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate were hit particularly hard, with 43 people and 60 people killed respectively. A large number of people are still missing. The district of Ahrweiler alone currently estimates about 1,300 missing people, while around 3,500 are being treated in care facilities. Germany's Ministry of Defence has issued a military disaster alert on Friday, deploying more than 850 soldiers for rescue work and the number is increasing. "Extreme precipitation such as the heavy rains that flooded parts of western Germany this week is likely to become more frequent due to global warming," said German expert Stefan Rahmstorf, head of Earth System Analysis at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). The bank of the river Rhine is seen flooded in Dusseldorf, western Germany, July 16, 2021. (Photo by Tang Ying/Xinhua) In Belgium, a national day of mourning has been set for July 20 for the victims of the severe weather in recent days. Twenty-one people died and 18 were reported missing on Friday after flash floods that saw rivers burst their banks in the south and east of the country. In the town of Verviers, near the city of Liege, disastrous floods submerged the city center, upturning cars and damaging homes and shops along the high street. The heavy downpours in the Belgian provinces of Luxembourg, Namur, Liege and Limbourg match what climate models predict for when the Earth warms up, suggesting direct links with global warming, the Belgian weekly Le Vive reported on Friday. People throw away broken furnitures after floods in Verviers, Belgium, July 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng) In neighboring Netherlands, 10,700 people have been evacuated in Venlo in the north of the southern Dutch province of Limburg on Friday, as a precaution due to the high water level and the fear of flooding. The Dutch government has formally assessed the flood in Limburg as a disaster, allowing victims to obtain clarity about whether their damage will be reimbursed by the government if their insurance does not cover it. Dutch King Willem-Alexander visited the city and called the situation in Limburg "heartbreaking." In Switzerland, maximum flood warnings have been issued in central parts of the country due to persistent rainfall. As of Friday, Lake Lucerne, Lake Thun and Lake Biel have remained at the highest flood warning level (5) after continued and intense rainfall throughout the week. The Swissinfo website reported that the major cities such as Basel and Bern are also facing high flood risks, with the River Aare reaching a flow rate of 540 cubic meters per second, nearing the 600 level recorded in the major floods of 2005. France's meteorological service warned on Friday that the continuous rainfall is soaking the soil, putting France at risk of flooding. Currently, 13 provinces in northern and eastern France have been placed on orange alert for floods. The European Union's Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated to tackle the heavy floods. Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 08:40:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JOHANNESBURG -- Two hundred and twelve people were killed in the past week's violent protest happening in the eastern regions of South Africa, said the country's Acting Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni Friday when briefing the media. KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) reported 89 more deaths Friday, bringing the cumulative total to 180 fatalities, while Gauteng had a total of 32 deaths. The police has arrested 862 people in Gauteng and 1,692 more in KZN, according to the official. (South Africa-Unrest-Casualty Up) ---- SHIBERGHAN, Afghanistan -- The Afghan security forces repelled an attack by Taliban on Shiberghan city, capital of Afghanistan's northern Jawzjan province on Friday, killing and injuring dozens of militants, local police said. Sporadic fighting started early Friday when dozens of Taliban militants armed with guns and heavy weapons entered from two directions in the south and east of the city, provincial police officer Abobakar Jilani told Xinhua. (Afghanistan-Jawzjan-Taliban) ---- MOSCOW -- All people on board the An-28 plane that disappeared on radar earlier on Friday have been found alive after the aircraft made an emergency landing in Russia's Tomsk region. Two children were among the passengers together with four crew members, local media reported. (Russia-Plane hard landing) ---- TRIPOLI -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Friday announced evacuating 133 asylum seekers from Libya to Rwanda. "On the first humanitarian evacuation flight this year from Libya, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has evacuated on Thursday evening 133 vulnerable asylum-seekers to Rwanda. The humanitarian flight had been on hold since April," UNHCR said in a statement. (Libya-UNHCR-Rwanda-Asykum seekers) ---- BERLIN -- The death toll from the flood disaster triggered by heavy rainfall in western and southern Germany has risen to more than 100 as of Friday noon local time, according to police and local authorities. The federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate were hit particularly hard, with 43 people and 60 people killed respectively. (Germany-Flood-Deaths) Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 08:52:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, July 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Cai Guodong) TASHKENT, July 17 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to work with Kuwait to promote the continuous development of bilateral relations, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Friday. Wang made the remarks when meeting with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent. Noting that Kuwait was the first Gulf Arab country to establish diplomatic relations with China, Wang said both sides uphold that all countries should treat each other equally regardless of their sizes, and firmly support each other on issues concerning their core interests. The two countries have forged an unbreakable friendship through the test of international turbulence in the past 50 years, he added. Wang also said that China firmly supports Kuwait in safeguarding its own sovereignty, security and stability, and stands ready to work with Kuwait to promote the continuous development of bilateral relations. China will continue to support Kuwait in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and is ready to strengthen the docking of the Belt and Road Initiative with Kuwait's Vision 2035, he said. China is also willing to build a whole-industrial-chain strategic partnership in energy with Kuwait, and continuously open up new areas of cooperation in information technology, artificial intelligence and cyber security, Wang said. China appreciates the unique and constructive role played by Kuwait in regional affairs, and hopes to work with Kuwait to restart the free trade agreement talks between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as soon as possible, and promote the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum with more achievements. For his part, Ahmed said that Kuwait would like to take the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries to formulate a plan for trade and investment cooperation between the two sides in the next five years, so as to inject new vitality into the development of bilateral relations. He also expressed his gratitude to China for its strong support in Kuwait's fight against COVID-19, hoping that Kuwait and China strengthen cooperation in such areas as healthcare, food security, education, information technology, artificial intelligence and cyber security. Kuwait appreciates China's active role in mediating differences within the GCC, and stands ready to make positive efforts to restart the China-GCC free trade agreement talks, Ahmed said. He added that Kuwait is willing to actively participate in the construction of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and hopes to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with China on African and Asian affairs. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 12:17:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Saturday strongly condemned the U.S. government for smearing Hong Kong's business environment and imposing so-called sanctions on officials of the office. The liaison office, in a statement, called the sanctions "a piece of waste paper" and said the "boring political performance" and hegemonic acts are doomed to fail. The U.S. move seriously damaged international laws and basic norms governing international relations, and posed a blatant challenge to the Chinese government and people, the liaison office said. The U.S. government on Friday issued a so-called "advisory" to U.S. businesses and individuals operating in Hong Kong and imposed sanctions on a number of officials of the liaison office. Enditem Related: Commissioner's office of Chinese foreign ministry in HKSAR says U.S. bullying act of sanction to backfire U.S. "sanctions" against HK-based Chinese officials "despicable": spokesperson Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 12:46:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The implementation of the national security law has reinforced Hong Kong's position as an international financial and business hub despite repeated attempts by the U.S. administration to slander the legislation over the last year, a spokesman of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said Saturday. The U.S. administration's latest attempt to issue a so-called "advisory" to U.S. businesses and individuals operating in Hong Kong based on totally ridiculous and unfounded fear-mongering about the situation in Hong Kong only serves to prove yet again its hypocrisy and double standards, driven by ideological hegemony, the spokesman said in a statement. The spokesman also strongly condemned the so-called sanctions imposed on seven deputy directors of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR. The purpose of the legislation is to ensure the full and faithful implementation of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy, as well as safeguard national security and maintain prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, the spokesman said. The cornerstone of Hong Kong's success remains intact, the spokesman said. Hong Kong has not been undermined by the national security law, and on the contrary, it has become stronger, better and more attractive to businesses, the spokesman said, stressing that continuous pressure from the United States is not going to hamper those prospects. The spokesman believes that foreign politicians, who continue to query and smear the national security law despite the clear evidence, were motivated by a broader geopolitical agenda to suppress China. As a free and open economy and an international city, Hong Kong will continue to welcome overseas businesses, including U.S. businesses, to set up offices in Hong Kong and to use Hong Kong as their regional headquarters or regional offices, the spokesman said. The abundant opportunities arising from the country's 14th five-year plan are appreciated by the international business community in Hong Kong as illustrated in their recent words and deeds about the business environment, the spokesman said. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 13:32:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto attends the press conference at the Main Press Center (MPC) at Tokyo International Exhibition Center in Tokyo, Japan, July 17, 2021. (Xinhua/Ding Xu) TOKYO, July 17 (Xinhua) -- First positive COVID-19 case has been identified in the athletes' village of Tokyo 2020, organizers confirmed here on Saturday. The infected person, who received a negative result at the airport but tested positive during the screening test in the village Friday, is now isolated in a hotel, Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto told a press conference. The organizers refused to disclose the nationality of the person, which may lead to identification of the exact person, Muto said, citing privacy concerns. The organizers said they did not know if the person is vaccinated or not. Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto repeatedly emphasized that the organizing committee is "doing everything we can" to avoid an outbreak in the village, and "will have a plan in place" if it does happen. She expressed understanding that athletes that have yet to arrive in Tokyo are worried about the situation, calling on all stakeholders to follow the stringent rules in the playbook, which required athletes to test on a daily basis. A total of 15 positives cases were confirmed among Olympic-and-Paralympic-related people on Friday, bringing the number up to 45 since July 1. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 13:48:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO -- Brazil registered 1,456 more COVID-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, raising its national death toll to 540,398, the health ministry said Friday. As many as 45,591 new cases were detected, taking the total caseload to 19,308,109, the ministry said. (Brazil-Coronavirus) - - - - BUENOS AIRES -- Argentina registered 17,261 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, raising the national count to 4,737,213, the country's health ministry said. The ministry said 465 more deaths were reported, bringing the national death toll to 101,158. (Argentina-Coronavirus) - - - - DHAKA -- As the holy Eid al-Adha is drawing near, cattle markets in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka have been brimming with sacrificial animals. Bangladesh on July 21 will celebrate Eid al-Adha, also known as the Feast of the Sacrifice. (Bangladesh-Eid al-Adha-Market) - - - - LUANDA -- Angola and Portugal signed agreements on visa facilitation, investment, and education here on Friday. The Angolan Minister of Foreign Affairs Tete Antonio and the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs Augusto Santos Silva signed a Protocol for the Facilitation of National Visas. (Angola-Portugal) Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 14:33:02|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Thongsavanh Phomvihane, head of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee's commission for external relations, speaks during an interview with Xinhua and other media at Vientiane, Laos, June 25, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Jianhua) by Chanthaphaphone Mixayboua, Zhang Jianhua VIENTIANE, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The brilliant achievements made by the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) have demonstrated the advantages of the socialist system, an official of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) has said. The CPC, adhering to a people-centered approach, has united the Chinese people and led them to make remarkable achievements, especially since the 18th CPC National Congress under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, Thongsavanh Phomvihane, head of the LPRP Central Committee's commission for external relations, said in a recent interview with Xinhua and other media. China's achievements have injected confidence and strength into developing countries, including Laos, in exploring development paths that are in line with their respective national conditions, said Thongsavanh. Noting it is a miracle that China has accomplished the arduous task of eradicating absolute poverty and solved problems haunting many other countries, the LPRP official said "I take pride in China's achievements, which tell that adherence to socialism will be a success." "The success of China has provided useful reference and inspiration for Laos to develop its socialist cause, with the two countries' connected mountains and rivers, time-honored traditional friendship and similar cultures," Thongsavanh said. Laos and China joining hands to build a community with a shared future that bears strategic significance is an important part and vivid practice of General Secretary Xi Jinping's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, he said. The vision is far-sighted, since human beings live together on the same planet, Thongsavanh said, adding that multilateralism is the trend of the world's development and is supported by most countries in the world. Speaking highly of China's assistance to the Lao side in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic, Thongsavanh said that "China's aid has further strengthened the cooperation and friendship between the two parties, governments and peoples." The official said he fully agrees with Xi's remarks on a new type of party-to-party relations. The CPC "has held many international meetings for political parties, reflecting China's efforts to safeguard the unity of the international community and further enhancing the international influence of the Communist Party of China," he said. "China is our friendly neighbor connected by the mountains and rivers, and I expect China, along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, to build a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful," Thongsavanh said. "I wish the comrades of the two countries success in the development of the two countries, and embrace better prospects for development," he added. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 16:25:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Saturday strongly condemned the U.S. government for smearing Hong Kong's business environment and imposing so-called sanctions on officials of the office. The liaison office, in a statement, called the sanctions "a piece of waste paper" and a "boring political performance", saying "its hegemonic acts are doomed to fail." The U.S. move seriously damaged international laws and basic norms governing international relations, and posed a blatant challenge to the Chinese government and people, the liaison office said. The U.S. government on Friday issued a so-called "advisory" to U.S. businesses and individuals operating in Hong Kong and imposed sanctions on a number of officials of the liaison office. While Hong Kong faced the most severe situation since it returned to the motherland, it was the central authorities that took resolute actions to put "one country, two systems" back on track and help Hong Kong return from chaos to stability, the liaison office said. In contrast, some U.S. politicians have been colluding with instigators of Hong Kong riots in an attempt to launch a "color revolution", the liaison office said, noting that they are the true destroyer of Hong Kong's democracy, freedom and high degree of autonomy. After its political plots failed, the United States tried to disrupt Hong Kong's economic development by issuing the advisory, the liaison office said. As a central government agency in Hong Kong, the liaison office assumes responsibilities strictly in accordance with the Constitution and the HKSAR Basic Law, and the U.S. sanctions on its officials will be useless, the office said. The liaison office said it will firmly implement the central government's overall jurisdiction over Hong Kong, support the administration of the HKSAR government, safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and push for the enduring success of "one country, two systems." Hong Kong is a part of China and any interference in Hong Kong affairs and any plots to contain China's development are doomed to fail, the liaison office said. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 16:28:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- China has launched a national pilot zone to develop premium wine on the edge of the Gobi Desert, aiming to turn the eastern foothills of Helan Mountain into China's Bordeaux. -- The pilot zone -- the first of its kind in China -- with a planned area of more than 500 square km, is expected to cultivate 1 million mu (about 66,667 hectares) of vineyards in five years, with an estimated output value of 100 billion yuan (15.4 billion U.S. dollars). -- In the next 15 years, the goal of the wine zone is to have 1.5 million mu of vineyards, with a total output value of 200 billion yuan. Photo taken on July 10, 2021 shows the National Open Development Comprehensive Pilot Zone for Grape and Wine Industry in Minning Township, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua) by Xinhua writers Fang Ning, Ai Fumei and Zhao Qian YINCHUAN, July 17 (Xinhua) -- China has launched a national pilot zone to develop premium wine on the edge of the Gobi Desert, aiming to turn the eastern foothills of Helan Mountain into China's Bordeaux. The National Open Development Comprehensive Pilot Zone for Grape and Wine Industry was inaugurated on July 10 in Minning Township, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, which is located between 37 degrees and 39 degrees north latitude -- considered to be within the "golden zone" for growing wine grapes. The pilot zone -- the first of its kind in China -- with a planned area of more than 500 square km, is expected to cultivate 1 million mu (about 66,667 hectares) of vineyards in five years, with an estimated output value of 100 billion yuan (15.4 billion U.S. dollars). In the next 15 years, the goal of the wine zone is to have 1.5 million mu of vineyards, with a total output value of 200 billion yuan. "If this goal can be achieved, the pilot zone will become one of the largest quality wine producing areas in the world," said Sui Pengfei, director general of the international cooperation department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, at the launch ceremony. Workers patrol at a wine storing workshop in Minning Township, Yongning County of Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, July 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) EXPOSURE TO INTERNATIONAL PREMIUM WINE MARKET Wineries based in the wine area of Ningxia won 80 medals at the 2021 Concours Mondial De Bruxelles held in Brussels in mid June, including three grand gold medals, 43 gold medals and 34 silver medals, ranking first in the medal tally among China's wine-producing areas. Cao He, a winemaker at Chateau Vegani in Minning, had his Matheran wine won the grand gold medal at the international competition in Belgium. "The most interesting and fulfilling thing as a winemaker is to brew the wine you want by accurately controlling the grape plantation and brewing process, and everyone says yes after tasting it," said Cao, 33. Founded in 2014, Vegani Winery currently boasts 500 mu of vineyards producing about 130,000 bottles of wine a year. Compared with major international wine producers, China's modern wine industry started late, and the Helan Mountain wine area is even younger. The first bottle of wine was brewed in the desert region in 1984. A Chinese TV drama series, depicting how grape plantation and cattle breeding were among poverty alleviation measures in Minning Township, has garnered millions of views on YouTube. The Chinese drama "Shanhaiqing" goes by the English title "Minning Town." While in a few decades, the edge of the Gobi Desert has been transformed with extending vineyards irrigated by water sourced from the Yellow River. Currently, the coverage of vineyards in Ningxia accounts for one fourth of China's total, yielding 36 high-quality grape varieties. There are 211 wine chateaux -- completed or under construction -- with an annual output of 130 million bottles of wine, accounting for 60 percent of China-produced wines. Chilean Ambassador to China Luis Schmidt Montes extended his congratulations on the launch of the wine pilot zone. He said that the path outlined through this initiative for the grape and wine industry in Ningxia would allow the development of this industry to compete with the most prominent wine-producing regions in the world side by side. A farmer takes care of wine grapes at a grape planting base of Yuanshi Vineyard in Xixia District of Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on Sept. 14, 2018. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) PIONEERING ROLE By designating the wine area as a national pilot zone, China hopes to optimize the whole-chain development of the wine-manufacturing industry and introduce measures and standards of the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) countries to help regulate the sector. Sui, the official with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said the establishment of the pilot zone can encourage government departments and market entities to "boldly try" all measures and models that can help industrial development. The beautiful architecture of chateaux and wine tasting areas have turned wineries into popular tourist spots. "Last year, our winery received more than a dozen visitors on average every day, including free travelers, wine lovers and distributors," said Zhang Xueyan, owner of Ningxia Huangkou Winery. In 2020, the sales of the winery hit 13.95 million yuan. This year, before the arrival of the peak season, the sales of its red wines have chalked up more than 8 million yuan. Zhang said she believes that with the pilot zone's preferential policies, the wine zone will become more and more internationally competitive. Christelle Chene from Burgundy, a famous wine region in France, came to Xige Estate, a winery in Ningxia, in 2019 to work on promoting the local winery products in the global market. "In Ningxia, I have got my favorite wine taste with a rich fruity aroma and delicate tannin. I want to promote the wines here to the whole world," she said. The wine and grape industry has become an important pillar of Ningxia's sustainable economic development, offering more than 120,000 jobs. Vineyards cultivated in deserts also have ecological functions of water and soil conservation. Qu Dongyu, director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, sent a letter of congratulation on the launch of the pilot zone. "Being one of the major origins of ancient agricultural civilizations in East Asia and sitting in the heart of wine grape production zones, Ningxia enjoys considerable advantages and enormous potential in developing grape and wine industries with distinctive regional characteristics," Qu said in the letter. (Video reporter: Tang Yameng, Lyv Ze; Video editor: Chen Sihong) Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 16:45:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The following is a summary of published science and technology news of China. SUBORBITAL CARRIER A reusable suborbital carrier landed stably at an airport in Alxa League in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region during a flight demonstration and verification project on Friday. Earlier on Friday, the carrier was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gobi Desert. Its first flight mission was a complete success. Developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the reusable suborbital carrier can be used in the space transport system. CLIMATE CHANGE A research group left northwest China's Gansu Province on Thursday for a scientific expedition on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Focusing on "land-atmosphere interaction and its climate effects", the one-month research is part of China's second comprehensive scientific expedition on the plateau. It will approach multiple tasks around regional climate change, such as setting up land-atmosphere interaction and geographic information databases and creating three-dimensional model. More than 100 researchers from 18 institutes, colleges and universities will undertake a journey of about 6,600 km in the northwestern provinces of Gansu, Qinghai, and southwestern Tibet Autonomous Region. UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE The Hunan International General Aviation Industry Expo opened Friday in central China's Hunan Province, with a focus on showcasing the booming drone industry. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has accelerated since 2018, injecting vitalities to the development of general aviation, said Yin Shijun, chief engineer with the Civil Aviation Administration of China. The total flight duration of drones in China over the past three years exceeded 4 million hours, with an average increase of 40 percent annually, according to Yin. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 17:17:59|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- China's newly-issued white paper detailing Xinjiang's progress in protecting human rights reveals the people-centered approach to human rights protection that the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government have upheld for more than 70 years, overseas officials and experts have said. Under the people-centered guidelines, Xinjiang has achieved rapid social and economic progress and people of all ethnic groups, who are living and working in peace and contentment there, have shared the fruits of reform and development, said the officials and experts. The white paper, titled "Respecting and Protecting the Rights of All Ethnic Groups in Xinjiang," was issued by China's State Council Information Office on Wednesday. Sonia Bressler, a French writer and expert on China, who has once traveled to Xinjiang and other places along the ancient Silk Road, has published many works related to Xinjiang. Bressler said in Xinjiang, she saw the importance of the creation of social centers, where all the possible aids are gathered, including social security, unemployment aid, retirement and business creation. "All these efforts to create the middle-income society in China are remarkable," she added. "Numbers speak unless you just choose not to believe them," said Ali el-Hefny, Egypt's former ambassador to China and former deputy foreign minister. "These figures and cases all illustrate the positive development of Xinjiang, the effectiveness of anti-terrorism and de-extremism, and the improvement of the people's sense of happiness, whether from the perspective of the population growth of ethnic minorities, the continuous fine-tune of the medical and health system, or the length of time to keep no terrorist violence," he said. "There can be no development or happiness without security and stability. Egypt, as a country that has also struggled with terror and extremism, knows all too well. The so-called 'genocide' in Xinjiang is a joke. It is clear who is ignoring the truth in Xinjiang," he added. Irfan Shahzad Takalvi, president of the Eurasian Century Institute, said that Xinjiang has witnessed fast-paced economic growth, infrastructure development and importantly harmonious, all-encompassing, broad-based progress over this period, and the fruits of this progress are shared equitably by all the people belonging to all ethnic and religious groups in Xinjiang. It is heartening to note that preservation and development of cultural heritage of all the ethnic groups have been an important pillar of the Chinese government's policy regarding Xinjiang, Takalvi said, adding that religious freedom and independence are also protected by Chinese authorities, in a noteworthy manner. Ghassan Youssef, a Syrian political expert and analyst who has visited Xinjiang in person, said all ethnic groups in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region enjoy equal rights in political participation, economic development, traditional culture protection, as well as social welfare and social assistance. "It is a confirmation of what is certain. We will not listen to Western propaganda that claims that China persecutes the Uygurs and other minorities. The White Book is a positive step for China," he said. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 17:32:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HANOI, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The 15th National Assembly (NA) of Vietnam, the country's top legislature, will gather for its inaugural session from July 20 to 31, focusing on decisions about high-ranking personnel of the state apparatus, an official said Saturday. Bui Van Cuong, secretary-general of the NA, made the remarks at a press briefing held here about the agenda of the session. At the sitting, Vietnamese lawmakers will spend three working days to review and decide on 50 high-ranking positions of the state apparatus, Cuong said. In particular, the NA will elect the NA chairperson, the state president, the prime minister and the vice state president among other top positions, and decide on the number of cabinet members as well as approve appointments for those positions. At the last session of the 14th NA in late March, lawmakers elected Vuong Dinh Hue as the NA chairman, Nguyen Xuan Phuc as the state president, and Pham Minh Chinh as the prime minister, among other personnel decisions. During the upcoming session, the NA will also review important reports including the country's five-year socio-economic development plan, the five-year financial plan, and medium-term public investment plan for the 2021-2025 period. Compared to a previous plan, the duration of the session will be shortened by five days to ensure utmost safety for participants amid the complicated development of COVID-19 in the country, Cuong said. On May 23, Vietnam held a general election where 499 deputies to the 15th NA, the country's parliament for the 2021-2026 tenure, were elected. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 18:10:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAMASCUS, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was sworn in on Saturday for a seven-year term in office following his successful re-election in May. State-run television aired the live video of Assad's swearing-in ceremony at the People's Palace, the residence of the president in the capital Damascus. The 55-year-old Syrian leader garnered 95.1 percent of votes in the recent presidential election. About 14 million of an estimated 18 million eligible voters inside and outside Syria cast their votes, with a turnout rate of over 78 percent. Assad's victory was largely anticipated as his competitors in the race were a low-profile opposition figure and a former cabinet minister. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 18:32:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BAGHDAD, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Four Iraqi soldiers were killed on Saturday in an attack by militants of the extremist Islamic State (IS) group in the northern province of Kirkuk, a provincial police source said. The attack took place in the morning when IS militants opened fire on an army outpost in a village near the al-Dibis area northwest of the namesake provincial capital Kirkuk, some 250 km north of Iraq's capital Baghdad, Falah al-Obaidi told Xinhua. The attack sparked a fierce clash that resulted in the killing of the four Iraqi soldiers, al-Obaidi said. Iraqi security forces arrived at the scene and launched a search for the attackers in the nearby rugged area. The security situation in Iraq has been improving since Iraqi security forces fully defeated the IS militants across the country late in 2017. However, IS remnants have since melted in urban areas or deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 19:20:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KAMPALA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- As the world grapples with COVID-19, political maneuvering in origin-tracing of the virus is threatening global responses to the pandemic, a Chinese envoy here has said. Zhang Lizhong, the Chinese ambassador to Uganda, said in his article published in Uganda's Daily Monitor on Tuesday that while virus traceability is an important link in fighting all pandemics, it should be science-based rather than politically influenced. Some Western nations, especially the United States, have asked for a so-called independent investigation into the lab-leak theory, which is a parallel inquiry from the World Health Organization (WHO). Different scientists, including the WHO in its China-WHO Joint Research Report on the Traceability of COVID-19 issued on March 30, have said the introduction of COVID-19 into humans through a laboratory is "very unlikely." Zhang argued that the hype of the lab-leak theory intends to shift the blame of some Western countries' failed pandemic responses. "This constitutes an affront to WHO-led origin-tracing study, a serious travesty of scientists and the spirit of science, and a major damage to the solidarity of the international community in the fight against the pandemic," he added. The envoy said many scientists in the international community who uphold science, reason and objectivity have expressed unequivocal opposition to politicizing the origin-tracing. He warned that political maneuvering in virus traceability is likely to suffocate global response to the pandemic that is ravaging nations. Since the early stage of the outbreak, China has clearly showed serious and responsible attitude toward origin-tracing, and has taken the lead in collaborating with the WHO on it, Zhang said. The envoy said since last year, the Chinese government twice invited WHO experts to China for origin-tracing research, and the outcomes followed WHO procedures and rigorous scientific methodology, which is why the conclusions should be recognized, respected and upheld. While COVID-19 was first reported in Wuhan, it does not mean that Wuhan was the source of the virus or Chinese scientists made the virus, he said, adding the pandemic is another reminder that humanity must work together for a shared future. "Confronted by a pandemic like COVID-19, we must champion the vision of building a global community of health for all, tide over this trying time through solidarity and cooperation, and firmly reject any attempt to politicize, label the virus or stigmatize the fight against it," he said. "Political manipulation would only disrupt international cooperation against the virus and bring greater harm to people around the world," he added. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 19:46:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HELSINKI, July 17 (Xinhua) -- While Helsinki-Vantaa Airport has in recent years strengthened its position as an international gateway to Europe, the future of many of the country's domestic airports looks gloomy. Finland's smaller cities are facing the prospect of losing their airports as the number of air travelers has dropped significantly and the airport operators find it increasingly difficult to finance their operations. These days, domestic travelers increasingly opt for the country's fast, safe and reliable train services, which take them from city center to city center without the need for them to get to and from a local airport. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, a further heavy blow. According to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom, while the country's ten domestic airports registered growth in passenger traffic numbers between 2013 and 2019, five airports had already reported double-digit percentage declines. Tampere-Pirkkala Airport, the country's second largest, topped the latter list with a 52 percent drop. According to a recent prediction by Traficom, of Finland's 19 airports not counting that of the capital Helsinki, only the one near the northern smart city of Oulu and four others near tourist locations in northern Finland can expect an increase in passenger traffic numbers in this decade. Earlier this spring, Finland's flag carrier Finnair stopped flying to five domestic airports. In order to keep the struggling airports afloat, the Finnish government has arranged for state-subsidized flights operated by smaller carriers to use them until the end of this year. However, Tiia Orjasniemi, acting director for markets at Traficom, told Xinhua that these services are not planned to be extended. "It would require a political decision to continue next year." Finnish law allows the state-owned airport operator Finavia to close an airport if it is not used commercially for at least one year. At the beginning of July, Finavia pulled out from the airport of the northwestern city of Enontekio. Many of the country's airport cities fear the same fate. Local businesses argue that air connectivity offers a lifeline for them as they depend heavily on same-day connections between their location and continental European cities via Helsinki. Faced with the loss of its airport, Enontekio stepped in as the new owner and the municipality now tries to attract tourist charter flights for the post-pandemic period. Back in 2019, Pori, a city on the west coast of Finland, spent roughly 500 euros (590 U.S. dollars) per traveler flying in and out of the local airport in municipal subsidy. In the southern city of Lappeenranta, a municipal foundation has maintained the local airport since 2016. Fifty percent of the costs are covered by the state. However, the efforts to keep the local airports afloat through subsidized flights have elicited rounds of criticism. Jani Jolkkonen, senior vice president for airport networks at Finavia, does not see subsidized flights justifiable in the long run. He told the business daily Kauppalehti recently that in the post-pandemic world, air transport operators may need to reduce the number of same-day return flights to continental Europe. Moreover, he said, Finland's current plans to extend its high-speed train network in the south of the country are bound to further reduce the demand for flights. Furthermore, critics also argue that while subsidized air travel has a demonstrably negative effect on the environment, it is justified to subsidize the operation of the country's environmentally friendly long-haul sleeper trains. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 19:54:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close QINGDAO, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The 31st Qingdao International Beer Festival, one of the largest beer festivals in China, opened on Friday evening in the coastal city of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. The 24-day carnival has gathered more than 1,600 beers from over 40 countries and regions, according to the tourism commission of the Xihai'an (West Coast) New Area, where the festival is taking place. There will be over 400 activities covering international exchanges, economic and trade exhibitions, fashion shows, parades and performances during the festival. Nine tents and 32 cabins have been set up to provide beer and food for visitors, according to the organizer. This year, the beer festival has asked attendees to wear masks and display their health codes when entering the venue to prevent potential COVID-19 outbreaks. Qingdao is home to the Tsingtao Brewery, the base of a time-honored beer brand in China. Its international beer festival is an annual event. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 20:14:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAMASCUS, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was sworn in on Saturday for a fourth seven-year term, emphasizing the importance of production, investment, and anti-corruption given the tough economic situation in the country. Speaking during his inauguration ceremony, Assad said the focus of the next phase will be on increasing production, which is the key to improving livelihood amid the tough economic hardship in Syria. Currently, 3,000 production factories are being built in Syria, according to the Syrian president. The sanctions and siege could not entirely close the doors of investment, especially in the field of "profitable" renewable energy, Assad noted. The reason for investing in renewable energy is to resolve the electricity problem, "which is a priority for all because of its vitality not just to our daily life but to different investments," he explained. The Syrian leader also vowed to expand the fighting against corruption using new means to expose the corrupted. Assad, 55, delivered his inauguration speech at the presidential palace in the capital Damascus, in a live broadcast by the state-run television. Assad garnered 95.1 percent of votes in the recent presidential election. About 14 million of an estimated 18 million eligible voters inside and outside Syria cast their votes, with a turnout rate of over 78 percent. Assad's victory was largely anticipated as his rivals in the race were a low-profile opposition figure and a former cabinet minister. On July 17, 2000, Assad succeeded his father Hafez al-Assad as the Syrian president. Under the current Syrian constitution adopted in 2012, the president of Syria has the right to run for office twice, which means this would be Assad's last term in office. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 20:30:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Youth representatives from 13 African countries have taken a field trip to villages in Xing County in north China's Shanxi Province to learn about how livestreaming and e-commerce help with revitalization in Chinese villages. They visited a modern vinegar production base and a red date planting company, and had a first-hand experience on the manufacturing of traditional vinegar and how the industries helped lift poor households out of poverty. Although Xingxian County is located in a remote area, with the help of e-commerce, local specialties are being sold nationwide and some are even exported. "I think now they are catching up, and I think it's very important for poverty alleviation and also rural revitalization," said Sumayyah Hosany, a doctor from Mauritius. "I think livestreaming e-commerce has a very big impact on rural vitalization," said Tungamirai Eric Mupona, the founder of a public social service platform in Zimbabwe, "If I'm given an opportunity to contribute to the rural vitalization of Xing County, I mean I would love it." Produced by Xinhua Global Service Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 20:31:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia recorded a fresh high of 138 single-day death toll from COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the total deaths to 6,866, according to the Health Ministry. Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a press statement another 12,528 new COVID-19 infections were reported, of which 19 are imported and 12,509 are local transmissions, bringing the national total to 905,851. The official added that 98.2 percent of the fresh cases are asymptomatic or mild with the remainder being more serious cases. Of the remaining 119,814 active cases, 908 cases are being held in intensive care units and 425 of those are in need of assisted breathing. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said in statement that data showed that vaccination has succeeded in sharply reducing the number of serious COVID-19 cases in the country. He also said the positive impact of vaccination has been seen among health ministry personnel, who were vaccinated when the national immunization program was launched in February. "Now the positive impact of vaccination is beginning to be seen." "It was found that only 1.26 percent of health ministry personnel were infected with COVID-19 after they had been fully vaccinated. Some 99.8 percent of them experienced only mild symptoms or no symptoms and none was in category five that requiring respiratory assistance," the prime minister added. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 21:03:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A staff worker driving a wheel loader clears algae along the beach in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, July 17, 2021. The biggest algae bloom in history has hit Qingdao, a port city in east China's Shandong province, covering 1,746 square kilometers of the Yellow Sea, authorities said. The figure is 2.3 times the size in 2013, the second most serious year, according to data provided by the North China Sea Marine Forecasting Center of the Ministry of Natural Resources. The algae bloom has affected the tourist city for 15 years in a row. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 21:01:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi on Saturday made an urgent phone call to Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on a recent terror attack that caused heavy Chinese casualties in Pakistan. Zhao said that the Chinese government has paid high attention to the attack on Chinese personnel that occured on Wednesday, about which Chinese President Xi Jinping has given important instructions. According to the ongoing investigation and notification from Pakistan, this is a terrorist attack against Chinese personnel in Pakistan, Zhao said. China strongly condemned any organization and personnel that carried out this atrocity, he said, adding the Chinese Ministry of Public Security has sent criminal investigation experts to Pakistan to assist in the probe. Zhao expressed the hope that China and Pakistan will work together to find out the truth, solve the case as soon as possible, track down the real perpetrators, and severely punish the organizers or individuals behind the attack. He requested the Pakistani side to take overall measures to identify and troubleshoot security risks facing Chinese personnel, institutions and projects in Pakistan, fix loopholes, strengthen its early-warning system and security measures, and do their utmost to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, so as to prevent similar incidents from happening again. China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners, Zhao stressed, expressing the expectation that the law enforcement departments of both countries will further strengthen the construction of cooperation mechanisms, deepen pragmatic cooperation and safeguard the common interests of both sides. For his part, Rashid first strongly condemned the terrorist attack on behalf of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Pakistani people, saying that he would rush to the scene the next day to supervise the investigation, find out the truth and severely punish real murderers. Pakistan will take the highest level of security measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and institutions in Pakistan, he added. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 21:32:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close The Red Yao ethnic group in Guilin in China's Guangxi celebrates their annual "drying clothes festival," the second-most-important festival following the Spring Festival. #GLOBALink Produced by Xinhua Global Service Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 22:10:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits an exhibition before the opening ceremony of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO, in Fuzhou, east China's Fujian Province, July 16, 2021. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the session. (Xinhua/Song Weiwei) FUZHOU, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan on Friday stressed international cooperation to protect world heritage. Sun, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when addressing the opening of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO. It was held in Fuzhou, the capital of east China's Fujian Province. In recent years, China has been promoting the work of heritage protection along with cultural industries, ecological development, and the poverty alleviation cause, Sun said. She noted that the country is developing a nature reserves system composed mainly of national parks and combating crimes involving cultural relics. Sun said China is willing to work with UNESCO to build educational platforms for world heritage and help cultivate heritage protection skills for developing countries. China will also support UNESCO in implementing the Priority Africa strategy in terms of world heritage, Sun noted. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 22:33:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN -- One person was killed on Friday night in the southwestern Iranian town of Shadegan during the protest over water stress amid a severe drought, official news agency IRNA reported. "Last night, some people gathered in Shadegan to protest over the stressful situation of water supply caused by drought, and opportunists and rioters shot dead one of the protesters," acting county governor Omid Sabripour announced on Saturday morning. - - - - KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia recorded a fresh high of 138 single-day death toll from COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the total deaths to 6,866, according to the Health Ministry. "It was found that only 1.26 percent of health ministry personnel were infected with COVID-19 after they had been fully vaccinated. Some 99.8 percent of them experienced only mild symptoms or no symptoms and none was in category five that requiring respiratory assistance," Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said in statement. - - - - NEW DELHI -- Rescuers have pulled out 11 bodies and rescued 19 people from a well after a concrete slab over it collapsed in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, police said Saturday. "Rescue efforts have been called off and we have retrieved 11 bodies from the well," a police official said. "We have also rescued 19 people and shifted them to hospitals, where they are undergoing treatment." - - - - MOGADISHU -- Somali National Army (SNA) said Saturday that its forces killed a senior al-Shabab terrorist in Middle Shabelle, central part of the country. "The terrorist was the head of extortion in the coastal area," the military said in a brief statement. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 22:45:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Sanaa Kamal RAMALLAH, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Residents of the Bedouin community of al-Quboun in the Palestinian West Bank city of Ramallah have been sleeping in the open since Wednesday when the Israeli authorities demolished their tent homes and confiscated all their possessions, including the necessities of life. "There are 13 families that have lost all their belongings, including water tanks and agricultural tractors," said Omar Kaabneh, a resident of the community where about 120 people have lived for decades. "We have nowhere to go," the man in his 40s added. Sitting in the hot sun with his children after his tent was dismantled, Kaabneh complained that the Israeli forces had neither notified them of the demolition nor given them any opportunity to take their belongings. "My 10-member family and I have no roof over our heads now ... My youngest baby is only 18-month-old," he said bitterly. According to official Palestinian institutions, Israel is displacing Bedouin communities north and east of Ramallah for the completion of the settlement strip along the eastern belt of the West Bank. Israeli officials did not comment on the demolition. Abdullah Abu Rahma, director-general of the Popular Action Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization's Committee for Resisting the Wall and Settlement, said the demolition in the Bedouin community is "a green light for settlers to expand settlement outposts." The expansion policy is part of a systematic Israeli process to annex the Jordan Valley, noted Abu Rahma. The demolition came just hours after the European Union missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah called on Israel to stop all such acts in the Palestinian territories. A joint statement issued on Wednesday night by the EU missions said it is tragic that in 2021 Israel displaced 595 Palestinians, including 320 children, in the occupied Palestinian territories, an increase of 50 percent compared to last year. According to a recent report issued by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Israeli authorities have demolished or confiscated at least 421 Palestinian structures in the West Bank since the beginning of this year, including 130 funded by donor countries. Israeli authorities usually justify demolitions with a lack of building permits, while Palestinians complain that they cannot obtain such permits because of "the restrictive and discriminatory planning system." Palestinian Justice Minister Mohammed al-Shalaldeh said the Israeli demolitions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are "collective punishment that affects all family members and deprives them of their right to life, housing and living in dignity." "The daily Israeli practices constitute a flagrant violation of the rules of international law and international humanitarian law, and are a war crime according to the statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC)," the minister told Xinhua. Shalaldeh accused Israel of trying to "impose a fait accompli on the ground by displacing citizens and carrying out demolitions, whether in the West Bank or occupied East Jerusalem." He called on the international community, the United Nations and the ICC to prosecute Israel, a signatory to the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the protection of civilians. More than 600,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The settlement issue, the most prominent aspect of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, is a major reason that the last peace negotiations between the two sides broke down in mid-2014. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 23:03:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- A set of books in six volumes on Taiwan history has been published by the Fujian People's Publishing House and was made public in Beijing on Saturday. The books were jointly compiled by scholars from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The six-volume publication records the comprehensive history of Taiwan, spanning from ancient times to the modern era. It presents a panoramic picture of the island covering politics, economy, society, and culture. The books provide evidence that throughout history, the destiny of Taiwan has always been closely connected with its motherland and that compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Strait are of one family. "The book compilation has demonstrated a sense of historical responsibility of scholars on both sides of the Strait," said Yang Yizhou, vice president of the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots, expressing expectations for further cross-Strait cooperation in historical studies. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 23:31:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAMASCUS -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was sworn in on Saturday for a fourth seven-year term, emphasizing the importance of production, investment, and anti-corruption given the tough economic situation in the country. Speaking during his inauguration ceremony, Assad said the focus of the next phase will be on increasing production, which is the key to improving livelihood amid the tough economic hardship in Syria. (Syria-President-Inauguration) - - - - LONDON -- British Health Secretary Sajid Javid said Saturday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 after feeling "a bit groggy" last night. He said on Twitter that he has had two jabs of the vaccine and his symptoms are "mild". He is now self-isolating at home with his family. (Britain-Health Secretary-COVID-19) - - - - KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia recorded a fresh high of 138 single-day death toll from COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the total deaths to 6,866, according to the Health Ministry. Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a press statement another 12,528 new COVID-19 infections were reported, of which 19 are imported and 12,509 are local transmissions, bringing the national total to 905,851. (Malaysia-Pandemic) - - - - BAGHDAD -- Four Iraqi soldiers were killed on Saturday in an attack by militants of the extremist Islamic State (IS) group in the northern province of Kirkuk, a provincial police source said. The attack took place in the morning when IS militants opened fire on an army outpost in a village near the al-Dibis area northwest of the namesake provincial capital Kirkuk, some 250 km north of Iraq's capital Baghdad, Falah al-Obaidi told Xinhua. (Iraq-Militants) Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 23:54:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, July 17 (Xinhua) -- As the Eid al-Adha festival approaches, the Libyans have been struggling to make ends meet against the COVID-19 pandemic and the high cost of living. Eid al-Adha, known as the Festival of the Sacrifice, is one of the two Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide every year. According to Islamic teachings, Muslim families should buy a sheep, goat, or cow as a sacrifice in the early morning of Eid al-Adha and distribute its meat to the poor as a charity gift. Mahmoud Khairallah, a sheep farmer, said this year's Eid al-Adha is different from the past ones because of the current economic situation and the COVID-19 pandemic. "I've been doing this for about 40 years. I import sheep from eastern Libya that has the best breeds. Those breeds are in huge demand. However, it is different this year as people are not buying as many as they used to," Khairallah told Xinhua. "At this time of the year in the past, I would have sold all my sheep. But this year, I only sold 20 (out of about 100 sheep)," he said. "Perhaps the reason for the low sales this year is the financial crisis ... A sheep is worth about 1,500 dinars (333 U.S. dollars), which is a large sum of money for many people," Khairallah explained. The Libyan government has attempted to control the high prices of sheep by importing more than 300,000 livestock over the past few weeks and giving away more than 50,000 sheep to low-income families. However, nothing much has changed about the economic suffering of the people. Khairi Sayah, a citizen, believes that the Libyans struggle each year to buy sheep during Eid al-Adha. "I've been coming to the sheep market every day for a week trying to find an affordable sheep. But the prices are too high," Sayah told Xinhua. "I only have 1,000 dinars, which is not enough for a good sheep. I support a family of seven. That amount of money is only enough for a smaller overpriced sheep," he said. Besides, the increasing COVID-19 infections in Libya have affected the local market. Some cities, especially those in western Libya, have banned the sale of sheep over the concerns of the pandemic. "The pandemic forced us to travel to nearby cities to buy sheep. Cattle markets in the city are closed. Only a few markets are still open but it's too risky to go amid the high infections," Nuri al-Balazi, a Libyan from the western city of Zawiya, told Xinhua. A few days ago, Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah imposed new precautionary measures against the COVID-19 pandemic, as the North African country has been recording an increasing number of cases lately. The new measures include closing coffee shops and restaurants, banning weddings and funerals, and stopping public transportation for two weeks. Libya has recorded a total of 217,434 COVID-19 cases so far, including 182,785 recoveries and 3,253 deaths. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-18 00:08:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close QINGDAO, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Business leaders pinned high hopes on China to drive global economic recovery at the second Qingdao Multinationals Summit, which concluded on Friday in the coastal city of Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province. Representatives of 390 Fortune 500 companies and 517 industry leaders attended the two-day event either online or offline. The event aimed to establish a high-end platform for dialogue between multinational companies, and political and academic circles amid the country's drive to promote high-quality opening-up and build a community with a shared future for humanity. Against the backdrop of the pandemic, and with the great changes the world is now facing and China's increasingly steady economic momentum, the event demonstrates China's determination to open up to a higher level, according to Vice Commerce Minister Qian Keming prior to the event's opening. He also noted that the event would enhance the confidence of multinational companies in investing and developing in China. Tracy Xie, president of global mining company Vale China, said that Vale is encouraged by China's commitment to multilateralism, further opening-up and better participation in international economic cooperation. Vale is headquartered in Brazil. "The summit itself conveys a positive signal that China is willing to build an open global economy with other countries," said Xie. "A platform like the Qingdao summit is needed under the current complicated situation," noted Zhao Zhongxiu, president of the Shandong University of Finance and Economics. "It not only shows China's more fine-tuned policies and optimized business environment, but also enables Chinese enterprises to better communicate with multinational companies and explore new cooperation models, which can benefit both sides," Zhao added. China has in recent years rolled out a series of favorable policies to facilitate foreign investment, including establishing more free trade zones, shortening negative lists for foreign investment and widening market access. Underpinned by the country's sustainable economic recovery and strong global demand, China's foreign trade rose 27.1 percent year on year to 18.07 trillion yuan (about 2.79 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first half, a record high. Foreign investors have also gained significantly from China's sustained recovery. In the six-month period, the total output of overseas-invested enterprises increased 17 percent year on year, outpacing the 15.9 percent growth in overall industrial output. "The Chinese government's timely and effective response to the coronavirus outbreak helped our company maintain growth in all business sectors in 2020," said Air Liquide China President and CEO Nicolas Poirot, who added that some of his company's subsidiaries were also granted tax cuts, subsidies and support in cross-border cargo transportation from the government. China's huge domestic market and sound industrial infrastructure has made it one of the most attractive markets for foreign investment. Its constant efforts to improve its business climate also have enhanced investor confidence in further tapping the Chinese market, according to participators at the summit. Many multinationals at the summit said they counted on China to pull up global economic growth amid uncertainties stemming from the pandemic. They are also exploring new opportunities and broadening areas of cooperation as China's economic recovery continued to consolidate in the first half. As China's working-age population continues to decline and its society continues to age, the demand for high-tech automation products is expected to soar, which offers Festo a new growth point, according to Chen Hong, vice president of sales at Festo Business Region Greater China. Many companies are eyeing the green industry. China's industries are pouring more investment into energy-saving, cost-reducing, green development and low-carbon areas, which will bring us considerable business opportunities, said Will Li, head of Linde Greater China. China is striving to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, and the demand for safe, comfortable and sustainable infrastructure in China's metropolises will increase, according to Michael Zhu, vice president and general manager of Johnson Controls (China). "Our smart building and digital solutions are expected to help with the green and efficient use of energy in urban buildings to ensure the carbon emission reduction targets," said Zhu. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-18 00:46:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAMASCUS, July 17 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to work with Central Asian countries to make plans for further cooperation in various areas, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday. Wang made the remarks during an interview after his visit to Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as his attendance at the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers and other multilateral meetings. China will work with Central Asian countries to deepen mutual trust, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, and give full play to the role of the new platform of the "China + Central Asia" to help Central Asian countries accelerate their development, he said. A stable and prosperous Central Asia serves the common interests of countries in the region and is conducive to world peace and development, Wang said, adding that China's foreign policy towards Central Asia is active, friendly, open and transparent. When talking about the results of the meeting of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers, Wang said that all parties reached a series of consensus on the work plan of the SCO and major international and regional issues. All parties agreed to make solid preparations for the summit to be held in September this year and made full political preparations for the summit's results, Wang said, adding that the parties pledged to stick to the Shanghai Spirit. They agreed to expand regional cooperation, tap the potential of cooperation, expand cooperation areas, promote vaccine cooperation to fight the epidemic, and accelerate the economic recovery and improve people's livelihood. All parties believed that it is necessary to maintain an international system with the United Nations at its core, an international order based on international law, and a clear-cut stand against unilateralism and hegemony in any form, Wang noted. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, China and Central Asian countries have supported each other and carried out fruitful cooperation, he said. The Chinese government has fulfilled its solemn commitment to making vaccines a global public good, and has provided assistance and exported several batches of Chinese vaccines to Central Asian countries, he added. China will work with Central Asian countries to build a China-Central Asia health community, he noted. On the basis of expanded vaccine aid and exports, China will promote cooperation in the vaccine industry based on technology research and development, trade in manufactured goods and joint production, so as to forge a comprehensive vaccine partnership, Wang said. China will strengthen the public health system, expand cooperation between sectors of modern and traditional medicine, and ensure traditional medical centers are fully available in Central Asia, he said. Although the pandemic has dealt a severe blow to the world since last year, the cooperation between China and Central Asian countries under the Belt and Road Initiative has never stopped, and instead shown great resilience and vitality, Wang said. He noted that China aims to forge a closer partnership with Central Asian countries in healthcare, digitalization, "green" development and connectivity. As for China-Turkmenistan relations, Wang said the two countries will negotiate and sign documents on cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative as soon as possible, and comprehensively align the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative with Turkmenistan's development strategy to revive the Great Silk Road, so as to open up new opportunities for further cooperation. He said China and Turkmenistan will formulate a five-year plan for bilateral cooperation, strive for strategic partnership across the whole industrial chain of the energy sector, and expand cooperation in non-natural resources sectors, healthcare, including COVID-19 vaccines, biosecurity, information security and cybersecurity. Commenting on the prospect of China-Tajikistan ties, Wang said the two sides need to not only build a community of common development and a community of common security, but also work for a community of common health and push forward the building of a community of a shared future for mankind, so as to raise the bilateral cooperation to a new level. To that end, China and Tajikistan need to jointly seek development and cooperation, erect a safety barrier, and battle the COVID-19 epidemic. As Uzbekistan is advocating reform and opening-up at full scale, Wang said China will continue to support Uzbekistan in the pursuit of reform and opening-up. To build a more dynamic China-Uzbekistan partnership that entails a richer context and provides more benefits to the two peoples, the two sides need to further consolidate political mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and strengthen strategic coordination, Wang said. Talking about the situation in Afghanistan, Wang said that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the U.S. war in Afghanistan, but peace has not come, and the flames of war have started again. China always respects the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan and adheres to the norms governing international relations of non-interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs, Wang said. He added that China hopes that Afghanistan will have a resurrection, build a broad and inclusive political framework, resolutely fight terrorism in all its forms, and seek friendly coexistence with all its neighbors. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-18 00:56:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RABAT, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Morocco on Saturday reported 2,853 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total tally in the North African country to 555,488. The death toll rose by seven to 9,434, while 481 people were treated in the intensive care units, the Ministry of Health said in a statement. The total number of recoveries from COVID-19 in Morocco hit 530,801 after 984 new ones were added, the statement said. Meanwhile, 11,213,841 people have received the first vaccine shots against COVID-19 in the country, while 9,619,827 have received two doses. Morocco launched a nationwide vaccination campaign on Jan. 28 after the arrival of the first shipment of China's Sinopharm vaccines. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-18 05:30:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAMASCUS -- Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday that China has put forward a four-point proposal on solving the Syrian issue. The Chinese senior diplomat elaborated on the proposal when he met with his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad in Damascus, the capital of Syria. (Syria-China-FM-Proposal) ---- KHARTOUM -- Sudan's Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim on Friday announced that his country has received relief from its 14.1 billion U.S. dollars' debts to Paris Club. "Sudan's remaining debts, which stand at 9.5 billion U.S. dollars, have been rescheduled until reaching the completion point in the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, with suspension of debt service payments during this period," said Ibrahim in a statement. (Sudan-Debt) ---- RIYADH -- The first batch of pilgrims arrived on Saturday at the Grand Mosque in Macca to perform their first ritual for Hajj, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The ritual was performed with huge preparations and precautionary measures against COVID-19, and there are different locations that can accommodate 11,000 pilgrims in total, according to the General Presidency for Affairs of Two Holy Mosques and the director of crowd management at the Grand Mosque. (Saudi-Mecca-Hajj) ---- TEHRAN -- Iran reported on Saturday 15,139 new COVID-19 cases, taking the country's total infections to 3,501,079. The pandemic has so far claimed 86,966 lives in Iran, up by 175 in the past 24 hours, the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education said in a briefing published on the ministry's official website. (Iran-COVID19) Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 10:11:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GABORONE, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Botswana, through its Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan, has set aside 700,000 U.S. dollars to purchase bucks and rams for farmers across the country for breeding, said President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Friday. There is need to intensify efforts to increase the small stock population, which has declined over the years, said Masisi during his visit to the Impala Rural Training Center located in Francistown, Botswana's second largest city. "The initiative of distributing rams and bucks to farmers across the country is aimed at promoting the quality and quantity of small stock," said Masisi, adding that his administration is committed to commercializing the country's small stock sub-sector. All these efforts are aimed at ensuring that Botswana gets a constant supply of quality and quantity to the external markets, he said. Botswana's national population of sheep and goats stands at 264,962 and was just over 1.2 million respectively in 2019, according to the parastatal statistical organization Statistics Botswana. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 15:04:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TALUQAN, Afghanistan, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants have intensified offensives on Taluqan city, the capital of Afghanistan's northern Takhar province as 30 insurgents have been killed over the past 24 hours, provincial police spokesman Abdul Khalil Asir said Saturday. "At least 30 militants have been killed and 20 others injured for the control of Taluqan city over the past 24 hours and the Taliban group's attempts to overrun the city have been repulsed," Asir told Xinhua. However, he added that fighting between government forces and the Taliban militants is continuing in Nahr-e-Chaman area outside Taluqan city. The official didn't say if there were casualties on security personnel. If the Taliban militants were able to capture Nahr-e-Chaman village, the militants could directly threaten Taluqan city, an elder of Taluqan city Hajji Abdul Wasi has warned, calling on the government to fortify defense for Taluqan city. Taliban militants, who have captured almost all the districts of Takhar province over the past two months and have been fighting to overrun Taluqan city, have yet to make a comment. According to a government official Nader Nadery, since the start of the pull-out of the U.S.-led forces from Afghanistan early May, the Taliban outfit has captured 116 districts but have failed to overrun any big city in the conflict-battered country. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 17:56:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close AYBAK, Afghanistan, July 17 (Xinhua) -- At least one civilian lost his life and nine others injured as two consecutive blasts rocked Aybak city, the capital of Afghanistan's northern Samangan province on Saturday, deputy to Interior Ministry spokesman Ahmad Zia Zia said. "Two mines went off in Aybak city at around noon today, killing one civilian and injuring nine others," Zia confirmed to Xinhua. Without providing more details, the official added that police had initiated investigation into the incident. No group has claimed responsibility. Similar blasts in the northern Kunduz city claimed one civilian life and injured seven others on Friday and eight others on Thursday respectively. Violent incidents mostly in the shape of roadside bomb, sticky bomb and gun shoots have increased amid intensifying fighting between government forces and Taliban militants over the past two months in Afghanistan. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 21:44:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HANOI, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam reported a new high of 3,718 new COVID-19 infections on Saturday, surpassing the previous record of 3,416 cases registered on Thursday, according to the country's Ministry of Health. The new infections included 3,705 locally transmitted and 13 imported cases, bringing the total tally to 47,904 with 225 deaths, the ministry said. Among the community cases, 2,786 were reported in the southern Ho Chi Minh City, 180 in the southern Dong Thap province, and 134 in the southern Long An province. Nationwide, as many as 10,312 COVID-19 patients have so far recovered, up 292 from Friday. As of Saturday, Vietnam has registered a total of 45,884 domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases, including 44,314 detected since the start of the latest outbreak in late April, according to the health ministry. In a bid to curb the development of the epidemic in southern localities, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Saturday ordered 16 more southern localities to impose the strictest social distancing regulations for 14 days starting next Monday, Vietnam News Agency reported. According to the order, people in the localities must stay at home and only go out for basic necessities such as buying food or medicines or to work at factories or businesses that are still allowed to open, the report said. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-17 21:30:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LONDON, July 17 (Xinhua) -- British Health Secretary Sajid Javid said Saturday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 after feeling "a bit groggy" last night. He said on Twitter that he has had two jabs of the vaccine and his symptoms are "mild". He is now self-isolating at home with his family. "Please make sure you come forward for your vaccine if you haven't already," he said. Javid became the British health secretary following the resignation of Matt Hancock last month. Hancock broke COVID-19 social distancing guidelines during an alleged affair with his aide, which reportedly caused an outrage in the country. Britain reported on Friday another 51,870 coronavirus cases in the latest 24-hour period, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 5,332,371, official figures showed. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain reached 128,642. The British government has confirmed that most COVID-19 restrictions in England will end on Monday as part of the final step or Step Four of England's roadmap out of the lockdown. But scientists have warned that lifting all restrictions at this stage could increase likelihood of dangerous variants. More than 87 percent of the Britain's adults have received one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while over 67 percent have received two jabs, the latest figures showed. To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Russia, the United States as well as the European Union have been racing against time to roll out coronavirus vaccines. Enditem Joel Cuthbertson is a writer from Denver. His fiction and essays have appeared in Electric Lit, LitHub, and The Millions, among others. I have a lot of family in the military, I once told a friend. Oh? she responded. I basically think all soldiers are murderers. Not the best small talk Id ever had. I let it pass as a punchline, a laughless one, and we remained pals. Ive thought about this moment now and then during the past year, though. Police brutality turned a lot of folks into overnight activists last summer, and some adopted an attitude similar to my friends. The motto ACAB, All cops are bastards, was suddenly the talk of the suburbs. Obviously, there are good cops and bad cops, but policing in America is broken in a way individual integrity cannot overcome. The gist of ACAB pretends to represent this argument, but in practice more or less betrays it. The whole point of saying, The system is broken, after all, is that a cops excellent character, or change of character, isnt a sufficient solution. West Point cadets march on the parade grounds during graduation. Photo courtesy of the author. Before my time in grad school, which gave birth to the above conversation, Id always been confident speaking about my family, about the military at large. Once I began school, several interactions put a little tic into my brain, a sort of mental stutter. I have family in the military was an invitation to banal controversy. The stakes were social, but that only means the stakes were personal, not nonexistent. There were plenty of responses I couldve offered my peers, but they all felt played out, stale and prepackaged. I could argue that they didnt understand the lived reality, didnt differentiate between a soldier and a policymaker. I could describe how a grunts or even an officers moral setting was ground level, a nesting doll of ethical responsibility that fit neatly, but distinctly, within someone elses bad ideas. Some choose to have a war, some only get to choose how they behave in war. Or maybe people just need to learn how to talk at parties again. If you want to hear what I think about the military in a social setting, you might have to listen to me chat about my Army cousins Christian pacifism. I might tell you that my sister became a foreign area officer in the hopes that diplomacy would define her career, or that my brother left the Army completely. No one has to hear me out, of course, but I see no reason why the conversation should begin and end with bland, sometimes offensive, generalities as a default. All soldiers are murderers. Its a way to put your brain on ice. Joel Cuthbertson gathers in Gunnison, Colorado, with his father and brothers. Photo courtesy of the author. As for my siblings, they were raised in that strange American space where physical courage and Christianity are meant to complement one another. Mission trips, local volunteering, the simple activity of our daily lives: Wherever possible, we were taught to live out our values with our hands. We didnt simply join church outreach, we (children, more or less) shouldered the most demanding tasks. We mixed and laid concrete by shovel, built trails in remote wilderness, and more. I remember my sister returning from a mission to Peru when she was in high school: hair braided, grinning, her bags bearing the usual trinkets for those of us at home. She told us about the monkeys and the machetes and the forests, but she emphasized the work. She talked about my oldest brother, her future comrade in arms, and how much he wouldve benefited their mock construction crew. The point was to serve. The authors sister poses with a black hawk helicopter. Photo courtesy of the author. The military, though, also offered an escape. Our parents were divorced and a peak of drama occurred not long before my siblings graduated from high school. I remember my brother sitting on our driveway, the latest fracas fresh in his ears. I just wish, he said, that I was already there. Importantly, this was all pre-9/11. When my siblings were accepted to the United States Military Academy, West Point, the average soldiers difficulties were more or less professional (hierarchical, lots of moves) and personal (limited community, lots of moves). Unless you were the hooah of the hooah-est and joined the Special Forces, your scope of action was never going to be that dynamic. But, of course, 9/11 did happen -- during their Yuk year, in fact. The invasion of Iraq happened, too, and weve lived in a world since where my friend, otherwise intelligent and empathic, could say all soldiers were murderers without really needing to explain herself. As friendship and conversation, not great. As a positionin certain circles, in academic ones for sure -- less and less uncommon. Of course, soldiers have always been abstracted by civilians, whether pro-war, anti-war, or in-between. Theyre heroes, victims, or villains. For family members, this is as dangerous a possibility as for anyone, probably more so. Decals in windows, ribbons on bumpers, slogans in the face of disdain are too often substitutes for actual opinions, to say nothing of actual support. But my West Point siblings are neither convenient scapegoats nor two-dimensional nerd-warriors. They are first and foremost, to me and to anyone talking to me, my siblings. In my neighborhood, my church, my friend group, Im regularly the only person with any military connection. When Im not, Im the guy with the most connections. Once some people realize this, they act as if a headline has walked into their home. Theyre suddenly an op-ed columnist, or at least a troll in the comments. In addition to being told all soldiers are murderers, Ive been thanked on Veterans Day. Me, a guy whose only tour of note is a fine arts degree from Syracuse. Ive never been sure what my friend was thinking when she blurted out her theory of original military sin. My guess is she wasnt thinking much at all. She was trying to maintain her own integrity, maybe, to resist shirking her principles. I get it. I despise Americas forever wars, and partly based on the stories of my family. But my siblings arent principles, and most social situations dont need to solve anything. Whatever conversations we should keep having about war, about societal violence at large, we must continue to carve out spaces for the granular, the relational, as well. Me, first. Editors Note: This article first appeared on The War Horse, an award-winning nonprofit news organization educating the public on military service. Subscribe to their newsletter. analysis "When God delivers a message to a prophet, it is not for the prophet, it is for the people. If you keep the message to yourself, when people perish from their sins without you warning them, without you communicating what God has shared with you, there will be blood on your hands." Thus spake Thulani Dlomo in an almost hour-long December 2020 interview with Rudi Page, founder of ONELINK, "a source for global knowledge", on the publication of Dlomo's book, The Encounter [not available at most bookstores near you, nor online unless you get it straight from the oracle]. The death toll in a week of violence, mayhem and looting in South Africa since Zuma was cauterised behind bars in Escourt has now reached more than 70. The economic cost? Who knows. The political cost? Still to be tallied in votes sometime in the future at a voting booth near you. Dlomo was invited to punt his book on Page's show and spoke as if he were addressing multitudes from a mount. At some point, he referred to "the many millions who will receive the message", thanks to Page's online superspreading. At the time of writing, 15 July 2021, Page's... Ibadan The Oyo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Raufu Olaniyan, yesterday assured the people of the state of the state government commitment to collaborate with responsible organisations to invest in agriculture to boost rice production and ensure food security in the state. This is just as he said the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde is adequately prepared to make the state safe for investors by strengthening security architecture in every nook and cranny of the state Olaniyan, while speaking with journalists after participating in an interactive programme organised by the broadcast media in the state, lauded TITAN Farms and others in the agriculture sector for turning the state to rice giant, stating that they are also creating employment opportunities for youths in the state. The deputy governor, who claimed to own a big farm in the Oke-Ogun area of the state, said the state government is ready to provide an enabling and secure environment for farmers, especially those involved in rice production, to continue to thrive, charging young entrepreneurs to feel safe to come and invest in the state. According to him, "The state government has no business involving itself in business, other than to provide an enabling environment for every business to thrive, and one of the cardinal programnes in that regard is security, and we are doing everything possible to ensure a secure atmosphere for all. "My door is open to TITAN Farms for consultation and healthy collaboration with the government because I am a farmer too, and we must commend TITAN for providing employment for our youths. I was told thousands of our youths are gainfully employed by the firm." Valentine Ayika, a lawyer and former member of the House of Assembly and House of Representatives was an automatic delegate in the recent Anambra State Peoples Democratic Party Governorship Primary election which expectedly generated a lot of controversies The Laws Regulating Primary Elections Elections, both primary and general, in Nigeria are regulated, majorly, by the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2010. The Independent National Electoral Commission (NEC) is the body constitutionally empowered to organise and supervise general elections. The body is also vested with powers to monitor political party congresses/primaries. Indirect Primary By section 87 (2) of the Electoral Act 2010, the procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for various elective positions shall be either by direct or indirect primaries. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) by its Constitution adopted the indirect primaries which implies that only a selected few, in form of an electoral college, votes to nominate the party's candidates. This electoral college is comprised of the state and local government officers, five principal officers in each of the 326 wards, three adhoc delegates elected at a congress from each of the wards in the state and the automatic delegates. The automatic or super delegates are members of the party that are occupying or that have occupied certain elective positions in the party or at the state or national levels. The Factions For Anambra State; the state, local government and the five principal officers were part of the ward executives elected during the party's congresses in 2017. Since then, there has been lots of litigations challenging the outcome of the congresses which has given rise to factions within the state chapter of the party. Conflicting Judgments The battle for legitimacy by the different factions necessitated the institution of various suits at different courts which unfortunately have given numerous conflicting judgments on the matter. It is on record that there are four judgments on the same subject matter by four different courts of coordinate jurisdictions. The recently elected adhoc delegates for the governorship primary election got entangled in the controversy as the actors in the processes that led to their emergence may have been affected by any of the judgments. INEC Deadlines Worthy of mention at this stage is that by certain provisions of our Constitution, electoral laws and guidelines for general elections some activities in the chain of events that leads up to the general election are time bound in that specified periods for certain activities or deadlines for particular stages of the election processes must be complied with. For example the INEC guidelines for the 2021 Anambra Governorship election the prescribed for July 1, 2021 as the last day for primary election while the last day for submission of names and particulars of candidates by political parties was July 9, 2021. Any omission or noncompliance with any of these dates disqualifies the political party from fielding a candidate in the election. The Party's Enabling Law PDP had notified INEC of its intention to conduct primary election on the June 26, 2021 with statutory and adhoc delegates as contained in its Constitution but confronted with the conflicting court judgments, their far and near implications coupled with the unchangeable deadlines within which the party must conduct its primary election and submit the particulars of its candidate, the party was left with limited options. Among the few options was the dissolution of the executive committee, discarding of the use of the adhoc delegates the two groups having been affected one way or another by the said conflicting judgments. In the midst of the dilemma the party invoked Section 31 of its Constitution which allows it to use automatic delegates as a last resort. Incitement Of The Delegates Expectedly, the constituents of the electoral college who had looked forward to the primary election would be upset for being excluded eventually. This said, the question now is, who should they be angry with or at whom should their anger be directed? One of the former aspirants in the primary election, has been inciting the delegates against the party leadership and the candidate of the party through a narrative that their exclusion was deliberate and unjustifiable. The narrative is totally wrong and packaged for selfish interest. For a particular former aspirant stories from the grave vine has it that he wants to decamp to another party. So his antics and ultimate goal is to convince the former delegates through his concocted narrative and incitement to decamp with him since he has no political structure. A desperate attempt to reap where he didn't sow. Who Is To Blame? Coming back to the question, at whom should the delegates direct their anger. The answer to the question lies in the event that prompted the party to opt for automatic delegates against the earlier planned use of statutory and adhoc delegates. As stated earlier the decision was occasioned by the conflicting court judgments. But the suits that brought about the conflicting court judgments were instituted by some members of the party. The initiators of these suits and the courts are to be blamed for the party's last minute decision to use super delegates for the primary election. The situation was so dicey that the party had to take the difficult and unpalatable decision in order to avoid a subsequent voiding of its primary election. So, the party did what it had to do to avoid being caught up in the web of the conflicting judicial pronouncements. The Way Forward The way forward is for the party leaders at different levels, the stakeholders and the candidate to, as a matter of urgency, convene meetings of the delegates to explain to them the real reasons for the last minute decision to exclude them from the primary. As the saying goes problem discussed is problem half solved. The dissolved delegates must attend the meetings with open minds, they should not direct their anger at the party or the candidate. Especially at the candidate who, as public information has it, went the extra mile in his quest for the dissolved delegates to be part of the event. The delegates should not hold grudges for too long and against the wrong persons as by so doing the party may not do well in the general election. Among others, they need full information on the future plans of the party and how they will participate in the whole processes leading up to the general election. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Though Valentine Ozigbo, the party's candidate, has the onerous responsibility of leading the post primary unification drive of the party, a venture which he has commenced in earnest and with all sense of sincerity and purpose by way of town hall meetings with the former statutory and ad-hoc delegates of the party soon after his victory. It is also incumbent and desirous of all the leaders and stakeholders of our party at all levels to put in all possible efforts to reorient, reinvigorate and redirect the sense of belonging and loyalty of these party foot soldiers to work together towards achieving our common goal. At the end of the day, a victory for the party is a victory for all of us. Let us remember that if we fail to work with common intent and purpose we will fail and when we fail the greatest losers will be the present and future generations of Anambra State. Author's Bio *_Hon. Valentine Ayika, Esq, a lawyer and former member of the House of Assembly and House of Representatives was an automatic delegate at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Primary election held at Women's Development Centre, Awka on June 26, 2021. He is also a political analyst and a commentator._* Hassan Ahmed, a Major-General of the Nigerian Army, who was murdered in Abuja on Thursday night, has been buried at Lungi Barracks Cemetery, Abuja. Ahmed, who was recently appointed director at army headquarters, was shot dead in Abaji area of the nation's capital. The assailants, according to a family member, also kidnapped his wife. The couple were said to be returning from Okene in Kogi State when they ran into an ambush. In a statement, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, army spokesman, confirmed the death of Ahmed. He said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, had already sent a delegation to condole with the victim's family. Nwachukwu also stated that members of the Nigerian Army Officers' Wives Association (NAOWA) led by the Deputy National President, Mrs Stella Omozoje, have also visited the family to condole with them. Digital transformation expert Timothy Laku believes Africa is poised to reap bountifully from the fourth industrial revolution, which the economist Klause Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum, says is being driven partly by digital technologies. Mr. Laku's sunny optimism derives from the fact that digital tools are currently accessible to Africans in a way that technologies weren't in the previous industrial revolutions. "The first industrial revolution was about steam being used for transportation--ships. The second industrial revolution was when electricity was discovered. The third revolution was the invention of the computer," he says, in an interview with Africa Renewal. "It took about 50 years for Africa to adopt the technologies in the first and second industrial revolutions, and it took 10 years for computers to gain ground on the continent." On par with other regions But now, maintains the half-Ugandan and half-Kenyan digital expert, "It's the first time in history that Africa is on par with the rest of the world. "If it's the internet, Africa also has internet; If it's technology that's being piloted in Japan, countries in Africa are also piloting it. For example, about six or seven countries are already testing the 5G in Africa," he says. Mr. Laku, who is the Chief Technology Officer of Bringo Fresh, a Uganda-based company that uses an online platform to connect farmers to consumers, recently spoke at a virtual forum organized by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. He seized the opportunity to canvass the use of technology to tackle food loss and waste. Globally, some 1.3 billion tons of food is lost or wasted each year. At Bringo Fresh, he says: "We aggregate data on the supply side and the demand side. We provide farmers the information that supports their production planning." Bringo Fresh also trains farmers on good farming practices and on avoiding food loss and waste. Technology in agriculture Mr. Laku gushes about the catalytic potential of digital apps in African agriculture. "Let's take mobile money. Farmers sell their produce and that money stays in their phones. When they want to pay school fees for their children, they transfer the money from the mobile money account to the school mobile account. They do not need to leave the farms. "They pay for goods and services through mobile phones, and that means more time to work on the farms." His premise is that farmers need pertinent data to be successful. He explains it like this: "In one township, farmers sell maize for $10 per kilo. But in another nearby town, maybe 30 minutes' drive away, a kilo of maize sells for $15. If that information is available on the phone to such farmers, they can sell their produce in that town and earn more money. So, they're benefiting from information made available through technology." The gradual integration of technology in agriculture is drawing young Africans to the sector, he observes. "What we're seeing now is that more young people are participating in agriculture. They are leveraging mobile phones and digital applications: a website, an e-commerce platform, online orders--things like that excite them. Attracting young people "Back in the day, farming meant getting to an open field and tilling the soil. Not anymore." A symbiosis of the tech-savviness of the young and the experience of the old is a win-win for both. He notes: "The older farmers who are not tech-savvy, who are seeing the young farmers leveraging digital tools to sell and harvest more, are now starting to say, 'maybe it's time for me to understand this thing called smartphone. Maybe I should start to understand this technology.'" What about post-production losses? Post-production losses are partly due to a lack of information, which, again, is solvable through innovation, Mr. Laku asserts. "So, the farmers don't have the information to allow them to manage the post-production process. They don't know how to store the maize because they have not been trained to do it. They have been doing it traditionally, the way their grandparents did it." Farmers and AfCFTA Mr. Laku foresees the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as being a boon to African farmers. The AfCFTA guarantees free movement of goods and services produced on the continent. "As long as there are no border restrictions, and there's one flat tax rate or no tax at all, farmers can plan and say, 'okay, I have this much land and because I can access bigger markets, I can produce maybe five times or 10 times more,'" he explains. He adds that farmers will require information about demand and supply in foreign markets. "And the only way that information gets to them is through digital platforms." The snag, though in all this digital transformation, is the cost of the internet. "If the cost of internet is exorbitant, it's impossible for farmers to take advantage of digital technology," he says. "Internet access should be a human right." He also mentions inadequate infrastructure, particularly bad roads, as another challenge. "As much as digital depends on the internet, but if a farmer cannot move a truckload of produce from one town to another because it's rainy season and the roads are bad, the process ends abruptly," he says. "The supply chain in Africa is one of the reasons everything becomes very expensive. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Africa Food and Agriculture By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Conflict or political instability in some countries is also a hurdle, he admits. "As long as there's conflict in a country, you cannot use technology fully for development." The export of raw commodities from Africa that are then processed overseas and exported back to the continent will slow the quest for commodities-based industrialization, he warns. Adding value to produce "There is a market for value-added products in Africa. Why can't we build the manufacturing facilities to add value to our produce," he asks rhetorically. "What's also missing is the information regarding how big a market is for a product and how much money should be invested. If it is understood how much money can be made from the chocolate value chain and how huge that market is in Africa, then more local investors will be interested in that conversation--which once more leads to data availability on mobile platforms. "As it is, it may take me 10 years to break even, but if I have access to Africa's 1.2 billion market, as opposed to Uganda's 40 million, then, suddenly, the return on investment becomes attractive." In this case, he says the AfCFTA is most welcome. Finally, Mr. Laku advises young Africans to try being entrepreneurs. "Look out for opportunities out there and think about how you can leverage digital tools to turn those into profitable ventures and add value to your community." Damilola Ogunbiyi is the CEO of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All. On the sidelines of the UN High-Level Political Forum taking place in New York, Ms. Ogunbiyi spoke to Africa Renewal's Kingsley Ighobor on a range of issues, including how to tackle energy poverty in Africa. Here are the excerpts: Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy As a global leader and advocate for the achievement of SDG7, which calls for access to reliable, affordable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030, what three key things do African countries need to do to end energy poverty? One of the first important things, which countries have started doing, is identifying where the people who need electrification and clean cooking are. This will enable countries to identify the best way to provide these using a range of energy mixes, knowing that cleaner is better. The second thing is for countries to make sure they have solid policies and laws to help attract investment and to help their own renewable, clean energy market. And then finally-- and this is more of a global issue as well as an African countries' issue--the financing must be there. So, public financing, private financing, commercial financing, non-commercial concession financing, philanthropy money-- all need to come together for us to end energy poverty. Today, over 700 million people have no electricity at all. About 2.6 billion people, almost a third of the global population, do not have access to clean cooking. In Africa, 570 million people lack access to electricity. We are talking about a problem that will cost us about $40 billion every year from now to 2030. And right now, in Africa, we are seeing numbers of less than $4 billion. So, it just shows you how much work we have to do to make sure the right amount of resources are going in to solve energy poverty. So nearly 600 million Africans do not have access to energy. That is about half of the population of the continent. How have African countries fared in the shift toward clean energy? Any good examples? There are excellent examples. If I take my country, Nigeria, for example, I led the largest energy access programme, which focused on renewable energy projects under a programme called the Nigerian Electrification Project. It was undertaken with effective partnerships with the World Bank and the African Development Bank. We distributed energy solutions and focused on solar energy and were able to power some universities. Some good examples are also coming out of Rwanda and Senegal as well. But the problem is that they are small; we now have to look at scaling up. It is not that there is no progress happening in African countries in terms of electrification, but population growth is outweighing electrification. So, even if you make progress of an additional million or 2 million people having energy access every single year, but you have a population growth of circa 10 million, it's tough to catch up. That's why we need to speed up. And that's why we need, like I said, money from philanthropy, development institutions, financial institutions, governments--all coming together to look for creative solutions that will make sure no one is left behind in energy access. How much progress is being been made towards rallying financing for the energy sector in Africa? It's important now, especially this year when the UN is having a high-level dialogue on energy, for the first time in 40 years. We are discussing this topic at the UN General Assembly. People are now recognizing that energy poverty is serious, and it is really important that while we're trying to transition to green, renewable, clean energy, which is very important, that energy access and energy poverty must be part of the energy transition for many African countries. I have a lot of hope and optimism that this year, there will be a big shift in terms of a [COVID-19] recovery package and other packages towards clean energy in Africa, which we haven't seen before. The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced many countries' fiscal space. And Africa is currently grappling with a third wave of infections. What advice would you give these countries at this time in terms of how they prioritize energy investment? For every $1 you invest in clean energy in any country, we see the benefits of about 0.93 cents to GDP. So, it's just a good economic decision. More jobs are created, and there will be an increase in energy access and energy efficiency. There are a lot of benefits, apart from the obvious, including having healthier people, more yields in agriculture, etc. And for women? If you give a woman access to sustainable energy, she earns 59% more. So even if you have a long wish-list of things you want to spend money on, clean energy is where you should focus because it's just good math in terms of economic growth. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Africa Trade Energy By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) kicked off in January this year, and is expected to catalyze Africa's industrialization. How might affordable energy for all, as well as achieving near-zero emissions, support such industrialization? Well, the fact that Africa is one of the regions that will need more instead of less energy, especially sub-Saharan Africa, is very key. Again, let me put this into perspective: the installed capacity of sub-Saharan Africa, if you take away South Africa, is only 81 gigawatts. That's the same capacity that Germany generates. So, it's 81 gigawatts for more than a billion people. Sub-Saharan Africa is responsible for less than one per cent of global emissions, and we want these emissions to remain low and to continue to be under a low-carbon trajectory. We would need solar panels, lithium batteries and inverters. We need a lot of technology. These shouldn't be brought from outside to the continent; we should look towards manufacturing them in Africa to cope with the demand. Energy will definitely play a critical part in the success of Africa's free trade area. The Constitutional Court heard arguments on whether the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services has sufficient independence from the Department of Justice and Correctional Services. analysis When constitutional democracy is under strain, how should we view disagreement among judges in a court of (supposed) last resort? Two weeks ago, South Africa's Constitutional Court handed down judgment in two cases with high political stakes. First, it was Acting Deputy Chief Justice Khampepe who read the court's reasons for its punitive order sentencing former president Jacob Zuma to 15 months' imprisonment. This was for contempt of its earlier order directing him to comply with the summonses and directives issued by the Zondo Commission. Then, two days later, Justice Jafta delivered the court's withering critique of Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane's disregard for both the facts and the law in her findings and remedial action against President Cyril Ramaphosa in relation to campaign donations. The outcome of each case is of undeniable political consequence. They add to a string of legal losses that has landed the former president in prison and the incumbent public protector perilously close to impeachment. Taken together, the judgments shift the fault lines of power in South Africa's fragile democracy. But the court was split in both decisions. While the court was unanimous in finding Zuma in contempt of its orders, a partial dissent written by Justice Theron (with Justice Jafta concurring) parted ways with the majority on the question of sanction. And in the campaign donations case, Chief Justice Mogoeng found himself alone in finding merit in the public protector's appeal. These minority judgments are now being used to shore up support for spurious challenges to the finality of the court's judgments. Zuma has applied to the court for the rescission of its "erroneous" and "unconstitutional" judgment. And Mkhwebane has indicated that she may follow suit with a rescission application of her own. This calls into question the status of minority judgments in a court of last resort. The court's answer to Zuma's rescission application will influence the future practice of judicial dissent. But it will also have profound implications for the court's authority and the rule of law in South Africa. Wielding dissents to undermine judicial authority Zuma has long questioned the logic of dissents. He did so most memorably in an interview with The Star in February 2012: How could you say that judgment is absolutely correct when the judges themselves have different views about it? ... There are dissenting judgments. You will find that the dissenting one has more logic than the one that enjoyed the majority. What do you do in that case? On this occasion, Zuma is using a minority judgment to mount a more fundamental challenge to the authority of the court's ruling against him. His rescission application claims that the key sting of the minority judgment was the unprecedented announcement that the Constitutional Court had acted unconstitutionally and therefore irrationally or has exceeded its judicial authority and mandate (para 95). This does not merely characterise the minority as having disagreed with the majority. It portrays the minority as having pronounced on the constitutionality of the majority judgment itself. This is a legal sleight of hand. Dissent often arises from disagreement between the judges about what the constitution requires in a particular case. But only the argument that garners majority support authoritatively answers that question. This simple but incontrovertible fact means that even the judges in the minority - notwithstanding their disagreement - would now have to recognise that the contempt case against Zuma was authoritatively and finally settled by the majority judgment. But, in keeping with his strategy of litigating by letters, Zuma's distortion of the court's decision appears aimed at influencing the court of public opinion. As the guardian of the constitution, the court's legitimacy depends on public confidence that its rulings vindicate the constitution. By contending that the majority judgment is "unconstitutional", Zuma casts the court as a threat to the constitution and, by implication, to his human rights as a "victim" of the court's deviance. This is why the rescission application constitutes a continuing - and indeed more radical - assault on the court's authority and the rule of law. And here's the rub: Zuma portrays the dissent as having split the court in an internecine power struggle that renders the authority and finality of all its judgments open to contestation. Questioning the value of dissenting judgments Should South Africans lament the fact that the court did not speak with one voice when sanctioning Zuma for his contempt of court? A unanimous judgment can be a powerful way to deliver justice in politically divisive cases. But there are reasons to value dissent even when - and perhaps especially when - one agrees with the majority judgment. Dissent is a vital sign that judicial independence is alive - and kicking. A split judgment bears out the existence of disagreement that is only possible where there is independent-mindedness on the bench. It could be argued, in fact, that applying the law "impartially and without fear, favour or prejudice" requires that judges be allowed to dissent. This is not to diminish the value of judicial deliberation aimed at reaching consensus. Rather it is to make the point that forcing consensus would ignore the inextricable link between a judge's freedom to dissent and their duty to apply the law impartially as a member of an independent judiciary. The publication of dissenting judgments also makes judges answerable for their decisions. The Constitutional Court, like other apex courts around the world, settles disagreement between judges through majority decision-making. This is not simply a hand-raising exercise. Rather, judicial deliberation is a reason-giving practice. Judges are not only entitled - as an exercise of judicial independence - to voice their own opinion. They are also obliged to do so and to support their view with reasons. The transparency of the court's reasoned disagreement does not undermine its authority. On the contrary, dissent forces engagement with opposing views and, by inviting refutation, shows why one argument commanded the majority. Dissent as a counterpoint to political rhetoric But does all this hold true in troubled times, when majority decisions are denounced as "angry and emotional" and dissents are distorted for political gain? My answer is yes. Transparent and reasoned disagreement is the best antidote to the kind of noxious discourse that seeks to undermine public confidence in the court. Nevertheless there is a caveat. Robust judicial debate should be welcomed. But any points of disagreement should be spelled out through reasoned argument that does not jeopardise collegiality or public confidence in the judiciary. The court has, for the most part, been beyond reproach on these scores. But the need for judicial discipline is heightened in politically divisive cases where the court's own words may be used against it by a litigant on the losing side. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines South Africa Governance Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. And this is the sting in the tail of this defence of dissents. Sting in the tail In the Zuma contempt case, the minority advanced strong reasoning but regrettably also resorted to rhetoric that provided a foothold for discrediting the court. Most troubling is the accusation that the majority created law that is "not just bad; it is unconstitutional" (para 191). Unsurprisingly, the minority's valuable insights have been overshadowed by selective soundbites more likely to trend on Twitter than persuade in legal argument. In the campaign donations case, Chief Justice Mogoeng invoked the judicial oath in support of his sympathetic stance towards the public protector. But in doing so, he fed a political narrative that judges are biased along factional lines - the very discourse he enjoined the majority to eschew. Notwithstanding these slips in judicial voice, the court should offer no apology for its split judgments. This is what hangs in the balance in Zuma's rescission application: Will the court affirm both the value of the dissent and the finality of the majority decision? Or will the judges stubbornly rehash the debate that previously divided them and so fall prey to the attack on the court's authority? Somewhat paradoxically, if the virtues of dissent are to be vindicated, the court must now affirm in unanimous voice that it has settled the law - and settled it finally. Helen Taylor, Post-Doctoral Researcher, South African Institute For Advanced Constitutional, Human Rights, Public and International Law (SAIFAC), University of Johannesburg TANZANIA and Burundi have agreed to implement infrastructure projects that connect the two countries, in a grand move that will continue facilitating the movement of people, goods, and services. The Heads of State of the two countries, President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her Burundian Counterpart Evariste Ndayishimiye also agreed on the need to take bold measures on improving business and strengthening further the existing bilateral ties. This was said yesterday by President Samia shortly after she held talks with President Ndayishimiye at the Bujumbura State House in Burundi. The Tanzanian Head of State is in Burundi for a two-day state visit. The trip is in response to an invitation from President Ndayishimiye. The duo discussed the importance of building road and railway infrastructure that link the two countries, to continue facilitating the movement of people, goods, and services. The infrastructure projects include upgrading the KasuluManyovu section in Tanzania and the Rumonge-Gitaza road section in Burundi on the central corridor. Moreover, plans are in place for the construction of a railway line from Uvinza in Tanzania to Msongati and Gitega in Burundi. "This slot will be connected with the ongoing Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma," said President Samia, adding that they have instructed ministers for Finance and Transport dockets from both countries to combine efforts on looking for funds for financing the projects. President Samia further said that they have also agreed to continue inviting investors from both parts to utilize the available opportunities for the interest of economic growth. Going forward, she said trade volume between the two countries has increased to 201bn/- in 2019, up from 83.9bn/- that was recorded in 2015. She said so far the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) has registered a total of 18 projects by Burundian investors worth 209bn US dollars. For more details get Daily News e-paper now Unrest over the last week has severely impacted medicines distribution and laboratory services in Kwazulu-Natal and Gauteng. NHLS impacted The National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) has confirmed to Spotlight that the unrest has affected its operations in the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The NHLS handles laboratory services for the public sector, including various HIV, tuberculosis and COVID-19 tests. "In KwaZulu-Natal, the NHLS is faced with several challenges, namely, the province has no movement due to lack of transport and insufficient fuel, with most healthcare facilities in the urban settings functioning with a skeleton staff. NHLS facilities in the urban settings are operating with a staff complement of between 20-60% during the day and between 0-20% at night," says Mzimasi Gcukumana, spokesperson for the NHLS. He adds that this is due to road blockages and unavailability of public transport. "This poses challenges for the eThekwini Metro who are unable to send specimens to our laboratories for referral testing and any testing support. With the limited human resource capacity at our disposal, we are only able to process urgent samples," he says. According to Gcukumana, in rural settings NHLS laboratories are operating with a staff complement of between 30-70%. However, he says they are offering a full service except for referral tests that could not be referred because of restricted movement in the province. "The situation is slowly improving with the biggest challenge now being the severe shortages of fuel. With the freeways being blocked, the supply of much-needed laboratory consumables such as reagents from Gauteng has been impacted," he tells Spotlight. "As part of our contingency plan, we have decentralised COVID-19 PCR testing through leveraging our GeneXpert footprint. In addition, we have encouraged health facilities to use Rapid Antigen testing where clinically indicated according to the COVID-19 standing guidelines." Gcukumana says that the NHLS is working with private laboratories to assist with COVID-19 PCR testing although the demand remains very low across the province. "Due to the non-availability of public transport, hospitals in and around Durban have been kind to the NHLS by offering our staff accommodation within the hospitals where practical. The NHLS is grateful for this act of kindness. Further, we have encouraged some of our staff members, those who can, to work from home," he says. "In Gauteng, our testing sites remain ready to process specimens however, the challenge the NHLS is faced with is the receiving of samples from the health facilities. This was due to the inaccessibility of some facilities in the Cities of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni due to the unrest," he says. "The NHLS' main challenge has been the collection of samples from the facilities. However, we are pleased to inform the public that as of yesterday, 15 July 2021, the NHLS in Gauteng has been able to collect samples from the majority of health facilities." Medicines distribution also impacted Besides transport challenges, medicines distribution has also been severely impacted in the two provinces with looting and destruction of property at pharmacies This has disrupted government's Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) programme - which allows public sector clients to collect medicines from more convenient places, such as private sector clinics rather than having to return to clinics for medicines refills. "The most affected are those on the CCDMD programme collecting from Clicks outlets," says Mandisa Dukashe, Founder of HIV Survivors and Partners Network. "They only received SMS's like everyone else saying the stores are closed with no further explanation of where to collect meds." Dukashe says during this difficult time, going to public clinics is the only solution. "We know people with chronic illnesses. Without treatment, the damage will be more (increased drug resistance, increased HIV infections and mortality). Not that we don't understand the burden that would cause to the system but there is no other solution," she says. Bonginkosi Mthembu from Germiston, who takes his HIV medication from Clicks, says, "We are highly affected by this looting as now we have to go back to our doctors or clinics, even though we are not sick. And have to wait in those long queues just to collect our medication." Plan B will be for the medication to be delivered in our places of residence even though that might be a problem for others. As not everyone is working from home," he says. "As a result of protest action, Clicks has had to close all 110 of its stores in KwaZulu-Natal and 130 stores in Gauteng, with a total of 279 stores closed and 52 stores damaged so far nationwide. 106 vaccination sites have been closed across the country," says spokesperson Susann Caminada. "The disruption of services means affected Clicks stores will be temporarily unable to administer vaccinations and provide medication to customers, along with public sector medicine pick-up points being temporarily unavailable. Contingency plans are being put in place to provide alternative arrangements for delivery of chronic medication and rescheduling of vaccinations, where possible," she says. According to Caminada, the cost of the looting and damage to Clicks stores is still to be determined. The United Pharmaceutical Distributors (UPD) has confirmed that their warehouse in Mahogany Ridge (KZN) has been looted and the medicine supply chain disrupted. "Our business continuity plan has been implemented to bring in supplies and emergency medicines from our other regional sites, particularly clinical medicines for hospitals," says Trevor McCoy, UPD Managing Executive. On Wednesday the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) released a statement saying that they had received reports from pharmacists and pharmacy associations that over 90 pharmacies have been destroyed and looted beyond revival, with KwaZulu-Natal being the hardest hit. "Among the looted items are COVID-19 vaccines and scheduled medicines, which when used without proper pharmacist counselling on storage and dosage may result in harm to one's health," the SAPC said in a statement. "As such, we urge those who looted these medicines and health products to not use them or give to other persons but rather return them to their nearest pharmacy for proper disposal. We also caution members of the public to only source medicines from legitimate health establishments such as pharmacies," read the statement. According to CEO of the Independent Community Pharmacists' Association Jackie Maimin 51 independently owned pharmacies were looted of which 18 was in Gauteng. "Disruption to pharmaceutical care has negatively affected the communities which have suffered damages due to looting of the pharmacies. These pharmacies have had to close down or limit their trading hours," Maimin told Spotlight, adding that the disruption to the supply of medication is another factor that has to now be considered and there is a risk of treatment interruptions. "Pharmacies which are closed are unable to service their communities (patients) and have had to redirect patients to open pharmacies. In the case of a patient having their prescription at one pharmacy (which has been damaged), access to the scripts are not available, adding pressure on the doctors who are already overburdened with the COVID-19 crisis to now re-issue scripts." Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines South Africa Health By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Medical oxygen Nolundo Rawana, spokesperson for Afrox, which is the sole supplier of medical oxygen to South Africa's health facilities told Spotlight Afrox' operations was affected in this week's riots and civil unrest. "But the supply of medical oxygen to hospitals and clinics remains a priority," she said. "Afrox is currently engaged in emergency planning to ensure deliveries can be safely undertaken and to find alternate routes to customers and hospitals as part of a flexible response to spontaneous civil unrest breaking out." Rawana confirmed disruptions to some medical oxygen deliveries in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal but said Afrox' contingency measures may include, among others, police escorting medical oxygen delivery trucks. "Afrox, however, will only operate and deliver where and when our assets and employees are safe." Emergency Medical Services "We are currently responding to a high call volume of distress calls in various parts of Gauteng. Road closures, the barricading of roads, attacks on paramedics and protests in various areas have made it difficult for paramedics and vehicles to enter communities and respond to calls," says Kwara Kekana, spokesperson for the Gauteng Health Department. "Our teams are on the ground responding to calls as best as they can in the current environment. There will however be delays in responding to calls as a direct result of the closures, protests and attacks on our staff and EMS vehicles," she says. She adds that the team has had to use an armoured ambulance in responding to calls last night to transfer patients and staff. "We plead with communities to stop attacks on paramedics and EMS vehicles so we can render services to those in urgent need of medical attention," Kekana said. On Monday, when Dr Mabola* a GP who operates a private surgery in Durban Central made his way to work, he found his office looted and vandalised. "They even took the cushions in my waiting room," he said. Mabola is a foreign national and asked not to be named for fear of further attacks. By Friday, looting, rioting, and violence in parts of KwaZulu-Natal had left shops and pharmacies empty and vandalised, warehouses burnt to the ground, and many lives lost. "They stole everything" The looting, violence, and destruction of property this week have fuelled fears over food and medicine security. All this unfolded while the country is in the grip of a third wave of COVID-19 and at a time when health systems and social distancing are paramount in the fight against the pandemic. "I don't understand why people would do this," Mabola said. "I am here to save lives yet people do this to me. They stole everything and destroyed everything. I have patients who require renewed prescriptions regularly. Patients with chronic diseases, COVID-19, TB, HIV, diabetes, and many others. Their records have been destroyed and medication has been stolen," Mabola said. "This goes beyond hunger," he said. "Destroying records, stealing furniture, stealing portraits and wall hangings. It shows how much people do not want to work. They came here with a car to steal." He is among the many general practitioners with private practices who also work in the public sector hospitals. "I am not going back to King Edward hospital. I cannot go there and save the lives of the same people who did this to my office. This kind of looting has nothing to do with poverty and hunger," he said. The dental practice next to his was also looted and destroyed. Burnt to the ground Pharmacies were also not spared and at least one independently owned (community) pharmacy in the province was burnt to the ground. Registrar of the South African Pharmacy Council Vincent Tlala in a statement said by Wednesday over 90 pharmacies were looted and destroyed in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. "Among the looted items were COVID 19 vaccines and scheduled medicines, which when used without proper pharmacist counselling on storage and dosage may result in harm to one's health." Pharmacies in KwaZulu-Natal took the biggest hit, Tlala said. Clicks in the Berea Centre was also looted and vandalised with the pharmacy cleared out. Clicks Pharmacies in a statement said they had to close 110 stores in KZN. "52 Clicks stores have been destroyed and 106 COVID vaccination sites have been closed in the unrest, meaning we cannot manage or provide public-sector medical pickup points or administer vaccinations." Meanwhile, Alpha Pharmacy in Glenwood, Durban was ransacked and looted completely. The landlord of the building who lives close to the pharmacy witnessed the looting but was powerless against the large group of looters. "There was nothing I could do. These people were angry and there was no police or security to help stop them. We could only watch," he said. CEO of the Independent Community Pharmacists Association (ICPA) Jackie Maimin said 51 independently owned pharmacies in KZN, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga were looted and damaged this week. In KZN one pharmacy was burnt to the ground. A total of 31 pharmacies across the province were vandalised and cleaned out. "The ICPA is putting together a crises management programme to assist its members (pharmacies) to deal with the aftermath. We will have more information to share over the weekend," she said. Elsewhere in Durban, the Marie Stopes Abortion, Contraception, and Sexual Health Clinic was also looted. Hospitals under strain The riots placed great strain on an already overwhelmed healthcare system as many people were injured, beaten, and involved in accidents caused by the violent chaos. KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu this week bemoaned the violence and disruptions to healthcare services. Simelane-Zulu in a statement said healthcare facilities have been receiving an increased number of trauma patients. "I'm referring here to people with stabbings, gunshot wounds, burns, and those run over by motor vehicles," she said. A young entrepreneur from KwaMnyandu was one of those injured when caught in the crossfire of looters when he tried to defend his clothing stall. He was shot in his left ankle. "I asked my cousin to take me to Wentworth Hospital where I lied that I had been robbed and shot in the process. I was afraid to tell them where I was as I would get arrested as one of the looters. I was referred to King Edward Hospital for gunshot treatment and X-rays. I spent two nights sleeping in a wheelchair because the hospital was full and no beds were available." According to Simelane-Zulu, there were "a number of hospitals, Community Health Centres and clinics across KwaZulu-Natal that have been operating on skeletal staff, with many nurses, doctors, allied health workers and support staff unable to report for work due to the blockades, as well as lack of public transport". Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Southern Africa Health By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. A nurse at one of the hospitals in Durban expressed great concern over the effect of the unrest on their ability to go to work. "I'm sure it's a mess there at the hospital," she tells Spotlight on her way back home. She went to work but decided to turn back out of fear. "Myself and other colleagues have not been able to go to work for four days now. Roads have been blocked and there's no transport plus it is not safe. I am sure the other nurses are tired and overburdened." Earlier in the week, on Tuesday morning the Lancers Road Clinic in Durban had to close because nurses could not report for duty. There was only one security staff member when Spotlight visited. The Prince Cyril Zulu Communicable Disease Centre, one of the biggest dispensaries for chronic health medications to public health patients in Durban, was another casualty in the ongoing unrest this week. It closed its doors by Tuesday. The management decided to protect the facility by closing it in light of the riots. No one from the centre could be reached for comment. *In this article we quote unnamed sources. Spotlight's policy is not to use unnamed sources unless the information provided is in the public interest, the information can be verified, and there is a real risk of harm to the source should he or she be named. 13:00 | Lima, Jul. 17. According to Soto, experts have determined through a mathematical model that a vaccine is useful against COVID-19 when its efficacy is over 60%. "All vaccines have showed zero mortality with the original strain, a smaller number of hospitalizations, and a lower quantity of people in intensive care units," he indicated. According to the expert, international studies have shown that this vaccine produces some type of clot in 0.5 people per one million inhabitants. However, COVID-19 produces more than 100,000 clot cases per one million inhabitants, he explained. Moreover, the specialist has predicted that there will be a third COVID-19 wave in Peru , explaining that "its magnitude will depend on us," which means complying with personal sanitary care and avoiding crowded spaces. (END) SRE/RRC/MVB YEREVAN, JULY 17, ARMENPRESS. Charles Michel, President of the European Council, who arrived in Armenia yesterday on a two-day visit, visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial to pay tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims accompanied by Acting Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan, ARMENPRESS was informed from Mher Grigoryan's office. YEREVAN, JULY 17, ARMENPRESS. Use of force and mass atrocities cannot resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the settlement of which is possible only through negotiations within the framework of the only international mandate, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, ARMENPRESS reports caretaker Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said during the joint press conference with the President of the European Council Charles Michel. In this context, I consider it necessary to recall the April 13 statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, in which they called on the parties to resume the high-level political dialogue under the auspices of the Co-Chairs at the earliest opportunity to reach a final, comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I have repeatedly publicly welcomed this announcement on starting peace talks, emphasizing that Armenia is ready to resume talks, but Azerbaijan has not responded and according to our information received from unofficial sources, Azerbaijan intends to provoke new military clashes in Artsakh, on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the expression of which we see today in the Nakhichevan section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, Pashinyan emphasized. According to the caretaker Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, the incidents provoked by Azerbaijan do not allow to start delimitation and demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. YEREVAN, JULY 17, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan stated in the negotiations with the President of the European Council that the immediate return of prisoners of war prisoners, hostages and other detainees to Azerbaijan without preconditions, in accordance with the international humanitarian law and the November 9, 2020 trilateral declaration is a priority, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan said during a joint press conference with Charles Michel. "I want to emphasize that Azerbaijan's policy of not returning prisoners of war, hostages or other detainees is not the only case of its violation of the November 9 trilateral statement. As you know, the November 9 statement envisages the unblocking of all transport and economic infrastructures in the region. Azerbaijan obstructs this process not only with obvious threats to occupy Armenia's sovereign territory, but also, in spite of its obligations, refuses to provide Armenia with a corridor for the launch of the Armenia-Georgia, Azerbaijan-Russia railway," Pashinyan said. The caretaker Prime Minister emphasized that Armenia will carry out consistent and constructive work for the unblocking of regional communications, the restoration of the communications, the construction of new roads, in particular, the "North-South" highway, and here the support of the European Union is very important. YEREVAN, JULY 17, ARMENPRESS. Despite the 44-day Artsakh war and regional challenges, Armenia continues the irreversible path of democratic reform, ARMENPRESS reports caretaker Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said during a joint press conference with the President of the European Council Charles Michel. I would like to emphasize that the European Union is one of Armenia's key partners in bringing this ambitious reform agenda to life. Armenia is ready to continue active cooperation with the EU and the EU member states, focusing on the implementation of institutional reforms, the establishment of the rule of law and the strengthening of democratic institutions, Pashinyan said. In this context the caretaker Prime Minister recalled the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with the EU. The successful completion of the ratification process of the agreement and its entry into force is a key event in Armenia-EU relations, Pashinyan added. According to the Prime Minister, Armenia also highlights the Eastern Partnership program, which is a key initiative in relations with the European Union. The Armenian government is seriously preparing for the summit to be held in December, hoping that it will be effective. YEREVAN, JULY 17, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan hosted the delegation led by European Council President Charles Michel, who arrived in Armenia on a working visit, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minster. Nikol Pashinyan welcomed the visit of the President of the European Council to Armenia, noting that this is their second meeting in the last 1.5 months, which shows the dynamic development of Armenia-EU relations. The caretaker Prime Minister praised the decision of the EU to provide Armenia with a 2.6 billion euro investment package, noting that it will be a new impetus for the active implementation of the democratic reform agenda in the country, as well as the development of the economy and infrastructure. The caretaker Prime Minister referred to the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, reaffirming his proposal to resolve it peacefully. Nikol Pashinyan underscored the fact that the Azerbaijani authorities have recently intensified their aggressive rhetoric, which gives grounds to think that Azerbaijan is not ready to fulfill its obligations under the trilateral statements of November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021, including the full return of Armenian POWs and hostages, as well as steps to unblock communications. Charles Michel noted that the EU wants to be more actively involved in the establishment of stability in the region. The President of the European Council stressed that the 2.6 billion euro assistance package for Armenia is aimed at the implementation of deep reforms, as well as the economic development of the country. He noted that Armenia has a wide potential for the implementation of the package of measures envisaged by the package, and the EU is ready to provide technical assistance in this issue. "The EU stands ready to support your country in meeting its priorities," said Charles Michel. Referring to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Nikol Pashinyan and Charles Michel highlighted the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs of April 13, 2021, the principles outlined by it in the sidelines of which the full and complete settlement of the conflict should take place, including the clarification of the final status of Nagorno Karabakh. The interlocutors highlighted to resume the talks as soon as possible and establish a dialogue between the parties to the conflict. Charles Michel considered it necessary to ensure the return of prisoners of war, to refrain from aggressive rhetoric, to unblock the region. He stressed that the EU, in turn, is ready to promote dialogue on demarcation and delimitation between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Nikol Pashinyan praised the efforts of the international community to protect the Armenian historical and cultural heritage of Nagorno Karabakh, adding that the Azerbaijani side has already destroyed and mutilated many Armenian cultural monuments. In this context, Charles Michel considered the active role and consistent work of the UNESCO necessary. At the end of the meeting Nikol Pashinyan thanked the President of the European Council for the great and continuous attention paid to Armenia and the region. YEREVAN, JULY 17, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan emphasizes that Azerbaijan tries to create a false illusion that Armenia is against peaceful negotiations, peace and delimitation of borders, but the reality is totally otherwise, Pashinyan said during the briefing with President of the European Council Charles Michel in Yerevan, answering the question of ARMENPRESS about the chances for the establishment of regional peace and the un0constructive activities of the Azerbaijani president. ''We have a clear position on the border situation. We are ready to have a constructive stance. I made a proposal during a Security Council session about the simultaneous withdrawal of forces and returning to permanent locations. We are now negotiating in that direction to deploy Russian border guards and international observers, for carrying out demarcation and demarcation works under international auspices. During the meeting with Mr. Michel, I reaffirmed that we welcome and express our readiness to act in accordance with the April 13 statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. In fact, here we can say that the international community and our views coincide, because after May 12, a number of countries made statements and assessments, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on this issue. And these formulated approaches coincide with our ideas'', Pashinyan said. Caretaker Prime Minister drew attention to the fact that Azerbaijan, in fact, has territorial ambitions towards most of its neighbors. He stressed that the issue here is not only Armenia. ''We are ready to start negotiations on the basis of the principles known to the parties, in accordance with the April 13 statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. And I am glad that Mr. Michel also spoke today about the importance of clarifying the status of Nagorno Karabakh, because that is the cornerstone of the conflict settlement'', Pashinyan said. He also noted that they are ready to start work on delimitation and demarcation of borders in case of appropriate conditions. According to Nikol Pashinyan, the presence of war prisoners in the conditions when Azerbaijan has a written obligation to return everyone, of course, significantly disrupts the atmosphere of cooperation. This is an important agenda, around which, according to Nikol Pashinyan, efforts should be united. Authorities in Moscow have cancelled their order that restaurants only admit customers who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, recovered from the virus or have had a recent negative test. The softening of restrictions in the Russian capital reflects their devastating impact on restaurant owners, who pleaded with city officials for weeks to rescind them. The decision comes even as Moscow is still experiencing a surge in infections and Russia overall registered a new daily record of coronavirus deaths on Friday. The move announced by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin takes effect on Monday. It retracts the measure that has been in place since late June. Customers have been required to visit a Russian government website and get a QR code - a digital pattern designed to be read by a scanner - as proof of their health status. The restrictions were loudly criticised by restaurant owners, who were still struggling to recover from the damage caused by the pandemic. Some desperate owners started closing their restaurants and cafes as the number of customers dropped sharply. Outdoor terraces were allowed to operate without restrictions but many restaurants and cafes did not have room to set them up on Moscow's narrow sidewalks. Sobyanin said the city reversed the decision because the pace of contagion has slowed. Starting on Monday, Moscow restaurants and clubs will be able to open at night and hold parties and concerts. He noted, however, that "we must understand that we are still in the risk zone, the contagion is continuing and we need to observe sanitary demands and conduct mass vaccination". Some Russian media speculated the decision to abruptly lift the restrictions in Moscow reflected authorities' concerns that the tough measures could fuel discontent and further erode support for the main Kremlin party, United Russia, in September's parliamentary election. Also found in this collection were a couple photographs of the old canal near Utica Street in the village. Reta Burke (nee Pinckney) took these after the canal had been abandoned but before it was filled in. The one I shared here shows what is today Schasel Park. Mrs. Burke was standing on the old Utica Street bridge. Many of these bridges stood for some time after the canal was closed, as the villages waited for the state to remove them. Robert Scarry said that he returned the photos to the Burke family, and I hope that one day they reappear again. My column about the Ray family last month helped to make some connections with the grandchildren of the family. One of them shared a remembrance written by his father, Burdett Ray. In this long article, Burdett leads the reader through a tour of the business district of the village, and he adds some notes about the store owners. Burdett was one of those folks who had lived through some major changes and wanted people to remember the past. Luckily for us, he wrote his recollections just prior to his death. His son kindly allowed us to post the article to the Lock 52 website so that others can enjoy and learn from it. Gilfus said the two new officers would be supplementing the SRO program, so officers will be able to cover more of the school buildings at one time. "I think it's a benefit for the district. We'll have more coverage, and it's a benefit for us. It takes a little bit off of our three SROS covering seven buildings," she said. Special patrol officers applicants must be retired New York State certified police officers or deputy sheriffs, though Gilfus added that there will be a civil service test for the spots at some point, which will make it inclusive for New York State Troopers. She said they are waiting to hear back from the state on when that test can be held, though. The APD is excited about the program, Gilfus continued. "We're hopeful that it's going to be a good program and a good opportunity for some retired officers to get some good part-time jobs," she said. Auburn Superintendent Jeff Pirozzolo said the district is supposed to have four SROs, but has had three. Officer Chris Major, who was an SRO for years, went back to road patrol in 2020 before retiring. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the district never got a replacement for that position. The proposal to build one of the largest solar farms in New York in the town of Conquest has moved into a new review phase, as the project developer has filed its official application with the state Department of Public Service. Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources, a sister company of Florida Power & Light Co., filed the application for a 200-megawatt solar facility on June 28 with the state Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment, the entity within the public service department that will make the final decision on whether to allow the project to move forward. Because of the project's size, state law strips local officials of the authority to approve or reject it. The application is the next major step in a review process that began in January 2020, when NextEra first filed paperwork stating its intention to pursue the project. The application includes some changes from the original project description. The overall project footprint, which includes land for the solar panels and associated equipment along with buffer areas, has grown from an estimated 1,900 acres to 2,289 acres. The company plans to lease property from existing landowners to build the solar farm. The project would also establish a 20-megawatt storage facility that would feed an existing New York Power Authority transmission line. The number of virus-elated hospitalizations in Arizona generally ranged between 500 and 600 during May and June but rose in the past week, with 745 COVID-19-related hospitalizations as of Friday, according the dashboard. Virus patients occupied 9% of in-patient beds as of Friday, up from 6% a week ago but far below the pandemic peak of nearly 60% seen in mid-January during the winter surge. ATHENS, Greece The island of Mykonos has become the first location in Greece to have a curfew reimposed due to a spike in coronavirus cases. Greek authorities said Saturday that one in 10 individuals tested on the island in recent days tested positive. The 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. curfew took effect Saturday and authorities also imposed a round-the-clock ban on music in bars, cafes and restaurants starting 6 pm Saturday. Fines for renting out properties for parties of more than 20 people can range up to 200,000 euros ($236,000). The ban on music and the curfew will end on Monday, July 26, unless the government decides to extend it. Police on the island, a high-end tourist destination, say that violations of social distancing norms had gotten out of hand recently. Regnerys real legacy is not what he built, but the immense harm that he caused, she said. Spencer himself tweeted, of Regnery, on July 12, saying he was fortunate to have known him and learned much from him. In a 2017 article, BuzzFeed News said Regnery felt his ideas were redeemed by the candidacy of now former President Donald Trump. I think Trump was a legitimatizer, Regnery told the publication. White nationalism went from being conversation you could hold in a bathroom, to the front parlor. Regnery was born on Feb. 25, 1941, in the Chicago area and grew up in the suburb of Hinsdale, Illinois, The New York Times reported. His father worked for the family textile business. Regnerys grandfather, William H. Regnery, was a founding member of the America First Committee, which sought to keep the United States out of World War II. His uncle Henry founded Regnery Publishing, which continues to publish books by a range of conservative voices, now as an imprint of the Salem Media Group and distributed by Simon & Schuster. New Yorkers have witnessed in recent years a total breakdown of accountability at the highest levels of government, and a corruption of the very mechanisms meant to enforce ethics rules. The two most prominent watchdogs the Joint Commission on Public Ethics and the Office of the Inspector General are so obviously compromised they have become part of the problem. And yes, we have said this over and over and over again. We are frustrated and sick of it, as we suspect most New Yorkers are. And every good government advocate. And every honest, idealistic legislator and public servant. JCOPE is sham and an embarrassment. The Inspector Generals office is a farce. JCOPE the brainchild, remember, of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo long ago ceased to be a credible ethics enforcer. Ineffectiveness was baked into its structure, with members appointed by the governor and lawmakers the very people JCOPE is supposed to keep an eye on. Partisan blocs can prevent investigations of allies even when theyre in the minority. The governors control of the commission assures it would never investigate anything he doesnt want it to just as we saw play out when this epically incurious commission failed to investigate how one of the governors closest aides, Joseph Percoco, did political work at his desk in the governors office when he was supposed to be on leave working on the governors campaign. Work that would later end up getting Mr. Percoco convicted of corruption. Right under the noses of the governor and executive staff. CHATSWORTH, Calif.Talent health screening oversight organization Performer Availability Screening Service (PASS) announced in an industry town hall meeting Friday morning that it has initiated plans to open its own lab and testing centers within the next three to six months. This announcement follows the surprise exit Monday of long-time industry testing provider Cutting Edge Testing (CET) from the PASS system that maintains a database of work clearance information for adult performers. The meeting, held over Zoom, was moderated by PASS representative Siouxsie Q, with Free Speech Coalition executive director Michelle L. LeBlanc on hand to field questions, and PASS executive director Ian O'Brien commanding the floor for the majority of the meeting to lay out PASS' plans moving forward. After summarizing the history of PASS and the various complications posed by CET's withdrawal from the PASS system this weekwhich mirrored the exit 13 months ago of competing testing provider Talent Testing Service (TTS)O'Brien disclosed, "We are trying to create a lab and community center of our own." Noting that when COVID-19 struck, PASS was dependent on the independent testing centers to determine what type of testing would be adopted for industry members, O'Brien continued, "We want control of the entire supply chain. We want to be able to adapt to whatever the health needs of our community are. With our own lab, we can do what we want." The current plan to that end, O'Brien said, is for PASS to set up its lab in L.A., which would process samples nationally. "We'd be able to partner with individual draw centers anywhere in the country," he explained. "It also means dedicated turnaround times. Instead of competing against whatever other samples are being processed, we would have a lab specifically dedicated to the needs of our industry, prioritizing our industry. "It's also non-profit," he added, "meaning that we can dramatically reduce costs based on access to different grant funding, knowning there's no profit motive. We also are required to publish our financials annually, so you'd be able to see exactly where money is going. Right now, just within the PASS system, three to four million dollars is being spent on testing. I think we have an opportunity to both reduce that cost and reinvest it in ourselves." O'Brien asserted, "This feels the best way to regain control, and kind of build a network for ourselves. That wouldn't mean excluding TTS or CET from the process, if they wanted to continue to participate, offer the same test results, but it would give us the ability to negotiate what we need for ourselves." Earlier in the meeting, O'Brien addressed the "primary concern" surrounding TTS and CET pulling out of the PASS system, that being PASS' "limited control of production holds now." Even if the two providers in question are not entering clear/not clear test results into the PASS database as they once did, O'Brien stressed, "I do want to assure everybody that I have a direct commitment with TTS and an insinuation from CET that they would continue to be cooperative in the event that a production hold was necessary." He also emphasized that nothing about the actual protocol for a production hold has changed. "In the event of a production hold, I am contacted by CET or TTS to tell me that a novel infection has occurred with an active performer in the community," he explained. "When that occurs, CET and TTS, whoever the performer is, they receive information regarding the event, potential exposures, and the performer gives explicit consent to CET and TTS to reveal that information to me [along with] their scene history and partners so we can begin contact tracing. Frequently, the performer also agrees to speak to me directlythat process has not changed. We have always needed that explicit consent; no agreement that you have made with CET or TTS in the past to interact with PASS would ever indicate that have you received a novel infection that they would immediately tell that you were the person it occurred [with], they just give us a broad concept." Advancing that "my job in a production hold is to shorten the length of it as much as possible," O'Brienechoed by LeBlanc and Siouxsie Q.called upon the talent community to wield their power as consumers of testing services to help achieve that goal, as well as work toward ones both of building a better network of communication among all parties and potentially lowering their own testing costs to as littles asideallyzero. "Testing starts with performers, and it ends with performers," O'Brien said. "Performers are the ones spending the money, performers are the ones going to the lab, performers are the ones whose health is immediately impacted, and right now you don't really have power as consumers. And trying to advocate to that power has been difficult. ... I think that the power here is in your voice and needs as performers, as consumers, as workers, and we want to be able to leverage that." He later indicated specifically that it would take pressure from performers to compel TTS and CET to return to submitting their data to the PASS database. "Right now I don't have the political leverage or the economic leverage to convince them to do something that they see just as an extra burden to their process," he said. "The idea of being a part of a cohesive system for a for-profit entity is just increased liability." Interjected LeBlanc, "TTS and CET will listen to you before they'll listen to us. If you want them to send your results back into the PASS system on a regular basis, you need to let them know that. The pressure has to come from the market, it's not going to come from us as a governing body or regulating body." "These corporations are not very interested in listening to regulatory bodies or accepting guidelines from non-profit organizations," Souxsie Q. reiterated. "We are their consumers ... if they want to remain relevant in the marketplace, they need to adhere to the guidelines that our community demands. So I think that a demand letter of some kind or even social media pressure ... that pressure I think is appropriate to put on TTS and CET, ask them why they're not uploading to PASS. Insist that they dosay that your dollars will go elsewhere as soon as they can if that doesn't change. That's my game plan, anyway." As far as when exactly that will possiblei.e. when the PASS lab will be open and operationalO'Brien projected, "We can get this up and running with some expedition [in] three to six months. The funding that we would need at this point is to just make the process betterto reduce testing costs, to open more centers, to make a better space that's exciting to go to." He also revealed, "We already have some funding agreements. MindGeek has been sustaining PASS' operations, and Adult Time has agreed to substantial support of the lab idea and commuity center. At this point, it's not a pipe dream." Expanding on the plans in development for the new facility, O'Brien offered, "The initial idea is to open a lab/draw center space in Los Angeles, have some strategic partnerships with some other non-profits in the area to also provide basic services to folks; we're talking primary health care access, dental clinics, maybe a legal clinic or just organizing space. We lack meeting spaces in the industrythere's no cohesive place for us to all go. Social events ... we need more of that. So the community center addresses the kind of broader needs there. "But the lab itself would allow us to do a variety of models with draw centers," he continued. "So we could have our own, we could pretty rapidly open up draw center locations in Vegas and Miami, in New York, in San Diego, in the Bay area, we could also connect existing infrastructure if needed, it just gives us a lot of opportunity." LeBlanc added that the PASS lab will afford quicker test result return times, contending, "At our current level of funding we can probably offer 24-hour turnaround time; with increased funding, so increased lab size, we can get to same-day turnaround times for the testing." In terms of cost to performers for standard panel tests at the new lab, O'Brien submitted, "If we opened up bare bones, minimal amount of funding, and barely anybody shows up to our lab, we can open at $140. The more people that come, that price gets reduced. If everybody in the entire industry was going through our network and we didn't have access to grant funding, we didn't have access to other ways to reduce costs, we could cut the price in halfwe're talking $70-$75. And I think there's ways to reduce it more. If I had a vision here, it would be free testing. Zero cost. And we'll work towards that." In order to help optimize the benefits PASS hopes to offer to talent with this new undertaking, the three reps spearheading the town hall meeting also called upon the community to donate to the cause here. "I have no illusion that this is going to be a clean process," O'Brien commented about midway through his presentation, "but I do think that sometimes dirty is better." PHOENIX Several of the most popular hiking trails in metro Phoenix, including both trails on Camelback Mountain and those around Piestewa Peak, will be closed temporarily when temperatures rise to unsafe levels, the city Parks and Recreation Board decided this week. The board approved a pilot program to restrict access to hiking trails whenever an excessive heat watch is issued by the National Weather Service. Phoenix has more than 41,000 acres of desert parks and mountain preserve land, and in 2020, more than 6.2 million hikers visited the trail system, according to a report from park officials. To help with that recommendation, extended summer hours are in effect annually from June through September at North Mountain Park and Piestewa Peak Trailhead in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, and Pima Canyon Trailhead in South Mountain Park/Preserve, the board said in a news release. The vote came after a request from the United Phoenix Firefighters Association to restrict access to Camelback Mountain and Piestewa Peak because of the number of rescue calls firefighters respond to on those trails. In 2020, there were 284 mountain rescues across the city, including 89 on Camelback and 40 on Piestewa. The 284 rescues were an increase from 255 in 201 and 250 in 2018, according to fire officials. Taking them all together, said Sir David King, chair of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group, these are casualties of the climate crisis: we will only see these extreme weather events become more frequent. For Diederik Samsom, the European Commission's Cabinet chief behind this week's massive proposals to spend billions and force industry into drastic reforms to help cut the bloc's emissions of the gases that cause global warming by 55% this decade, this week's disaster was a cautionary tale. People are washed away in Germany ... and Belgium and the Netherlands, too. We are experiencing climate change," he said on a conference call of the European Policy Centre think tank. "A few years ago, you had to point to a point in the future or far away on the planet to talk about climate change. It's happening now here. And climate scientists point toward two specific things that have contributed to this week's calamity. First, with every 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) rise in temperature, the air can take in 7% more humidity. It can hold the water longer, leading to drought, but it also leads to an increase in dense, massive rainfall once it releases it. Birthday wishes Call 281-422-8302 or email david.bloom@baytownsun.com to wish someone a happy birthday. We will print your birthday wish on Page 2 of The Sun. Happy Birthday Wishes Theirs is an unlikely yet understandable partnership, a president who won over American voters with a calmly reassuring nod to traditional governing, and a democratic socialist senator who twice came close to winning the presidential nomination with what was once viewed as a wildly idealistic agenda. Sanders is now chair of the Senate Budget Committee. Together, they are trying to unite the political factions of progressives and centrists in the sprawling Democratic Party, which controls Congress by only the narrowest of margins in the House and a 50-50 Senate, with no votes to spare around the president's $3.5 trillion national rebuilding proposal. In their sights is a legislative feat on par with Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal or Lyndon Johnson's Great Society. For two political leaders in the twilight of decadeslong careers, it is the chance of a lifetime and the stuff of legacies. "We're going to get this done," Biden said Wednesday as he entered the private lunch room at the Capitol. Biden encouraged the senators to think of the good they could do for people across America, investing in places like Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he was born, who feel that the party is not in touch with working people's pain. An airman will make his last flight Monday. The body of Lt. Alva Krogman, killed when his plane crashed during the Vietnam War, will arrive at Billings Logan International Airport on his way to his hometown of Worland, Wyoming. Id just ask that people be respectful. The last person we took down to Wyoming, people were lined up on both side of the highway all the way into town, all the way into the cemetery where they were going to inter him. It seemed like whole town was out to watch and support, said Danny Glover with the Patriot Guard of Montana, which will be a part of the procession out of Billings. Krogman was born in Worland in April 1941. He was piloting an O1-F Birddog in the skies over Laos about 25 years later. Krogman graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1964 before receiving his pilot training at Reese Air Force Base in Texas, according to an archive maintained by his fellow academy graduates. His first assignment overseas was with the 504th Tactical Air Support Group, based out of Bien Hoa Air Base in South Vietnam. The drought in North Dakota has dominated the discussions Jamie Schurhamer has had with farmers this year. He's the lead agronomist with Hefty Seed in Wilton and Hurdsfield. The company sells seeds, fertilizer and chemicals to farmers, working with them to improve their crop. Im supposed to be more of a cheerleader in this position, but Ive also spent a while now trying to figure out where the yield comes in these crops, Schurhamer said. A lot of my conversations have been, realistically, what are our potentials and what should be spent to reach those potentials. Farmers bought a lot of seed to plant this year, but fertilizer and chemical sales have been way down. The locations in Wilton and Hurdsfield combined have sold just over half the fertilizer and about two-thirds of chemicals such as insecticides they would in a typical year. With the moisture situation, were not seeing those dollars spent, Schurhamer said. President Joe Biden will meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi later this month in Washington, the White House said Friday. The meeting set for July 26 comes at a pivotal point in the U.S.-Iraq relationship, and amid growing concerns about more frequent attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria. There have been at least eight drone attacks targeting the U.S. presence since Biden took office in January, as well as 17 rocket attacks. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Biden also looks forward to strengthening bilateral cooperation with Iraq on political, economic and security issues to include joint efforts to ensure the enduring defeat" of the Islamic State militant group. The attacks on U.S. forces have been blamed on the Iranian-backed militias that make up the bulk of Iraqs state-supported Popular Mobilization Forces. The Biden administration has responded by twice targeting Iraqi militia groups operating inside Syria, including one close to the Iraq border. For most of the past century, human dignity had a friend the United States of America. We are a deeply flawed and error-prone nation, like any other, but America helped defeat fascism and communism and helped set the context for European peace, Asian prosperity and the spread of democracy. Then came Iraq and Afghanistan, and America lost faith in itself and its global role like a pitcher who has been shelled and no longer has confidence in his own stuff. On the left, many now reject the idea that America can be or is a global champion of democracy, and they find phrases like the indispensable nation or the last best hope of the Earth ridiculous. On the right the wall-building caucus has given up on the idea that the rest of the world is even worth engaging. Many people around the world have always resisted Americas self-appointed role as democracys champion. But they have also been rightly appalled when America sits back and allows genocide to engulf places like Rwanda or allows dangerous regimes to threaten the world order. Partly because of Trump's false claims and partly because they believed that pandemic voting rules were extraordinary measures that shouldn't be made permanent, Republicans at the state level decided they had to prove they took "election integrity" seriously. They thought, incorrectly, this was a brilliant political strategy that would allow them to sidestep addressing Trump's lies while placating his voters. Instead, they found themselves seeming to ratify Trump's lies and annoying his supporters by not going far enough. Still, most of the measures that have been made into law are reasonable. Indeed, in many states voting will be easier than it was before the pandemic. But Democrats have stuck to a script that makes no allowances for this reality. Instead, they insist that any tightening of the pandemic rules is a frontal assault on democracy. President Biden and a host of other Democrats, as well as legions of liberal pundits, claim these changes amount to a "21st century Jim Crow assault" on democracy, in Biden's words. Those who have farmed or ranched for any length of time in North Dakota have experienced drought. Its a harsh time to see crops dry up, watch livestock scratch the ground for bits of grass or see them sold at market. Even those who dont live off the land feel the impact of a parched year. In todays Tribune we begin a series on the drought and how it changes everyones lives. Reporter Amy R. Sisk points out in todays story that its difficult to put an economic price tag on a drought. The agricultural sector is one of the linchpins of the state's economy, and when it dries up, it puts stress on all sectors. In 1988, the states farmers lost an estimated $1.1 billion because of a drought, according to a North Dakota State University Extension study. NDSU estimated the total impact on the economy would have been $3.4 billion including the trickle-down effect on other sectors. Federal aid reduced those losses to about $2.2 billion. Federal aid will help farmers and ranchers this year just as it has in the past. But it wont make them whole, as Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring points out. Its more of a Band-Aid to help producers keep going. Carol Bookhout, community educator with the Polk County Health Center, shared the following information with the BH-FP on Tuesday, July 13: As of July 12, Polk Countys positivity rate was 23.8%. We have not had a rate that high since December 2020. We are third in the state for cases per 100,000 people. We are seeing the Delta variant circulate in our community. This has been confirmed by randomly selected positive tests studied at the state of Missouri Health Department labs. The Delta variant is more aggressive in transmission. We are seeing younger residents affected, the largest group being those ages 20 to 40. The vaccine is working 98% of our new positive cases since January 2021, when vaccine became available, have been unvaccinated. Of those who were vaccinated and still contracted the virus, most have experienced mild symptoms. We encourage everyone to get the vaccination if possible. PCHC has walk-in appointments available daily for Pfizer and Moderna vaccine from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4:30 p.m. The health center is available for onsite vaccination clinics. Clinics can be scheduled by contacting Michelle Morris at 326-7250. Finish this article for as low as $1 when you purchase a day pass. Just click the sign up button to purchase. If you are already a subscriber, just click log in to continue reading. The four-term mayor now faces an uphill battle in a write-in campaign following India Waltons upset win in the Democratic primary. Brown launches lonely campaign as most Dems abandon him Brown, four-term leader of New York's second largest city and former chairman of the Democratic State Committee, must soldier on without Buffalo Democrats that are either tired of his reign or sensing new political currents flowing through the city. The Buffalo News asked Deputy Mayor Betsey Ball, a senior adviser to the campaign, whether campaign officials are worried about the drop off in larger donations after the Walton primary win. We are encouraged by the strong support the mayor received over the last month, and we fully expect that his support at every level will continue to strengthen and grow as we approach November, Ball said. Erie County Conservative Party Chairman Ralph C. Lorigo, a Brown supporter, said he was kind of shocked to hear that the mayors campaign received only four $1,000 donations after the primary. But Lorigo quickly added that he believes Brown will receive overwhelming support from the Buffalo business community and will defeat Walton, even as a write-in candidate. There is a lot of time between now and November, a lot of time for the mayors campaign to gain momentum, Lorigo said. Hes capable of raising a lot of money. I think the business community needs to step up for the mayor, and will step up. Brown commits to mayoral debate co-sponsored by The Buffalo News Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown has committed to participating in a debate Oct. 12 against his opponent in the mayoral race, Democratic Party nominee India B. Walton. He's a physical therapist assistant and personal trainer who also does landscaping, but Kurby Driscoll had not spent much time riding a bike, until the pandemic hit. "It was never really a hobby of mine until Covid hit, then Covid hit and I went and got a bike because there was not really much else to do," Driscoll said. He plans to log 100 miles Saturday when he rides from Buffalo to Rochester, raising money for Western New York Heroes, a nonprofit organization that helps veterans. "I kind of wanted to use what the good lord gave me and I wanted to use that in the benefit of somebody else besides myself," Driscoll said. And after serving four years in the U.S. Air Force, he knew he wanted to help veterans. After buying the bicycle, and realizing he liked it, he drafted a bicycle fundraiser, and he completed the ride last year, raising about $2,300. This year, he has some sponsors Tom Waring, principal at Note Advisors, and J.C. Seneca, owner of Tallchief Territory, Home of Native Pride and has raised about $4,000 this year. As much as 4 inches of rain fell in some parts of Western New York on Saturday, leaving many streets flooded and small streams bursting their banks. The official rainfall measure at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport through 4 p.m. was 2.63 inches, but a little more rain fell after that, National Weather Service meteorologist Steve Welch said. A flood warning was up most of the day for Western New York, but that was canceled Saturday night, except for Allegany and eastern Cattaraugus counties, and along Cattaraugus Creek on the Erie County-Cattaraugus County border. A flash flood watch was maintained for the entire western half of New York State until 2 a.m. Sunday as the rain system slowly moved east. "What happened was, as a front approached the area, it stalled over the area," Welch said. Moisture along the stationary front kept dumping rain on ground that in many locations, especially in the Southern Tier, was already saturated. Some major roads were affected by flooding, including Niagara Falls Boulevard, especially near Maple Road in Amherst. Nearly 50 African countries are to receive 25 million COVID-19 vaccine doses donated by the United States, with the first shipments to Burkina Faso, Djibouti and Ethiopia in the coming days, US officials and the Gavi vaccine alliance said on Friday. In partnership with the African Union and COVAX, the United States is proud to donate 25 million COVID-19 vaccines to 49 African countries. The Biden Administration is committed to leading the global response to the pandemic by providing safe and effective vaccines to the world, Gayle Smith, the US State Departments coordinator for COVID-19 recovery and global health, said in the statement. In April, US President Joe Biden pledged to share 80 million US.-made vaccines with countries around the world to protect the most vulnerable and stem transmission of the coronavirus. Nearly a million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be delivered to Burkina Faso, Djibouti and Ethiopia in coming days, the statement said. The remainder will be shipped in coming weeks, it added. Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which leads on procurement and delivery at scale for COVAX, said: "We are pleased to be working closely with the African Union and the US Government to ensure equitable access and timely delivery of approximately 25 million doses to the continent. As the continent battles a surge in cases, we need collective action as we work towards our shared goal of protecting the African population and turning the tide globally against the pandemic. 43% jump in Covid-19 deaths Africa recorded a 43% jump in COVID-19 deaths last week as infections and hospital admissions have risen and countries face shortages of oxygen and intensive-care beds, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday. African Union Special Envoy Strive Masiyiwa said the U.S. donation to 49 countries was appreciated especially at this moment when we are witnessing the third-wave in a number of African countries. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is Ethiopian, has called for vaccinating at least 10% of the most vulnerable in every country - including health workers and the elderly - by September. The COVAX dose-sharing programme has so far shipped 121 million doses to 136 mostly low and middle income countries, far short of its original targets, due to supply constraints since India suspended vaccine exports. It is run by the Gavi vaccine alliance and the WHO. Millions of people are expected to be pinged by the Covid app in weeks ahead (PA) Businesses and unions have called on the government to take action to tackle a rapid rise in the number of people being told to self-isolate. While ministers have promised that 19 July will be freedom day, hundreds of thousands of people are likely to be in self-isolation as case numbers surge and the NHS app pings their close contacts. Latest figures from the NHS show that more than 500,000 alerts were sent to users of the app in the week to 7 July a rise of almost 50 per cent on the previous week and the highest figure so far. The so-called pingdemic is already causing major problems for employers whose staff are unable to work. Iceland and Sainsburys have reported increased absences, while factories including Nissans plant in Sunderland have been impacted by hundreds of staff being told to self-isolate. Rolls-Royce said it was approaching a critical point and may have to halve production if more workers are pinged. The Unite union has warned of havoc on factory production lines unless Covid-19 case numbers are brought under control or rules around who has to self-isolate are relaxed. The latter option risks further catalysing the spread of the virus at a time when scientists have warned that Boris Johnson's reopening plans are already a danger to the world. More than 1,200 experts from around the globe have condemned the prime ministers decision to forge ahead with the so-called freedom day on 19 July, describing it as unscientific and unethical. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) urged ministers to toughen up back-to-work guidelines and make masks compulsory on public transport and in shops. Masks will no longer be mandatory in England from Monday but the government says it expects and recommends that face coverings to be worn in crowded and enclosed public spaces. TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady warned that staff shortages would get worse unless people are kept safe at work. The government urgently needs to toughen its confusing and inadequate back-to-work safety guidance, starting with making masks a legal requirement on public transport and in shops," Ms O'Grady said. Story continues And if we are stop Covid-19 ripping through workplaces workers must be able to afford to self-isolate. The TUC is calling for statutory sick pay to be raised from its current level of just 96.35 per week to the equivalent of the living wage. The NHS app pings someone if they have spent 15 minutes or more in close contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19. The individual is then advised to self-isolate for 10 days. A senior minister said the government was concerned by the number of people off work, but suggested a planned tweaking to the apps sensitivity to reduce the number of people alerted would not happen for several weeks yet. Were going to give further thought to how [the app] is a proportionate response, said communities secretary Robert Jenrick on Thursday. The government is going to be setting out its plans in the coming weeks. Unite has called on the government to ease the isolation requirements earlier than the planned 16 August, when double-jabbed contacts of positive cases will no longer need to isolate. It is clear that something has to be done in time for 19 July, or else people will simply start deleting the app en masse to avoid isolation notices, Mr Turner said. There will be public health consequences if test and trace is seen as a nuisance rather than an infection control measure. Sir Jonathan Montgomery, former chair of the ethics advisory board for the NHS Test and Trace app, said he would change self-isolation requirements. We need to think about the consequences of being pinged, the professor of healthcare law at University College London told LBC. When the app was designed, we didnt have the ability to reliable home test, we didnt have very many people jabbed, and the big worrying thing about this virus is that you can pass it on before you know you have it. So, I wouldnt be changing the pinging but I would be changing the consequences of being pinged. Read More Pavement dining and outdoor pint licences will continue for another year in England How Raymond Onovwigun aims to become the king of recycling UK factories on verge of shutting due to staff shortages caused by pinging Covid app, says union According to her granddaughter, this was Martha Mae Ophelia Moon Tucker's first time trying on a wedding dress at a bridal store. Angela J D Strozier A 94-year-old woman fulfilled a lifelong dream to wear a wedding dress 70 years after she married. Martha Mae Ophelia Moon Tucker was surprised by her granddaughter, who took her to try on dresses. Tucker said she couldn't shop in Alabama bridal stores in the 1950s due to racial segregation laws. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. A 94-year-old woman fulfilled her lifelong dream of wearing a traditional wedding dress almost 70 years after she was unable to wear one at her wedding in 1952. Martha Mae Ophelia Moon Tucker was treated to a surprise wedding-dress fitting from her granddaughter Angela Strozier on July 3 after Tucker told her that racial segregation laws in 1950s Alabama had prevented her and other Black customers from entering bridal boutiques. The story first gained attention when Strozier shared the story on Facebook on July 4. Speaking to Insider, Strozier recalled recently watching the wedding scene in the movie "Coming to America" when her grandmother whispered something. When she was asked to repeat herself, Tucker said: "I've always wanted to try on a wedding dress. I didn't have one when I married." "During that time, Jim Crow law was live and in color and, unfortunately, segregation was the way of life. So with her being a Black American, she was not allowed inside of white establishments," Strozier told Insider. Tucker married her late husband Lehman Tucker Sr. while wearing a navy-blue dress that came to be known as a "Carmen Jones" dress with a fishtail or "mermaid" design, Strozier said. According to Vogue, the style of "Carmen Jones," the eponymous character portrayed by Dorothy Dandridge in Otto Preminger's 1954 film, remains influential to this day. Tucker relied on the white woman whose house she worked in at the time to purchase this dress for her, Strozier said. Days after hearing her grandmother's story, Strozier decided to make Tucker's dream of wearing a wedding dress a reality, arranging for her to receive a makeover from makeup artist Pharris Clayton and to try on dresses at a David's Bridal boutique in Montgomery, Alabama. Story continues Tucker was instantly drawn to a dress with a low V-neck and embellished waistline (she is pictured wearing the dress below), but she wanted to try on the type of dress she used to dream about - one with a high collar and long lace sleeves, Strozier said. Tucker trying on a V-neck lace dress at a David's Bridal boutique. Angela J D Strozier Strozier said the emotional experience made Tucker "overwhelmed with happiness" because her grandmother did not imagine that "trying on a wedding dress would go this far." For Strozier, it was important to her to pay back her grandmother, who she said has always prioritized her family and community. "She's always made sacrifices to give from her heart," Strozier said, speaking of her grandmother. "So to return a gift from my heart to her was priceless." Tucker trying on a garter at the boutique. Angela J D Strozier Tucker, a mother of 4, grandmother of 11, and great-grandmother of 18, was active in the fight for active civil rights and she became a registered poll worker in 1963 with the Birmingham City Council, Strozier said. Tucker's work spanned 11 political administrations starting with President Lyndon B. Johnson, her granddaughter added. "She has always been the one to just made those types of sacrifices to make people know their rights," said Strozier. Since she posted her grandmother's story on Facebook, people around the world have shared the images of Tucker dressed as a bride. "She acts extremely excited as if she knows who it is but she's 94," Strozier told Insider. "So when I told her 'Grandma, Snoop Dogg just shared your pictures on his Instagram,' she was like, 'Snoop Dogg?' And we laughed because she probably don't know who Snoop Dogg is." She added: "Now she's saying, 'Do you think Oprah may call me?' I said, 'I don't think so Grandma.'" Read the original article on Insider Both candidates have already raised more than they had this time in their 2020 campaigns. In comparison, Kind had raised $245,159 by July 2019. Van Orden, who did not get into the race until 2020, raised $546,301 in his second quarter of fundraising. Kind has already raised more than the total $517,648 he raised to win his first election in 1996. The rematch is among the most watched as the Republican Party looks to take back control of the House, and campaigning is already in full swing despite the Nov. 8 election being more than a year away. No other candidates have thrown their hats into the ring for the race just yet. The Tribune reached out to both campaigns for comments. By raising more money in a single quarter than Ron Kind has this year, our Team of Wisconsinites are sending this message loud and clear: We are done with career politicians who are bought and paid for by the highest bidder, Van Orden said. One look at Kinds report and ours shows you everything you need to know. 94% of our donations come from individuals and over 60% of Kinds are from Special Interest Groups and Liberal DC allies desperate for him to keep his job as they know they own his vote. (CNN) Teenagers who have close, secure relationships with their families are more likely to extend empathy to their peers, according to a new study. More specifically, when teens feel safe, supported by and connected to parents or other adult caregivers, they are better equipped to pass the empathy they receive on to others. "I don't think teens in particular like being told what to do, and I don't think it's going to work to tell teens they should empathize with other people," said Jessica Stern, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow in the department of psychology at the University of Virginia. "But what does work is showing them empathy, and they can pay it forward to the people in their lives." Stern's work revolves around how having secure relationships contributes to prosocial behavior, or behavior driven by the intent to benefit others. She studies parent-child relationships, also known as attachment theory, which is "the idea that all human beings have a fundamental need for connection, but we kind of vary in the ways that we make those connections," she said. "Those differences in the quality of our relationships kind of shape who we become over time." Teens who are more empathic show lower levels of aggression and prejudice and are less likely to bully, Stern added, and this is why understanding how relationships shape empathy is important. The study, conducted at the University of Virginia's Adolescent Research Group, followed 174 adolescents from the ages of 14 to 18 to track their progress annually. At age 14, researchers interviewed the teens regarding their family relationships using a modified version of the Adult Attachment Interview, which is considered the "gold standard" of assessing one's attachment state of mind, according to the study. Stern said this prompted the teens to share descriptions and stories about their families. Researchers paid attention not only to what the teens said, but also how they articulated it. "Some of those stories have a lot of pain, some of them have a lot of real beauty and closeness, but we're really looking for how teens tell their stories," Stern said. "So, can teens talk about their close relationships in a way that's calm and clear? Can they take a situation that's maybe difficult and make sense out of it?" After these initial interviews, researchers went back to the participants at ages 16, 17 and 18 and observed their interactions with a close friend. The researchers noted how the participants responded when their friend presented a problem and confided in them, assessing the participants' extension of empathy. Teens who had more secure family relationships showed higher empathy toward their friends at ages 16 and 17 than less secure teens. It's not all bad news, though, because the less secure teens "caught up" in their empathic behavior by age 18, to Stern's surprise. This is cause for hope, she said, because it may indicate that those empathic skills can develop over time for adolescents who don't have great relationships at home. Stern suggested that having strong friendships or a trusted teacher might make an impact on insecure teens' empathy, but she said further research should be done to learn more. The results are consistent with considerable past research connecting positive relationships with the development of empathy in adolescence, said Mary Buckingham, a research assistant professor in the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University. She was not involved in the study. "Relationships with important adults matter for empathy development," Buckingham said. "The results suggest that, in order to raise an empathic adolescent, parents need to model and encourage empathy." She said that, as stated in the study, the research shows a correlation between secure relationships and empathy, but it should not be interpreted as a causal relationship at this time. Additional research must examine not only the quality of the attachment relationship between a parent and child, but also the potential impacts of socialization and other aspects of parenting, Buckingham added. Since the research focused on averages across the study sample, she also said an examination of individual differences between participants is necessary. "The article does not illuminate the individual differences that might exist within adolescents, and the specificity of each adolescent's development that might be occurring," Buckingham said. "Future research should examine what specific experiences, for what youth, in what broader contexts, at what points in the life span, may lead to attachment and empathy links." More research is already being conducted on this particular group of participants, who are now in their mid 30s, Stern said. Led by Joseph Allen, professor of psychology and head of the Adolescent Research Group at the University of Virginia, the researchers are interested in seeing how the empathic abilities they examined in the teens now shape their romantic relationships and parenting behavior as adults. "It's important to be able to sort of see from other people's perspectives and to understand what others are feeling for a variety of other things that we consider success in the world," Stern said. For parents and even teachers, Stern advises understanding the necessity of empathy and really investing in relationships with teens. Providing models of empathic behavior, including treating others with kindness, respect and support, can help adolescents internalize that behavior, whether they are conscious of this or not. Adults should also encourage teens to invest in their relationships with their friends, which the study found helps build empathy as a skill as well, Stern said. However, she added, whom teenagers decide to befriend does matter. "We all have different types of families and we can't choose our family, but we can choose our friends," Stern said. "Choose your friends wisely and choose the people who make you feel secure, supported and connected and who have your back, and do that for them, too, because it actually really matters." This story was first published on CNN.com Root of teen empathy begins with secure relationships at home, study finds Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 16) President Rodrigo Duterte repeated his call for equitable access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines before fellow world leaders present in the virtual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Informal Leaders' Retreat on Friday. "The Philippines reiterates its call for equitable access to safe and effective vaccines. Global economic recovery hinges on the efficient and effective mass inoculation worldwide," Duterte said in his speech. "How can nations have stockpile of weapons that can destroy us all, but not have ready reserves of life-saving vaccines and medical supplies for sharing that can save us all?" he added. Duterte also said countries must strengthen collaboration in development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, especially with the emergence of new variants. The President encouraged the 20 other APEC member economies to resist imposing barriers to the free movement of vaccines and make them more affordable to developing countries. "COVID-19 will not be the last disruptive event that humanity will face. Yet, our global and domestic mechanisms remain inadequate to address systemic shocks of great magnitude," Duterte said. "It is our collective obligation to future-proof our region...by harnessing technology and innovation through enhanced multilateralism." Aside from the Philippines, the other APEC members are Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, The Russian Federation, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam. Duterte also made a similar call during his September 2020 speech before the UN General Assembly. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 16) A group decried what it says was the lack of consultations with residents affected by the planned 174-hectare reclamation project in Dumaguete City. Atty. Golda Benjamin, member of #NoTo174Reclamation, told CNN Philippines that Dumaguete Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo failed to talk to the people despite the potential environmental damage the project will cause, like the burying of three marine protected areas where thousands of residents source their livelihood. Quarrying needed to build the island will "potentially flatten mountains" and dredging from the sea will also bury corals, she added. Benjamin said Remollo needs to "face the people" before starting the reclamation project, or risk facing possible legal action. "We are doing massive protests in the city so he will hear us. We are just asking the mayor to talk to his people right now. Huwag munang mag-first step (Do not make the first step for now)," Benjamin said, noting that instead of holding talks, the mayor is already moving to start the construction. "He wants to take the first step to apply for a permit or a license at the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) and then consult the people. Mali naman ata 'yan (That's not right)," she said. According to reports, the proponent EM Cuerpo Inc. is planning to construct a 23-billion "smart city" in Dumaguete. This will include building of coastal wastewater treatment facility, shoreline slope, wave protection, esplanade, a marina, a modern ferry port, and an open area for other facilities. But Benjamin pointed out that the deal may have been "badly negotiated" since the project will cover 85% of the city's coastline, which is only 8.5 kilometers long. In terms of net sharing, the city will only get 25% while 75% will be for the company. "It is correct that it is the company that will bear the cost of 23 billion but we are talking about three marine protected areas, hundreds of hectares of irreversible damage to corals, death of the fish. These are the risks we cannot afford in our city," Benjamin said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17) China on Friday slammed US-based geospatial imagery firm Simularity over its report accusing Chinese vessels of dumping human waste in the Spratly Islands. "For a long time, anti-China forces like this company have spared no efforts to produce lies and hype up the South China Sea issue to discredit and demonize China, create hatred and anti-China sentiments in the Philippines," the Chinese Embassy in Manila said in a statement. The embassy also strongly condemned Simularity's "act of fabricating facts, violating professional ethics, and maliciously spreading fake news against China." Simularity has said it is standing by its report on Chinese ships dumping human waste in the Spratlys. However, the report included an old photo of a ship taken in Australia, which was used by a local news organization without clearly stating it was not taken recently in the Spratly Islands. READ: Simularity explains as PH, Chinese officials cast doubt on sewage dumping report "Some foreign organizations issue a fabricated report, and then some irresponsible media follow up to spread fake news," the embassy said. "Finally, some anti-China forces use fake news to accuse and defame China." The embassy maintained China is willing to work with countries, including the Philippines, "to eliminate interference and jointly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17) The country's COVID-19 total cases exceeded 1.5 million on Saturday, the Department of Health reported. The case bulletin stated that 6,040 more people caught the coronavirus, the first time that there were more than 6,000 cases in a day in over two weeks or after July 2. The total stood at 1,502,359. Of the case count, 3.1% or 47,257 are active cases or currently ill with 91.8% having mild symptoms, 2.7% severe, 2% without symptoms, 1.89% in moderate condition and 1.6% critical condition. The death toll climbed to 26,598 or 1.77% of the COVID-19 tally after 122 more people died. It is the second day in a row this week that the daily casualty count surpassed a hundred. The recovery number is 1,428,504 or 95.1% of the cases after 7,213 more people got better. The DOH said it reclassified 74 survivors into fatalities after validation and deleted nine duplicate cases, including seven recoveries. The total excluded data from three laboratories that failed to submit reports on time, the DOH said. These laboratories contributed an average of 2.7% of samples tested and 1.3% of positive individuals in the last 14 days, the agency added. The daily positivity rate or percentage of people who tested positive stood at 10.7% based on 52,047 tests on July 15. According to Covid Act Now, an initiative developed with the Harvard Health Institute, an area would need a rate below 3% to say it has adequate testing. The OCTA research team uses Covid Act Now's criteria as reference for its recommendations. Two days ago, OCTA flagged an increase in cases in Cebu and Lapu-Lapu cities, adding that the latter's reproduction number of 1.80 was "very high." Ideally, reproductive numbers should be one or less, as anything higher means there is still significant community transmission, medical experts said. Mariveles in Bataan was tagged as "very high risk" while Davao City, Iloilo City, Baguio City, and Santa Rosa, Laguna were also high risk for COVID-19. A health expert earlier urged to "rethink" small gatherings especially amid the detection of more cases of the highly transmissible Delta variant. The country has a total of 35 cases of the variant including local infections after 16 more were found on Friday. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17) The pandemic task force is not keen on adding more countries and territories to the travel ban list despite the threat of the Delta COVID-19 variant, a Health official said Saturday, even as border controls will be tightened. "Tayo ay makikipagusap sa IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) pero ang huling usapan ay gawing very strict ang border control para hindi ma-isolate ang ating bansa from the rest of the world," Health Spokesperson and Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a virtual briefing. [Translation: We're going to discuss this with the IATF, but the last time we talked they said very strict border control will be implemented so as not to isolate our country from the rest of the world.] Just this week, the government added Indonesia to the travel ban list. RELATED: PH temporarily bans travelers from Indonesia The list include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, United Arab Emirates and Oman. The ban is until end-July. On Friday, the Department of Health said it logged 16 new cases of the Delta variant, including 11 local cases. READ: PH records 11 local Delta variant cases, total stands at 35 Health authorities said there is no local transmission as yet. Vergeire said the government is conducting extensive contact tracing among people who contracted the more transmissible variant. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17) A lawmaker urged the national government to provide financial assistance to Cagayan de Oro residents and boost its medical workforce following the decision to put the province under the strictest quarantine status. Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to extend financial aid amounting to 6,000 for each family affected by the hard lockdown. On Friday, the government placed Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo City, and Iloilo province under enhanced community quarantine until end-July. "Now under ECQ, people are required to stay home, will not be able to work and they will not have the income to purchase food and other basic necessities for their families for the next two weeks from July 16 to July 31. In view of the same, may I request for cash assistance of 6,000 for each family in Cagayan de Oro since it is already under ECQ," he said in his letter to Duterte. The same request was sent to Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista. Rodriguez also asked Health chief Francisco Duque lll to equip the healthcare system of Cagayan de Oro with medical experts on the Delta coronavirus variant. This is "to assist the city in implementing the proper steps to prevent the outbreak of the Delta variant," the lawmaker said in his letter to Duque. Rodriguez said Cagayan de Oro is now "the battleground of this Delta variant," as he stressed the need to ramp up vaccine supply in the city. On Friday, the DOH said five cases of the Delta variant were detected in Cagayan de Oro. Also on Saturday, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas branded the decision of the government to impose ECQ on the city as "unjustified and unfair" to his constituents. "How will the Ilonggos eat if for 14 days they will not be allowed to work due to Delta variant patients discovered in Pandan, Antique on May 8. If the reason for the lockdown is preparatory and preemptive for the Delta variant, then perhaps it is not in Iloilo City that the lockdown should be made," Trenas said in a statement on his Facebook page. "500,000 Ilonggos or a portion thereof will go hungry for the next two weeks. The city will try to do its best to give our food assistance in the meantime," the official added. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17) Four years since the war, government officials are saying that the reconstruction of Marawi City is on track, with full rehabilitation seen within the term of President Rodrigo Duterte, which ends next year. Overall, the rehabilitation effort in Marawi City is now 65% complete. So, we are very much on track to finish all the ongoing infrastructure projects by December and complete the massive rehabilitation within the term of our President, Task Force Bangon Marawi chairman Eduardo del Rosario said in an interview. He noted that after the first and second phases of the program, which involve the distribution of assistance, debris management, construction of vertical and horizontal infrastructures (third phase) went full blast in July 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Del Rosario, 4,166 of the 5,866 transitory shelters are now occupied by internally displaced families in barangays within Marawi. Moreover, 2,857 permanent shelters are being constructed in coordination with the Social Housing Finance Corporation and the National Housing Authority, and are eyed for families from the Most Affected Area (MAA), especially those previously living in danger areas and those affected by the governments other infrastructure programs. The war's "ground zero" as of May 2021. Previous Next Recently, housing units were likewise awarded to beneficiaries. More are slated to be given to residents in the coming weeks, he noted. Del Rosario also said that rehabilitation and improvement of vital roads have been completed. The Mual Lumbaca Ingud-Ranaranao Road in Maul, Maranto, Lanao del Sur was finished in March 2021. The 19-kilometer Marawi transcentral roads were also completed this year, while the construction of the 2-lane PCCP Pantar-Marawi City Road is now 95% accomplished. As for electricity and water, he said installation and activation in sectors 1 and 2 of the MAA were completed last year, while the process for the other sectors is ongoing. Other projects being prioritized are the reconstruction and repair of mosques, construction of key public facilities, the Peace Memorial Park, Marawi Museum, and school buildings, among others, all of which are inside the MAA. Reconstruction of the Grand Mosque as of May 2021. Housing units for affected residents. The newly constructed Barangay Tolali Complex the first barangay hall to be established inside Marawis Most Affected Area following the 2017 siege. Previous Next The rehabilitation of the countrys only Islamic city remains on track and we are confident that most, if not all, of the ongoing projects, will be finished by either December of this year or well within the term of the current administration, Del Rosario reiterated. We commit to deliver the promise of our President that he will see to it that Marawi will rise as a prosperous city again. Let me reiterate also our vision to make the Marawi rehabilitation as a catalyst for growth and sustainable development, a template of good governance, and a model for a peaceful environment, he added. Rehabilitation through the eyes of displaced residents, civil societies But some Maranaos are not happy with the rehabilitation efforts. Despite such claims of officials tasked to rebuild the war-stricken city, these Maranaos are saying that work is slow. They are also disgruntled about a few issues in the implementation of the program. Hindi totoo na masaya ang mga IDP [internally displaced person]. Ang katotohanan po ay nahihirapan kami. Hindi pa nakababawi iyong 127,000 families na naghihirap because of the siege, said Hamidullah Atar, a Sultan of Marawi who is one of the displaced residents. [Translation: It is not true that the IDPs are happy. The truth is we are suffering. The 127,000 families affected by the siege are suffering and have not recovered.] He said many families living in transitional shelters are not given adequate basic services like electricity and water. He adds that shelters are located in isolated places, far from economic activity. If I rate the Task Force Bangon Marawi. I would say 2, or 2.5 out of 10 thats how the task force performed in the rehabilitation, Atar said. Contrary to Del Rosarios claim that regular consultations were held with various civil society groups, Amenodin Cali chair of the Kalimudan sa Ranao Foundation and Professor Tirmizy Abdullah from the Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao- Mindanao State University, both lament that government failed at consulting with stakeholders before implementing programs. According to Del Rosario, they were also tapped as third-party monitors to assess the rehabilitation process. They also take part in monthly briefing updates and are allowed to conduct their own rehabilitation, he added. However, Cali decries that authorities are building a city not for us. They are pleasing the outsiders but hindi kami nagre-resonate sa gusto nila (our needs do not resonate with what they want), he added. TFBM is incompetent an imposed plan Im sure will not work and that is what is happening on the ground IDPs are entirely wala sila sa lahat ng (not in the) process ng (of) rehabilitation... Wala sila sa (They are not in the) decision-making, Abdullah emphasized. As for Drieza Lininding, the head of the Moro Consensus Group, he said the authorities made the Marawi rehabilitation a milking cow. He said the slow development of works for the city is greatly influenced by corruption as reflected on what projects are being implemented and being prioritized. Keeping the Maranao peoples culture and identity For Abdullah, the impact of the war and the current state of rehabilitation go beyond the issue of rebuilding infrastructure. He noted that the displacement of the Maranao people will continue to have a great effect on their culture and identity. Kung hindi kami makababalik sa Marawi eh di sino kami? he asked. [Translation: If we will not be able to return to Marawi then who are we? This has impact on our identity, on our culture.] What is the connection of building these large-scale government infrastructures sa suffering ng mga (to the sufferings of the) IDPs? Nawawala sa equation ang mga IDPs (The IDPs are being removed from the equation), Abdullah added. He emphasized the need for the government to listen to the woes of the people on the ground, those who really know what should be done in the city, their home. Moreover, he noted that rehabilitation should be IDP-centered, should consider their faith, culture, identity, and history, which is not being done by the task force. We dont need large-scale infrastructure we survived for centuries; history testifies na nag-survive ang mga Maranao people (that the Maranao people have survived) without big infrastructures. Simple lang iyong gusto namin, makauwi kami (We simply want to go home.), he said. In another interview, Samira Gutoc chair of Ako Bakwit also said that the government is so focused on reconstructing the city that it may have forgotten to address the social and psychological needs of the residents. The government seems to have forgotten to consider the effects of the war on the mental health of citys residents and merely focused on the physical recovery of the city, she noted. Accountability, healing demanded With the last State of the Nation Address forthcoming and the impending end of President Rodrigo Dutertes term, groups and stakeholders who are also members of the Marawi Advocacy Accompaniment, a network of Maranao leaders and civil society organizations, expressed what they hope from the country's top chief executive. Cali said he hopes that the president will fulfill his promise to rebuild Marawi, while Lininding said he hopes Duterte will finally admit his mistakes in the rehabilitation and apologize for it. For Abdullah, he said he is hoping that mistakes committed in the program will be corrected even if this would mean that the whole process will not be completed during current administrations term. Kahit lumagpas at least tama ang ginagawa (Even if this will mean going beyond the timeline at least what they are doing is right), he said. The call for a safe and dignified return does not only mean compensation, but also accountability, Atar said. Itong accountability nangunguna dito noon pa iyong call namin sa (First, in accountability, we call for an) independent investigation of what really happened in Marawi because until now the government is talking about healing, reconciliation, rehabilitation pero sa loob ng puso namin hindi kami makaka-heal (but in our hearts we cannot heal), he pointed out. There is no healing for us without knowing the truth, without knowing why the Marawi Siege happened. Its so awesome to have a business that has sustained the ups and downs over 40 years! McNeil said. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Magorien said she never thought she would go into the health food world. Back then, everyone ate well, she said, but as the years went on the sustenance changed. You werent growing it yourself so you dont know what you were getting, Magorien said. It wasnt organic. She added she first worked at a health food store for about five years in South Dakota, where she would take stacks of nutrition books to read. She said that books have laid the groundwork of what nutrition is now. Magorien later ended up moving to Nebraska to open up her own business. She wanted to start a health food store in Norfolk, but there were two already there. So she decided Columbus would be the next best place as there was only one such place in town. After four decades here, Magorien said shes seen not only returning customers but children, who came in with their mothers back then, have now come back as adults with their own kids in tow - and shop at the store. There is nothing like patience to get us through all the challenges of the day. I know as a parent, husband and business owner, there are days my patience is severely tested. Lets face it, the world will never be like it was 2000 some years ago when continents were sparsely populated and human impact on the land was minimal and flora/fauna populations were left almost entirely intact. Also people did what they had to in order to survive. As our global population has increased, so have all the residuals of our expansion. Residuals meaning the incredible contribution man can make in either a positive or negative way. To this day I still believe there is common ground in what I call Conservation Compromise that we can all achieve if we just take greed and well-hidden corruption out of the equation and maybe communicate better with our fellow man. As the tribal biologist for the last 9 years for the Standing Rock Sioux our team gets to see wildlife and flora diversity in numbers, other parts of the Great Plains have not had for decades. We are truly blessed to see in certain areas what much of the Great Plains most likely appeared in the 1800s. Tribal and other lands now are leased and sub-leased at a rampant rate leaving many native grasslands overgrazed in many of the counties we work in or drive through. Many grasslands have been converted to agriculture. In a move consistent with the Biden administrations walk back of former President Donald Trumps tougher immigration actions and guidelines, the Department of Homeland Security announced it would not pursue time limits on student F-1 visas. Like virtually all of the dozens of visas available to foreign nationals through the federal government, the F-1 visa is wrought with fraud. When President Trump introduced his proposed restrictions, he said his administration was acting in the best interest of American students. To support its claim that tighter oversight is necessary, the Trump administration gave an example of an international student who remained in the U.S. for 30 years while allegedly attending a dance school. President Trump could have referenced many more student visa fraud incidents. In 2019, Immigration and Customs Enforcement indicted eight foreign nationals with conspiracy to commit student visa fraud. Going back to 2001, at least one of the 9/11 terrorists also entered on an F-1 visa, while others originally entered on different categories of non-immigrant temporary visas. Under Trumps plan, most visas would expire after four years, even if the student needed more time to complete a degree students born in several dozen countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa would be limited to two-year terms. About 34 million people have fallen ill with COVID-19 in the U.S. and nearly 610,000 have died. Protection is readily at hand, but is going to waste in storage and in some cases while millions refuse to avail themselves of it. Americans, usually among the most responsive people on the globe when confronted by a widespread and out of control contagion, have resisted accepting a highly effective vaccine out of doubts about its safety. Some believe the pandemic is a false narrative, while other think government-sponsored inoculation is a violation of their constitutional right to privacy. It is small wonder that Anthony Fauci, director of the U. S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will likely appear in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most consecutive days of mind-bending frustration. Fauci, who also serves as chief medical advisor to the president, has been the most outspoken for the COVID-19 vaccine, appearing almost daily on network and cable talk and interview shows expressing his bewilderment and shock that fewer than 60 percent of the nation has received the vaccine while large swaths of the country continue to ignore a proven lifesaving, rapid and painless procedure . Coronavirus Biden grappling with 'pandemic of the unvaccinated' Nathan Papes, Springfield News-Leader Nurses and doctors in the CoxHealth Emergency Department in Springfield, Mo., don personal protective equipment to treat patients with COVID-19. Southwest Missouri is seeing a surge in delta variant cases. Marta Lavandier, Associated Press Benny Luna gets a COVID-19 test from Roberto Gomez in Miami. Florida's COVID-19 hospitalization numbers are again increasing, ending months of steady decline. WASHINGTON Two weeks after celebrating Americas near independence from the coronavirus, President Joe Biden is confronting the worrying reality of rising cases and deaths and the limitations of his ability to combat the persistent vaccine hesitance responsible for the summer backslide. Cases of COVID-19 have tripled over the past three weeks, and hospitalizations and deaths are rising among unvaccinated people. While the rates are still sharply down from their January highs, officials are concerned by the reversing trendlines and what they consider needless illness and death. And cases are expected to continue to rise in coming weeks. While the national emergency may have faded, officials say the outbreak is now a more localized crisis in communities where not enough people have rolled up their sleeves. Look, the only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated, Biden said Friday, echoing comments made earlier in the day by Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Walensky warned that the outbreak in the U.S. is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated because nearly all hospital admissions and deaths are among those who hadnt been immunized. The rising numbers are being driven by large pockets of infection among the more than 90 million eligible Americans who have yet to get shots. Just four states with low vaccination rates made up 40% of new cases last week, and nearly half of them came from Florida alone. However, there is little appetite in the White House for a return to broad mandates for masks or other measures, as 161 million Americans are already fully vaccinated. Reflecting that mindset, Walensky said Friday that in low-vaccination areas with rising cases, local policymakers might consider whether masking at that point would be something that would be helpful for their community. Some communities are acting. Los Angeles County on Thursday reinstituted its requirement that masks be worn in most indoor settings regardless of vaccination status, and health officials in Las Vegas recommended on Friday that workers and patrons in the tourism hotspot wear face coverings while inside. With three highly effective vaccines authorized for use in the U.S., the Biden administration believes the most effective way to attack the virus is not trying to slow the spread with mass masking and such something the U.S. showed it was not very good at last year but to continue to press the importance of vaccinations. Its no easy fix. Many Americans remain resistant or unmotivated to get shots, despite months of often-creative efforts by federal and state officials and the private sector to spread information about vaccine safety and accessibility. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said that while government can play an important role, this has got to be an all of the above strategy with everybody in, including schools, employers, technology companies and individuals. In recent days, the administration has turned its focus to younger Americans. It enlisted pop star Olivia Rodrigo for a day-long White House visit Wednesday with Biden and top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci that was heavily documented for social media. Younger people are at lowest risk of adverse outcomes from the virus and have proven to be among the least likely to get vaccinated. But another huge group has proven to be an even more vexing challenge: Republicans. The White House has long acknowledged that, given rampant disinformation about the vaccines and the nations partisan divides, it would have little success convincing the GOP to get on board. Instead, administration officials have amped up criticism in recent days of public officials and social media companies for spreading or not condemning vaccine misinformation spreading among the GOP. Theyre killing people, Biden said Friday of social media companies, speaking a day after Murthy, the surgeon general, warned that false information about vaccines spreading on platforms like Facebook posed a public health risk to the nation. Efforts for comment from major platforms were not immediately successful. More than 99% of COVID-19 deaths and 97% of hospitalizations are among people who have not been vaccinated, according to the CDC. The pandemic is now one that predominantly threatens unvaccinated people, White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said Friday. He said the Biden administration expects cases to increase in the weeks ahead because of spreading in communities with low vaccination rates. But Zients said there is a sign that the increased cases are driving more people in those communities to seek vaccination, reporting that states with the highest case rates are seeing their vaccination rates go up faster than the national average. The COVID-19 comeback across the U.S. is putting pressure on hospitals at a time when some of them are busy just trying to catch up on surgeries and other procedures that were put on hold during the pandemic. With the highly contagious delta variant spreading rapidly, cases in the U.S. are up around 70% over the last week, hospital admissions have climbed about 36% and deaths rose by 26%, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. Some hospitals are reporting record or near-record patient volumes. But even for those that arent, this round of the pandemic is proving tougher in some ways, hospital and health officials said. Staff members are worn out, and finding traveling nurses to boost their ranks can be tough. I really think of it as a war and how long can you stay on the front line, said Dr. Mark Rosenberg, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians. And how many times do you want to go back for another tour of duty. Eventually you just dont want to do it. Also, many hospitals were busy even before the surge began, dealing with a backlog of cancer screenings, operations and other procedures that were put off during the winter surge to free up space and staff members, according to health care leaders. Eventually you have to pay the piper, and those things have now built up, said Dr. James Lawler of the Global Center for Health Security at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. The fear now at some hospitals is that they will have to postpone non-COVID-19 care again and risk the potential health consequences for patients. Dr. Laura Makaroff, senior vice president for prevention and early detection for the American Cancer Society, said cancer screenings dropped during the outbreak and have yet to return to normal levels in many communities. She warned that delays in screenings can result in cancers being detected at more advanced stages of the disease. HARRISBURG Democrat John Fetterman is showing his early fundraising prowess in the crowded stakes for Pennsylvanias open U.S. Senate seat ahead of next years election. Fetterman, the states lieutenant governor, reported $2.5 million raised in the three months ending June 30, leaving him with $3 million in his campaign account. That is far more than any candidate, Republican or Democrat, has reported. Thursday was the Federal Election Commission deadline to file reports for the second quarter. Fetterman is making his second run for U.S. Senate after coming in third in an expensive three-way Democratic primary race in 2016. Second behind Fetterman in fundraising in the Democratic primary is Val Arkoosh, who chairs the three-member Montgomery County board of commissioners. She reported raising $1 million in the quarter, with $632,000 left over in her account. Arkoosh also has the backing of the well-funded EMILYs List, which spent $1.7 million in Pennsylvanias 2016 Democratic primary to help Katie McGinty. McGinty won in the Democratic primary but lost in the general election. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland visited her home state Saturday to celebrate what marks the largest wilderness land donation in the agencys history and another addition to the nation's landholdings as the Biden administration aims to conserve nearly one-third of Americas lands and waters by 2030. The 15-square-mile (40-square-kilometer) donation from the Trust for Public Land increases the size of the Sabinoso Wilderness Area in northeastern New Mexico by nearly 50%. The property includes rugged canyons, mesas covered by pinon and juniper woodlands, pockets of ponderosa pine trees and savannah-like grasslands. Haaland, who joined other officials at a remote site in San Miguel County, acknowledged that the area makes up part of the ancestral homelands of the Jicarilla Apache and northern pueblos of New Mexico. She said that, for generations, families have relied on the land for sustenance and that it means a lot to many people who visit the area in search of peace and quiet. Were here today because we recognize the importance of preserving this special place, she said in prepared remarks, adding: We know that nature is essential to the health, well-being and prosperity of every family and every community. A volunteer community advisory committee that has been conducting a naming review for Jack Jouett Middle School is recommending that the name of the school be changed to Journey Middle School. The Albemarle County schools current namesake was a captain in the Virginia militia during the Revolutionary War. The committee found that Jouett enslaved as many as 25 men, women and children to work on his farms in Virginia and Kentucky. The committee, which began its work in May, included the schools principal; school staff and faculty; parents of students at the school; parents of students at elementary schools that feed into Jack Jouett; members of the broader community; and an Albemarle High School student who attended the middle school. The 16-member panel conducted two online surveys and held two public meetings to gather input from the broader school community. The committees recommendation is being reviewed by county schools Superintendent Matt Haas. Haas will consider the committees contributions before making his own recommendation to the School Board on Aug. 12. Board members will decide on the schools name as early as their Aug. 26 meeting. Any changes to the schools current name would take effect July 1, 2022. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) The final legal chapter of a multimillion-dollar online opioid drug ring ended Friday as a group of millennials who helped run the dark-web operation based in suburban Salt Lake City were sentenced to prison. Drew Crandall helped start the operation that eventually grew to shipping tens of thousands of fake pills laced with the deadly opioid fentanyl to people nationwide in 2016. He cried as he grappled with his role in the operation that prosecutors have linked to multiple overdose deaths. I just want to say that Im so sorry for everything I have done, said Crandall, now 35. So many people were affected by it. I need to pay my debt to society, and I need to take responsibility for my actions." He pleaded guilty to drug distribution and money laundering charges and was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in federal prison. The punishment for him and other defendants was far too light for Tova Keblish of New York, whose son died after buying from the dark-web storefront called Pharma-Master. Her son Gavin was 23 and bought counterfeit oxycodone after having surgery. It makes me sick. Its unfair, she said. The defendants are young enough they can get out and have a life. RICHMOND The Richmond Catholic Diocese has added four names to its list of clergy who have credible, substantiated claims of sexual abuse involving a minor against them. Three of the priests Robert Beattie, Leo Creamer and Patrick Quinn are dead. The fourth, Joseph Slowik, hasnt actively served in the ministry since 2006. They join the list, which was first made public in 2019, of 23 other priests with sexual abuse allegations in the diocese, which includes the Charlottesville area. Their allegations, which date back decades, were brought forth and reviewed in accordance with the diocesan Office of Safe Environment and the Diocesan Review Board, and authorities were notified. Additional names, assignment histories and status of other clergy with abuse allegations are available on the dioceses website. The diocese will not release specific details of the abuse for privacy reasons, in accordance with its pledge to help victim survivors in their healing, according to a news release Friday. The reports also show Youngkin spent significantly more money ($5.2 million) than McAuliffe ($1.6 million) in the reporting period. Youngkin, a political newcomer, has flooded the airwaves with ads, including in the expensive Washington market, to introduce himself to voters. McAuliffe's report shows smaller expenditures for the period with an emphasis in online advertising and streaming platforms. Christina Freundlich, a spokesperson for the McAuliffe campaign, said Friday that McAuliffe's most recent report is a record-breaker for Virginia and shows a huge surge of support after his primary win. She said the campaign is particularly pleased with the large number of small donors who gave $100 or less. That we were able to raise this kind of money from small donors in a climate where Donald Trump is not in the White House is something we're incredibly proud of, she said. Youngkin spokesperson Macaulay Porter said the reports show that Democrats know this race is tight and are rushing to McAuliffes aid to try to make up ground. ... Weve seen overwhelming support for Glenns candidacy that continues to build each day. An independent candidate, Princess Blanding, reported $1,373 in contributions and $7,739 cash on hand. My campaign is going to focus on racial justice, because justice is a huge part of what the Bible teaches and that is not a part of our lived reality right now in this country, he said. Im going to talk a lot about reinvesting in rural communities, because in a lot of ways, those rural communities are places that kind of have made their way to the margins. The 5th District which stretches from Rappahannock County to the city of Danville and includes much of the Charlottesville area is largely rural, and Throneburg said he hopes to appeal to voters in those areas, as well as to voters of color, activists and faith-minded people by addressing commonalities. Though he has not run for public office before, Throneburg said he believes his life experience has equipped him with the necessary skills to lead the district. I pastored for many, many years and walked with people through the highs and lows of life and through some of the most challenging experiences that they go through, he said. Im a small-business owner and I feel the stress and uncertainty that comes with trying to make a living for your family and provide for them. This is personal for me, Northam added. He noted that his family has a small farm on the Eastern Shore, five miles outside of the Accomack County town of Onancock. The farm does not have access to broadband. It has been a commitment of our administration since I started to make sure that everybody no matter who you are, no matter where you are in Virginia has access to broadband, Northam said. BroadbandNow reported in June that Virginia, with a population of 8.6 million, is 15th among the states in broadband internet access. It said that while 91% of residents have access to wired broadband internet speeds of at least 25 megabits per second, about 697,000 Virginians dont have access to wired connections at such speed. It added that 608,000 Virginians have access to only one internet service provider and 306,000 Virginians dont have any access to wired internet options. Northam was joined in Abingdon by U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., who worked to include broadband funding in the federal rescue plan, and by key state finance leaders Sen. Janet Howell, D-Fairfax, chairwoman of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, and Del. Luke Torian, D-Prince William, head of the House Appropriations Committee. The Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents in Staunton, the states only mental hospital for minors, is facing such a severe shortage in direct-care staff that it is operating only 18 of its 48 licensed beds. Barber served as acting director of the center for one year after he was replaced as interim commissioner. Lands order sent a shock wave throughout the state system, Hanger said on Friday, the day after the commissioner told him and other legislators that she made the decision without first seeking approval of the governors office. Hanger said he would support the departments request for more than $335 million in federal aid under the American Rescue Plan Act over the next four years, including $75 million this year, to raise pay to recruit and retain nurses and other direct-care staff at the hospitals. Right now, fortunately, we have some money to put where its needed, he said, and I think we should do that, without question. The General Assembly will decide in a special session next month how to use the $4.3 billion that Virginia has received under the emergency package, which President Joe Biden signed on March 11. Yes. I will do my part to conserve household energy usage, even if I'm uncomfortable in my home. No. It is too hot to conserve household energy usage. I already conserve, even before ERCOT requested it. Maybe, depending on the reason ERCOT provides and whether or not I am home during that time. Vote View Results * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Biden undercuts 'socialism' and says troops won't be deployed to Haiti 'at this moment' Now that the federal government has turned off the spigot of stimulus checks, colloquially known as stay at home and smoke your bong money, there is a newly minted executive order that aims to break the stranglehold of corporate power and boost the economy through innovation. People voluntarily grant their government awesome powers they deem necessary for public safety and protection, he said. With that great power comes great responsibility. The defendant made choices to violate that trust and committed crimes against those people he was sworn to protect. Teresa Odom, one of Westers victims, told the judge the deputy had ruined her reputation and deprived her of time with her grandchild. Wester had stopped her for a defective brake light in 2018 and asked for permission to search her truck. She agreed. He claimed he found a baggie of methamphetamine in her purse but body camera video showed him palming a bag before beginning his search. Odom, who vehemently denied the drugs were hers when confronted by Wester, later pleaded no contest and received four years probation. That conviction has been thrown out. You robbed me of my credibility and being a mother and grandmother over the last two and a half years, she said. I wish you no ill will. But youll never know what you did to me until you have children of your own. Westers wife Rebecca and others begged Judge Goodman for leniency, saying he is a good, churchgoing man who volunteers in his community. More than 50 people sent letters to the judge in support of Wester. We knew it was going to be low in May and it was. And we knew that at the end of June and July it would go up, because thats what happened last year, said DeSantis, who has been vaccinated. But Salemi said Florida reported 20% of the nation's new coronavirus cases over the last two weeks even though it makes up just 6.5% of the population. He and other epidemiologists and doctors interviewed blame the spike on the state's slowing vaccination rate, a decrease in mask wearing and social distancing and the delta variant. It is extremely concerning because weve already seen what this more transmissible delta variant can do in places like India and Indonesia with a disproportionately low access to vaccines, Salemi said. Dr. Frederick Southwick, chief of the University of Florida medical school's infectious disease division, said computer simulations show the delta strain will create a marked surge in cases over the next three months. The delta variant grows faster in human cells and can spread to others particularly in closed spaces even when wearing a mask, he said. The only effective way to be protected from the delta variant is to get vaccinated. Officials earlier said they had been bought by another Florida company, CTU Security, which allegedly recruited the men. Worldwide issued a statement Thursday saying it helped provide a loan to CTU, but said it was meant to help finance infrastructure projects sought by Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a Haitian physician and pastor who has been arrested in the plot. At no time during any meeting or conversation with Dr. Sanon or with any of his representatives was there any mention, discussion or suggestion of an assassination plot against President Moise or the intention to use force to bring about a change of leadership in Haiti, the company said. Meanwhile, throngs of Aristide supporters cheered when they saw the former president arrive. They had arrived a couple of hours before the plane landed, holding pictures of the former priest, some saying, The king is back! Aristide was taken home in an ambulance that made its way through the crowd. Some touched the vehicles windows before being pushed away by police. Some supporters lingered outside after the ambulance entered Aristides home, but the former leader did not come out and speak. ATHENS, Ala. (AP) Prosecutors on Friday told jurors that a longtime Alabama sheriff siphoned campaign donations and inmate accounts to cover personal expenses, while a defense lawyer argued no money was illegally taken and there is an explanation for the transactions. Lawyers gave diverging portraits during opening statements in the corruption trial of Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely, news outlets reported. Blakely faces 11 criminal counts, including using his office for personal gain, theft of campaign funds and taking money held by the sheriffs office. Blakely, 70, pleaded not guilty. While a felony conviction would result in his automatic removal from office, he has continued to work as sheriff since being indicted in 2019. Just because Mike Blakely is the sheriff, that doesnt mean hes above the law, Kyle Beckman, an Alabama assistant attorney general, told jurors. Prosecutors said that Blakely on several occasions took checks intended for his campaign account and deposited the money in his personal account at another bank. The deposits came as his account was in danger of being overdrawn. In Florida, UF Health Jacksonville is talking about setting up tents in the parking lot to help with the overflow after the number of COVID-19 in-patients doubled to 77 over the past couple of weeks. Chad Neilsen, director of infection prevention, said the hospital expects to surpass its January high of 125 COVID-19 in-patients in the next few weeks. Before the rise, the hospital had begun a push to bring back patients who had delayed care amid the pandemic. Now it is discussing canceling procedures, Neilsen said. To be telling someone, Sorry, we have to delay your hip surgery or your procedure because we have too many COVID patients who are largely unvaccinated, it is just not what we signed up to do in health care," he said. In Georgia, Augusta University Medical Center is busting at the seams as it handles medical procedures postponed because of the pandemic and deals with a spike in respiratory illnesses that usually hit in the wintertime, said Dr. Phillip Coule, chief medical officer. COVID-19 hospitalizations also have started inching up to around eight or 10 patients, from lows of one or two a day. While the numbers still remain far below the peak of 145 in January, Coule said he is watching the situation closely. MIAMI (AP) Federal authorities are warning organizers planning to launch a flotilla next week from South Florida to waters near Cuba that they could risk breaking the law. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in an advisory Thursday that boaters intending to enter Cuban territorial waters must get permission from the U.S. Coast Guard. Violators risk facing fines of $25,000 a day and 10 years in prison, the advisory said. It is illegal for boaters to depart with the intent to travel to Cuba for any purpose without a permit," the advisory said. People who bring foreign nationals into the U.S. illegally risk facing fines of up to $250,000 a day and five years in prison, the department said. According to Osdany Veloz, an organizer of the boaters, the goal of next Monday's planned trip is to go to international waters near the island, but not cross into Cuban waters, to let island residents know they have supporters in South Florida. Organizers said they will set sail from South Florida if 100 boaters show up, according to Miami television station WFOR-TV. The first time I became aware of Rep. Greene was in 2017 when she posted she felt she could not trust the government. What an awful statement for a true American to make. Thus began her furor for consuming and spreading some of the most outrageous conspiracy theories out there. I do not want to perpetuate those ideas, so I will simply list them here. Google them for yourself. They are the Satanic Blood Sacrifice named Frazzleddrip, Clinton Body Count, Pizzagate, 9/11 trutherism, Mass Shootings are Staged and False, Military Grade Intelligence Weapons, which is about a government device planted in citizens heads, and so many more. Of course, in February 2021, she claims to regret many of her anti-government rants, which were by her own admission fueled by conspiracy theories on Facebook and associated with QAnon. Lately shes made attempts to distance herself from QAnon. Further, Greene has indicated her support of executing prominent Democratic politicians. She blogged that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi should be executed for treason, and on more than one occasion, she liked posts calling for Pelosi to be put to death. Of course, her defense is that other people run her social media page. Perhaps this true, but Rep. Greene is still responsible for her social media accounts and content with her name on it. More than 97,400 cu.m of sand is being dredged from the sea area in front of the Cua Dai Beach in an attempt to repair severe erosion damage. The work began late last month and will last for 70 days. The Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration (VIWA) is dredging an area two km (1.24 miles) long, 60 meters wide and 3.5 meters deep. The sand scooped out from the sea will be placed directly on Cua Dai Beach, which has suffered severe erosion for years. It has been estimated that the beach has been losing between 10 and 20 meters of land to erosion every year for several years now. A barge dredges sand from the sea area off Hoi An, July 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Dac Thanh. Le Cong Kha, a local resident, said thousands of fishing boats used to sail through the channel in front of the Cua Dai Beach but in recent years, the sand washed away from the beach has ended up along the channel, causing vessels to get stuck and damaged. "We have long wished for the administration to dredge this channel so that boats can move in and out smoothly," he said. Le Tri Thanh, chairman of Quang Nam Province, which is home to Hoi An, said the dredging project, invested in by the VIWA, is doing a favor for both the fishermen and the beach. It offers a clear channel for vessels to operate easily and at the same time, brings back sand that had been swept away from the Cua Dai Beach. Sand dredged from the sea is dumped on Cua Dai Beach, July 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Dac Thanh. The 7.5 km long Cua Dai beach, which hosts a range of businesses, service and residential facilities, has suffered severe erosion since 2000. Several revetment projects worth around VND184 billion in total have been implemented by Quang Nam from 2010 onwards, but these have not succeeded in completely stopping the erosion caused by rains and storms of the years. Many businesses including restaurants and resorts have suffered, as a result. The ancient town of Hoi An, one of Vietnam's top tourist attractions, has been suffering the curse of erosion for many years. Much of the town is two meters or less above the sea level, making it vulnerable to rising sea levels and storm surges, according to a joint report by the United Nations Environment Program, UNESCO and the Union of Concerned Scientists. A batch of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine donated by the U.S. via Covax arrives at Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport, July 10, 2021. Photo by the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi. The U.S. will provide Vietnam an additional three million doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine via the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The alliance, GAVI, is a publicprivate global health partnership with the goal of increasing access to immunization in developing and poor countries. Last week, the U.S. delivered two million doses of Moderna vaccine through the Covax program. Those doses are part of the 80 million that U.S. President Joe Biden has pledged to donate to various countries. Moderna vaccine, or Skipevax, is developed by U.S. company Moderna from messenger RNA, or mRNA, which contains instructions for human cells to construct a harmless piece of the coronavirus called the spike protein that triggers an immune response in humans. Some 53 countries and territories have been using it including the U.S., Canada, the European Union, the U.K., Israel, and Singapore. Vietnam aims to buy 150 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to vaccinate 70 percent of its 96-million population by next April. According to the Ministry of Health, about 105 million doses from various sources have been committed for use in Vietnam. Of the sum, there will be 31 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, which is also developed from the mRNA via a contract the government has signed with the developer and five million doses of Moderna vaccine that Zuellig Pharma Vietnam Co. Ltd has been authorized to distribute in Vietnam. For the remaining doses, 38.9 million of AstraZeneca vaccine, produced by British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca and Oxford University, will be provided to Vietnam via Covax and another 30 million AstraZeneca doses via Vietnam Vaccine JSC (VNVC)'s commercial contract. Vietnam is also in a negotiation process to buy 40 million Russias Sputnik V vaccine doses and 15 million Indias Covaxin doses. As of July 12, Vietnam had received eight million Covid-19 vaccine doses from different developers. The nation has so far vaccinated more than 4.23 million people against Covid-19 and 298,177 have got two doses. Nurses are seen at the HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases, June 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa. Vietnam recorded 2,105 local Covid-19 cases in 18 localities on Saturday morning, raising the infection tally of the ongoing wave to 42,663. Of the new patients, 1,769 were recorded in Ho Chi Minh City, with 1,391 in quarantine zones and areas under lockdown and 378 linked to other clusters in the community. Among other southern localities, Binh Duong Province, a HCMC's neighbor, recorded 124 cases, 92 of whom are linked to two previously confirmed patients, 13 returned from HCMC and the source of transmission of the remaining 19 cases is still unclear. Dong Nai Province that also borders HCMC got 43 cases, with 28 having contact with previously confirmed patients, one returning from HCMC and 14 having unknown infection sources. Mekong Delta's Vinh Long Province got 42 cases, with 38 linked to a cluster at a company in Long Ho District and four returning from HCMC. Dong Thap Province in the delta registered 41 cases, including 36 that have had direct contact with previously confirmed patients, one returned from HCMC. Four other cases have unknown transmission sources. The region's Ben Tre Province reported 34 cases, Binh Phuoc seven cases, and An Giang three cases and all are all related to previously confirmed patients. Soc Trang Province in the delta registered six cases, including two that have had direct contact with previously confirmed patients and one linked to a cluster at Binh Dien wholesale market in HCMC's District 8. Another case returned from Binh Duong Province, one returned from Dong Nai and one returned from Can Tho. Can Tho City, the delta's capital, got four cases, with three linked to previously confirmed patients and one related to a cluster at Tan An market in Ninh Kieu District. In central Vietnam, Khanh Hoa Province recorded 22 cases, including one linked to an existing case, 13 in locked down areas, and for the remaining eight cases, the health authorities are still looking into their source of infection. Binh Dinh reported two cases and Phu Yen one, and they have been isolated prior to the positive test results. In the Central Highlands, Lam Dong Province got one case that had close contact with a Covid-19 case while Gia Lai Province and Dak Nong Province reported one case each, both with unclear transmission sources. Hanoi and the northern Bac Ninh Province got two cases each, and they are linked to existing cases. Vietnam has recorded local Covid-19 cases in 58 cities and provinces since the new wave started on April 27. HCMC has had the highest infections so far, 25,682. The nation has vaccinated more than 4.23 million people against Covid-19 and 298,177 have got two doses. A woman is vaccinated against Covid-19 at Phu Tho stadium in HCMC's District 11, June 24, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa. Vietnam on Friday called for APEC to cooperate on Covid-19 vaccine research and production, as well as considering intellectual property waivers. At the APEC Informal Leaders Retreat on responding to the pandemic and economic recovery initiated by Australia, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc proposed stepping up regional cooperation for technology transfer regarding Covid-19 vaccine research and production, considering how APEC is home to some of the world's top vaccine production and supply centers. "We should look into the possibility of establishing a temporary APEC waiver of certain intellectual property protections on Covid-19 vaccines," he said, according to a press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An APEC guideline on sustaining supply chains during emergencies should be developed to ensure economies keep running and prevent global supply chain disruptions, Phuc said. APEC should also implement policies to assist vulnerable communities, improve business resilience, train the workforce and narrow digital gaps between urban and rural populations, he added. More than 4.23 million in the 96-million strong Vietnam have received Covid-19 vaccine shots, with 298,177 having received two doses. The country aims to buy 150 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to immunize 70 percent of its 96-million population by next April. So far, about 105 million doses from various sources have been committed for use in Vietnam, according to the Ministry of Health. Vietnam confirmed 1,600 new infections on Saturday night, pushing the day's tally to an all-time high of 3,705 as the government imposed stricter measures on the entire southern region. Saturday marked the third consecutive day Vietnam's daily infection tally has crossed 3,000. Among the night's tally, Ho Chi Minh City, the epicenter of the ongoing fourth coronavirus wave, recorded 1,017 new cases, raising its tally of the day to 2,786, the highest number in a day since the disease broke out. Of the citys new cases, 853 are already in quarantine and isolated areas and the remaining 164 are being contact traced. Among other southern localities, Dong Thap Province recorded 139 new cases in locked down areas. Long An Province recorded 134 cases, with 44 of them having close contact with previously confirmed patients, 19 returning from HCMC and 71 still being contact traced. Of 64 cases in industrial hub Dong Nai, 39 had close contact with other patients, two had returned from HCMC and the remaining 23 are being contact traced. Of 23 new cases in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, 16 had been isolated after having close contact with confirmed patients, five are linked to the cluster at Bau Lam Market and the remaining two are being contact traced. Of 15 new cases in Tra Vinh Province, 13 had close contact with other patients and the remaining two returned from HCMC and Ben Tre. An Giang Province recorded five new cases, with two already quaratined, one linked to the cluster at HCMC's Binh Dien wholesale market and one returning from Binh Duong. Of Binh Phuoc's three cases, two had been already quaratined and one is still being contact traced. The two new cases in Can Tho City are being contact traced. All 19 southern localities including the entire Mekong Delta will undergo social distancing from next week amid rising numbers of coronavirus infections. Of these, HCMC, Dong Nai and Binh Duong are already under social distancing while 16 others were added to the list Saturday. In central Vietnam, Khanh Hoa Province recorded 78 new cases, 27 of whom were detected in quaratine and isolation areas while the remaining 51 are being contact traced. Da Nang recorded 33 new cases, including 31 in quaratine facilities and isolation areas while the remaining two are being contact traced. 30 new cases in Phu Yen, and five each in Gia Lai and Binh Thuan were detected in quaratine facilities. Dak Nong Province reported four new cases, three of whom are close contact cases and one is being contact traced. The three new cases in Quang Ngai Province and one in Ninh Thuan have been isolated prior to test results. In northern Vietnam, Hanoi recorded 13 patients, including 10 close contact cases, while the other three are being contact traced. All 13 new cases in Hung Yen Province had been already quaratined following contact tracing. Five new patients in Ha Nam had been quaratined after returning from HCMC while the three new cases in Hai Phong had traveled to many localities before returning to the locality. The two new cases in Bac Ninh Province and one each in Bac Giang, Lang Son, and Vinh Phuc had been already isolated. Since the new wave of Covid-19 emerged in Vietnam on in late April, 44,263 local infections have been recorded in 58 of its 63 cities and provinces. Passengers wearing protective face masks are seen at the Tokyo International Airport, commonly known as Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan, October 23, 2020. Photo by Reuters/Issei Kato. Japan's quarantine waiver for visitors from Vietnam comes into effect Sunday. But they are still required to undergo a Covid-19 test on arrival and monitor their health at home or workplace for 14 days afterward. Japan Times quoted government sources as saying the move came as "the pandemic situation in Vietnam has begun to stabilize." Japan is scheduled to host the Olympics from July 23 to August 8. It has also called on Vietnamese authorities to enhance security screening measures for flights to Japan. The highly transmissible Delta variant, first identified in India, has become the most prevalent in many countries including Vietnam, where most new cases are linked to it. Several other countries have been banning and imposing stricter quarantine measures for travelers from Vietnam. In less than three months into its fourth wave, the most challenging so far, Vietnam has recorded 42,663 cases. It is speeding up its vaccination campaign in an effort to curb the spread of infection. Japan gifted it nearly two million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and most of the have been used in the Covid epicenter, HCMC. Fabrice (L) sells fried bananas at the corner of Tran Dinh Xu and Nguyen Cu Trinh streets in HCMC's District 1, December 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Tam Linh. Foreign tourists who came to Vietnam before the Covid-19 outbreak and were stuck due to border closures have managed to survive but the latest wave has made things hard. For nearly two months now Jagir Singh, an Indian tourist who has been in Vietnam for more than a year, is without a job or income as HCMC, the new pandemic epicenter, imposed more stringent social distancing measures. "Without money to pay my rent, I am now sharing a room in District 1 with my former employer who also provides me food," he says. "I don't know when I will be able to earn enough money to fly home to reunite with my family. I miss my family." He is one of many foreign tourists who have been extending their visas and staying back instead of returning home. They either chose to stay to avoid more complicated situations of the pandemic at home, or could not find tickets for limited and expensive flights home. When he first started running out of money, he wandered around the city looking for a job and luckily found work as a parking attendant at a small coffee shop at the corner of Tran Hung Dao and Tran Dinh Xu streets in District 1. It was very difficult for him to adapt to the new life due to the language barrier, but he gradually got used to it. Jagir Singh works as a parking attendant at a coffee shop in HCMC's District 1 in 2020. Photo by Tran Thien Phuong. Before the latest Covid wave began in the country in April, Jagir earned a monthly salary of VND6-7 million ($260-303) and sent half to his wife in India, keeping the rest to pay for his visa fees and daily expenses. But in mid-May he lost his job since coffee shops were only allowed to serve takeout. Since HCMC extended its lockdown last Friday and made it more stringent than in the previous month, Jagir says he has been staying at home and doesnt dare go out for fear of contracting the virus. "Compared to other countries that have been affected by the Covid pandemic, I felt quite safe in Vietnam where I have good friends. Anyway, I hope the outbreak will soon be contained so I can return to work." A 32-year-old Frenchwoman who asked only to be identified as Laura and has been staying in a rented room in District 7 for nearly two months, says her English teaching center closed this month. "I am worried about my rents and electricity and water bills as my savings are running out. If the pandemic continues and lockdown measures are extended, I could be thrown out of my room. "I am looking for some translation jobs to earn a little money to cover my bills, but I have not found anything suitable yet." Since being stranded since mid-February last year, she had managed to earn VND10 million a month by teaching English. The cost of living in HCMC has been higher than she thought, she says. The room costs only $100 a month and she cooks her food to save money. She says she is happy to be stuck in Vietnam for more than a year since it had one the lowest rates of Covid incidence. "I only hope the Covid pandemic will quickly disappear so that everyone can return to normal life." She says she has no idea of returning home for now due to the price of the air tickets. Fabrice, 50, who was selling fried bananas on a cart at the corner of Tran Dinh Xu and Nguyen Cu Trinh streets in District 1, has also had to stop after city authorities this time even prohibited food takeout and delivery to combat the more aggressive delta variant of Covid. He is now struggling with room rents and other expenses since the cart was his main source of income. The Frenchman, who arrived in January 2020 on a visa that expired in April, struggled at first since he had only a little English. After a while, to earn some money to cover his expenses, he decided to sell fried bananas and has been doing so every morning for more than a year. For Jagir, Laura and Fabrice, the biggest wish now is for the city to quickly contain the outbreak and reopen businesses. HCMC has had over 25,000 Covid cases in the fourth wave that hit Vietnam in late April. For several days now the number of daily cases in the city has remained above 1,000, and there have been no signs it will taper off any time soon. "We are ethically obligated to the law as it is, not as we may wish it were. There are certainly a lot of laws that have made things challenging for us and law enforcement," Soderquist said of their stance on the legislation. "But the hard reality is that regardless of how we may feel personally about specific laws, we have to adhere to them." According to Palhegyi, the Elko Police Department shares the same concerns. "I understand the public's frustration because it's frustrating for us as well to see the same people over and over again, but they are entitled to bail," he said. Palhegyi said the new law would "get the clock ticking a little faster than before" with the 48-hour stipulation. He noted that AB 424 would add more pressure on the Elko District Attorney's office, Public Defenders and the Justice Courts, which added domestic violence jury trials last year. One of the duties of a police officer is to attend court to testify at hearings, which takes time away from patrol duty during their shift. "It's part of the job, and [bail hearings are] going to potentially add an extra layer" of time for some officers, he added. For everyone involved, it also means balancing the law with public safety. Nevada Gold Mines operates the largest gold mines in North America. One might think that would be enough for this joint venture between Newmon The US Bureau of Labor Statistics released its report on state employment numbers on Friday showing that half the states had job growth, while one lost jobs from May to June. The remaining states and the District of Columbia saw no significant change in employment. All but two of the states that announced they would end one or all of the federal pandemic employment programs early have now done so, while one has reinstated them under court order. Despite jobless claims falling in states that have ended the federal programs, the expansion of new hires is still lagging in nine of them and Alaska lost 2,700 jobs last month. Ending federal unemployment benefits early doesnt necessarily mean more jobs The most jobs were gained in Florida with 81,300 new jobs, followed by California, 73,500, and Texas, 55,800. Both Florida and Texas ended participation in the extra $300 on top of other unemployment compensation 26 June. Texas, which was sued by state workers on unemployment insurance, cancelled all other federal pandemic programs as well. However, in the case of California, those receiving federal benefits will continue to do so until they expire early September. The largest percentage in job gains of 1.3 percent was again led by a state that cut unemployment benefits early, but with a twist. Arizona, which ended only the $300 weekly booster 10 July, offered its residents receiving unemployment benefits a bonus of up to $2,000 if they went back to work. But right on its heels with a 1.2 percent increase in jobs was its neighbor Nevada which is keeping the all federal out of work benefits until September. Both Florida and North Carolina tied for third place adding 0.9 percent more employment in June. However, the governors of two states have differing opinions about the federal pandemic unemployment benefits. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper was presented with a bill from the Republican-controlled Legislature that would have ended the federal assistance early but on 3 July the governor vetoed the bill. For the other twelve states which chose to opt out of the federal programs early and that saw job growth, they saw an average of around 0.6 percent growth in jobs. Those states included Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, West Virginia. This was better on average than the eight other states; Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, that will keep the unemployment benefits until they expire in September which saw an average of 0.46 percent increase in employment. What states are ending benefits? There are a total of twenty-six states that have chosen to end federal pandemic unemployment benefits but some are now doing an about-face and have resumed payments after being sued by residents. Maryland, although it was scheduled to end benefits 3 July continued the payments after a court found that Governor Larry Hogan had overstepped his authority in ordering them to stop. The governor has now decided not to fight the court decision and allow those benefits to continue until they expire. A similar situation occurred in Indiana where pandemic benefits were canceled 19 June. Workers in the state were the first to file a lawsuit against their governor Eric Holcomb for his executive action and win a restraining order. The judge in this case said that it appeared the governor had broken state law when he took Indiana out of the federal pandemic unemployment programs. The judge had ordered the payments to resume but out of work residents had to wait until 16 July after a state Court of Appeals upheld that decision last week requiring the state to restart paying federal unemployment compensation. Louisiana will be the last state to end unemployment benefits early with the stop date scheduled for the end of July. The remaining states that are no longer participating in one or all of the federal programs include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, July 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Cai Guodong) TASHKENT, July 16 (Xinhua) -- In a world that is undergoing turbulence and changes, it is necessary for China and Turkey, both major emerging markets, to strengthen strategic dialogue and conduct strategic cooperation, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday. Wang made the remarks during talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Uzbek capital Tashkent. China is ready to work with Turkey to implement the important consensus reached between the heads of state in recent phone talks, and promote China-Turkey cooperation in all respects, Wang said. The two sides, Wang stressed, should take great care to maintain their political mutual trust and abide by their political commitment. The mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Turkey has broad prospects and great potential. China supports Chinese enterprises in promoting bilateral cooperation in accordance with market rules, Wang said. China is also ready to strengthen coordination with Turkey on the current international and regional situation, push forward the political settlement of the Afghan issue and maintain peace and stability in the region, he added. For his part, Cavusoglu said Turkey attaches great importance to the bilateral ties. The recent call between the two heads of state is very important and successful. Turkey is ready to establish more frequent contact with the Chinese side and forge closer ties. Cavusoglu expressed gratitude to China for providing vaccines, adding that Turkey supports further vaccine cooperation with Chinese enterprises. Turkey firmly supports the one-China principle and backs the Chinese move to safeguard its sovereignty, the minister said. Cavusoglu said Turkey does not agree with or participate in any move by some forces to pressure China by using Xinjiang-related issues. Turkey is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with China on the Afghan issue, prevent the outbreak of a civil war in Afghanistan and promote peace and reconciliation among all parties in the war-torn country, he noted. Enditem [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] Some 33% of Ukrainians already have immunity to the coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov has said. "I can say the preliminary results of a sociological study conducted in our country. The results indicate that 33% of the population already has immunity to COVID-19," Danilov said at a briefing following the NSDC meeting on Friday, July 16. "In addition, with regard to vaccinated people, we believe that 38-40% of people in our country are already immunized," he said. According to Danilov, "this is not a reason for us not to comply with the restrictive measures proposed by doctors." "Moreover, I want to ask everyone to speed up vaccination as soon as possible. We believe that everyone will be vaccinated in the near future. This is very important, because, having the herd immunity of our citizens, this will be a preventive measure against morbidity," he said. We remember of MH17 tragedy, believe in bringing those responsible to justice Zelensky Ukraine is closely watching the court case on the MH17 plane crash, which continues in the Netherlands, and hopes for the cooperation of the Russian Federation with investigators in this case to find out the truth and bring those responsible to justice, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on the anniversary of the tragedy. "The world and Ukraine remember 298 victims of Malaysian Airlines. Bringing those responsible for the crash to justice is important not only for the relatives of the victims, but also for future generations," the press service of the head of state quoted Zelensky as saying. A Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was downed over the Donetsk region on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 people on board. The fatalities include 192 Dutch nationals (one of whom also had U.S. citizenship), 44 citizens of Malaysia (including 15 crewmembers), 27 Australians, 12 Indonesians, 10 from the United Kingdom (one of whom also had South African citizenship), four from Germany, four from Belgium, three from the Philippines, one from Canada, and one from New Zealand. The Joint Investigation Team (JIT), comprising prosecutors and representatives of other law enforcement agencies of Ukraine, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia and Malaysia, and also representatives of Eurojust, was created on August 7, 2014. The first results of the criminal investigation into the MH-17 crash were presented in the Netherlands on September 28, 2016. The JIT named Igor Girkin (Strelkov), Sergey Dubinsky, Oleg Pulatov and Leonid Kharchenko as suspects in the MH17 crash on May 19, 2019. All of them were put on the international wanted list. They are charged with the murder of 298 passengers onboard and its crash. A court in The Hague began hearing the case of the downed flight MH17 in March 2020. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree on changes in the composition of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC). Corresponding decree No. 298/2021 was published on the website of the head of state. According to the text of the document, former Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov is excluded from the NSDC. New head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Denys Monastyrsky is included in the NSDC in his place. The decree comes into force on the day of its promulgation. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has signed the law "On amendments to the Code of Ukraine on administrative offenses, the Criminal Code of Ukraine on improving responsibility for declaring inaccurate information and failure to submit a declaration of a person authorized to perform state or local self-government functions", adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on June 29. "The law improves the legislation, which introduces criminal liability for declaring inaccurate information and failure to submit a declaration. In particular, the document classifies false declarations as criminal offenses related to corruption and increases responsibility for these offenses," the presidential press service reported. According to the updated norms, it is considered intentional to enter deliberately false information in the declaration if such information differs from reliable information in the amount of from UAH 500 to UAH 2,000 (according to the current version - up to UAH 4,000) subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons. The amount of the fine for this is set from UAH 3,000 to UAH 4,000 (according to the current version from UAH 2,500 to UAH 3,000) of tax-free minimum incomes of citizens. It also provides for punishment in the form of restriction of freedom for up to two years. In case of deliberate introduction by the declaring subject of knowingly false information in the declaration in the amount of more than UAH 2,000 (according to the current version - more than UAH 4,000) subsistence minimum, a fine is provided in the amount of UAH 4,000 to UAH 5,000 (according to the current version - from UAH 3,000 up to UAH 5,000) of tax-free minimum incomes of citizens, as well as punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to two years. For the deliberate failure of the subject of the declaration to declare assets, a punishment is provided in the form of restriction of freedom for a period of up to two years or imprisonment for a period of one year. In addition, the person who committed such a criminal offense cannot be exempted from liability, even if he sincerely repented and actively contributed to the disclosure of the crime and fully compensated for the damage caused or eliminated the harm caused; or if reconciled with the victim. Such a person may not be sentenced to a milder punishment than prescribed by law, or may not be released on parole from serving a sentence. The law comes into force on the day following the day of its publication. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks during a news conference, after attending the G7 finance ministers meeting, at Winfield House in London, Britain (Photo : Justin Tallis/Pool via REUTERS) U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen began her new job with a packed schedule of calls and meetings with high-powered American political and business leaders and global finance officials, a calendar of her first two months in office shows. As is custom for her new role, Yellen had calls with other finance ministers around the world from January through March, according to her calendar, which was made public on Friday. The United States was still near the beginning of its economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic during that time as vaccinations ramped up and widespread restrictions to curb cases began to ease. Advertisement But she also made time to have calls with several business executives, including two whose industries have been hard hit by the pandemic: Scott Kirby, chief executive officer of United Airlines, and Greg Smith, the chief financial officer of Boeing Co. The former Federal Reserve chief also had calls with Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock Inc and Ronald O'Hanley, CEO of State Street Corp. Both firms were assigned roles in helping to administer emergency programs set up by the U.S. central bank to help financial markets last year. The incoming Biden administration pushed in the first two months of the year for a $1.9 trillion aid package to boost the economic recovery. The legislation was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden in March. Yellen was a strong supporter of the stimulus package, and her diary showed she had calls with several lawmakers over the reporting period as well as one with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Yellen also had two meetings with U.S. climate envoy John Kerry, one in February and the other in March. The Treasury department set up a new "climate hub" in April to foster green finance and use tax policy and financial risk assessments to help reduce carbon emissions. And in keeping with her reputation as a meticulous preparer for events, Yellen carved out several pockets for "read time" ahead of various meetings, her calendar showed. U.S. will need to work with China to make progress with North Korea -official A North Korea flag flutters next to concertina wire at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, (Photo : REUTERS/Edgar Su) The United States will have to work with China to make progress on North Korea, a senior State Department official said on Friday, ahead of a senior U.S. diplomat's visit to the region. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman will visit Japan, South Korea and Mongolia next week, and may add a visit to China to the itinerary, where dealing with the North Korean regime would be on the agenda, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Advertisement Washington wants to work with China on some areas of overlapping interest, despite fraught relations between the world's two largest economies over issues including trade and human rights. Washington wants to rein in North Korea's nuclear program, but efforts to establish diplomatic contact since President Joe Biden took office earlier this year have received no response. The senior official said there was "no doubt that any way forward" with the regime, known as the DPRK, would require the help of China, as well as U.S. regional allies South Korea and Japan. "The DPRK is one area where we may work with (China) because you can't do a solution (without them)," the official said, explaining that China was the major trading partner of North Korea. In December, the United States accused China of "flagrant violation" of its obligation to enforce international sanctions on North Korea. China says it abides by U.N. sanctions on North Korea, although along with Russia, it has expressed hope that an easing of those conditions could help break the deadlock in nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang. A fence surrounds the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington (Photo : REUTERS/Mike Theiler) The United States on Friday took a new stab at Russia's cybersecurity industry, restricting trade with four information technology firms and two other entities over "aggressive and harmful" activities - including digital espionage - that Washington blames on the Russian government. A Commerce Department posting said the six entities were sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in April, which targeted companies in the technology sector that support Russian intelligence services. Advertisement Their addition to the Commerce Department's blacklist means U.S. companies cannot sell to them without licenses, which are seldom granted. The announcement follows April's sanctions, which were aimed at punishing Moscow for hacking, interfering in last year's U.S. election, poisoning Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and other alleged malign actions - allegations the Kremlin denies. They come as the United States is responding to a drumbeat of digital intrusions blamed on Russian government-backed spies and a spate of increasingly disruptive ransomware outbreaks blamed on Russian cybercriminals. The entities added to the blacklist are Aktsionernoe Obshchaestvo AST; Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Pasit; Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Pozitiv Teknolodzhiz, also known as JSC Positive Technologies; Federal State Autonomous Institution Military Innovative Technopolis Era; Federal State Autonomous Scientific Establishment Scientific Research Institute Specialized Security Computing Devices and Automation (SVA); and Obshchestvo S Ogranichennoi Otvetstvennostyu Neobit. Era is a research center and technology park operated by the Russian Ministry of Defense; Pasit is an IT company that did research and development in support of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service's malicious cyber operations; SVA is a Russian state-owned institution that also supported malicious cyber operations; and Russia-based IT security firms Neobit, AST and Positive Technologies have clients that include the Russian government, according to the United States. Positive Technologies said the Commerce Department's announcement had no new information and that the company engaged in the "ethical exchange of information with the professional information security community" and had never been involved with an attack on U.S. infrastructure. The other entities either did not immediately respond to requests for comment or could not be reached. The restrictions against the Russian technology industry have been in the works for months. The same day that the Treasury sanctions were announced, then-Assistant Attorney General John Demers told reporters that officials were in the process of evaluating dozens of Russian companies for possible referral to the Commerce Department. Demers said investigators would be looking at "a known connection between a particular company and the Russian intelligence services" as they evaluated whether a company was a risk. Non-Russian companies that had back office operations in Russia would also be examined, he said. The United States adds entities to the Commerce Department's trade blacklist that it says pose a risk to U.S. national security or foreign policy interests. A vial and syringe are seen in front of a displayed Pfizer logo in this illustration taken (Photo : REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo) Pfizer Inc has agreed to pay $345 million to resolve claims by consumers who say they overpaid for EpiPens due to anticompetitive practices by the drugmaker and the company that markets the emergency allergy treatment, Mylan. The proposed class action settlement was disclosed in a filing in federal court in Kansas City, Kansas. The deal, which requires a judge's approval, would not resolve claims against Mylan, which is scheduled to face trial in January. Advertisement Paul Geller, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said they were "pleased that Pfizer resolved its part of this class action lawsuit over the pricing of EpiPens." Pfizer did not admit wrongdoing. In a statement, the company said that it "denies any wrongdoing and continues to believe that its actions were appropriate." The EpiPen is a handheld device that treats life-threatening allergic reactions by automatically injecting a dose of epinephrine. The litigation followed a public outcry in 2016 after Mylan, which owns the rights to market and distribute the devices, raised the price of a pair of EpiPens to $600, from $100 in 2008, putting it in the center of an ongoing U.S. debate over the high cost of medicines. The lawsuit accused Mylan, which is now part of Viatris Inc, and Pfizer, which manufactured the EpiPen for Mylan, of engaging in anticompetitive conduct that allowed them maintain a monopoly over the market for the devices and their profitable revenues. U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree last month dismissed much of but not all of the claims against Mylan. The remaining antitrust claims concern a patent settlement the plaintiffs say delayed the launch of a generic epinephrine auto-injector. Mylan has said it "firmly believes that Mylan's conduct was lawful and pro-competitive." Mylan in 2017 agreed to pay $465 million to resolve U.S. Justice Department claims it overcharged the government for the EpiPen. Britain's Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty looks on at a news conference as he gives an update on relaxing restrictions imposed on the country (Photo : Daniel Leal-Olivas/Pool via REUTERS) England's coronavirus crisis could return again surprisingly quickly and the country is not yet out of the woods, the British government's chief medical adviser said, as infections surged ahead of the lifting of legal restrictions. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is removing most pandemic restrictions in England from July 19, saying a rapid rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has largely broken the link between infections and serious illness or death. Advertisement Some scientists are worried, though. Daily reported cases are at their highest since January, while the reproduction "R" number remains above one, indicating a continued exponential growth of cases. "We are not by any means out of the woods yet on this," Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said late on Thursday during a webinar hosted by the Science Museum. He added that the doubling time for hospitalisations was around three weeks, and that low numbers of people in hospital currently could escalate in next couple of months. "It doesn't take many doublings until we're in actually quite scary numbers again ... I don't think we should underestimate the fact that we could get into trouble again surprisingly fast," Whitty said. The Office for National Statistics estimated as many as 1 in 95 people in England were infected with COVID-19 in the week to July 10, the highest prevalence since February. "New cases of Delta will lead to long COVID, hospital admissions and deaths," said James Naismith, Director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute "The ratios between these have been massively changed by the safe and effective vaccines we are administering but the link is not eliminated." WRECKING THE ECONOMY Britain's COVID-19 death toll is among the highest in the world but two-thirds of its adult population have been fully vaccinated. On Monday, the last remaining businesses still closed in England, including nightclubs, can finally reopen, but business leaders have warned that the self-isolation requirement for people exposed to positive cases could hinder the economy. Over 520,000 contact tracing alerts were sent through the National Health Service app in the week to July 7. "The hospitality sector, 20% of staff are isolating, the health service up to 25% of staff are absent, and buses and trains delayed," Karan Bilimoria, president of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), told LBC radio. "This cannot go on ... This is wrecking the economy." A spokesperson for Johnson said that "self-isolation remains one of the best tools that we have to tackle the virus". Wendy Sherman arrives for a meeting on Syria at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva (Photo : REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo/File Photo/File Photo) The United States is in talks with China over U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman's potential visit to China at the end of her upcoming Asia trip if all arrangements come together, a senior State Department official said on Friday. The State Department on Thursday announced that Sherman will visit Japan, South Korea and Mongolia next week but did not mention a stop in China that had been anticipated in foreign policy circles and reported in some media. Advertisement The official, speaking to reporters on the condition of anonymity, said there was room in Sherman's schedule to go to China and that if the additional stop would be added, it would come at the end of her Asia trip. "For each of these (trips), we work very hard with each country to establish a set of arrangements....We're in the midst of those arrangements with the PRC," the official said. It was a "challenging moment" in the U.S. relationship with China, the official said, but added that Washington was always open to engagement with Beijing if it was "substantive and consequential". The official also accused China of using its vaccines in a "very political and transactional" way. The United States and China have had little high-level, face-to-face contact since a first senior diplomatic meeting under the Biden administration in March in Alaska, where the Chinese side expressed anger at U.S. sanctions announced just ahead of the talks. Before that meeting, Washington had taken a flurry of actions, including a move to begin revoking Chinese telecoms licenses, subpoenas to multiple Chinese information technology companies over national security concerns, and updated sanctions over Hong Kong. Sherman's visit, if it happens, would also be coming days after fresh sanctions from Washington, which on Friday blacklisted seven Chinese officials over Beijing's crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong in a bid to hold China accountable for what it calls an erosion of rule of law in the former British colony. Asked how the trust level between the United States and China would be described, the official said that was not what the bilateral relationship was about at the moment. "It's complicated. So I don't think trust is really appropriate in this moment. It's about what work we can do together and how we will manage a very complicated relationship," the official said. Police officers stop and search residents at Mong Kok district on the 32nd anniversary of the crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators at Beijing's Tiananmen (Photo : REUTERS/Pak Yiu/File Photo) The United States imposed sanctions on Friday on seven Chinese officials over Beijing's crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong, Washington's latest effort to hold China accountable for what it calls an erosion of rule of law in the former British colony. The sanctions, posted by the U.S. Treasury Department, target individuals from China's Hong Kong liaison office, used by Beijing to orchestrate its policies in the Chinese territory. Advertisement The seven people added to Treasury's "specially designated nationals" list were Chen Dong, He Jing, Lu Xinning, Qiu Hong, Tan Tienui, Yang Jianping, and Yin Zonghua, all deputy directors at the liaison office according to online bios. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Chinese officials over the past year had "systematically undermined" Hong Kong's democratic institutions, delayed elections, disqualified elected lawmakers from office, and arrested thousands for disagreeing with government policies. "In the face of Beijing's decisions over the past year that have stifled the democratic aspirations of people in Hong Kong, we are taking action. Today we send a clear message that the United States resolutely stands with Hong Kongers," Blinken said in a statement. The Treasury Department referred to a separate updated business advisory issued jointly with the departments of State, Commerce, and Homeland Security that highlighted U.S. government concerns about the impact on international companies of Hong Kong's national security law. Critics say Beijing implemented that law last year to facilitate a crackdown on pro-democracy activists and a free press. The advisory said companies face risks associated with electronic surveillance without warrants and the surrender of corporate and customer data to authorities, adding that individuals and businesses should be aware of the potential consequences of engaging with sanctioned individuals or entities. The actions were announced just over a year after former President Donald Trump ordered an end to Hong Kong's special status under U.S. law to punish China for what he called "oppressive actions" against the territory. The United States has already imposed sanctions on other senior officials, including Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam and senior police officers, for their roles in curtailing political freedoms in the territory. BROKEN COMMITMENT President Joe Biden said at a news conference on Thursday that the Chinese government had broken its commitment on how it would deal with Hong Kong since it returned to Chinese control in 1997. China had promised universal suffrage as an ultimate goal for Hong Kong in its mini-constitution, the Basic Law, which also states the city has wide-ranging autonomy from Beijing. Since China imposed the national security law to criminalize what it considers subversion, secessionism, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces, most pro-democracy activists and politicians have found themselves ensnared by it or arrested for other reasons. Apple Daily, Hong Kong's most vocal pro-democracy newspaper, was forced to end a 26-year run in June amid the crackdown that froze the company's funds. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular news conference in Beijing before the actions were formally announced that the United States should stop interfering in Hong Kong, and that China would make a "resolute, strong response." A source told Reuters on Thursday that the White House was also reviewing a possible executive order to facilitate immigration from Hong Kong, but that it was still not certain to be implemented. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman is preparing a visit to Japan, South Korea and Mongolia next week. The State Department's announcement of her trip made no mention of any stop in China, which had been anticipated in foreign policy circles and reported in some media. A senior State Department official told reporters on Friday that Washington was still in talks with Beijing over whether Sherman would visit China. The U.S. government on Tuesday also strengthened warnings to businesses about the growing risks of having supply chain and investment links to China's Xinjiang region, citing forced labor and human rights abuses there, which Beijing has denied. People wearing face protective masks walk on Hollywood Blvd during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Los Angeles, California, U.S (Photo : REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo) Los Angeles County will reimpose its mask mandate this weekend in the latest sign that public health officials are struggling with an alarming rise in coronavirus cases tied to the highly contagious Delta variant. The county, home to 10 million people and the nation's second-largest city, Los Angeles, is one of several jurisdictions to recommend or mandate wearing masks or other pandemic restrictions in recent days as cases rise to worrisome levels in many parts of the United States. Advertisement "We're requiring masking for everyone while indoors at public settings & businesses, regardless of vaccination status so that we can stop the increased level of transmission we're seeing," the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said on Twitter Thursday. The mandate will go into effect Saturday night at a minute before midnight, the agency said. The announcement follows six straight days of more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases reported in Los Angeles County, with nearly 400 people hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Wednesday, up 275 from the week before. Nine new COVID-19 deaths were reported on Wednesday. More than 1,500 new infections were reported on Thursday, and the county has become a place of "substantial" transmission, based on criteria set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Los Angeles County health officer, Dr. Muntu Davis, said in remarks provided to reporters. Other California counties and other states are also grappling with a spike in coronavirus cases, led by a mutation of the coronavirus known as the Delta variant and predominantly affecting people who are unvaccinated. Also on Thursday, Sacramento and Fresno Counties in California recommended that masks be worn indoors even by people who are vaccinated. Austin, Texas, on Thursday urged people who are not vaccinated or are otherwise high-risk to avoid travel, indoor gatherings, dining out and shopping, and to wear masks. Earlier this week, Yolo County in California also recommended indoor masking, and in Springfield, Missouri, children and teachers have been required to wear masks during summer school. "Everyone, including those who are vaccinated, should be aware of high-risk situations including being indoors, in crowds, and around unvaccinated and unmasked individuals and consider wearing a face covering in these settings," said Fresno County Public Health physician Dr. John Zweifler. Data from the CDC show high levels of coronavirus transmission in numerous states, including Missouri, Mississippi, Florida, Nevada and Utah. Across the country, health officials urged residents who have not yet done so to become vaccinated. Vaccines are approved and available for all people as young as 12 years old. In Los Angeles County, just 0.09% of new cases were among people who had been vaccinated, officials said. "Our best protection against COVID-19 continues to be the vaccine," said Sacramento County Public Health Officer Olivia Kasirye. "We urge all eligible residents to get vaccinated in order to protect themselves, and their family and friends." Egypts Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel-Ati returned home from Kinshasa on Saturday, where he had a successful official visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. During his visit, Abdel-Ati inaugurated the Rain and Climate Changes Forecast Centre in Kinshasa, the irrigation ministry said in a statement. The centre was carried out with an Egyptian grant to maximize the DR Congos use of water resources and boost its capability to manage these resources. It is specialized in studying climate changes in the country to help protect the Congolese citizens from sudden climatic disasters, the statement said. The Congolese staffers at the centre have been trained by experts from the Egyptian irrigation ministry on dealing with rain and flood forecasts, aerial imagery systems, the Geographic Information Systems (GIS), hydrologic modeling, and writing specialized technical reports. This comes within the framework of Egypt's interest in transferring its expertise in the field of integrated management of water resources to its brothers from the Nile Basin countries in order to maximize the use of these resources, the statement added. Abdel-Ati said he held a number of meetings with senior officials in the DR Congo, in which he discussed opportunities to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the field of water management and means to achieve common interests for the benefit of the citizens of the two countries, according to the statement. Abdel-Ati, who arrived in Kinshasa on Thursday, was received by Congolese Vice Prime Minister Eve Bazaiba and a number of high-ranking officials in the Congolese government, in addition to Egyptian ambassador to Congo Hamdi Shaaban. The visit shows Egypt's belief in the necessity of achieving cooperation and coordination with the brotherly African countries to achieve the peoples' sustainable development goals and to reach optimal water management, especially in light of the challenges facing the water sector in many countries of the world. Short link: President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday the unrest that has ripped through South Africa in the past week was stabilising and calm has been restored to most of the affected areas, but the destruction will cost the country billions of rand. Ramaphosa was addressing the nation over the rioting that broke out in several parts of the country last week after his predecessor, Jacob Zuma, was jailed for failing to appear at a corruption inquiry. The unrest swiftly degenerated into looting which has destroyed hundreds of businesses and killed over 200 people, driven by widespread anger over the poverty and inequality that persist nearly three decades after the end of white minority rule. The police has arrested over 2,500 people suspected to be involved in inciting violence and that these cases are being prioritised, Ramaphosa said. "It is our firm view that the deployment of our security forces, working together with communities and social partners across the country, will be able to restore order and prevent further violence," he said. "We will extinguish the fires that are raging, and stamp out every last ember." The president said using the pretext of a political grievance, those behind these acts have sought to provoke a popular insurrection. "They have sought to exploit the social and economic conditions under which many South Africans live," he said. LONG-TERM COSTS The long-term social and economic cost of the unrest was also becoming clearer, with calls for the government to address underlying problems to head off more violence and despair. Wall Street bank JPMorgan said the unrest would force South Africa's economy to contract by 3% in the third quarter and drag down full-year growth. The head of the armed forces, Lieutenant General Rudzani Maphwanya, addressing soldiers in Alexandra, Johannesburg, said: "It is no longer just thuggery, this is economic sabotage...It is a threat to our people so you have to restore that freedom." The Nelson Mandela Foundation - a legacy of the late leader of the anti-apartheid struggle and South Africa's first Black president - said violence had been growing at "disturbing levels" in the last two decades. "There are too many people feeling discarded and in despair, too many people with nothing to lose, too many people who have seen political and other elites at all levels play fast and loose with the law, with impunity," the foundation said. The head of Statistics South Africa, Risenga Maluleke, said it could take years to rebuild damaged infrastructure, and small businesses "will find it difficult to rise from the ashes". This would lead to even more unemployment, he said. Most of the people in the streets were youths with few job prospects and limited education opportunities. Half of South Africans live below the official poverty line and unemployment stood at a record 32% in the first three months of 2021, due partly to the impact of COVID-19. POORLY PREPARED The president acknowledged that the country's state security system was poorly prepared for the orchestrated campaign that destabilised the country. "We must admit that we did not have the capabilities and plans in place to respond swiftly and decisively," he said. The ransacking of stores has led to shortages of essential goods. State logistics group Transnet said operations at Durban and Richards Bay ports were improving although road closures and fuel and food shortages were constraining its supply chain. Richards Bay had cleared all its shipping backlogs. Retailer Massmart said protesters had looted 41 of its stores and two distribution centres, with four sites damaged by arson. Ramaphosa, however, said there was no shortage of food and supplies and urged people to not to resort to panic buying. He has authorised the deployment of 25,000 armed forces members, who will protect all key installations and commercial sites vital to the functioning of the economy. He ruled out that he would need to impose emergency in the country. The official death toll stood at 180 in KwaZulu-Natal - Zuma's homeland and main support base - and 32 in Gauteng, which includes Johannesburg, making a total of 212, Ramaphosa said. The destruction of property and theft of goods has cost businesses, consumers and the country as a whole billions of rands, Ramaphosa said, and its impact will linger for "weeks and months to come." Cedric Masondo, managing director of Sasria, a state-owned insurer, told Reuters on Wednesday that the claims for damage and theft from businesses affected by civil unrest are likely to top 10 billion rand ($693.77 million), highest ever the company has ever paid. COURT BATTLE Zuma, 79, was sentenced last month for defying an order to give evidence at a judicial inquiry probing high-level graft during his time in office from 2009 to 2018. He has pleaded not guilty in a separate case on charges including corruption, fraud, racketeering and money laundering, saying he is the victim of a political witch-hunt. His downfall has opened up a power struggle within the African National Congress (ANC), in power since the end of apartheid in 1994. Zuma loyalists make up the strongest faction opposed to Ramaphosa. His corruption trial will resume in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday. Short link: A demonstrator was shot dead during protests against water shortages in drought-hit southwestern Iran, state media reported Saturday, with an official blaming the death on "opportunists and rioters". The demonstrator was killed in the Khuzestan province town of Shadegan, the official IRNA news agency said. The province is Iran's main oil-producing region and one of its wealthiest, but it has been hit by a persistent drought that has led to tensions since late March. "Last night (Friday), a number of Shadegan's people had gathered to protest water shortages due to the drought, during which opportunists and rioters shot dead one of the demonstrators," the county's acting governor, Omid Sabripour, told IRNA. Sabripour said the perpetrators "sought to agitate the people by shooting in the air" and a "young Shadegan resident" was shot in the process. In separate comments to the ISNA news agency, Sabripour said the fire was directed at both the demonstrators and security forces. He added that the victim was a "30-year-old passer-by" and that those responsible were identified and some arrested on Friday night, with a manhunt under way for the others. Iran has endured repeated droughts over the past decade, particularly in the south. Earlier this month, President Hassan Rouhani said this year's drought was "unprecedented" with average rainfall down 52 percent compared to the previous year. 'Insecurity' Khuzestan's governor had on Friday dismissed videos of protests across the province as "fake". "Some seek to agitate the people and publish fake videos," Qasem Soleimani-Dashtaki told IRNA. Videos on social media apparently showed protests in several Khuzestan towns, including Susangerd, Mahshahr and Hamidiyeh as well as Shadegan. Farsi-language media based abroad said security forces had cracked down on protesters demonstrating against severe water shortages on Thursday, but domestic media played down the reports. Addressing the discontent, Khuzestan MP Abdollah Izadpanah warned on Friday that "Khuzestan's insecurity means lack of security for the whole country." He blamed the water shortages on "mistakes and unjustified decisions" such as the transfer of water from Khuzestan's rivers to other provinces, ISNA reported. On Friday, the government sent a delegation to Khuzestan to address the problem. This month, rolling blackouts began in the capital Tehran and several other large cities, which officials blamed on the impact of the drought on hydroelectric power generation as well as surging demand. Power cuts in the peak summer months are not uncommon in Iran but the ongoing drought has intensified the situation. Khuzestan is home to a large Sunni Arab minority, which has frequently complained of marginalisation in mainly Shiite Iran. In 2019, the province was a hotspot of anti-government protests that had shaken other areas of the Islamic republic. Over the years, blistering summer heatwaves and seasonal sandstorms blowing in from Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Iraq have dried up Khuzestan's once fertile plains. Scientists say climate change amplifies droughts, and their intensity and frequency in turn threaten food security. Short link: The swearing-in ceremony was held at the presidential palace and attended by clergymen, members of parliament, political figures and army officers. In power since 2000, Assad's re-election in a landslide was never in doubt. His new term starts with the country still devastated by 10 years of war and sliding deeper into a worsening economic crisis. The U.N. estimates that more than 80% of Syrians live under the poverty line. The Syrian currency is in a free fall and basic services and resources have become scarce or are offered at exorbitant parallel market prices. Fighting has largely subsided, but parts of Syria remain out of government-control and foreign troops and militias are deployed in different parts of the country. Nearly half of Syria's pre-war population is either displaced or living in neighboring countries or Europe as refugees. The war has left nearly half a million killed, tens of thousands missing and devastated the infrastructure. The conflict that began in 2011 started after the government cracked down on peaceful protests, turning the opposition against the decades-long rule of the Assad family into an armed rebellion. Assad, targeted by widening sanctions and isolated by the West, is supported by Iran and Russia, who sent in troops and assistance that have propped him up throughout the war. European and U.S. governments blame Assad and his aides for most of the war's atrocities. Assad calls his armed opposition terrorists while U.N.-led talks to end the conflict have lacked any progress. Assad took over in 2000 after the death of his father Hafez, who seized power in 1970 in a bloodless military coup. U.S. and European officials have questioned the legitimacy of the election, saying it violated U.N. resolutions in place to resolve the conflict, lacks any international monitoring and is unrepresentative of all Syrians. Assad garnered 95.1% of the vote in the election, in which officials said turnout was 78.6% of some 18 million registered voters. There were no independent monitors of the one-day vote. Competition was symbolic, with two candidates running against Assad. Despite a cease-fire deal in place since last year, a war monitor and rescue workers reported government shelling of a village in the last rebel held enclave in northwestern Syria that killed at least four, including two girls and their grandmother. The White Helmets, the civil defense in opposition areas, said two volunteers were wounded in the shelling in southern Idlib province. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor with activists on the ground, put the death toll from the shelling of the village of Serjeh at five, including three children and a woman. Violence has been rising in recent weeks in the enclave as government troops edge toward restoring control of the territory, home to nearly 4 million people. The truce was negotiated in 2020 between Turkey, which supports Syria's opposition and has troops deployed in the area, and Russia, the Syrian government's main backer. At the time, it halted a crushing Russian-backed government air and ground campaign aimed at retaking the region. UNICEF said 512 children were verified killed in fighting in Syria last year, the majority in the northwest where there are 1.7 million vulnerable children, many of whom have fled violence several times. Saudi Arabia has officially allowed businesses to remain open during the five daily Muslim prayers, a highly sensitive reform in a kingdom which is trying to shake off its austere image. Since becoming Crown Prince in 2017, Mohammed bin Salman has introduced sweeping economic and social changes designed to reduce the kingdom's dependence on oil and reset the role of religion. "Stores and other commercial and economic activities will remain open throughout the working day and especially during (prayer) hours," the Federation of Saudi Chambers said in a statement late Friday. Officially, the decision is part of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and aims to avoid "gatherings and long queues in front of closed stores during prayer hours". However, it comes after a 2019 decree that said businesses could stay open 24 hours a day for an unspecified fee. The move, which triggered confusion over whether it included the Islamic prayer times, was seen by some as a trial loosening of the rules. Since then, some restaurants, supermarkets and other stores have stayed open, particularly in the capital Riyadh. Previously, after the pre-dawn Fajr prayer they were obliged to close during the day's other four prayers, putting workers out of action for a total of about two hours in the Islamic world's only mandatory prayer-time shutdown. The new rules remove restrictions which members of the advisory Shura Council had said cost the Saudi economy tens of billions of riyals a year. While the government's reforms have attracted little public criticism amid an accompanying crackdown on dissent, the issue remains highly sensitive in the kingdom where until a few years ago, religious police elicited fear by enforcing such rules. The guardians of public morality, once notorious for chasing men and women out of malls to pray and berating anyone seen mingling with the opposite sex, are now largely out of sight. However, observers say that authorities still watch carefully for a possible backlash from arch-conservatives. Saudi Arabia, home to the holiest Muslim sites, has long been associated with a rigid branch of Islam known as Wahhabism. But Prince Mohammed has sought to position himself as a champion of "moderate" Islam. As clerical power wanes, preachers are endorsing government decisions they once vehemently opposed -- including allowing women to drive and the reopening of cinemas. Short link: Negotiations in Vienna aimed at salvaging Iran's nuclear deal with world powers will not resume before the country's new government takes office in August, an Iranian official said Saturday. The Islamic republic has held talks since April in Vienna with major powers on reviving its troubled 2015 nuclear agreement. ""We're in a transition period... #Vienna_talks must thus obviously await our new administration," Abbas Araghchi, Iran's deputy foreign minister, said on Twitter. "This is what every democracy demands," added Araghchi, who is also head of the country's nuclear negotiation team. Ultra-conservative Ebrahim Raisi won a presidential election in June and will on August 5 replace moderate President Hassan Rouhani, who has served the constitutionally permitted maximum of two consecutive terms. The 2015 accord offered Tehran international sanctions relief in exchange for limiting its nuclear programme, but was torpedoed in 2018 when former US president Donald Trump withdrew from it and reimposed sanctions. Trump's successor Joe Biden has signalled his readiness to return to the deal and has engaged in indirect negotiations with Iran as the accord's remaining other state parties -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- hold talks in Vienna. A sixth round of talks concluded on June 20 and dates for the next round have not been fixed. Iran's ultraconservative camp, which deeply distrusts the US, has repeatedly attacked Rouhani over the failing nuclear deal, which was originally negotiated and came into effect under his stewardship. Despite this, Iran's senior political figures, including Raisi, have voiced broad agreement that the country must seek an end to the punishing US sanctions. Rouhani had repeatedly promised that he would succeed in getting the US to lift sanctions before the end of his term, but on Wednesday indicated this would no longer be possible, noting that negotiations would not be complete before he left office. He also suggested his outgoing government was not given enough leeway to complete the talks. Ultimate political power in Iran rests with the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who gave the green light to both the original nuclear agreement and the efforts to revive it. Short link: . Rescue workers labored to deal with damage laid bare by receding water Saturday as the death toll from disastrous flooding in Western Europe rose above 160 and thoughts turned to the lengthy job of rebuilding communities devastated in minutes The death toll in western Germany's Rhineland-Palatinate state, home to the badly hit Ahrweiler county, rose to 98. Another 43 people were confirmed dead in neighboring North Rhine-Westphalia state. Belgium's national crisis center said the country's confirmed death toll rose to 27. Days of heavy rain turned normally minor rivers and streets into raging torrents this week and caused the disastrous flooding that swept away cars, destroyed homes and trapped residents. Immediately after the floods hit on Wednesday and Thursday, German authorities listed large numbers of people as missing _ something apparently caused in large part by confusion, multiple reporting and communications difficulties in the affected areas, some of which lacked electricity and telephone service. By Saturday, authorities still feared finding more people dead, but said numbers unaccounted for had dropped constantly, without offering specific figures. In Belgium, 103 people were listed as missing Saturday, but the crisis center said lost or uncharged cellphones and people taken to hospitals without identification who hadn't had an opportunity to contact relatives were believed to be factors in the tally. Meanwhile, the receding floodwaters eased access across much of the affected regions and revealed the extent of the damage. ``A lot of people have lost everything they spent their lives building up _ their possessions, their home, the roof over their heads,'' German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after meeting rescue workers and others in the town of Erftstadt. ``It may only be possible to clear up in weeks how much damage needs to be compensated,'' he said. Steinmeier said that people in the affected areas are counting on continuing support. ``Many people here in these regions have nothing left but their hope, and we must not disappoint this hope,'' he said. In Erftstadt, a town southwest of Cologne, a harrowing rescue effort unfolded on Friday when the ground in a neighborhood gave way, At least three houses and part of a mansion in the town's Blessem district collapsed. The German military used armored vehicles to clear away cars and trucks overwhelmed by the floodwaters on a nearby road, some of which remained at least partly submerged. Officials feared that some people didn't manage to escape in Erftstadt, but no casualties were confirmed by Saturday afternoon. In the Ahrweiler area, police warned of a potential risk from downed power lines and urged curious visitors to stay away. They complained on Twitter that would-be sightseers were blocking some roads. Around 700 people were evacuated from part of the German town of Wassenberg, on the Dutch border, after the breach of a dike on the Rur river. Visiting Erftstadt with Steinmeier, North Rhine-Westphalia governor Armin Laschet promised to organize aid for those immediately affected ``in the coming days.'' He said regional and federal authorities would discuss in the coming days how to help rebuilding efforts. Chancellor Angela Merkel's Cabinet plans to discuss the issue on Wednesday. ``We will do everything so that what needs to be rebuilt can be rebuilt,'' Laschet said. Across the border in eastern Belgium, train lines and roads remained blocked in many areas. A cafe owner in the devastated town of Pepinster broke down in tears when King Philippe and Queen Mathilde visited Friday to offer comfort to residents. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo visited flood-damaged towns Saturday, according to Belgian state broadcaster RTBF. Parts of the southern Netherlands also experienced heavy flooding. Volunteers worked through the night to shore up dikes and protect roads. Thousands of residents were allowed to return home Saturday morning after being evacuated on Thursday and Friday. Caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who visited the region on Friday, said that ``first, there was corona, now these floods, and soon people will have to work on cleanup and recovery.'' ``It is disaster after disaster after disaster. But we will not abandon Limburg,'' the southern province hit by the floods, he added. His government has declared the flooding a state of emergency, opening up national funds for those affected. Among other efforts to help the flood victims, brewery Hertog Jan, which is based in the affected area, handed out 3,000 beer crates to locals to help them raise their belongings off the ground to protect them from the flooding. In Switzerland, heavy rain has caused several rivers and lakes to burst their banks, with authorities in the city of Lucerne closing several pedestrian bridges over the Reuss river. Short link: The daughter of Afghanistan's ambassador to Pakistan was briefly kidnapped while on her way home in the capital Islamabad, the governments of both countries said Saturday. Silsila Alikhil was abducted for several hours and "severely tortured by unknown individuals", Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. "After being released from the kidnappers' captivity Ms Alikhil is under medical care at hospital," the statement said. Pakistan's ambassador to Kabul was summoned to lodge a formal complaint, the ministry added. Pakistan's foreign ministry said Najibullah Alikhil's daughter was assaulted in her car, before the interior minister later published a statement saying she had been kidnapped. "Prime minister Imran Khan has directed the interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed to utilise all resources to apprehend the person involved in the kidnapping of the daughter of the Afghan ambassador in Islamabad," Ahmed himself tweeted. Islamabad is leafy, spacious city with relatively tight security and a population of around one million people. The security of the ambassador and his family has been tightened, Pakistan's foreign ministry said, adding that the safety of the diplomatic missions were "of the utmost importance". Relations between the two neighbours have long been strained. Kabul accuses Islamabad of offering a safe haven to Taliban militants who are waging a major campaign across the Afghan countryside. While Islamabad says Kabul turns a blind eye to militant groups launching attacks on Pakistan from its soil. As fighting raged, war of words heated up this week between the two neighbours, with Afghan vice-president accusing the Pakistani military of providing "close air support to Taliban in certain areas". Pakistan strongly denied the claim, with a foreign ministry statement saying the country "took necessary measures within its territory to safeguard our own troops and population". Short link: Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Saturday denounced what he said was a false narrative over unrest on the Caribbean island, as the Communist regime vigorously pushed back against suggestions of historically widespread discontent. "What the world is seeing of Cuba is a lie," Diaz-Canel said, speaking during a rally alongside ex-president Raul Castro and before thousands of supporters who had gathered on the Malecon, Havana's famed oceanfront boulevard. The rally, and similar ones in other cities, constituted the regime's first public response to the anti-government protests that unexpectedly brought thousands to Cuban streets last weekend. Organizers described the event Saturday as one of "revolutionary reaffirmation." Cries from the crowd -- "Down with the Yankees!" and "We were born to conquer, not be conquered!" -- echoed the anti-imperialist language of the original Cuban revolutionary, former president Fidel Castro. Diaz-Canel decried what he said was the dissemination of "false images" on social networks that "glorify the outrage and destruction of property." Those images, he said, had caused "immeasurable damage to the national soul." On July 11 and 12, thousands of Cubans took to the streets in 40 cities shouting "Freedom," "Down with the dictatorship," and "We're hungry." One person has died and more than 100 have been arrested since the protests broke out over the worst economic crisis in decades. There is an "overflowing hatred on social networks," the president insisted on Saturday. His supporters, summoned from work places and universities, waved red-blue-and-white Cuban flags and the banner of the 1959 revolution. They enthusiastically applauded both Diaz-Canel and Raul Castro. The presence of the 90-year-old Castro, drawn out of retirement because of the gravity of the situation, was noteworthy. He wore his olive-green general's uniform, harkening back to his revolutionary role alongside brother Fidel. "Everyone who feels something for the revolution, who felt something for Fidel, for all he did for this country and that we must continue to do, knows what Raul's presence here means," said one rally participant, 65-year-old Carlos Cruz. After last weekend's protests, Cuba cut off internet access on the island for three days. Even after access was restored, social media and messaging apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter remained blocked on 3G and 4G networks. Social media is the only way Cubans can reach independent news outlets, while messaging apps are their main means of communicating among themselves. US President Joe Biden has said Washington is considering ways to ease internet restrictions, though analysts have warned it could be tricky for technological and political reasons. - 'Cold calculation' - Diaz-Canel said the "lie" about widespread protests was not committed "by chance or mistake; all this is the cold calculation of an unconventional-war manual." But the rallies were the largest since the revolution and came as the country endures its worst economic crisis in 30 years, with chronic shortages of electricity, food and medicine amid a spike in coronavirus infections. The island of 11.2 million people recorded 6,062 new cases of Covid-19, and 52 deaths, in the preceding 24 hours, the authorities said. The toll stands at 275,608 cases and 1,843 deaths. "With or without the pandemic, we have to defend (the revolution)," said 73-year-old teacher Hector Roman, who wore a protective mask. Havana, under US sanctions since 1962, has blamed the show of discontent on Washington pursuing a "policy of economic suffocation to provoke social unrest." Biden called Cuba a "failed state" on Thursday and said its leaders were "repressing their citizens." He said the US was prepared to potentially send significant amounts of Covid vaccine to the island. Cuba has also been developing its own vaccines. Shortly before the rally began, police arrested a man who shouted "Patria y Vida" ("Homeland and Life"), the title of a protest rap song which has become the anthem of anti-government demonstrators. The official newspaper Granma said similar rallies were called in cities including Santiago de Cuba, Bayamo, Camaguey and Santa Clara. Short link: Based on Sonallah Ibrahims critically acclaimed novel Zaat, the Ramadan television series Bent Esmaha Zaat (A Girl Called Zaat) tells the story of an Egyptian girl born to an average middle class Cairo family on 23 July 1952 the same day the Free Officers movement ousted King Farouk and declared the end of the Egyptian monarchy. Zaats life as well as the novel and TV series adapted from it spans years of political tumult, social change and cultural transformations, along with three Egyptian presidents. Although the novel came out in 1992, meaning its events come to an end during the tenure of ex-president Hosni Mubarak, the TV series written by Mariam Naoum and directed by Kamla Abu Zikri and Khairy Bishara bravely goes on to tell Zaats story up to the January 25 Revolution in 2011, when Egyptians took to the streets and brought down the Mubarak regime. Abu Zikri, who directed the first 17 episodes of the series, says Ibrahim didnt mind the changes made to his narrative. He didnt read the script; Sonallah Ibrahim is bigger than that, she says. He had faith in what Mariam and I were going to do, and I know he follows the series and is so far very pleased with the outcome. The idea to turn the novel into a TV series first came to producer Gaby Khoury, who impressed by their collaboration in the 2009 film Wahed-Sefr (One-Zero) got in touch with both Kamla Abu Zikri and Mariam Naoum in 2010 and asked them to take on the project. Shooting was set to start in February 2011, but was put off as a result of the turmoil that engulfed the country in the wake of the revolution and Mubaraks ouster. Production started in 2012 instead, and after she finished the first half of the series, Abu Zikri decided that she wouldnt be able to direct the remaining episodes because she wanted to work on editing the first half herself. If I dont edit my own work, its like I never directed it in the first place, she says. Producer Gaby Khoury then contacted Khairy Bishara, who stepped in to direct the rest of the series. Despite the fact that it airs exclusively on one channel and at times that many find inconvenient, Zaat still managed to attract many ardent viewers and generate positive reviews. Abu Zikri believes the reason behind that is the character of Zaat herself (played by Nelly Karim), as well as that of her husband, Abdel Meguid (Bassem Samra). What makes the story so special is that Zaat and her husband arent. They are not heroes in any way. Theyre not into politics, theyre not rich, theyre not exceptionally gifted or successful, says Abu Zikri. Theyre average Egyptians you see and meet every day; peaceful people who struggle to get on with their lives and want no trouble the type that makes up the majority of this countrys population. And that is why everyone who watches the series will find something they can relate to. But although Zaat and her family do not engage in politics, their lives are constantly altered by the political change the country witnesses, along with the economic upheavals and social trends that come along with it. In the revolutionary sixties and pre-war seventies, Zaat is a dreamy and romantic student; in the late seventies she is a wife weighed down by day-to-day chores and the financial responsibilities that grow heavier with Sadats open door policies. In the eighties and nineties of Mubarak, Zaat completely loses herself in the ceaseless fight to get by and keep bread on the table. Her story becomes the story of a nation, in its triumphs and defeats. The general state of the country is always expressed through the characters, says Abu Zikri. One of my favourite episodes is the one where President Anwar El-Sadat visits Jerusalem and Zaats father, a loyal devotee of the values and ideals of Nassers times, watches his Knesset speech on TV in agony. The man looks broken, and so was the whole country back then. Most people felt as if they were losing their pride and dignity with that move. In the novel, Sonallah Ibrahim alternates between fact and fiction. Each chapter focusing on Zaat and her life is followed by one offering a collection of newspaper clippings, headlines, quotes and news summaries from the time in which the story takes place. In the TV series, the writer and directors try to follow a somewhat similar rhythm: Each episode opens with scenes of the capital during the time in which the events of the episode occur, with a popular song from that specific year playing in the background. Many of the historical events that shaped modern Egypt from the opening of Maspero, to the 1967 defeat, to Umm Kalthoums death, to the Camp David Accords and the peace treaty with Israel, to the 1992 earthquake are accurately depicted, often through original archival footage, and are reflected on Zaats life and mirrored in her evolution as a woman. It is women especially that find Zaat appealing; most of them see something of themselves in her. Zaat is a normal woman; she is beautiful but the hardships of life show on her face, and her colourful dresses and short skirts are eventually replaced with loose, shapeless garments and a veil, making her look like most women you encounter on the street a far cry from the glamorous and immaculately dressed femmes fatales all over TV. She represents a very wide range of Egyptian females: oppressed, frustrated and often underestimated. As a child, she suffers the trauma of female genital mutilation (FGM); as a teenager, she has to argue with her parents to they allow her to go to college. As a woman she lives with a demanding husband who is often domineering and unappreciative, and as she grows older she is socially pressured into covering her hair. She rarely has a say in how her life unfolds. According to Abu Zikri, the series couldnt have been aired at a better timing. She believes that if they had made Zaat when Hosni Mubarak or the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces were in power, it would have either been taken off the air completely, or the censors would have cut out at least half of it. They would have never allowed people to watch the series because the story of Zaat is, in its essence, the story of what 60 years of military rule have done to this country and to her, Abu Zikri says. She starts out as a hopeful girl with dreams and aspirations, and she gradually becomes a deformed, exhausted, powerless and ineffective person who falls prey to consumerism and the brutality of the capitals middle class life. That middle class life that Zaat leads is a series of daily struggles minor annoyances that grow to become unrelenting problems that plague the majority of Cairos citizens. She deals with religious fanaticism, a crumbling healthcare system, police officers abusing their power, corrupt employees and merciless government bureaucracy. Zaats small endeavours, such as renovating her bathroom, sewing nightgowns and selling them to colleagues at work for extra income, or finding a solution for the garbage strewn about by cats on her doorstep, are captured in raw, heartwarming detail, yet Abu Zikri says she had a hard time trying to bring all the intricacies of the novel to life on the screen. The novel brims with vivid, vibrant details that would have been impossible to show on the screen as described in the book, she explains. For example, the daily nuisance of finding a taxi how long she waits in the sun. Then how she argues with the driver when he asks for an extra 50 piasters little things like that. Sonallah Ibrahim delves into every single aspect of Zaats life. There are other parts of the novel that Abu Zikri says were also difficult to portray in the series, namely Zaats thoughts on issues like sex and religion. Sonallah Ibrahim is very bold, and when writing the novel there was no ceiling to his freedom. But we didnt have the same liberty since its TV, and especially because the series was set to air in Ramadan, she elaborates. We had to be more reserved when addressing Zaats sexuality; her conjugal problems with her husband, as well as her faith how she viewed God and her relationship with religion. We tried our best to express everything in a subtle manner, but it wasnt easy. One of Zaats most significant factors of success is its actors, even those in supporting roles. Characters like Zaats mother, Fawzeya (Intesar), her rebellious friend and earlier love interest, Aziz (Hany Adel), and her vivacious neighbour, Sameeha (Nahed El-Sebaey), all leave their mark. Abu Zikri says the highlight of the experience was working with the cast, especially Nelly Karim who she had directed before in Wahed-Sefr. It was my first time working on a TV drama, and its been very rewarding, Abu Zikri says. I am extremely lucky that I got to direct a series based on the work of a brilliant writer like Sonallah Ibrahim, produced by Gaby Khoury, and starring such a skilful group of actors. Short link: As the US withdraws from Afghanistan, Iran is turning its eye to opportunities there to fill the void left by the decades of military existence of the US, as it becomes the most vulnerable in the region to the threats posed by the bordering country. With the Taliban taking over Afghan cities and districts, violence and chaos are growing on the borders with Iran. Tehran has moved to hedge its bets and establish contacts with both warring sides in the war-torn neighbouring country to facilitate peace talks. Last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif whose government supports an all-inclusive Afghan government that includes Taliban met the group negotiators; they issued a joint statement that confirms the groups intentions for a negotiated settlement on the future of the country just before the Taliban captured a key border crossing between Iran and Afghanistan. The role of Iran in making a breakthrough remains unclear as it already lost trust by supporting Taliban against US forces after the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal. But Sanam Vakil, an Adjunct Professor of Middle East Studies at the Johns Hopkins University told Al-Ahram Weekly, Facilitating an accommodation between both parties in Afghanistan will help Iran remain a credible broker with both sides. Iran is one country among others like China and Russia that has direct interests motivating its influence in Afghanistan in the future especially after the US pullout. There is a lot to lose and gain for Iran in Afghanistan as Iran has a long involvement in Afghan politics by supporting various political factions and recently this activism was at its peak since the start of the Afghan peace process in 2018. Navid Mohebbi, a policy fellow of the National Union for Democracy in Iran, told the Weekly that the meddling of Iran in Afghanistan talks to the Iran doctrine of being sympathetic to groups and countries that are inconsistent with international norms and in conflict with the interests of Western countries as these groups can support each other in regional and international developments. Irans military doctrine in the Middle East is based on the creation and support of proxy groups to the extent that these groups effectively seize power in respective countries. Irans support for dozens of militia groups in Iraq, Hizbullah in Lebanon, Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza, as well as the Houthis in Yemen, are just a few examples that align with this doctrine, Mohebbi added. Iran, one of the most influential regional actors in Afghanistan, has always seen Afghanistan as a threat to its security but also an opportunity to expand trade and accessibility to Afghan and Central Asian markets. Iran has other trade ambitions in Afghanistan through the first railway between Iran and Afghanistan, launched in December 2020, which aims to connect Afghanistan with the world through the Iranian port of Chabahar. On the security level, Iran has extended security interests in Afghanistan and this was embodied in sending fighters to deter the Islamic State Khorasan Province. Iran sees that any engagement in the Afghan peace process is an aspect of defending its backyard and that broader influence there is required. At the same time, Afghanistan represents a menace that needs to be tamed by Iran for a couple of reasons. This is happening at a defining moment as Iran already faces discontent at home as hopes for economic relief are fading due to sanctions by the West along with the elections excluding the reformists of Iran, yielding to the victory of the hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi. Afghanistan presents Iran with more of a threat than an opportunity, said Ali Vaez, Iran Project director and senior adviser to the president at International Crisis Group. The ongoing violence caused by the Taliban takeover of Afghan provinces is expected to produce waves of refugees that will flee to Tehran across the borders, a crisis that makes the border guards intolerant as some 50 migrants were allegedly beaten and drowned last year while crossing the bordering Harirod River. At the same time Iran is alarmed by the Taliban control over Islam Qala, a key border post between the two countries and a gateway to the Afghan city of Herat where the Iranian consulate is located, as it saw the killing of nine Iranian diplomats there by the Taliban in late 1990s. In addition, relations between Tehran and the Taliban are mostly marked by hostility and being at odds as the Sunni militiamen and the extremist groups sympathetic with them, regard the Shiism of Iran an apostasy. While Iran has developed a relationship with the Taliban in the past few years, the two sides neither trust nor like one another. While Iran prefers to see the US withdraw from its near-abroad, it does not want to see a total takeover by the Taliban, Vaez told the Weekly. So in the short run, Iran will have to manage the chaos and prevent instability on its borders. Tehran will try to protect its own security interests, primarily through diplomatic mediation between Afghans and, if not, true pressure. For the latter, it might need to draw on some of the Afghan Shia militias that it deployed to Syria in 2014-2016. *A version of this article appears in print in the 15 July, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Short link: Everyday the difference between the attitudes of Egypts two enemies appears more stark. One of them is an eternal enemy, the other more recent. The first is Israel, which has been hostile towards Egypt since its foundation because Egypt is the biggest Arab force that constitutes the greatest obstacle in the way of the Jewish states hegemony and control of Arab countries. The second is Ethiopia, whose relations with Egypt have been fluctuating throughout history between peaceful coexistence and military confrontation. If Israel is the epitome of international thuggery through its violation of international laws and conventions without deterrence or accountability, it seems that it has become the example which Ethiopia emulates in its present violation of international law and infraction of agreements regulating Nile Basin countries rights. As Israel relied on a series of fallacies to justify its violation of international laws and conventions, Ethiopias behaviour doesnt differ regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Perhaps the biggest Ethiopian fallacy in this regard is its denial that the River Nile is an international waterway and considering the Nile a transboundary water source. There is a huge legal difference between an international waterway and a transboundary water source of an upstream country. The Nile, which passes through 11 countries, is an international river. The river basin is a hydrological unit that is indivisible, while the source basin or the transboundary river of a country is regarded as a lake belonging to the upstream country. The international river is subject to concluded agreements between its concerned states according to international laws and the acquired rights of each state. The international law doesnt allow the construction of dams except with the consent of downstream countries. The 1997 UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes stipulates that when an upstream state intends to construct a dam on an international river, it has to obtain the consent of the potentially affected states. If they refuse, the construction of the dam should be postponed until they reach consensus over mitigating its harmful effects. In addition, one of the international legal safeguards makes the funding of these dams conditional on not being harmful to other river basin countries. Towards these safeguards, Ethiopia resorts to a flimsy ploy, saying that when Egypt has signed the Declaration of Principles on GERD in 2015, it has changed the nature of the Nile from an international waterway into a transboundary water source. This contradicts the facts of geographical resources and terrains which were made by nature -- which cant be changed by any agreement. Like Israel, Ethiopia strives to portray its crisis with Egypt and Sudan as a confrontation with an Arab bloc and sometimes with an Islamic bloc. It wants to be viewed as a victim when in fact it is the aggressor on the downstream countries Egypt and Sudan. As Israel relies in usurping Palestine on a religious myth that has it that Palestine is a land promised to the Jews by God, Ethiopia has started to resort to fabricated religious myths saying that the Blue Nile originating from Lake Tana in Ethiopia is Gods gift and it has the right to do what it pleases with its water by selling it just like other countries sell their oil. In saying this, Ethiopia ignores the fact that the Blue Nile is an original tributary of the international Nile, just like the White Nile originating in Lake Victoria in Tanzania and Uganda, which is the rivers main course. In propagating its fabricated myth, Ethiopia has used some government-loyal Islamic imams headed by Sheikh Haji Omar Idris, the general mufti and president of the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, who issued a religious edict that Ethiopia has been promised the Nile by God and that Egypt has no right to use water that doesnt originate in its land. He also stated that the Islamic Sharia stipulates that the country in which water originates has the right to use it to meet its needs then it may give it to its neighbours if it so wishes. This claim was refuted by Dar Al-Ifta of Al-Azhar based on the Prophet Mohammads saying that the flowing water isnt subject to ownership and it is a right for all humans. If the voices of some Ethiopian Islamic leaders have begun to rise recently, this has taken place after several decades of persecution. Muslims in Ethiopiahave been the most vulnerable group throughout history in spite of the fact that they are the biggest single religious group constituting 35 percent of the population. The Ethiopian government started to exploit this group in an attempt to Islamise the GERD crisis after Muslims in Ethiopia remained deprived from declaring their religious identity or practising their religious rites in public. Even the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, which the Ethiopian government has acknowledged in January 2020, had been banned in the last six decades. All the fallacies propagated by Ethiopia are refuted by the five agreements it has signed since the end of the 19th century. One shot dead in Iran water shortage protests AFP, , Saturday 17 Jul 2021 A demonstrator was shot dead during protests against water shortages in drought-hit southwestern Iran, state media reported Saturday, with an official blaming the death on "opportunists and rioters" A demonstrator was shot dead during protests against water shortages in drought-hit southwestern Iran, state media reported Saturday, with an official blaming the death on "opportunists and rioters". The demonstrator was killed in the Khuzestan province town of Shadegan, the official IRNA news agency said. The province is Iran's main oil-producing region and one of its wealthiest, but it has been hit by a persistent drought that has led to tensions since late March. "Last night (Friday), a number of Shadegan's people had gathered to protest water shortages due to the drought, during which opportunists and rioters shot dead one of the demonstrators," the county's acting governor, Omid Sabripour, told IRNA. Sabripour said the perpetrators "sought to agitate the people by shooting in the air" and a "young Shadegan resident" was shot in the process. In separate comments to the ISNA news agency, Sabripour said the fire was directed at both the demonstrators and security forces. He added that the victim was a "30-year-old passer-by" and that those responsible were identified and some arrested on Friday night, with a manhunt under way for the others. Iran has endured repeated droughts over the past decade, particularly in the south. Earlier this month, President Hassan Rouhani said this year's drought was "unprecedented" with average rainfall down 52 percent compared to the previous year. 'Insecurity' Khuzestan's governor had on Friday dismissed videos of protests across the province as "fake". "Some seek to agitate the people and publish fake videos," Qasem Soleimani-Dashtaki told IRNA. Videos on social media apparently showed protests in several Khuzestan towns, including Susangerd, Mahshahr and Hamidiyeh as well as Shadegan. Farsi-language media based abroad said security forces had cracked down on protesters demonstrating against severe water shortages on Thursday, but domestic media played down the reports. Addressing the discontent, Khuzestan MP Abdollah Izadpanah warned on Friday that "Khuzestan's insecurity means lack of security for the whole country." He blamed the water shortages on "mistakes and unjustified decisions" such as the transfer of water from Khuzestan's rivers to other provinces, ISNA reported. On Friday, the government sent a delegation to Khuzestan to address the problem. This month, rolling blackouts began in the capital Tehran and several other large cities, which officials blamed on the impact of the drought on hydroelectric power generation as well as surging demand. Power cuts in the peak summer months are not uncommon in Iran but the ongoing drought has intensified the situation. Khuzestan is home to a large Sunni Arab minority, which has frequently complained of marginalisation in mainly Shiite Iran. In 2019, the province was a hotspot of anti-government protests that had shaken other areas of the Islamic republic. Over the years, blistering summer heatwaves and seasonal sandstorms blowing in from Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Iraq have dried up Khuzestan's once fertile plains. Scientists say climate change amplifies droughts, and their intensity and frequency in turn threaten food security. https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/417339.aspx Kabul, Taliban negotiators meet in Qatar as Afghan fighting rages AFP, , Saturday 17 Jul 2021 The two sides have been meeting on and off for months in the Qatari capital, but the talks have lost momentum as the insurgents have made battlefield gains Representatives of the Afghan government and the Taliban met in Doha for talks on Saturday, AFP correspondents said, as violence rages in the country with foreign forces almost entirely withdrawn. The two sides have been meeting on and off for months in the Qatari capital, but the talks have lost momentum as the insurgents have made battlefield gains. Several high-ranking officials, including former Afghan former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah, gathered in a luxury hotel on Saturday after morning prayers. Former president Hamid Karzai had also been due to travel to Doha but remained in Kabul, according to a source. They were joined by negotiators from the Taliban's political office in Doha. "The high level delegation is here to talk to both sides, guide them and support the (government) negotiating team in terms of speeding up the talks and have progress," said Najia Anwari, the spokeswoman for the Afghan government negotiating team in Doha. "We expect that it (will) speed the talks and... in a short time, both sides will reach a result and we will witness a durable and dignified peace in Afghanistan," she told AFP. - 'Ready for dialogue' - The Taliban have capitalised on the last stages of the withdrawal of US and other foreign troops from Afghanistan to launch a series of lightning offensives across the country. "We are ready for dialogue, for talks and negotiations, and our priority is to solve the problems through dialogue," Taliban spokesman Muhamad Naeem told the Al Jazeera broadcaster ahead of Saturday's talks. "The other side must have a true and sincere will to end the problems." Talks between the government and the Taliban side led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar began with Koranic recitations, Naeem tweeted Saturday. Afghan forces clashed Friday with Taliban fighters in Spin Boldak after launching an operation to retake the key southern border crossing with Pakistan. The Taliban have also tightened their grip in the north, and battled for the stronghold of an infamous warlord. The battle at the southern border follows weeks of intensifying fighting across Afghanistan, with the Taliban pressing multiple offensives and overrunning dozens of districts at a staggering rate. Taliban onslaught As fighting raged over large swathes of Afghanistan, a war of words was also heating up between Kabul and Islamabad, after the Afghan vice president accused the Pakistani military of providing "close air support to Taliban in certain areas". Pakistan strongly denied the claim, with a foreign ministry statement saying the country "took necessary measures within its territory to safeguard our own troops and population". Islamabad had touted a conference of regional leaders to address the spiralling violence. Instead it announced it would delay the summit until after the Muslim Eid al-Adha feast, due to start next week at the end of the annual hajj pilgrimage, clearing the way for the Doha gathering. Afghanistan's southern border has long been a flashpoint in relations with its eastern neighbour. Pakistan's Balochistan province has been home to the Taliban's top leadership for decades, along with a large contingent of reserve fighters who regularly enter Afghanistan to bolster their ranks. Foreign troops have been in Afghanistan for nearly two decades following the US-led invasion launched in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. They have appeared largely out of the picture in recent months, but fears are growing that Afghan forces will be overwhelmed without the vital air support they provide. The speed and scale of the Taliban onslaught have caught many by surprise, with analysts saying it appears aimed at forcing the government to negotiate on the insurgents' terms or suffer complete military defeat. Russia's foreign minister said Friday that the US mission in Afghanistan had "failed". https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/417343.aspx France to require 24-hour negative Covid test for some European arrivals AFP, , Saturday 17 Jul 2021 Arrivals from the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece and the Netherlands will be subject to the new rule, which comes into effect at midnight Saturday into Sunday, France said Saturday it would require people not fully vaccinated and arriving from some European countries to show a negative Covid test taken within the previous 24 hours. Arrivals from the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece and the Netherlands will be subject to the new rule, which comes into effect at midnight Saturday into Sunday, Prime Minister Jean Castex said in a statement. To date, people arriving from the United Kingdom are required to show a negative test taken within the past 48 hours. Arrivals from Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, the Netherlands and Greece have had to show tests taken within 72 hours. But Castex said that people who are fully vaccinated with a jab recognised by the European Medicines Agency -- Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson -- will not be required to show a test. The statement said the exemption was in place because "vaccines are effective against the virus, and in particular its variant Delta". France will consider people fully vaccinated one week after they received they second dose of Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca, instead of 14 days previously, and 28 days after their Johnson & Johnson jab, Castex said. France will now also accept vaccination by Covishield, a copy of the AstraZeneca vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India, for its health pass. The government also said that Tunisia, Mozambique, Cuba and Indonesia will be added to France's so-called red list. Travel from red-list countries is only allowed on pressing grounds and even then vaccinated travellers must self-isolate for seven days. 'Exponential' rise in cases The new measures come as several European nations battle rising caseloads, blamed in part on the highly-transmissible Delta variant which has taken hold on the continent. New infections have ticked up in France in recent weeks, hitting nearly 11,000 on Friday, even as the government races to vaccinate the population. President Emmanuel Macron said this week that vaccine health passes would be required for entry to most public places and that all healthcare workers must be fully inoculated, sparking a rush to book appointments for the jab. Around 35.5 million people -- just over half of France's population -- have received at least one vaccine dose so far. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said this week it expects a sharp increase in coronavirus cases on the continent, with nearly five times as many new infections by August 1. In an effort to control the rising numbers, France's region of Pyrenees-Orientales will require bars, restaurants, beach venues and food shops to close at 11:00 pm from Saturday until August 2, the prefecture announced on Saturday. The move came after cases in the region shot up within a single week from 41.5 per 100,000 people to 258.8 per 100,000 people. "This exponential progression is starting to translate into an equally rising number of hospitalisations," the prefecture warned in its statement announcing the measures. The region had on Friday made masks mandatory in all public spaces except for beaches and large nature spaces and prohibited consumption of alcohol in public spaces outside of bars and restaurants. https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/417347.aspx GERD and Ethiopia's fallacies Mohamed Salmawy, , Saturday 17 Jul 2021 As Israel relied on a series of fallacies to justify its violation of international laws and conventions, Ethiopias behaviour doesnt differ regarding the GERD Everyday the difference between the attitudes of Egypts two enemies appears more stark. One of them is an eternal enemy, the other more recent. The first is Israel, which has been hostile towards Egypt since its foundation because Egypt is the biggest Arab force that constitutes the greatest obstacle in the way of the Jewish states hegemony and control of Arab countries. The second is Ethiopia, whose relations with Egypt have been fluctuating throughout history between peaceful coexistence and military confrontation. If Israel is the epitome of international thuggery through its violation of international laws and conventions without deterrence or accountability, it seems that it has become the example which Ethiopia emulates in its present violation of international law and infraction of agreements regulating Nile Basin countries rights. As Israel relied on a series of fallacies to justify its violation of international laws and conventions, Ethiopias behaviour doesnt differ regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Perhaps the biggest Ethiopian fallacy in this regard is its denial that the River Nile is an international waterway and considering the Nile a transboundary water source. There is a huge legal difference between an international waterway and a transboundary water source of an upstream country. The Nile, which passes through 11 countries, is an international river. The river basin is a hydrological unit that is indivisible, while the source basin or the transboundary river of a country is regarded as a lake belonging to the upstream country. The international river is subject to concluded agreements between its concerned states according to international laws and the acquired rights of each state. The international law doesnt allow the construction of dams except with the consent of downstream countries. The 1997 UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes stipulates that when an upstream state intends to construct a dam on an international river, it has to obtain the consent of the potentially affected states. If they refuse, the construction of the dam should be postponed until they reach consensus over mitigating its harmful effects. In addition, one of the international legal safeguards makes the funding of these dams conditional on not being harmful to other river basin countries. Towards these safeguards, Ethiopia resorts to a flimsy ploy, saying that when Egypt has signed the Declaration of Principles on GERD in 2015, it has changed the nature of the Nile from an international waterway into a transboundary water source. This contradicts the facts of geographical resources and terrains which were made by nature -- which cant be changed by any agreement. Like Israel, Ethiopia strives to portray its crisis with Egypt and Sudan as a confrontation with an Arab bloc and sometimes with an Islamic bloc. It wants to be viewed as a victim when in fact it is the aggressor on the downstream countries Egypt and Sudan. As Israel relies in usurping Palestine on a religious myth that has it that Palestine is a land promised to the Jews by God, Ethiopia has started to resort to fabricated religious myths saying that the Blue Nile originating from Lake Tana in Ethiopia is Gods gift and it has the right to do what it pleases with its water by selling it just like other countries sell their oil. In saying this, Ethiopia ignores the fact that the Blue Nile is an original tributary of the international Nile, just like the White Nile originating in Lake Victoria in Tanzania and Uganda, which is the rivers main course. In propagating its fabricated myth, Ethiopia has used some government-loyal Islamic imams headed by Sheikh Haji Omar Idris, the general mufti and president of the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, who issued a religiousedict that Ethiopia has been promised the Nile by God and that Egypt has no right to use water that doesnt originate in its land. He also stated that the Islamic Sharia stipulates that the country in which water originates has the right to use it to meet its needs then it may give it to its neighbours if it so wishes. This claim was refuted by Dar Al-Ifta of Al-Azhar based on the Prophet Mohammads saying that the flowing water isnt subject to ownership and it is a right for all humans. If the voices of some Ethiopian Islamic leaders have begun to rise recently, this has taken place after several decades of persecution. Muslims in Ethiopiahave been the most vulnerable group throughout history in spite of the fact that they are the biggest single religious group constituting 35 percent of the population. The Ethiopian government started to exploit this group in an attempt to Islamise the GERD crisis after Muslims in Ethiopia remained deprived from declaring their religious identity or practising their religious rites in public. Even the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, which the Ethiopian government has acknowledged in January 2020, had been banned in the last six decades. All the fallacies propagated by Ethiopia are refuted by the five agreements it has signed since the end of the 19th century. https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/417351.aspx KYODO NEWS - Jul 17, 2021 - 20:48 | All, World, Japan Japan plans to rebut UNESCO's recommendations that the country should do more to explain about Korean victims of wartime forced labor at its Tokyo information center on industrial sites listed as World Cultural Heritage sites, government sources said Saturday. At UNESCO's World Heritage Committee session held from Friday to July 31, Japan plans to explain that its exhibition at the Industrial Heritage Information Center on workers from Korea forced to work in the Hashima Coal Mine off Nagasaki, one of the 23 registered sites, is based on historical facts and appropriate, the sources said. As Japan is not a member of this term's 21-nation committee, it cannot be involved in discussions or adoptions of documents. But Kenko Sone, the Foreign Ministry's director general for cultural affairs, plans to attend the online session as an observer and expects to be requested to speak on the matter, the sources said. A feud over wartime labor and compensation has caused Japan-South Korea relations to sink to their lowest point in decades, even as the two Asian neighbors need to cooperate in addressing issues such as North Korean nuclear and missile threats. South Korea has criticized the exhibits at the information center for falling short in explanations about the Korean victims of forced labor during Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula between 1910 and 1945. A South Korean civic group said Friday it strongly supports the recommendations, claiming exhibits at the facility lack explanations about the victims. The recommendations by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, released Monday, following its inspection of the center that opened last year may be adopted around next Thursday during the session. When the "Site of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution" was added to the World Cultural Heritage list in 2015, Japan promised that it would explain the situation surrounding the Korean wartime workers, based on an understanding that they were "brought against their will and forced to work under harsh conditions." At the committee's session, Japan plans to say that it is "sincerely" making good on that promise, the sources said. UNESCO said in its report assessing the center that "measures to allow an understanding of those brought against their will and forced to work are currently insufficient." The body recognized that the center contains a variety of research material relating to the lives of workers, including oral testimonies, but said "there is no display that could be characterized as adequately serving the purpose of remembering the victims." South Korea had initially opposed adding the Hashima Coal Mine, also known as "Battleship Island," and other locations to the World Cultural Heritage list under "Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution," saying Koreans were forced to work at some sites. But it dropped its opposition on condition that Japan publicly acknowledges that Koreans were coerced to work at such sites. However, Tokyo and Seoul have been at odds over the definition of forced labor. Related coverage: South Korea group supports UNESCO's urge on Japan over forced labor KYODO NEWS - Jul 17, 2021 - 11:59 | All, Japan The foreign ministers of Japan and Guatemala, which has diplomatic relations with Taiwan, agreed in a meeting in Guatemala City on Friday to cooperate in upholding open and rule-based international order as tensions continue to rise across the Taiwan Strait. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi's meeting with his Guatemalan counterpart Pedro Brolo came as China has been increasing its clout through COVID-19 vaccine diplomacy and infrastructure investments with Central American and Caribbean nations. Guatemala and eight other countries in the region maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Communist China and democratic Taiwan have been separately governed since they split in 1949 as a result of a civil war. Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province awaiting reunification, by force if necessary. "I hope to further strengthen the bilateral partnership with Guatemala," which shares universal values such as the rule of law, democracy and the respect for human rights, Motegi said at the start of the meeting. Motegi later said in a joint press conference he and Brolo shared a view that strengthening their countries' ties is important especially when the international power balance is rapidly changing and becoming more complex. Brolo said in the press conference that Japan-Guatemala relations are strategic and that there is room for growth in bilateral trade. Motegi also announced the provision of $2.8 million in emergency aid to Guatemala to assist in its reconstruction from hurricane damage last year. The Japanese minister also held talks with the foreign ministers of the Central American Integration System -- an eight-country regional bloc that aims to boost economic integration -- of which Guatemala currently holds the rotating chair. The ministers, some of whom participated remotely, discussed pandemic response, disaster prevention, poverty and climate change, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said. The bloc members showed their understanding toward the Japanese government's decision to release treated radioactive waters from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant to the Pacific Ocean, according to the ministry. In a separate meeting in Guatemala City, Salvadoran Foreign Minister Alexandra Hill told Motegi the country is eager to deepen its ties with Japan in addressing global issues and thanked the Asian country's support in the fields of poverty, public safety, infrastructure development and human resource development. Motegi held telephone talks with Rodolfo Solano, Costa Rican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship who thanked Japan for its assistance in counter-coronavirus measures including medical equipment supply. The Japanese minister will also visit Panama and Jamaica before returning to Japan. His planned trip to Cuba on Monday was canceled, Cuban and Japanese officials said. There have been a series of anti-government protests in Cuba recently. The latest tour follows Motegi's visits in January to the Latin American countries of Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Paraguay and Uruguay. His visit to Guatemala marked the first such trip to the country by a Japanese foreign minister in 34 years, the Japanese ministry said. KYODO NEWS - Jul 16, 2021 - 17:17 | Sports, News, All The Japanese government has asked airlines to halt new bookings by the general public for flights arriving in Japan during the period when arrivals of athletes and delegation officials for the Tokyo Olympics increase, according to sources close to the matter. With one week to go until the start of the Tokyo Olympics, the transport ministry is seeking to limit the number of arrivals to smoothly conduct coronavirus testing and other border controls at five Japanese airports to prevent the spread of COVID-19, they said. Arrivals of visitors related to the Olympics are expected to peak on Sunday, they said. The ministry has requested airlines to stop accepting new bookings for flights arriving at the five airports -- Tokyo's Haneda, Narita near the capital, Chubu in central Japan, Kansai in western Japan, and Fukuoka in southwestern Japan -- during busy times of the day from last Sunday to next Thursday, the sources said. During especially congested times, even bookings for visitors related to the Olympics may be halted, while transit passengers are exempted from the request. If there is an increase in reservations during the busy period despite the request to halt new bookings, the ministry may ask airlines for the reason and demand that they be canceled if it deems the airlines were not following the request. The latest initiative comes as the government has said it will restrict the average number of new daily arrivals in the country to 2,000 as a step to tighten coronavirus border controls. Based on the reservation status, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism expects the number of arrivals to reach the daily upper limit in July and August. It has asked foreign airlines to curb the number of passengers per flight to 40 or below, excluding those in transit and related to the Summer Games, until the end of August. For Japanese airlines, the ministry has asked them to restrict the number to 3,400 passengers a week. KYODO NEWS - Jul 17, 2021 - 13:26 | All, Coronavirus, Japan Foreign luxury cars priced at more than 10 million yen ($90,830) in Japan are becoming popular among wealthy people who cannot travel abroad amid the coronavirus pandemic and who are willing to spend money on the back of higher global share prices. Domestic sales of luxury foreign-brand vehicles such as Italy's Ferrari and Britain's Bentley hit record highs in June since 1988, when comparable data became available, industry data showed. The trend clearly contrasts with worsening living conditions for some people, including part-time and nonregular workers, as the spread of the coronavirus dealt a blow to employment in the service and other business sectors. Sales of foreign-made luxury passenger cars priced at 10 million yen or more surged 60.9 percent to 3,336 units in June from a year earlier, exceeding the previous year's level every month since the beginning of this year, according to the Japan Automobile Importers Association. Sales in 2020 were also solid, increasing 0.5 percent from the previous year to 22,712 units, even though the economy was significantly damaged by the coronavirus pandemic. Last month, sales of Ferrari jumped 80.6 percent from a year earlier to 121 units, while those of Bentley expanded 23.9 percent to 83 units. Sales of Germany's BMW Alpina more than tripled from a year earlier, while those of Britain's Aston Martin more than doubled and Britain's Land Rover climbed 90.1 percent, all of them logging their highest sales for June, according to the association. Industry officials expect such luxury cars will continue to see brisk sales for the time being, with one European automaker seeing the ratio of new customers increase to more than 50 percent from some 30 percent before the pandemic. Among cars produced by Bentley, the sport utility vehicle Bentayga, which has a price tag of 22.69 million yen and which underwent complete overhaul last June is drawing popularity. "I expect the car to log the highest sales ever by volume for the year as well," a company official said. KYODO NEWS - Jul 17, 2021 - 22:41 | All, World, Japan Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Koichi Aiboshi has reprimanded his deputy Hirohisa Soma for making an "extremely inappropriate remark" during a conversation with a local media reporter, the Japanese Embassy in Seoul said Saturday. The announcement came after South Korean broadcaster JTBC reported the previous day that a high-level Japanese Embassy official told one of its reporters that South Korean President Moon Jae In is in a tug-of-war only with himself over frayed ties between Japan and South Korea, using a sexually explicit expression. The embassy said Soma, who serves as its deputy chief of mission, admitted to Aiboshi that he had indeed made the remark as reported. It also said Soma had retracted his remark on the spot. South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong Kun called Aiboshi in on Saturday to protest at his deputy's "rude" remark, and asked that the Japanese government take "visible" steps to prevent a similar incident, according to the South Korean Foreign Ministry. The ministry said the ambassador conveyed his regret to the minister and said he will report Seoul's request to the Japanese government. As the incident turns into a diplomatic case between the two neighbors, local media reported that there is speculation Seoul is calling for Soma to be sent back to Japan. The incident came as Moon is considering visiting Japan to attend the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics next Friday and hold talks with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on the sidelines. Frustration is said to be growing within the South Korean government about the Japanese government's reluctance to agree to formal summit talks between Moon and Suga, a condition set for the president's visit. Japan and South Korea have not held summit talks since December 2019, when Suga's predecessor Shinzo Abe and Moon met. Suga and Moon merely exchanged greetings at a Group of Seven summit event in Britain in June. Japan-South Korea relations remain strained due largely to a feud over wartime compensation. Related coverage: South Korea regrets "leak" of consultations about Moon's Japan visit Moon may visit Tokyo for Olympic opening, minister suggests Japan in talks for South Korea president to attend Olympics ceremony By Ami Takahashi, KYODO NEWS - Jul 16, 2021 - 11:35 | All, Japan, Coronavirus False claims and misinformation about vaccines on social media are undermining young people's trust in COVID-19 vaccines in Japan, imperiling the government's efforts to finish large-scale inoculations by November as it pursues herd immunity. Myths such as "vaccination causes infertility" and "coronavirus vaccines using messenger RNA change your DNA" have been widely spread, and anti-vaccination posts are rampant on Facebook and Twitter. "There is absolutely no scientific evidence that the coronavirus vaccines will cause infertility," Taro Kono, the minister in charge of Japan's inoculation effort, said on his blog last month. He said "vaccine hoaxes" have been spreading around the world and Japan is no exception. He urged the public to be wary of disinformation. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists "recommends that pregnant individuals have access to COVID-19 vaccines" and that "claims linking COVID-19 vaccines to infertility are unfounded and have no scientific evidence supporting them." The Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as well as the Japan Society for Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology also say the advantages of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the disadvantages for pregnant women. The Japanese health ministry says there have been no reports of coronavirus vaccines affecting reproductive functions. Kono's blog is overseen by a group of some 30 doctors and experts who founded a project called "COV-Navi" with an aim of providing comprehensible information on the efficacy and side effects of coronavirus vaccines. "In the past few weeks, we have been receiving a lot of questions from people regarding false information about vaccines," said Tomoya Kurokawa, a doctor at Chiba University Hospital who also administers COV-Navi. When vaccinations started at workplaces and universities in late June, more people looked up vaccination information online and came across hoaxes that fueled anxiety, Kurokawa said. "Many young people are hesitant toward getting vaccinated because they think they will not fall seriously ill from COVID-19, thinking there's no point of inoculation," Kurokawa said, but warned the disease could cause long-term effects for people of all ages. In a recent survey by Kyushu Bunka Gakuen, which operates private schools and universities in southwestern Japan prefecture of Nagasaki, a total of 388, or 45.9 percent, of the 846 high school students consulted said they would be vaccinated "if it is compulsory." Meanwhile, 110 students, or 13.0 percent, said they would prefer not to get vaccinated. The survey, conducted in early June, also showed 137 students, or 16.2 percent, said they would get inoculated while 34, or 4.1 percent, responded they would "never" get vaccinated. Among the reasons for not wanting the vaccination, 59.1 percent of those who were against getting a shot cited "a fear of side effects," followed by "questionable" effectiveness of vaccines at 13.4 percent. A spokesman for the school said, "Perhaps, conflicting information from the internet and people around (the students) is increasing their sense of insecurity (about vaccination)." The governor of Tokyo, where a fresh state of emergency has been recently been declared and the highest cumulative number of coronavirus cases has been reported in Japan, also expressed concerns. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said in a regular press conference last week both correct and incorrect information has been circulating on social media and that "the diffusion of the correct knowledge about vaccines" is necessary among young people to speed up the inoculation program. Japan has recently been accelerating its vaccine rollout, extending the program to younger people after starting with health care workers and people aged 65 or older. In a separate survey of about 11,800 people by a state-backed institute, 80.6 percent of the respondents aged 65 or older said they plan to get inoculated, while about 17.5 percent of those aged between 18 and 29 said they plan not to get vaccinated, according to the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry. The survey, which was conducted over three periods from October 2020 with the latest round carried finishing in May this year, showed that younger age groups are tending to be less open to vaccination. "Promoting vaccination across all generations will require finding ways to motivate younger people to get vaccinated," RIETI researchers wrote. Chiba University Hospital's Kurokawa said, "It is important to make a decision on whether to get vaccinated after having understood the correct information about vaccines." "I'm not saying there is zero risk associated with the coronavirus vaccines, just like any other vaccines or medications, but the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks," he said. Related coverage: Japan's COVID-19 vaccine czar pumps brakes amid supply crunch COVID-19 infections in Tokyo hit 6-month high as post-Olympics surge feared Olympians may break quarantine to compete if pre-event test negative New Delhi: The SC/ST, other minorities and the rights of the backwards are absolutely safe under the Modi government, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Monday. Minority Affairs Minister Naqvi also stated that a war is going on between those who are working towards nations progress and those having a feudal mindset. The rights of backwards, SC/STs, minorities and other weaker sections are absolutely safe and secure under the the Modi government, Naqvi said in a statement from his office. Criticising the opposition parties, the minister said that some out of power people with a midnight political conspiracy and legacy of corruption were against the development process. Naqvi further added that the government would not allow such people to succeed. The statement comes days after Congress President Rahul Gandhi-led midnight match in the national capital to protest the Kathua and Unnao rape cases, but the statement did not elaborate his midnight political conspiracy remark. The comments come after Dalit organisation, protested a Supreme Court verdict, which according to them had diluted some provisions of the SC/ST act. Naqvi claimed that the government had done record works for the development of the weaker sections of the society during the last four years. Security and rights given to SC/STs and minorities in the Constitution of the country will not be allowed to weaken in any manner. Also, the government has taken measures to provide constitutional security to the empowerment of the backward classes, Naqvi said. The government will not allow any disruptive, divisive, undemocratic and anti-development politics to dominate our commitment to inclusive growth, he added. Naqvi also alleged that the opposition parties were "unable to digest" the nation's all round progress. He further claimed that some are engaged in a "conspiracy" to disturb the atmosphere of trust and development created by Modi among all sections of the society. The prime minister is a man of strong commitment to inclusive growth. Every negative act and conspiracy against the agenda of development will be defeated, the minister said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Amid the deteriorating ties between the superpowers, Russia has announced that it was planning a major response to the US after Donald Trump ordered fresh sanctions against Kremlin. The Putin government has drafted a bill suspending cooperation with US companies in the nuclear, missile and aircraft-building spheres, italicised Russia Today. Russian lawmakers are also mulling to introduce restrictions on imports of alcohol and tobacco produced in the US. Earlier in April, the White House added 38 Russian entrepreneurs, senior officials and companies to its sanctions list for the countrys malign activity taking place across the world. At least, we are giving an adequate reply to the United States of America. We are stopping the cooperation with the USA in three very important spheres: the nuclear industry, the aircraft building industry and the rocket engine industry, said Sergey Mironov, head of the Fair Russia party. The move comes amid the growing tensions between the two superpowers over the US-led strikes in three Syrian cities in response to a suspected deadly chemical attack in the town of Douma. Also Read | US attacks Syria: Donald Trump thanks France, UK, tweets 'Mission Accomplished' The strikes miffed Syrias ally Russia and the country warned the US, UK and France of the consequences. We are being threatened. We warned that such actions will not be left without consequences. All responsibility for them rests with Washington, London and Paris, said Russian Embassy in the US. Meanwhile, Trump has issued a fresh warning to the Syrian government and said that the US was locked and loaded to strike again if the country carries out new chemical attacks. Russia took the matter to the United Nations and brought the UN Security Council vote seeking condemnation of the US-led strikes in Syria. However, the vote was rejected by the council. During the UN Security Council emergency meeting held on Saturday, Russia and US envoys indulged in a bitter exchange. Russias UN envoy, Vassily Nebenzia accused the US and its allies of hooliganism and cynical disdain after they acted without waiting for the results of an investigation into the Douma incident. Responding to the Russian envoys allegations, US envoy Nikki Haley said the strikes were justified, legitimate and proportionate. Haley said, We cannot stand by and let Russia trash every international norm and allow use of chemical weapons to go unanswered. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday left for a five-day visit to Sweden and the United Kingdom, where he will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Ahead of his visit, Modi said he was looking forward to deepening bilateral engagement with both the countries in a number of areas, including trade, investment and clean energy. In the first leg of his visit, Modi will reach Sweden's capital Stockholm where he will hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, besides attending a India-Nordic Summit. "India and Sweden share warm and friendly ties. Our partnership is based on democratic values and commitment to an open, inclusive and rule-based global order. Sweden is a valuable partner in our development initiatives," Modi said in a departure statement last night. The two prime ministers will hold bilateral talks on Tuesday. Modi said he and Lofven would also interact with top business leaders of both the countries and chart out a future roadmap of cooperation in sectors such as trade and investment, science and technology, clean energy and smart cities. The Prime Minister said he would also call on Sweden King Carl XVI Gustaf. India and Sweden will also jointly organise the India-Nordic Summit in Stockholm tomorrow. The summit is scheduled to be attended by the Prime Ministers of Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland. From Sweden, Modi will later tomorrow travel to the UK where he will also attend the CHOGM, besides holding bilateral talks with his British counterpart Theresa May. "My visit to London presents another opportunity for both countries to infuse fresh momentum to this growing bilateral engagement. I will be focusing on enhancing India-UK partnership in the areas of healthcare, innovation, digitisation, electric mobility, clean energy, and cyber security," the prime minister said. "Under the theme of 'Living Bridge', I will also have the opportunity to meet people from various walks of life who have enriched the multi-faceted India-UK relationship," he said. Modi would also call on the Queen, interact briefly with CEOs of the two nations who are working on a new agenda of economic partnership, launch an Ayurveda Centre of Excellence in London, and welcome the UK into the International Solar Alliance, as its newest member. On April 19 and 20, Modi will participate in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting being hosted by the UK which will take over as the new Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth from Malta. "The Commonwealth is a unique multilateral grouping that not only provides useful assistance to its developing country members, particularly the small states and small-island developing states, but also has a strong international voice for development issues," Modi had said. The External Affairs Ministry had on Saturday said Modi would also meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a brief stopover in Berlin on April 20 after concluding his visits to Sweden and the United Kingdom. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A special NIA court in Hyderabad is expected to pronounce on Monday the judgment in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case in which nine people were killed. The fourth additional metropolitan sessions and special court for NIA cases had concluded the trial and last week posted the case for judgment on April 16. The blast at the historic Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad on May 18, 2007 during Friday prayers had also left 58 others injured. After initial investigation by the local police, the case was transferred to the Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI), which filed a charge sheet. Subsequently, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the case from the CBI in 2011. Ten people allegedly belonging to right-wing organisations were named as accused in the case. However, only five of them Devendra Gupta, Lokesh Sharma, Swami Aseemanand alias Naba Kumar Sarkar, Bharat Mohanlal Rateshwar alias Bharat Bhai and Rajendra Chowdhary were arrested and faced trial in the case. Two other accused Sandeep V Dange and Ramchandra Kalsangra are absconding while another accused Sunil Joshi died. Investigations were continuing against two other accused. A total of 226 witnesses were examined during the trial and as many as 411 documents were exhibited. Swami Aseemanand and Bharat Mohanlal Rateshwar are out on bail while three others are lodged in the central prison in Hyderabad under judicial remand. In March 2017, a court in Rajasthan had sentenced Gupta and another convict to life in jail in the Ajmer Dargah blast case. LIVE updates: # 12: 11 AM: Namapally Court acquits all ten people allegdly having alliance to right-wing organisations. # 10:47 AM: Visuals of the accused being brought to District Court # 10:09 AM: Meeca Masjid blast verdict: Accused Aseemanand brought to Namapally Court For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Asaduddin Owaisis party All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has decided to not contest the upcoming Karnataka Assembly Elections 2018 reportedly. The report comes days after the party had announced that it will contest in the Karnataka polls. As per reports, the party feels that its participation could hamper the vote bank of the secular parties contesting the elections and can give a negative effect to the votes of the contesting parties. The Karnataka polls are scheduled to be held in a single-phase on May 12, while the counting will take place on May 15. The Hyderabad MP had earlier said that the country is fed up with both the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, and its time for a third front to come up. Owaisi said, ..people of the country are fed up with BJP governance and Congress is not a viable option, neither it can become one. The BJP, last week, had announced its first list of 72 candidates for the Karnataka Assembly Elections. The party Central Election Committee, in a statement, said, The central election committee of the party has decided the first 72 names for the ensuing Karnataka legislative assembly elections. Also Read: Owaisi-led AIMIM to contest Karnataka Assembly Elections Meanwhile, the BJP had staged a protest against Congress in the state for a statement by the Congress state unit working president Dinesh Gundu Rao against the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The BJP alleged Raos remarks as inciting. Rao had called Adityanath a disgrace to Indian politics. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned the Russian government of nice and smart missile attack on Syria in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack which killed at last 40 people. Trumps warning comes after the Russian government issued warnings to the US against the military strikes in Syria. Trump wrote on Twitter, Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and smart! You shouldnt be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it! Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and smart! You shouldnt be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2018 There were no further details of what the strike would look like, or what kind of missiles will be used. The tweet came after the Trump administration had consulted Russia over a possible joint military response to Syrias chemical gas attack. President Trump had cancelled a foreign trip to manage the Syrian crisis. However, the Russian lawmakers have warned the US that a possible airstrike on Syria will be seen as a war crime, which could instigate a direct military clash between the two former Cold War nations. Russias ambassador to Lebanon said, Any missiles fired at Syria would be shot down. Also Read| Syria: Chemical gas attack kills at least 70, President Trump blames Russia, Iran President Emmanuel Macron said France, the US, and Britain will decide collectively on how to respond in the coming days. Macron had called for a strong and joint response to the attack on Syrian city Douma on Saturday in which at least 40 people were killed. Meanwhile, the French President does not need a parliamentary permission to launch a military operation as it is already involved with the US-led coalition, which was created in 2014 to fight the Islamic State (IS). On the other hand, Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, told reporters that he and Trump see eye to eye on the Syria issue. The Emir said, We cannot tolerate with a war criminal. This matter should end immediately. Qatar hosts the US main air operations centre for the Middle East. In response to Trumps tweet, Moscow government had said they should target terrorists and not legitimate government in Syria. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday accepted the resignations of the two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ministers who were present at the rally organised on April 9. Chandra Prakash Ganga and Lal Singh, two BJP ministers had participated in a rally which supported the people who were involved in raping and murdering an eight-year-old girl in Kathua district. BJP state chief Sat Sharma received the resignations of both the ministers on Sunday morning, who forwarded them to Mufti, who later, accepted the resignations and passed them on to the state governor for further action. The two ministers had resigned following accusations of supporting the culprits. However, defending themselves of the accusation, Lal Singh said that he resigned on moral grounds. Singh said, I gave resignation on moral values. If someone is hurt because of me, I have no right to remain in that post, that is why I resigned. I also said that one must live by their conscience, and my conscience did not approve that violence and riots are caused just for the resignation of two ministers. I have done nothing but I resigned so that there's no violence in the country. Singh also demanded for a CBI investigation into the heinous crime, saying that only an investigation will bring out the truth to the fore front. The recent investigation into the incident gave horrific details of the crime and the accused were arrested, which triggered a massive protest march in the state in support of the accused. A group of lawyers also tried to stop the police from filing a charge sheet against the accused. Meanwhile, the whole issue started a blame game between the BJP and the Congress. The BJP, in their Sunday conference, slammed the Congress and asked them to take an action against the state party chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir for saying the investigation into the incident was motivated. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said, Mir had made a statement that the local population thinks that the culprits in the Kathua rape case are still out and the investigation is motivated and they are trying to dilute the case. Mir is trying to politicise the case by instilling doubt in the public's mind about the investigation. Also Read| Kathua Rape-Murder Case: What we know so far Javadekar added, We took action and two of our ministers resigned, but now I want to ask Rahul Ji that he takes out candle march at night, then why does he not take action against his own state president? Javadekar also demanded an apology from Ghulam Nabi Azad over his former polling agent and Jammu Bar Association President BS Slathias attempt to stop the filing of the charge sheet. Javadekar openly slammed Rahul Gandhi and Congress, and said, Why was he silent on the atrocities on Dalits and women in an inter-caste violence in Mirchpur village of Haryana during Congress rule? The Congress had done nothing in 10 years when it was in power. They are trying to defame the BJP. They can't compete with us in the election, so they are using these tricks. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A massive fire at a camp of the Rohingya refugees in southeast Delhi's Kalindi Kunj area on Sunday rendered at least 228 of them homeless, police said. The fire broke out at around 3.30am due to a short circuit in the electrical wiring system in the camp and spread rapidly, police said. As many as 44 shanties were gutted in the blaze. No casualties were reported. A fire department official said 11 fire tenders were rushed to the camp and it took them three hours to douse the fire. Police teams were sent to the camp to assist the fire-fighters in the rescue operation. All the Rohingya occupants of the camp have been moved safely to a temporary settlement, police said. A forensic team and officials from power discom BSES visited the camp to ascertain the cause of the fire. The Rohingya are an ethnic group, the majority of whom are Muslim, who have lived for centuries in the Buddhist-majority Myanmar. Myanmar has denied them citizenship since 1982, effectively rendering them stateless. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A state-wide bandh has begun in Andhra Pradesh on Monday called by the Andhra Pradesh Pratyeka Hoda Saadhana Samiti over the demand of Special Status for the state. The opposition parties such as the YSR Congress (YSRC), Congress and the Left parties have extended support to the shutdown call, but the ruling TDP has opposed it. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which has been agitating for the Special Category Status and implementation of the provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act, has opposed it and not taking part in the protest. Reportedly, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation buses to operate only till Andhra Pradesh state border on Monday due to the statewide bandh. Live updates: # 09:16 AM: Tirupati: Motorcycle set ablaze near RTC bus stand during statewide bandh called in #AndhraPradesh over the demand of #SpecialStatus for the state # 07:22 AM: West Godavari: Early morning visuals of the statewide bandh called in Andhra Pradesh over the demand of #SpecialStatus for the state. Opposition parties have extended support to the bandh called by Andhra Pradesh Pratyeka Hoda Saadhana Samiti. # 07:19 AM: Statewide bandh called by Andhra Pradesh Pratyeka Hoda Saadhana Samiti over demand of #SpecialStatus for the state. Opposition parties such as YSR Congress Party, Congress & Left parties have extended support to bandh. Early morning visuals from Anantpur. # 06:54 AM: Opposition parties such as YSR Congress Party, Congress and Left parties have extended support to the bandh. Visuals from Vijayawada. # 06:46 AM: Andhra Pradesh Pratyeka Hoda Saadhana Samiti called for a statewide bandh today over #SpecialStatus for the state. Opposition parties such as YSR Congress Party, Congress and Left parties have extended support to the bandh. # 06:25 AM: Opposition parties such as YSR Congress Party, Congress and Left parties have extended support to the bandh. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: An FIR has been registered against the rape accused Kuldeep Sengar on Thursday, confirmed SO Rajesh Singh to ANI. The case has been filed at the Makhi police station in Unnao. The case has been registered under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (including Section 376 for rape) and POCSO Act. Unnao rape accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar asked the police on Wednesday night in Lucknow to call him if there was an arrest warrant. "When there is an arrest warrant, call me,. Sengar reached the Lucknow SSP's office at midnight and told reporters he was being framed. I just came here to prove that I have done no wrong and would be here anytime the police wants me, he told reporters as he was leaving. WATCH: Scuffle between media persons and supporters of Unnao BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Senger outside SSP office in Lucknow. pic.twitter.com/jxJevmRmj4 ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 11, 2018 In a midnight drama that unfolded after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah returned to the national capital from Lucknow, the rape-accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar reached the Senior Superintendent of Police's (SSP) office with two dozens supporters in tow. When confronted by the media, the MLA said that he had come to enquire whether his name had appeared in any of the First Information Reports (FIRs). ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 11, 2018 "Hum to ye pata lagaane aaye the ki kahin hamara naam kisi FIR me hai ya nahi (I just came to find out whether I was named in any FIR)," he said. Sengar showed up at the SSP's office at around 11.40 pm. The case has been transferred to CBI: Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar #UnnaoCase pic.twitter.com/6pWfRmmmVW ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 12, 2018 He told media persons that naming him an "absconder" was not fair. On their way back, Sengar and his aides got into a scuffle with reporters. In Unnao, about 50 kilometres from Lucknow, four-time BJP MLA Sengar and his brothers allegedly gang-raped an 18-year-old girl. ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 11, 2018 Also Read: Unnao Rape Case: CBI to take over probe against BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar Live Updates: # 01:39 PM:Allahabad High Court asks state govt counsel, "Why has the MLA not been arrested yet?' Seeks reply post lunch. # 11:38 AM: Still so many questions are being raised on me, even after my father's murder. How will I get justice? CBI probe is fine but first MLA(#KuldeepSinghSengar) should be arrested as he will influence probe, I now fear for my uncle's(father's brother) life. ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 12, 2018 # 10:22 AM: Nobody is defending him(#KuldeepSinghSengar), all we are saying is that we have to hear both sides. Now case has been given to CBI, they will decide on arrest: OP Singh,UP DGP. ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 12, 2018 # 10:14 AM:The case has been transferred to CBI: Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 12, 2018 # 10:05 AM: Narco test should be done of Kuldeep Singh Sengar &complainant, truth will be out then. If MLA found guilty punish him, but I have heard this same girl had filed a false rape case against a man some years back,man had to spend 6 months in jail: BJP Bairia MLA Surendra Singh ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 12, 2018 # 09:31 AM: FIR copy # 09:15 AM: Yes we are happy that finally an FIR has been registered against #KuldeepSinghSengar , had this been done much earlier, my brother(victim's father) would be alive today. Still, lets see if he will be arrested or not: Uncle of victim ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 12, 2018 # 09:09 AM: FIR was registered against BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Senger under sections 363, 366, 376 ,506 and POCSO act. # 08:37 AM: An FIR has been registered against BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Senger,confirms Police SO Rajesh Singh The victim later attempted suicide outside Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath's residence in Lucknow on Sunday, demanding justice. Sengar and accomplices are also accused in the custodial death of the victim's father. A special investigation team (SIT) formed to probe the alleged rape and the victim's father's death reportedly found serious lapses by police and doctors in Unnao. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The family of the Unnao gang-rape victim on Sunday said that some goons of the accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar were threatening the villagers to keep quiet. The family also claimed that two of their family members were missing for the last two days. Some goons of Kuldeep Sengar are threatening villagers to keep quiet. Yesterday they went there in two cars and threatened them to keep quiet or leave the village. Two people are missing, said victims uncle. BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar is accused of raping a 16-year-old girl in Uttar Pradeshs Unnao district. The case came to the media limelight after the victim tried to self-immolate herself outside Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths residence in Lucknow. Under pressure, Uttar Pradesh government handed over the case to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which later arrested Sengar for questioning. The MLA, however, told CBI during the investigation that he was in Kanpur on June 7, 2017, the day he was alleged to have committed the rape. Sengar was sent to the CBI custody for seven days by a Lucknow Court on Saturday. The agency said it needed Sengars custody to question him at length. The CBI will also take him to Unnao to reconstruct the scene of the crime. Also Read | Unnao rape case: MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar sent to seven-day CBI custody Apart from Sengar, CBI has also arrested one Shashi Singh, the 52-year-old woman who allegedly lured the victim to the BJP MLAs house on the day of the crime. According to the CBI sources, Singh has also claimed that she was in Kanpur with her husband on the day the alleged rape incident took place. The 17-year-old teenager alleged that BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar along with his brother Atul Singh Sengar and other people gang-raped her at his residence on June 4, 2017. After filing of the case, the victims father was booked by the police under the Arms Act on April 3 this year and kept under police custody on April 5. Frustrated with the alleged inaction and coercion from powerful people, the victim attempted self-immolation in front of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths residence on April 8 which made headlines. The next day, her father died in jail with post-mortem report suggesting serious injuries on his body. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. A total of 450,000 Covid vaccine doses have been destroyed in nine African countries, a World Health Organization (WHO) official has said. The WHO Africa's immunisation programme manager, Dr Richard Mihigo, says delayed shipment of the AstraZeneca vaccines, which is widely used in the continent, is to blame for this. These vaccines are not necessarily wasted. They arrived with a very short shelf life that was very difficult to deploy at the end of the day, he said. The countries that destroyed vaccines are Malawi, South Sudan, Liberia, Mauritania, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Comoros, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Malawi was the first country to publicly destroy vaccine doses on 19 May. The health minister said that it needed to be done to show public trust. There is no country that has tried to lose vaccines for the sake of it, Dr Mihigo said. To avoid wastage, countries are being urged to use up vaccines immediately they are delivered. They are also being urged to carry out sensitisation campaigns alongside mass vaccination campaigns so that communities can know the importance of getting vaccinated. Out of a population of 1.2 billion people, only eight million Africans have been vaccinated. South African says riots over Zuma jailing pre-planned Belgium takes back mothers and children from Syria jihadist camps Rescuers race to find survivors as hundreds remain missing after Europe floods Biden Comments: Social medias 'killing people' with misinformation In many countries around the world, the possibility of a third wave has intensified amid the re-increasing cases of corona virus. The whole world was still disturbed by the dangerous epidemic that in the midst of all this, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday added to the public concern. According to the CDC, a serious case of 'monkeypox infection' has been reported in the US city of Texas. Earlier in 2003, monkeypox outbreak was observed in some districts of the US. According to reports shared by the CDC, the man in whom Monkeypox has been confirmed had recently travelled from Nigeria to the US. According to officials, many other persons who came under contact with the infected person may also be at risk of infection, which is being investigated. According to health experts, the rare monkeypox virus, the chickenpox virus, is associated with the family. Its virus can also be very serious. The virus can be identified on the basis of large donations on the body of an infected person. What is Monkeypox Infection? According to WHO, monkeypox infection cases were first reported in humans in 1970. The virus has been confirmed in 11 African countries since then. This is the first case in 2021, 18 years after the cases of monkeypox infection were confirmed in the US in 2003 outside African countries. According to reports, the infection spread to the US in 2003 due to exposure to pet dogs imported from Ghana. Such cases are not confirmed in Asian countries including India. Health experts point out that monkeypox infection spreads to humans due to exposure to blood, bodily fluids or skin injuries of infected animals. Experts do not have clear information about which animal the infection is originally associated with. Is Maharashtra really ready for the third wave of corona or is it a hollow claim by CM Uddhav? Delhi Airport's T2 terminal to reopen from this day Two doses of corona vaccine prevent 95 percent deaths... ICMR study reveals BRUSSELS: An upsetting flash floods due to intense rainfalls have swept through several western European countries in the past few days, killing more than 120 people, while many others remain missing, according to local authorities. The federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate were hit particularly hard, with 43 people and 60 people killed respectively. A large number of people are still missing. The district of Ahrweiler alone currently estimates about 1,300 missing people, while around 3,500 are being treated in care facilities. Germany's Ministry of Defence has issued a military disaster alert on Friday, deploying more than 850 soldiers for rescue work and the number is increasing. In Belgium, a national day of mourning has been set for July 20 for the victims of the severe weather in recent days. In Germany, where the death toll now stands at over 100, Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a determined battle against climate change. At least 20 people have died in Belgium. The Netherlands, Luxembourg and Switzerland are also affected. Many factors contribute to flooding, but a warming atmosphere caused by climate change makes extreme rainfall more likely. will Britain have lockdown again? More than 50,000 corona patients found Pakistan and Uzbekistan sign strategic partnership deal to boost bilateral trade South African says riots over Zuma jailing pre-planned KABUL: Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani says intelligence estimates indicate the influx of over 10,000 jihadi fighters from Pakistan and other places into Afghanistan in the past month, while Islamabad had failed to convince the Taliban to participate "seriously" in the peace talks. Addressing an international conference in Uzbekistan on Friday, the president lashed out at Pakistan for aiding the Taliban and other terrorist outfits. According to the Kabul Times report, Ghani made the remarks on Friday while addressing the Central and South Asia connectivity conference held in Tashkent, with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan also in attendance. "Contrary to repeated assurances by Prime Minister Khan and his Generals that Pakistan does not find a Taliban takeover in Afghanistan in Pakistan's interest and fell short of use of force and its power and influence to make the Taliban negotiate seriously, networks and organizations supporting the Taliban are openly celebrating the destruction of the assets and capabilities of the Afghan people and State," Ghani said. The President said that Afghanistan was ready to counter the Taliban and their supporters as long as they realise that a political solution is the only way forward. Europe Catastrophic floods: At least 120 dead, many still missing will Britain have lockdown again? More than 50,000 corona patients found Pakistan and Uzbekistan sign strategic partnership deal to boost bilateral trade Pakistani and Uzbekistan have inked a strategic partnership agreement, pledging to boost bilateral trade volume by five times. The agreement was signed on Friday by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who jointly hosted a bilateral business forum on regional connectivity, according to reports. With this agreement, they are vowed to expand multifaceted bilateral cooperation to all areas of mutual interest and stressed the need for resolution of the Afghanistan conflict through internal political process imperative for peace and progress of the whole region. Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements with a total worth of USD 500 million have been signed to strengthen cooperation in diverse areas, including transit trade and the simplification of visa procedures for businessmen and tourists. PM Khan, while addressing the business forum, expressed the hope that Pakistans connectivity (through rail, road and aviation) with Uzbekistan in trade and bilateral spheres would open up new avenues of prosperity in the region. He announced that countries including Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Iran, and Turkey "will try and help facilitate a peace process in Afghanistan", "We are both concerned as neighbours of Afghanistan that the people of Afghanistan have suffered for the last 40 years," he said while referring to the Uzbek leader. African countries destroy 450,000 Covid vaccines South African says riots over Zuma jailing pre-planned Belgium takes back mothers and children from Syria jihadist camps Islamabad: An organization of local clerics and elderly people has banned women from visiting shopping centers and markets without a male partner in Parachinar in Kurram tribal district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. Talking to the media, local residents said the Hussaini Tehreek organization has shared the decision on its Facebook page as well as WhatsApp and it has been widely shared by its members on all social media platforms. He further said, "We are not living under the Rule of the Taliban. We are in Pakistan, but some people have taken inspiration from the ongoing events in Afghanistan, where women have been asked not to wear shuttlecock burqas and go out without male partners.'' Hussain Tehreek is led by Maulana Abid Hussaini, a local cleric and former senator who is considered a locally influential person. They have the support of other clerics in the area. It is worth mentioning here that the residents of Kurram are considered to be the only people in east Fata who had taken up arms against the Taliban and suffered a lot as a result. Another local said, "Most educated people in Kurram district were against this type of restrictions. Not only friends but enemies are also affected by the rapid Taliban's rise in Afghanistan. But Kurram is part of Pakistan and the authorities should take action against these self-styled reformists.'' Another local claimed that the organization has warned that women going to markets alone will be dealt with strictly and that none other than their husbands and family members will be responsible for the disrespect. T20 World Cup: India-Pak to clash hard, both teams in same group Israel Ministry sets new plan to increase imports, lower prices to boost economy UK: Boris Johnson unveils new steps to level up private sector Chandigarh: Haryana's Palwal police have now arrested a constable for spying for ISI after Habib khan was arrested for spying for Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI. The accused was earlier in the Army and joined Haryana Police from the ex-servicemen quota after retiring in 2018. The accused constable has been identified as Surendra of Ambala district. He is a resident of Boh village and was on guard duty at the district police office. Police have recovered two mobile phones from him. He used to give intelligence inputs related to the Indian Army to the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI through WhatsApp. The accused Surendra was reportedly in touch with a Girl from Pakistan through Facebook. According to the report, inquiries revealed that the accused Surendra had been selling Army Secrets to the enemy country since 2018. In return, the ISI has given him Rs.70,000 so far. At present, the police have sent the mobile seized from the accused constable to the cyber team to ascertain the conversation with the Pakistani woman and recover other data. In the case, SP Deepak Gahlawat of Palwal district said that the matter is being thoroughly investigated. He said that after interrogation, it will be revealed how much and how the accused has given the information to Pakistan so far and what were the future plans. Katrina Kaif to get married soon! Salman Khan's stylist hints Covid Roundup India : New Covid cases clocks 38,079 Death toll 560 T-Series company's statement as allegations of rape made Name of Jammu and Kashmir High Court changed, know why? Rescue crew have been racing to find survivors of floods that have wreaked havoc across western Europe, killing more than 120 people. Hundreds are still missing after record rainfall triggered severe floods in Germany and Belgium. Heavy rains also hit Switzerland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands - where PM Mark Rutte has declared a national disaster in one southern province. European leaders have blamed the extreme weather on climate change. Experts say global warming makes torrential rainfall more likely. The world has already warmed by about 1.2C since the industrial era began In Germany, where the death toll stands at over 100, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he was "stunned" by the devastation ahead of a visit to a flood-hit region on Saturday. "Whole places are scarred by the disaster," Mr Steinmeier said at a news conference. "Many people have lost what they have built all their lives." Rescue teams in Germany were hampered by difficult conditions on Friday, leaving relatives of the missing waiting anxiously for news. Phone networks were down, roads were badly damaged, and more than 100,000 homes were without power. The states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland have been the worst affected by the rainfall. In Rhineland-Palatinate's district of Ahrweiler, officials had said about 1,300 people were missing on Friday - but added that the figure was "decreasing every hour". Biden Comments: Social medias 'killing people' with misinformation Switzerland on high alert: Heavy floods continue to bring chaos Neither Hindi nor English, Emoji is the fastest language of today's era, know its history Israel Health Ministry announces quarantine on all inbound travellers New Delhi: Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui was killed while covering the ongoing war between Taliban militants and security forces in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Joe Biden's administration and U.S. lawmakers have expressed grief over Siddiqui's death. According to the agency, Siddiqui was awarded the Pulitzer Award in 2018. He worked for the news agency Reuters. Siddiqui was shot dead by Taliban militants. He was with Afghan security forces at the time of the incident. We are deeply saddened to hear that Reuters journalist Danish Siddiqui died covering the war in Afghanistan, US State Ministry spokesman Jalina Porter said. "Siddiqui was known for his work, especially in the most important and challenging newspapers around the world," he said, putting the emotions and human faces behind his photograph headlines in public. The Pulitzer Award for Rohingya Crisis Coverage was received. Porter further said that Siddiqui's death is not only a big loss for Reuters and his allies, but it is a big loss for the whole world. Many journalists have been killed in Afghanistan so far. We continue to appeal to stop the violence. The only way forward in Afghanistan is to have a just and sustainable peace agreement. 'Indians being killed in South African riots,' CM Stalin wrote to the Foreign Minister Maharashtra: Aircraft crashes in Jalgaon, flight instructor died! PM Modi expresses grief over Vidisha tragedy, Rs 2 lakh each to be given from PM National Relief Fund In the history of Nepal, many people have made some extraordinary contributions to the nation-building process that people will forever remember. Upon such personalities, the nation bestows the title of rashtriya bibhuti or national hero. The national heroes have recently come into the limelight with the government announcing Bhakti Thapa as the 17th national hero of Nepal. The first announcement regarding the national heroes of Nepal was made by a commission headed by the famous writer Bal Krishna Sama in 1955. Sama was appointed by the then king Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev. The commission in 1955 enlisted the first 13 of the people named below whereas four others have been added in the past 25 years. Here are some key things you should know about 17 people who made it to the list of national heroes of Nepal. 1. Buddha Shakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, Seattle, Washington. Photo: Wonderlane Gautam Buddha or Siddhartha Gautam was born in Lumbini, Nepal in the year 563 BC. He became known as (Lord) Buddha after he attained enlightenment following the years of meditation under a bodhi tree. Lord Buddha is also believed to be the founder of Buddhism. He went around preaching four noble truths and eightfold paths to his followers. He taught people the importance of nonviolence, tolerance, compassion, love, kindness, and right conduct. This is also the reason he is called the light of Asia. His birthplace is now famous worldwide and has been developed as a popular pilgrimage site for devotees. 2. Anshubarma Anshubarma was the king of Nepal during the Lichchhavi period. He helped start the art, architecture and literature revolution and made striding efforts to strengthen the Nepal-India bilateral relationships. He is very famous for his book Shabda Vidya and known to be an extremely learned and far-sighted king. Anshubarma is also famously credited for building the architecturally excellent yet-to-be-located Kailashkut Palace that he reportedly built immediately after he was crowned in 598 BC. 3. Janak Janak was a king of Videha in the Mithila region of Nepal. He was the foster-father of Sita, another national hero of Nepal. King Janak is remembered as an ideal king and celebrated even today as a great philosopher of the late Vedic literature with creations like Satapatha Brahmana and Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. Under his regime, his kingdom became the dominant political and cultural centre of the Indian subcontinent. He is also referred to as a diplomatic king who married his daughter for political stability. Janak is also credited for the Mithila art that was commissioned during the Ram-Sita wedding processions. 4. Sita Sita or Janaki is known as the goddess of sacrifice and purity. Hindu devotees worship her as Janaki Mata or Goddess Janaki. She is also symbolised as the character of an ideal woman. She is also the daughter of King Janak and the wife of Lord Ram. She was said to have been found by King Janak when he was ploughing the field and was raised as his foster daughter. Sita is usually portrayed and worshipped together with Lord Ram. But, she is remembered and credited for playing a crucial role in building a matrimonial relationship with India. 5. Araniko File Photo: Araniko Araniko was one of the most famous artists of Nepal who was born in Kathmandu. Together with the 13th-century emperor, Kublai Khan, Araniko helped in the spread of pagoda style architecture designs. He built many stupas and buildings which was the reason why the Chinese emperor took an interest in his works. Among the many buildings he built, the white stupa of Miaoying temple (Beijing, China) is his most renowned architecture. Araniko is said to have completed three stupas, nine great Buddhist temples, two Confucian shrines, one Daoist temple, and countless other art pieces. 6. Ram Shah King Ram Shah. Photo: Bhojraj Sapkota/ flickr Ram Shah is known to be one of the greatest rulers of Gorkha. His reign was famous for his ability to provide equality and justice to people. He is the reason why Nyaya napae Gorkha janu (if you are deprived of justice elsewhere, go to Gorkha) saying is popular to date. Ram Shah also introduced measurement markers like mana, pathi, dhak, taraju, etc. which are still the measurement standards used in Nepal. He also introduced criminal codes and titles like kaji, sardar and khardar. His great contributions make him one of the national heroes of Nepal. 7. Amar Singh Thapa Amar Singh Thapa was the bada kaji (military general) during the Anglo-Nepal war. He spent almost all of his life fighting for this countrys freedom. He was a brave soldier who is regarded as one of the national heroes of Nepal and an inspiration for many people who want to join the army. Amar Singh Thapa skillfully fought against the East India Company and defended western Nepal as a supreme commander of the western fronts. He is also famously known as the living lion of Nepal. 8. Prithvi Narayan Shah Prithvi Narayan Shah. Photo: Pinterest He was the most famous king of Nepal, also the king who unified modern Nepal. He was the first king of unified Nepal as it is today. He was the one to recognise the threat of the British and tried to maintain peaceful but distant relations with them. This national hero closed the Nepali border and refused to trade with them. His unification campaign was also the reason Nepal was able to defend itself from the British. 9. Bhimsen Thapa Bhimsen Thapa is one of the popular leaders of Nepal who led the country during the Anglo-Nepal war and played a very important role in the defence of Nepal. He was a clever diplomat who modernised the Nepali army and developed the trade of Nepal and abolished many bad social practices. Bhimsem Thapa also brought several socio-economic reforms to the country. He also tried to band South Asia against British imperialism. He is also credited for the first Dharahara. 10. Balabhadra Kunwar He was a Nepali commander during the Anglo-Nepal war and administrator of Nepal. He was a great warrior who is known for the extraordinary bravery and courage he showed during the British assault of the Nalapani fort. This feat of bravery shocked the British and he gained respect from the enemies. He is one of the reasons that Gorkhalis (Gurkha soldiers) are very famous worldwide. During the siege of Dehradun, Bala Bhadra Kunwar held his ground for many months even without any water. 11. Bhanu Bhakta Acharya A portrait of Aadikavi Bhanu Bhakta Acharya Aadi Kavi Bhanu Bhakta Acharya was one of the most famous poets of Nepal. He was born in 1814, in Tanahu. He was the first person to write many books of poetry in the Nepali language, this is also the reason he is called Aadi Kavi or the first poet. Bhanu Bhakta was the one who translated the epic Ramayana and made it available to the general public. He helped to unify the country in terms of language and culture and normalised writing literature in Nepali. 12. King Tribhuvan Shah King Tribhuvan was one of the greatest kings of modern Nepal. He was born on June 30, 1906, in the capital Kathmandu. He became king, though only as a ceremonial king, at the young age of five. He played an integral part in the overthrowing of the Rana regime and gave freedom to Nepali people from their oppressive rule. In February 1951, after a series of events, he declared the end of Ranas rule and became the monarch of Nepal. 13. Motiram Bhatta Motiram Bhatta. Photo: Wikimedia Commons Yuwa Kabi (young poet) Motiram Bhatta was born in 1923 in Kathmandu. He was the one who collected Bhanu Bhakta Acharyas works and published them, making Bhanu Bhakta famous after his death. It is said that once Motiram Bhatta attended a marriage ceremony where he heard Bhanu Bhakta Acharya reciting a poem. After that, he went around collecting his works and publishing them to the world. He also wrote a biography of Bhanu Bhakta. His literary contributions make him one of the national heroes of Nepal. 14. Shankhadhar Sankhwa Shankhadhar Sankhwa was a trader and philanthropist who founded Nepal Sambat. It is said that he got wealthy from gold accumulated from the Bishnumati river. He then used that wealth to free all the debts of the local people in the Kathmandu valley. Nepal Sambat was created with a new lunar calendar as the new beginning for the liberated people of Kathmandu. This calendar is still used by people to determine several festivals in the Newa community. He was added to the list of national heroes in 1999. 15. Pasang Lhamu Sherpa File: Pasang Lhamu Sherpa She was the first Nepali woman to climb the worlds highest mountain, Mount Everest. She had successfully climbed other peaks like Mont Blanc (France), Mount Cho Oyu (8,201m) before attempting Everest. She reached the Everest summit on April 22, 1993, but tragically lost her life while descending due to a sudden change in weather. She was added to this list of national luminaries in 1999. 16. Mahaguru Phalgunanda Mahaguru Phalgunanda was a saint and religious teacher who is known for continuing the ancient Kirat religion on puritan principles. He was born in 1885 in Ilam. He is known as the Mahaguru (the great teacher) within the Limbu, Rai, Sunuwar and other Kirati communities. Phalgunanda was given that title because of his preaching which included cultural and socio-economic messages like a ban on the sacrifice of animals, a ban on alcohol, and supported vegetarianism. In 1998, Phalgunanda was included in the list of national heroes. 17. Bhakti Thapa File: A widely-circulated portrait of Nepals national hero Bhakti Thapa Bhakti Thapa is one of the most famous military commanders during the Anglo-Nepal war. He was born in Lamjung in 1741. Bhakti Thapa was put in the defence of the western frontier of Nepal during the Anglo-Nepal war and he dedicated himself to defend the western frontier from the British army. He gave up his life on April 15, 1815, in the battle of Deuthal. The British commanders were so impressed by his bravery that he became a legend even in the eyes of British historians. On July 1 this year, Bhakti Thapa became the latest national hero of Nepal. GATINEAU, QC, July 16, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare widespread socio-economic inequalities worldwide. The 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals provide Canada and the world with a framework for an inclusive and resilient recovery that leaves no one behind. In support of Canada's ongoing commitment to the 2030 Agenda, Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, along with Karina Gould, Minister of International Development and Maninder Sidhu, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development, participated in the 2021 United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, which was held online from July 6-15. Minister Hussen and Minister Gould partnered with Chief Wilton Littlechild, Yukon Minister of Education Jeanie McLean, Mayor of Montreal Valerie Plante, and youth representative Peace Olanipekun to deliver a unified National Statement to the United Nations. The National Statement addressed the urgency of dismantling barriers to prosperity and inclusion faced by marginalized populations, as well as the opportunities that arise from a green and inclusive recovery. Together, the speakers highlighted the importance of partnership and coordinated action. Additionally, Minister Hussen and Minister Gould co-hosted Canada's official side-event "Overcoming social barriers in the care economy for an inclusive and resilient recovery: growth that supports everyone." Co-sponsored by Bangladesh, Vietnam and UN Women, and featuring expert panelists from the International Labour Organization, the Overseas Development Institute, the Atkinson Foundation, and the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto, the event looked at ways to address barriers in the care sector and the burden of unpaid work on women and girls. Participants explored ways to facilitate women's equal participation in the economy including through investments in early learning and childcare, where the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed significant gaps and challenges. Story continues Canada remains steadfast in its commitment to the 2030 Agenda and to working with our domestic and international partners through the UN Decade of Action to accelerate and achieve progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. By championing a whole-of-society approach, Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy seeks to advance progress on all of the Sustainable Development Goals recognizing that everyone has a role in achieving sustainable development. Quotes "Canada is committed to moving the 2030 Agenda forward, and tackling head-on the systemic discrimination and socio-economic inequalities that continue to persist. Together we will ensure that everyone can share equally in Canada's economic, social and environmental prosperity and that no one is left behind." - Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development "The Sustainable Development goals provide the blueprint for all of usas individuals, as communities, as countries, and as an international communityto take concrete actions to build a brighter future. Canada is committed to the 2030 Agenda, and to working together to build a healthier, greener, more equitable world." - Karina Gould, Minister of International Development Quick Fact The High-level Political Forum is the United Nations' main platform on sustainable development and has a central role in the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals at the global level. It provides an opportunity for countries and organizations to showcase how they are supporting the achievement of the SDGs. This year's theme was "Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that promotes the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development." Associated Links Follow us on Twitter SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada Cision View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2021/16/c0757.html Workers in Florida are the latest jobless Americans to sue their governors for opting out of unemployment programs earlier than the federal expiration in September. Florida workers plan to file a lawsuit against Gov. Ron Desantis early next week, arguing the state has a statutory obligation to pay unemployed workers the additional $300 in weekly benefits funded by the federal government. "Reinstating FPUC would help bolster Florida's economy, not hurt it," Vanessa Brito, an unemployment advocate working with lawyers to file the lawsuit, told Yahoo Money. "We are in the process of drafting the language and compiling a substantive list of claimants who have been harmed by the states decision to terminate the FPUC benefit program." Workers in Indiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Maryland, and Texas have all filed similar lawsuits, with two of the states reinstating benefits at least temporarily. A now hiring sign is posted in the window of a CVS store on June 07, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Unemployed workers in Oklahoma filed a lawsuit this week against Gov. Kevin Stitt's decision to opt out of the federal programs, saying he doesn't have the authority to cancel the programs. "The executive order issued by the governor is beyond the governors authority," Attorney Mark Hammons said in a statement to Yahoo Money. "State law doesnt give him the power to control or determine benefits. Twenty-six states cut off the extra $300 in weekly benefits early, while 22 of them also canceled the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program for workers who dont normally qualify for regular unemployment insurance and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program that provides extra weeks of benefits. More than 4 million workers are affected by the cuts in those states, losing a total of $22.5 billion in potential benefits, according to estimates by the Century Foundation. Nearly 3 in 5 workers affected by the early expiration will be left with no benefits at all. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. 'Protect the unemployed from hardship' Story continues The lawsuits in Maryland and Indiana have been successful at least temporarily and benefits have been restarted. On Tuesday, a Baltimore City Circuit Court judged granted a preliminary induction against the governor. "If the disincentive of unemployment benefits is real for some relatively small segment of the workforce, the cutoff of benefits would be real and immediate for almost all currently unemployed Marylanders," Judge Lawrence Fletcher-Hill wrote. "Not all of those workers will instantly move into new jobs, meaning uneven economic struggles at the individual level and an immediate loss of economic stimulus at the generalized level." Last month, Marion Superior Court Judge John Hanley temporarily reinstated the federal unemployment benefits programs in Indiana the first state where workers filed a suit until a final ruling is made in the case. The decision was affirmed by an appeal's court this week. Read more: Top 10 tax mistakes and how to avoid them The success of those lawsuits may encourage workers in other states to file their own lawsuits, according to Andrew Stettner, an unemployment insurance expert and senior fellow at the Century Foundation. "Indiana and Maryland are no worker's paradise when it comes to its unemployment law, but like most states, their laws direct the government to protect the unemployed from hardship and draw down federal aid to do so," he told Yahoo Money. "Legal actions in other states certainly have a chance at proceeding, and I'm hearing from frustrated unemployed workers across the country about their desires to join such suits." Yahoo Money sister site Cashay has a weekly newsletter. Denitsa is a writer for Yahoo Finance and Cashay, a new personal finance website. Follow her on Twitter @denitsa_tsekova Read more: (Bloomberg) -- OPEC and its allies met on Sunday in a final effort to unblock a deal to increase production, as a bitter standoff between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates has been resolved. Officials have said privately in recent days that a full meeting would only be called if a deal was in reach. A news conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. Vienna time. A truce would open the way to more oil coming onto the market, easing a looming supply squeeze and averting an inflationary price spike. It would also put an end to a diplomatic spat that has unnerved oil traders, as the fight between the two long-time allies risked unraveling the broader OPEC+ accord thats underpinned the recovery in crude prices. Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman welcomed ministers to the meeting on Sunday, using, as he often does, a Hollywood reference. Instead of I am back, we will say we are back. On the table is a new version of the deal OPEC+ discussed two weeks ago: monthly increases of 400,000 barrels a day from now until September 2022 and an overall agreement lasting until the end of next year. It would also include new output quotas for the UAE and potentially others, according to delegates. The UAE expects its baseline -- used to calculate supply curbs -- to be revised to around 3.5 million barrels a day, according to one delegate. That compares with 3.2 million before, and the UAEs request to go as high as 3.8 million. Iraq also expects a new baseline, another delegate said. Crucially, OPEC+ plans to say that despite those quota revisions, it would not add more than 400,000 barrels a day each month, the delegates said. Its still unclear how the group would achieve that. The UAE has been arguing that the way its quota is calculated is unfair. To make its point, the country blocked a deal that the rest of the cartel had agreed to earlier this month. The spat has been unusually public, and the tensions go beyond oil diplomacy amid growing economic rivalry between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. As the ministers of each country used media interviews to make their case, memories were stirred of the 2020 price war, and Abu Dhabis veiled threat later that year to leave the alliance. Story continues The collapse of talks earlier this month briefly sent crude to a six-year high in New York. It dropped last week to around $72 a barrel. We dont think theres as much of a risk of oil breaching the $80 mark now we have this agreement coming up, Fahd Iqbal, head of Middle East research at Credit Suisse Group AG, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television on Sunday. Since the start of last week, there have been growing signs of a provisional agreement that would give the UAE a more generous output quota. Ministers from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and their Gulf allies met online on Saturday to discuss the matter, delegates said, asking not to be named because the information isnt public. Over the past year it has become increasingly clear that a necessary if not sufficient condition for OPEC+ cohesion is alignment between not only Russia and Saudi Arabia, but also the UAE, said Bob McNally, president of Rapidan Energy and a former White House official, predicting a deal would be done. Odds favor success. If there is a deal on Sunday, it is unclear how quickly additional supplies can be delivered to the market. August sales volumes are largely locked in and most Gulf countries are preparing for an Islamic holiday that will close government offices and businesses for most or all of next week. Without extra output from OPEC+, the International Energy Agency has warned that the oil market will tighten significantly, potentially damaging the economic recovery. (Adds quote and video) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2021 Bloomberg L.P. 18+ FOR.kg search news service (news aggregator, media aggregator) Read first Agreement on the use of the FOR.kg search site When using materials from the FOR.kg - reference to the source is required For all questions please contact customer support Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The board did approve a motion to send a letter to the governor and VDOE stating that Spotsylvania County Public Schools supports parental choice in masks. Other local K12 school divisions are waiting for guidance from the VDOE. We will follow the VDOEs guidance and if they leave it up to localities, well go from there, said Jeff Wick, coordinator of safety and compliance for Caroline County Public Schools. Stafford County Public Schools spokesperson Hunter Berry said the division will continue working with our health department for guidance on this issue. We will of course follow any state executive orders, but right now it is too early to state what the policy will be for the upcoming school year, he wrote in an email. Fredericksburg City Public Schools is also waiting on VDOE guidance, division leaders said last week. Among local colleges, the University of Mary Washington is requiring that all students be fully vaccinated by the start of the fall 2021 semester. In Titane, which like Parasite will be distributed in the U.S. by Neon, Agathe Rousselle plays a serial killer who flees home. As a child, a car accident leaves her with a titanium plate in her head and a strange bond with automobiles. In possibly the most-talked-about scene at the festival, she's impregnated by a Cadillac. Lee called it a singular experience. This is the first film ever where a Cadillac impregnates a woman, said Lee, who said he wanted to ask Ducournau what year the car was. That's genius and craziness together. Those two things often match up." On stage, Ducournau thanked the jury for letting the monsters in. Afterward, she acknowledged to reporters her place in history, but also said she cant be boiled down to just being a woman. Quite frankly, I hope that the prize I received has nothing to do with being a woman, said Ducournau. As Im the second woman to receive this prize, I thought a lot about Jane Campion and how she felt when she won. More women will come after her, Ducournau said. There will be a third, there will be a fourth, there will be a fifth. Many Nebraskans have once again gotten used to popping into a grocery store or showing up at a restaurant without a face mask. But masks still are required even for vaccinated patients, visitors and staff in most health care settings. Health systems are seeking to remind those who have gotten used to going mask-free that the rules still apply. Molly Herzberg, vice president of patient care services with Community Hospital in McCook, said its challenging being one of the only organizations still requiring masks. Theyre used to everywhere else going mask-free, she said of hospital patients and visitors. But when they come here, they have to mask. The requirements are based on several federal rules. The last municipal mask mandate in the state appeared to run out with the expiration of Omahas rule in late May. Most hospitals and clinics have eased or removed limits on visitors and restrictions on people accompanying patients to appointments. Guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for instance, still call on hospital staff, patients and visitors in patient-care areas to wear masks regardless of vaccination status. Cedar Bluffs Fire and Rescue donated $500 to a Saunders County Sheriffs Office deputy with cancer Monday night. The sheriffs office is extremely grateful not only to Cedar Bluffs, but all the local businesses and fire departments, other law enforcement that all contributed, Sheriff Kevin Stukenholtz said. We work real closely with a lot of those folks, and it was nice to see them come out and support a cause thats that worthwhile. The donation went to the cancer fund for Deputy Jerry Carlson, who was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer last December. He wasnt able to work his schedule, so other deputies then adjusted their schedules to pick in and brought in additional resources to help out there, Stukenholtz said. And then our deputies kind of took it upon themselves to say, You know, I think we ought to have a fundraiser, reached out to some local fire departments and other law enforcement and other business and community leaders. In April, the Mead Fire Department donated a brand new lawnmower to Carlson. From there, Stukenholtz said the donations spread even outside of Saunders County. Midland University President Jody Horner pointed to Simpsons prior experience at Midland, saying it will ensure a smooth transition into her new role. We are excited to have Dr. Simpson as our new vice president for Student Affairs, Horner said. Dr. Simpson has a vast array of experience and knowledge of Midland University, and our students. She will be an outstanding fit for this position. Simpson knows there will be inevitable learning curves that come with accepting a role in a new position. Luckily, her experience at Midland will help make that transition easier. I think understanding the student experience and the types of students that we have there will certainly be a good benefit, she said. And Ive already worked with many members of the team in a different capacity, so already having some of those relationships so we can kind of hit the ground running will be really helpful. Simpson said she has been incredibly fortunate for the professional support that has surrounded her throughout her tenure at Midland. She described Midland as a special place that has a singular focus on supporting its students. HOUSTON (AP) A federal judge in Texas on Friday ordered an end to an Obama-era program that prevented the deportations of some immigrants brought into the United States as children, putting new pressure for action on President Joe Biden and Democrats who now control Congress. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen ruled in favor of Texas and eight other conservative states that had sued to halt the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which provides limited protections to about 650,000 people. People who are already enrolled won't lose protections, but Hanen is barring the processing of new applications. Hanen's decision limits the immediate ability of Biden, who pledged during his campaign to protect DACA, to keep the program or something similar in place. His ruling is the second by a federal judge in Texas stopping Biden's immigration plans, after a court barred enforcement of Biden's 100-day stay on most deportations. Biden has already proposed legislation that would provide a pathway to citizenship for the estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. without authorization. He also ordered agencies to make efforts to preserve the program. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, brought the U.S. into World War II. Harrington transferred to the Army Air Corps because he hoped to fly like his older brother. He was assigned to the 485th Bomb Group, which trained in Fairmont. The unit deployed to Venosa, Italy, in April 1944. Harrington kept a wartime diary. It included a description of a harrowing bombing mission over Vienna on June 26, 1944. His plane, which the crew had named Hitlers Egg Man, was badly damaged but somehow reached an Allied base in Tunisia. Believe me, Harrington wrote, The fellows got out and kissed the ground and thanked the good Lord to be on Mother Earth. After the war, he decided that he liked life in the Air Force and stayed in. He met Lt. Mabel Carolyn Nelson, an Army nurse, in England, and they married in 1947. They raised two daughters and two sons. Representatives of the Afghan government and the Taliban militant organization have held talks in the Qatari city of Doha with both sides expressing hope for progress and "solving the problems through dialogue." The government delegation to the July 17 talks was led by Abdullah Abdullah, the chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation. The Taliban team was headed by Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. Addressing the opening ceremony, Abdullah said that all efforts must be focused on ending the war and achieving a political settlement, because Afghanistans problem has no military solution. To achieve peace, there is a need for flexibility from both sides, he said. Speaking at the ceremony, Baradar pointed out that there have been some problems and no progress so far in the intra-Afghan peace talks that have been going on for nearly 10 months. But we should not be disappointed, Baradar said, adding that the Taliban will make efforts to make the talks a success and help reach a positive conclusion. Baradar also insisted Afghanistan needs a strong, centralized, and independent Islamic system in Afghanistan to ensure the countrys stability. Abdullah emphasized that the Afghan governments delegation featured senior officials as well as women and religious scholars. The talks are being held against the background of continued fighting across Afghanistan and the drawdown of international forces in the country that began in May. Taliban militants have launch several offensives and have overrun more than one-quarter of the districts in the country. A major border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan partially reopened on July 17, days after the militants took control of the Spin Boldak border town from the Afghan government forces. Thousands of people were left stranded on both sides of the border since Pakistan shut the crossing on July 14, the day Spin Boldak fell to the Taliban. The AFP news agency quoted a Pakistani border official as saying on July 17 that Pakistan has decided to reopen the border crossing purely on humanitarian grounds to allow up to 4,000 Afghans stranded in Pakistan to cross over to Afghanistan to celebrate the upcoming Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha with their families. The news agency said that hundreds of people were heading across the border to Afghanistan on July 17. With reporting by AFP, dpa, tolonews.com Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has recalled all diplomats from neighboring Pakistan two days after the daughter of the country's ambassador was briefly abducted and "tortured." Ghanti ordered the diplomats, including the ambassador, to return to Kabul "until the government of Pakistan punished the kidnappers...and until the security of the Afghan ambassador and diplomats in that country was guaranteed," his spokesman Waheed Omar said on July 18. Silsila Alikhil was on her way home when she was seized by unknown assailants for several hours and "severely tortured," Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on July 17. It didnt provide further details. The Foreign Ministry said she had been hospitalized. The ministry condemned the "heinous act" and urged the government of Pakistan to identify and prosecute the perpetrators as quickly as possible. It also called on Islamabad to provide protection for Afghan diplomats. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said on July 17 that it has launched a thorough investigation into the disturbing incident. It said Pakistani officials have been in close contact with the Afghan envoy and his family, and beefed up their security. The body of Reuters award-winning journalist Danish Siddiqui was transported to a hospital in Kandahar on July 17. The 38-year-old Indian national was killed a day earlier while covering clashes between Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters in Spin Boldak, near a border crossing with Pakistan. The Taliban handed over his body to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which transported it to Kandahar. Afghan officials plan to eventually ship the remains to New Delhi. This story is based on reporting by Radio Azadi correspondents on the ground in Afghanistan. With a Taliban offensive across Afghanistan, neighboring Tajikistan is feeling the impact of the conflict. Residents of a border town said wounded Afghan soldiers fled into Tajikistan for safety earlier this week as fighting raged nearby. Some Tajiks fear the instability could spill over the border. A federal judge in Denver pressed lawyers Friday morning about whether they were relying on political talking points more than facts when seeking to question the outcome in the November presidential election. U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge N. Reid Neureiter pressed Denver lawyers Gary D. Fielder and Ernest J. Walker, who filed a class-action case against Dominion Voting Systems, Facebook and elected officials in four states in December. The same judge dismissed the lawsuit in April. Friday's hearing was about whether the plaintiffs' lawyers should face sanctions. Neureiter pressed Fielder and Walker about whether they investigated if Denver-based Dominion Voting System was designed to throw the election with the help of foreign entities, including China. The class-action lawsuit in Denver is among a spate of overlapping and counter litigation that has resulted from the presidential election, as the president has falsely claimed he was cheated but has not provided proof that's gotten traction in any court so far. The first hour of the two-and-a-half-hour hearing was spent on the amount of investigating the plaintiffs' lawyers did and how much was based on second-hand knowledge and in service of conspiracy theories authored by former President Donald Trump and conservative media networks. "Did you analyze any of the information, pick up the phone and call them, ask difficult questions?" the judge asked Fielder, who said he filed the lawsuit with eight named plaintiffs who joined up after he proposed it, based on his own legal experience and interpretation of the facts he drew from other affidavits, reports and other (though unsuccessful) lawsuits. Fielder pointed to his 31-year resume as a lawyer, including his tenure as an assistant district attorney in Adams County and 18 months in private practice. "I've developed a keen sense of reason and connecting the dots," he told the judge. Later in the hearing, Fielder sought to redirect the discussion to the big picture. "We're standing up for the rights of the people, the voters," he told Neureiter. "I'm sorry it offends these defendants. We're certain they're going to defend their clients, but we haven't made any misrepresentations, that it's all a lie, that it's bad for democracy. "It's helpful for democracy. This will get it right in the future." The suit was on behalf of roughly 160 million voters who were deprived of a fair election, Fielder argued. The lawsuit didn't seek to overturn the election but to collect $1,000 for each voter, or about $160 billion. Neureiter noted unvetted affidavits, allegations in the media and outside reports cited in the lawsuit. "What did you do to verify that this guy's in the charlatan?" the judge asked, pointing to one item. "Did you do any research, did you confirm with any other experts: 'Hey, is this guy just making this up or is this true,' or did you just take it at face value and include it based on that?" Stan Garnett, the former Boulder County District Attorney who is representing Dominion, said the original lawsuit was based on "nonsense from the internet," and that the lawyers didn't research the facts because their alleged facts don't hold up to any scrutiny, yet damage a good Colorado company with 250 employees and a stellar reputation. "All these cases wind up in the same situation, in dismissal," he said. "It's very troubling, because it's simply not true. Dominion did a terrific job in this election, and it's done a terrific job securing the process for a long period of time, and they're an excellent company." Other defense lawyers argued to the judge that the case is fatally flawed because there hasn't been any individual discovery by the plaintiffs to vet the merits of their case, which would set a precedent to allow any dissatisfied voter anywhere to sue on generalized grievance. "You can't just dump on the court a vast amount of unrelated allegations various procedures and possibilities that might have happened and dump that in a courtroom and expect the court to sort it out and come up with a comprehensive resolution of what some particular person on the Internet is telling the truth." At another juncture, when Fielder sought to point to affidavits and the testimony found elsewhere about the election. "But there are crazy people out there," Neureiter replied. "I mean, somebody could be put under oath (and testify) the earth is flat. That doesn't mean that you, as a lawyer say, 'Well, I'm going to file a lawsuit with suggesting the earth is flat because somebody, somewhere else wrote about it under oath.'" Neureiter asked about a website put up by the lawyers asking for donations to support the lawsuit. Fielder said about 2,100 people had donated about $95,000. He noted others had collected millions of dollars in donations in connection with the lawsuit. The website stated, Every dollar helps us to hire the experts we need to win in Federal Court as well as in the court of public opinion. Neureiter asked about the lawsuits Trump has lost on the same facts, and whether the Denver lawsuit is in service to Trump's claims the election was stolen. "Did it ever occur to you that you might be being used wittingly or unwittingly as a propaganda tool for the ex-president to file this lawsuit and repeat his statements?" Neureiter said. Fielder noted twice he was not a Trump supporter, and Colorado voting records show he is unaffiliated. "That possibility, I'm just repeating stuff that the president is lying about, of course it occurred to me. I tried to analyze it," he said. Among those who provided fodder for the suit: MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, who produced a documentary alleging the election was stolen and is facing a $1.3 billion lawsuit, similar to the ones filed against conservative news outlets and Trump lawyers Rudy Guiliani and Sidney Powell. The filing also includes a tweet from Trump alleging he was cheated out of millions of votes. Neuriter repeatedly challenged Fielder on due diligence to the alleged facts and jurisdiction to sue state officials from other states in a different state. He asked the plaintiffs' attorneys to point to one time they had ever succeeded. They did not. The Trump campaign filed dozens of suits seeking to overturn the results in swing states, but none were successful, often with the courts harshly criticizing the lack of evidence behind the claims. The judge also noted that Trump Attorney General William Barr said as early as Dec. 1 that the FBI had investigated and found no evidence of fraud on a scale that would have affected Bidens victory. Neureiter also asked, a pre-hearing note to lawyers, why the Trump campaigns lawyers have not been willing to allege election fraud in court in other cases, with Giuliani saying in a court hearing "[T]his is not a fraud case. He also cited Giuliani having his law license suspended in New York over specious claims about the election, noting the bar cited uncontroverted evidence that Giuliani communicated demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers and the public at large ..." It was all b******t, Barr reportedly said in an interview for a book. Neureiter also noted the findings of a recent report from the Republican-led Michigan Senate Oversight Committee, which stated, Our clear finding is that citizens should be confident the results represent the true results of the ballots cast by the people of Michigan. The Committee strongly recommends citizens use a critical eye and ear toward those who have pushed demonstrably false theories for their own personal gain. Fielder told the judge he disagreed with those assessments. This story was corrected to note that Neureiter dismissed the original class-action lawsuit in June. Colorado Springs, CO (80903) Today Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 60F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Colorado Springs, CO (80903) Today Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 60F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. On their kitchen table at their home outside of Greene, Jamie and Mike have the latest edition of the publication, as well as flipbooks they hand out before Sunday services. A sign above a doorframe in the kitchen says, "This day the Lord made." In the living room, Jamie has mounted a puzzle that shows Jesus about to hop up on a white horse. To Jamie, the toughest part of the work is that sometimes they'll pass out all sorts of fliers and no one will be able to show up. "That's probably the hardest. And financially it's out of our pocket. Otherwise, it's fun. We love to camp. We love to ride," Jamie said. The mules themselves actually aren't such a pain. Mike said that he actually trained one to "answer" questions. "We use it for kids to close out vacation Bible schools. The kids would ask us questions and I would cue it to shake its head yes or no," Mike said. Jamie pointed out that mules are a bit better for riding where they do for their ministry work because they're more sure-footed than horses sometimes are. As for the greatest joys in the work, neither Jamie nor Mike could identify just one thing. "All of it. When someone needs prayer and we pray with them, that's fun, too," Jamie said. "Being there with people, talking with them, praying for them," Mike said. WASHINGTON (AP) The Biden administration issued a blanket warning Friday to U.S. firms about the risks of doing business in Hong Kong as China continues to clamp down on political and economic freedoms in the territory. Four Cabinet agencies the departments of State, Treasury, Commerce and Homeland Security released the nine-page advisory that alerts companies about the shifting legal landscape in Hong Kong and the possibility that engaging with Hong Kong business could incur reputational and legal damages. At the same time, Treasury announced sanctions against seven Chinese officials for violating the terms of the 2020 Hong Kong Autonomy Act, which calls for asset freezes and other penalties against those who participate in the crackdown. President Joe Biden had previewed the new advisory Thursday, telling reporters at the White House that the business environment in Hong Kong is deteriorating and could worsen. Businesses, individuals, and other persons, including academic institutions, research service providers, and investors that operate in Hong Kong, or have exposure to sanctioned individuals or entities, should be aware of changes to Hong Kongs laws and regulations, said the notice, which is titled Risks and Considerations for Businesses Operating in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the receding floodwaters eased access across much of the affected regions and revealed the extent of the damage. A lot of people have lost everything they spent their lives building up their possessions, their home, the roof over their heads, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after meeting rescue workers and others in the town of Erftstadt. It may only be possible to clear up in weeks how much damage needs to be compensated, he said. Steinmeier said that people in the affected areas need continuing support. Many people here in these regions have nothing left but their hope, and we must not disappoint this hope, he said. In Erftstadt, a town southwest of Cologne, a harrowing rescue effort unfolded on Friday when the ground in a neighborhood gave way. At least three houses and part of a mansion in the town's Blessem district collapsed. The German military used armored vehicles to clear away cars and trucks overwhelmed by the floodwaters on a nearby road, some of which remained at least partly submerged. Officials feared that some people didn't manage to escape in Erftstadt, but no casualties were confirmed by Saturday afternoon. globaldesi wrote: I was really forward for such post. Really a great insight for people like me who are not sure Amazing post bb I was really forward for such post. Really a great insight for people like me who are not sure Thanks! I appreciate your kind words. It all started with a PM and hearing the same question over and over. I figured it was time to put something more significant together. While more experienced candidates may not fit the mold of the traditional 2-year MBA, I think there are many other options available. Perhaps not as many "traditional" programs but they also may not suit as well. There is always an option of an Online MBA. I know a year ago it sounded like a horrible idea but last year, almost all programs were online... I think i can see more online mba activity spurring on the back burner where they are no longer taboo.I think the only part that remains tricky for a seasoned professional is switching industries. I would personally suggest not using the MBA for it but perhaps leveraging one's network and getting very very specific with your goals. E.g. instead of saying, I really want to get out of pharmaceutical sales job, how about say, I want to do financial analysis for a CPG company, and even better than that, I want to do finance at __________ (and that would be one of the 3 companies in the area that you have researched). That level of specificity does a few things: 1) it shows you are a goal-oriented person who did their research so people would be naturally helpful 2) it gives them hooks to jog their mind and remember that their cousin works at one of these companies. That's faster and cheaper than studying for the GMAT and then taking 2 years ... though of course this is a simplistic example but it does drive a point._________________ IN-PERSON SERVICES Mount Sinai Glorious Church of God, 716 Jefferson St., will hold services in the sanctuary with Sunday school at 10 a.m. and morning worship at 10:30 a.m. Participants are asked to remember a mask and to practice social distancing. The service also will be streamed on Facebook. Ascension Lutheran Church has returned to worship on Sundays in the sanctuary at 314 W. Main St. at 11 a.m. service each and Sunday will continue to be streamed online on Zoom. Details for joining online are at www.facebook.com/ascensionlutherandanville. Mount Freeman Baptist Church, 2100 Laniers Mill Road, will resume in-person service at 11 a.m. Sunday. There will be no Sunday school. The pastor is Rev. Robert Millner. WORSHIP SERVICES Pittsylvania County School Superintendent Mark Jones said the school board through its vote was expressing a concern shared by parents and its members wanted them to know we work with all children and care deeply for each childs success and our policies are written to indicate that we do not discriminate against any child. If there is an incident following a transgender child using the bathroom that corresponds with the gender with which they identify, it would be looked at on a case-by-case basis, Jones said. We would work with families and students and administrators of the school to assure the dignity of all children and concerns of all children as we work through these issues, Jones said. We always consult policy and the code of Virginia in all the decisions we make. The Virginia School Board Association crafted the county school division its policy regarding transgender students so it would follow state law, Jones said. Views by members During an interview Thursday, Henderson questioned the idea of allowing a boy who identifies as a girl to enter a girls bathroom, and asked how many of them are actually transgender. Were opening up a can of worms, he said. The CDC uses a 4-tier system high, substantial, moderate and low to categorize the state of the pandemic on the local level. Danville, as of Friday, was listed as a moderate risk of community spread. Pittsylvania Countys positivity rate is at 10.24%, the CDC reports. Simply put, that means 1-in-10 people who are tested for COVID-19 yield a positive result. Danvilles rate has dropped to 2.21%, well below the 5% threshold the CDC uses to indicate the virus isnt under control in a community. Vaccine rates Worry is growing for increased cases because less than half of the adults in Danville and Pittsylvania County are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Specifically, 47% of Danville adults and 43% of those in Pittsylvania County have rolled up their sleeves to receive either two doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines or just 1-dose of the Johnson and Johnson version. Those percentages severely lag averages in Virginia and across the nation. Across Virginia, 63% of adults are fully vaccinated. Factoring in children and those figures are even more dim. In Danville, 38% of the population is fully vaccinated; in the county, that number is at 36%. I guess it all depends on whose free speech is being gored. In April, decorated journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones was appointed to a distinguished chair in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hills school of journalism and media a post that in the recent past had come with tenure. But Hannah-Jones role as the progenitor of The New York Times Magazines 1619 Project made her a target of the right wing, including conservatives on the schools Board of Trustees. Her tenure twisted in the wind just long enough for Hannah-Jones to opt out of teaching at her alma mater in favor of Howard University. I missed the lamentations from the right about Hannah-Jones being canceled for writing what should be incontrovertible: that this nation was built on a foundation of Black enslavement and resistance. And now, a right-wing free speech group is defending the right of a campus club, Turning Point USA at Virginia Tech, to engage in group chats that the university characterized as homophobic, racist, ableist, and misognynistic. Those gifts counted toward the universitys fundraising campaign that ended in December with a total of $181.4 million more than twice as much as A&T had hoped to raise. A&Ts endowment for scholarships and other campus expenses stands at roughly $160 million double what it was only a year ago. A&T opened the 2020-21 academic year with a record 12,754 students, marking the eighth straight year of rising enrollment. The university expects to set another enrollment record in the school year that starts in August. We expect to surpass 13,000, A&T spokesman Todd Simmons said. The question is by how much. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Yet many lesser-known schools continue to struggle and scrape for money. Less than a mile to the south of A&T sits Bennett College, one of only two historically Black womens colleges in the nation. (Spelman College in Atlanta is the other.) The past decade hasnt been kind to Bennett, where Martin Luther King Jr. once spoke and its students, known as Belles, played key roles in the civil rights movement. Among the schools cited in the report are Hobgood Academy in Halifax County, which got a $700,000 federal grant in 2020. Halifax was among the private schools that opened in the late 1960s and early 1970s as alternatives for white parents fearful of school integration. The state board approved Hobgoods request to convert to a charter school in 2019. The Network for Public Education also notes that most grant recipients had lower percentages of economically disadvantaged students and students with disabilities compared to their surrounding school district. In the majority of cases, the gap for economically disadvantaged students was more than 20%. The federal government should not be subsidizing schools that are not sincere and are disproportionately white and not economically disadvantaged compared to the local school district, Carol Burris, executive director of the Network for Public Education, said in an interview. Diversity increasing at charter schools State education officials say the grant recipients are attracting more students of color now, but it will take time to see major demographic changes. WASHINGTON Heres a look at how area members of Congress voted recently. Along with the weeks roll call votes, the Senate also passed a bill honoring the memories of the victims of the June 24 building collapse in Surfside, Florida, and the bravery and selfless service of those who responded to the building collapse; and the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, to ensure that goods made with forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the Peoples Republic of China do not enter the U.S. market. There were no key votes in the House. U.S. Senate Human rights diplomacy: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Uzra Zeya to be the State Departments under secretary of state for civilian security, democracy, and human rights. Zeya had been head of the Alliance for Peacebuilding for the past four years, and before that was a senior State Department official starting in 1990, both at overseas missions and in the U.S. The vote on Tuesday, July 13, was 73-24. Yeas: U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C. Nays: U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. Sen. Jay Chaudhuri of Raleigh, who is the Senate Democratic whip and Indian-American, likened an unfounded fear of Critical Race Theory to tactics used during the Red Scare. Sen. Joyce Waddell, a Mecklenburg County Democrat who is African American, said the legislation uses a fear-based approach to limit teachers ability to assess the reality of racism in the United States. North Carolina school districts have denied Critical Race Theory is being taught. Conservatives, however, have complained that schools are teaching about white privilege and shaming white students. Asked during a news conference about the bill coming from a caucus with no Black members, Senate leader Phil Berger of Eden said: The most vocal proponent (of the legislation) is the lieutenant governor. Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson of Greensboro is the states first African American lieutenant governor, making history with his election in the fall of 2020. Robinson is also a Republican. As lieutenant governor, he is the president of the Senate, which means he would vote in case of a tie. Robinson said he will release data from his offices task force next week about parent and teacher complaints of indoctrination in schools. A retreat overlooking the mountains boasts the best Airbnb host in North Carolina, a new report finds. Lucky W Cottage in Asheville earned the top honor on Tuesday after short-term rental company Airbnb said the property received some of the highest marks in the country. A listing describes the cottage as a farm home thats secluded but not too far from the action. It is about 100 from the main house but is very private with mountain views, according to the listing. Take a swim in the pool or visit the horses and chickens. Only 10 minutes from downtown and 5 minutes from groceries and restaurants. Owner Jessica Withers said she welcomes each guest personally but was surprised when she found out she was named the most hospitable host in the state, the Citizen-Times of Asheville reported. People really seem to love being greeted by the dogs, Withers told the newspaper. We have one older border collie who likes to spend his mornings over there in front of the door, and he only goes over there if there are guests there. Her listing won top marks after facing tough competition in the state. This is for real: Rupert Murdoch will soon launch a new platform, Fox Weather. Wrap your head around that one. Brian Wieser, a prominent media analyst, said it best the other day: How do you address the fact that weather changes are caused to some degree by humans when you have a media property with a history of challenging that fact? Hmmm. And for the latest Big Beautiful 10-day American Greatness Forecast, lets go to Sabrina at the big board. Sabrina? Thank you, Tucker! Stay tuned, well have that soon. In the meantime, Im happy to report that red states are in for a treat this weekend as a high pressure system brings balmy temps and blue skies, fine weather for cleaning your guns outdoors or joining up with other tourists at your favorite Capitol building. But Tucker, theres very different news elsewhere. Would you like me to share? That would be mighty white of you. In this Sept. 12, 2018 file photo, the character Barb appears in grand, gory style in the Stranger Things haunted house during Halloween Horror nights at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. After a pandemic-related absence of a year, Halloween Horror Nights are back with haunted houses based on the Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Bride of Frankenstein" planned for Universal theme parks in California and Florida, the company announced Thursday, July 15, 2021. Garrett K. Jones is a local fantasy author. He currently has four books released in his ongoing series, and he produces a vlog on YouTube and the Creator's Corner podcast (available on Spotify, Google, & Apple). www.archivesofthefivekingdoms.com/ IG/Twitter: @gkj_publishing Feel free to contact him with title suggestions of films youd like him to review. Marco Ruiz of Hanford has graduated from CHP Academy Friday and is assigned to duty at the Hollister-Gilroy office. Executive Director of Glacier Camp and Conference Center, Rev. Tim Lanham writes, In his devotional 'Hope for Healing,' Chris Haughee uses narrative, reflection, artistry, and prayers to weave an elegant tapestry telling the story of our human condition and its transformation by the grace of God. Hope for Healing is as inspirational as the work and ministry of Intermountain Childrens Home which shines an irrepressible light into the midst of our societys deep and foreboding darkness. Finally, I was quite touched by these words from a fellow adoptive parent, Pat Hays, who shares from her experience of special needs parenting in the book "My Tears in His Bottle: Prayers from the Heart of a Special Needs Mom." Pat writes, Hope for Healing is a must-read for any parent, family member or friend of a child who has been affected by emotional, behavioral, or intellectual disabilities. Rev. Chris Haughee is masterful in his ability to take a simple life lesson from his ministry to children at Intermountain and tie it to scripture and a prayer. As a parent of a child who benefited from his ministry, I highly recommend it. So, please reach out to us at Intermountain at 406-457-4804. See how you can connect with us in "Hope for Healing" and many other ways to ensure the work of healing through healthy relationships continues across Montana! The Reverend Chris Haughee is a licensed minister of the Evangelical Covenant Church and is the former chaplain of Intermountains Residential Services. An adoptive father to two, Chris is an advocate for greater inclusion of foster and adoptive families in the life and ministry of local congregations. His recently written devotional based on his time as Intermountains chaplain entitled Hope for Healing is available at Amazon.com or by directly contacting Intermountain at 406-457-4804. Chris continues to serve Intermountain in Church Relations and Development and can be reached at chrish@intermountain.org. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Helena Fire Chief Ken Wood announced Friday he plans to retire this fall to spend more time with his children and grandchildren. The announcement was made a few days after Helena Police Chief Steve Hagen said he will also step down this fall. Wood boasts about 29 years of fire service experience, 22 of those with the Helena Fire Department. He worked as assistant chief of training for three years and assistant chief of operations for three years before being promoted to fire chief in 2019. His last day in the role will be Sept. 30. "It's been an amazing career. The city has been amazing, very good to me. I love what I do. I still love what I do," he said. "This is very hard because I'm happy, but my wife and I have talked over the years and knew this time would come." Wood said two of his sons own a property services business in Helena, and he plans to help them with their company while exploring some business opportunities of his own. "The fire service is a tough job. It's a rewarding job, but it takes a lot out of you over the years," he said. "I'm tired and I want to rest and just enjoy my grandkids and have a little bit of extra time." A 31-year-old Helena man has been cited for negligent arson in connection with the Grizzly Gulch fire that burned several acres just outside of town, authorities said Friday. Justin Nathaniel Norine was cited with the misdemeanor and could face a $500 fine, six months in jail or both, Lewis and Clark County sheriffs Capt. Shane Hildenstab said. He said Norine must appear in justice court before July 30. He was cited and released Thursday. Efforts to reach Norine on Friday were unsuccessful. Hildenstab said Norine is believed to have flicked a cigarette butt into some dry brush early Thursday on Grizzly Gulch. Hildenstab said Norine did not intend to start a fire. Hildenstab said he could have been charged with a felony had he had caused someone bodily harm. If that were the case, the offender could have been fined as much as $50,000 or be imprisoned for as much as 10 years, or both. The fire, comprised of four to five fires that burned together into one larger fire and estimated to be around five acres, was reported about 5:15 a.m. in the 1500 block of Grizzly Gulch. Hildenstab said there were no evacuations ordered. As of Thursday it was 35% contained. Helena Mayor Wilmot Collins gave an impassioned speech to the crowd at Anchor Park, calling for more work to be done to foster a more inclusive Montana. "I will be your strongest ally," Collins said. "My door is always open to each and every one of you." In an interview ahead of his speech, Collins said he was happy to see so many Helenans come together for the celebration. "I think it says we are an accepting community," he said. "I'm just overwhelmed by this crowd." Three of the four candidates for Helena City Commission -- Eric Feaver, Melinda Reed and Troy McGee -- also spoke to the crowd, sending well wishes and words of encouragement. State Rep. Moffie Funk rallied the crowd and urged them all to run for political offices, take positions in local government and fill seats on local boards. "Let your voices be heard because you are beautiful," Funk said. Sofia Gloria Hull, a Bozeman resident and member of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the State of Montana, an LGBTQ advocacy group, said the group participated in the Pride Parade to bring more awareness to the transgender community. Today is Friday, July 16, 2021. Let's get caught up. Here's what you should know today: Death toll over 100 as rescues continue in major flooding in Western Europe; Senate leader Chuck Schumer sets infrastructure vote; Oosthuizen, Spieth charge ahead at British Open Keep scrolling for today's top stories, this date in history and celebrity birthdays. TOP STORIES Europe floods: Death toll over 100 as rescues continue BERLIN (AP) At least 100 people have died in devastating floods across parts of western Germany and Belgium, officials said Friday, as rescue operations and the search for hundreds still unaccounted for continued. Authorities in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate said 50 people had died there, including at least nine residents of an assisted living facility for people with disabilities. In neighboring North Rhine-Westphalia state officials put the death toll at 43, but warned that the figure could rise further. The Red Lodge firefighter injured in the Harris Hill fire near Joliet on Friday has been identified as Dan Steffensen. Steffensen has been a firefighter with Red Lodge Fire since 2015, according to a social media post by Red Lodge Fire Rescue. Steffensen works on the fuel mitigation/initial attack crew to reduce hazardous fuels around homes and responds to emerging wildland fires. He is a nationally qualified wildland firefighter and has fought fires in Montana, Oregon, California and other western states as an engine boss and tender operator. Rostec, the state corporation that includes Russian aircraft makers, said the fundamentally new military aircraft will be unveiled Tuesday at the Moscow air show. Russia is one of the few countries in the world with full-cycle capacities for producing advanced aircraft systems, as well as a recognized trendsetter in the creation of combat aircraft, it said. Following the Rostec announcement, Russian plane spotters rushed to Zhukovsky to take pictures of the new plane an eerie parallel with Cold War times when Western spies tried to get a glimpse of the latest Soviet warplanes at the tightly-guarded airfield that served as the countrys top military aircraft test facility. In a bid to raise public interest before the presentation, Rostec published a picture of the new plane covered by tarpaulin with wanna see me naked? written under it. It also posted a brief video featuring excited foreign customers and the jet's vague shadow over the water. Another teaser photo posted on Rostec's Facebook account Saturday showed what appeared to be a reflection of a British type 45 destroyer in the new Russian warplane's optical sensor with an inscription See you. Black tarpaulin looks enticing, but details are always more interesting, Rostec said. The average number of new daily coronavirus cases in Illinois doubled during the first half of July, even as the state began handing out prizes of up to $1 million to encourage more people to get vaccinated. Three men are dead, and at least 14 other victims were injured in city shootings since Friday afternoon including an attack were four people were shot in the Austin neighborhood shortly before midnight Saturday, Chicago police said. I cant explain how much gratitude I have for all of the people involved in the event, French said. Its an important cause, and thats why people do it. We all know someone who has cancer, and with rare cancers we call them orphan cancers they dont receive the same funding for research for more well-known cancers like breast cancer or colon cancer. French said dealing with any form of cancer is challenging, but rare cancers carry an extra burden. I think weve raised $1 million because we have participants who are going through this, have gone through it or family members have gone through it, French said. Youre at your wits end when you have someone that you love suffering with a disease and there is nothing they can do or there are very few treatment options. The National Institutes of Health defines a rare disease as a condition that affects fewer than 200,000 people per year and includes sarcoma, brain, stomach, uterine, pancreatic, bladder, cervical and metastatic melanoma and all pediatric cancers. However, collectively that represents all cancers diagnosed in the U.S. Research for all rare cancers are drastically underfunded, she said. Despite the global pandemic, the work and fundraising have continued. JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. The former finance director of Appalachian Regional Coalition on Homelessness and her husband have been indicted on theft charges. A grand jury in Washington County indicted Julie Beale, of Johnson City, Tennessee, on one count of theft over $60,000, one count of conspiracy to commit theft over $60,000 and money laundering. Her husband, Sam Beale, was indicted on one count of theft over $60,000, one count of conspiracy to commit theft over $60,000, one count of financial exploitation of an elderly or vulnerable person and one count of theft over $2,500. The indictments came after the states comptroller investigators, working in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, found she stole at least $119,582 from the organization, according to a news release. ARCH provides services for the homeless in Northeast Tennessee. Beale misappropriated the nonprofits funds between November 2013 and March 2018, the release states. It claims that the couple misappropriated $75,630.06 by making 150 ARCH payments to Sam Beale for work he did not perform. Sam Beale worked as ARCHs intermittent maintenance provider during the duration of his wifes tenure at ARCH. ABINGDON, Va. Comparing broadband service in rural areas to electrification in the 1930s, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced in Abingdon on Friday an aggressive proposal to invest $700 million to extend broadband to every home in Virginia by 2024. Northam was joined by U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and members of the General Assembly for the announcement at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center one of the most wired locations in this part of the state. The money would come from nearly $4 billion in federal American Rescue Plan monies. Whether its education, telehealth, business opportunities or just quality of life, its very important that we have universal broadband in Virginia, the governor said. We have already had discussions, and we are in agreement the money leaders in the House and Senate that we are going to put in $700 million across the commonwealth of Virginia of ARP [American Rescue Plan] funds to get that last mile to everybody in the commonwealth of Virginia. That meeting occurred Tuesday in Richmond. After the announcement, the governor said the COVID pandemic brought the real need for broadband into focus. Youngkin played footsie with the Trumpers more than he should have to be true to their heritage, Republicans should disown Trump and Trumpism, but were sadly long past that stage. But there is zero evidence that Youngkin is any kind of Trump acolyte. You probably dont get to be co-CEO of the worlds second-largest private equity firm by being crude and irrational, two prime hallmarks of Trumpism. That said, Trump is doing Youngkin no favors with his repeated and apparently unsolicited praise for the Virginia Republican nominee. Trumps not trying to help Youngkin; hes trying to help himself. If Trump really wanted to help Youngkin win in a state that twice rejected him (and rejected Trump wannabe Corey Stewart by an even wider margin), hed keep his mouth shut. Instead, Trump cant help running his. Why? He thinks Youngkin has a good chance of winning (he does) and wants to be able to claim credit for any eventual victory (even if such a victory would come in spite of Trump, not because of him). We understand McAuliffes desire to tie Youngkin to Trump just as we understand Youngkins desire to avoid hard questions. But that doesnt make either strategy good for voters. President Joe Biden delayed taking a hard look at our concerns in Latin America and the Caribbean Floridas back yard most significantly, Cuba, Haiti and Venezuela, whose constant political and economic upheaval have an outsize impact on South Florida. Since taking office, Biden rightly has been preoccupied with freeing America economically and emotionally out of the quicksand of COVID-19 and making nice with G7 world leaders, not Latin American leaders, despite Vice President Harris recent trip. Now, with the dramatic and historic events of the past few days in Cuba and Haiti, Biden likely has a case of whiplash. A day after Sundays street demonstrations in several cities across the country, Cuba went dark on Monday because of internet outages and disrupted cell phone service. Yes, the Cuban regime can do that easily. Cuban Americans in Miami who had joined in with their own demonstrations on Sunday couldnt tell if the protest had continued. Neither could the international media. Cuban exiles, members of the Assembly of Cuban Resistance, held a news conference in Miami to show their support and ask the international community, led by the United States, "to protect Cuba from bloodshed," said Orlando Gutierrez-Boronat, head of the umbrella group. This limited supply compromises national security. In recent years, the Army has only just barely met the Pentagons minimum cognitive-aptitude benchmark for new personnel. Whats more, recruits tend to be drawn from a shrinking segment of the population from a small number of mostly Southern states and families of veterans, a group whose share of the population is lower than at any time since World War II. The armed forces continue to enjoy public support, but this skewing of the recruiting pool risks widening the divide between service members and the citizens theyre sworn to defend. The U.S. needs to persuade a broader cross section of Americans to consider military service. More generous enlistment bonuses should be offered to candidates who are qualified for critical positions and willing to sign up for six-year contracts. The services should expand outreach beyond recent high school graduates to community college and technical college students, who are more likely to have specialized skills and score higher on aptitude tests. More recruiters should be stationed in communities with low military participation, and those who bring in high-performing recruits should be rewarded. To attract enlistees from non-traditional backgrounds, a greater share of the Pentagons $500 million advertising budget should be spent on social media campaigns emphasizing the career benefits of joining the military, as a new YouTube series for the Army aims to do. On the way back to Morehead City, we drove through the tiny community of Broad Creek, where you guessed it Broad Creek flows into Bogue Sound. Several of Sammies distant cousins still live in that community and work as commercial fishermen. I remember well my first visit to that area. As a young married couple, we spent the night with Aunt Irene and her daughter, Marietta Willis. Marrietta cooked a seafood feast that far exceeded what we ate at the Crab Shack across the Sound. I ate so much I made myself sick. It was so good. Although my wife never lived there, she grew up visiting coastal Carolina with her daddy. For her, going back there is like going home. Her parents are buried in the Carolina Piedmont, just east of the mountains; but Pop Johnnies father is buried in Greenville, and the grave with the cannon on it in Beaufort is the one we visit and sing the National Anthem and say the pledge to the American flag true story. That area is where her roots are. Thats why it feels like home to her. My roots are in Western Kentucky and, hundreds of years earlier, in Colonial Virginia. Where are your roots? How about your spiritual roots? Is there someone, or many someones. The son of a man charged in a Lenoir shooting says his father acted in self-defense. Cyle Emke is the 27-year-old son of Chad Emke, a Taylorsville man charged with shooting a Lenoir man outside the Caldwell County Courthouse on July 12. The man shot outside the courthouse was Travis Webb. Cyle Emke said his dad told him Webb was with another man, and the two men were hitting the windows of Emkes vehicle while it was parked outside the courthouse on Monday. Chad Emke was in the vehicle with his 10-year-old son, Cyle Emke said. My dad saw the other guy come around to the door where his son was at, Cyle Emke said. Thats when my dad shot Travis, and the other guy took off running. Chad Emke was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill inflicting serious injury. His bond was set at $500,000. Cyle Emke said he and his family are working with lawyers to have the bond reduced. Chad Emke was also charged with child endangerment. They (the Lenoir Police Department) gave him charges of endangering a child, but he defended him (the 10-year-old), Cyle Emke said. VIENNA (Reuters) - Austria is working with the U.S. authorities to get to the bottom of a reported spate of suspected cases of an ailment known as "Havana syndrome" among U.S. diplomats in Vienna, the Austrian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last month his country is conducting a government-wide review into who or what caused what it suspects were "directed" radio frequency attacks on U.S. diplomats that resulted in various neurological ailments and that first emerged in the Cuban capital in 2016. The New Yorker magazine said on Friday that since U.S. President Joe Biden took office in January, roughly two dozen U.S. intelligence officers, diplomats and other officials in Vienna have reported symptoms similar to those of Havana syndrome, making it the second-biggest hotspot after Havana. "We take these reports very seriously and in line with our role as host state we are working with the U.S. authorities on jointly getting to the bottom of this," Austria's Foreign Ministry said in a short statement. "The safety of diplomats posted to Vienna and their families is of the utmost importance to us." A State Department spokesperson said the United States was "vigorously investigating" the reported cases affecting U.S. officials at the U.S. Embassy in Vienna. Once a centre of Cold War intrigue, Vienna is home to several U.N. agencies and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, meaning bigger countries such as the United States and Russia often have three ambassadors and a large diplomatic presence there. That has long made Vienna a hub for diplomatic activity and spying, since many spies operate under diplomatic cover. The Austrian Foreign Ministry's website lists 158 U.S. diplomats as currently being posted in Vienna. (Reporting by Francois Murphy; Additional reporting by Joel Schectman in Washington; Editing by Frances Kerry and Daniel Wallis) Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. (Photo/ ANI) New Delhi [India], July 18 (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday during his visit to the national capital and stated that the latter asked him to work hard to come back to power in Karnataka and also the party must win more seats in Lok Sabha elections due in 2024. "Called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah Ji in New Delhi today. Wished him on his new role as the Minister in the newly created Ministry of Cooperation and discussed matters related to the state," the Karnataka Chief Minister tweeted. Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Yediyurappa said: "He asked me to work hard to come back to power in Karnataka and also we must win more seats in Lok Sabha elections. He said that we will win 100 per cent in Uttar Pradesh and in Karnataka, we have a bright future. He said to take the responsibility of strengthening the party in Karnataka." Earlier on Saturday, the Yediyurappa strongly denied having tendered his resignation amid speculation about leadership change in Karnataka. "There is no truth in it... Not at all, not at all.." Yediyurappa told reporters in Delhi when asked if he had resigned, and added that he would be returning to the capital city next month. "Yesterday I met the Prime Minister. We discussed in detail the development of the state and I will come back to Delhi again in the first week of next month. There is no value of such news (regarding resignation)," he added. Yediyurappa reached Delhi on Friday. He had met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attended other meetings regarding the ongoing COVID-19 situation and development projects in the state. Last month, party MLAs and ministers had demanded that Yediyurappa step down as chief minister. State Tourism Minister CP Yogeeshwara in a statement had said that instead of the Chief Minister, his son has been ruling and controlling the Ministries of Karnataka. Story continues BJP MLC AH Vishwanath had also said that 80 per cent of BJP legislators, who met the national general secretary in charge of the State Arun Singh, felt that leadership in the state should be changed. Yediyurappa, however, denied the allegations and said that confusion among members would be cleared. He also said, "I will resign the day party high command asks me to quit. I do not speak about the rumours and the speculation created by some of the ministers and legislators." The Chief Minister also met BJP national president JP Nadda on Saturday. "We discussed in detail the development of the party in Karnataka. He has a very good opinion of me. I will work for the party to come back to power in the state again," the Karnataka Chief Minister said. (ANI) Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla New York [US], July 17 (ANI): Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has condemned the killing of Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui at Kandahar province in Afghanistan. He also extended condolences to the bereaved family of the journalists at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Friday. "We condemn the killing of Indian photographer Danish Siddiqui while he was on a reporting assignment in Kandahar in Afghanistan yesterday. I extend our sincere condolences to the bereaved family," Shringla said. The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Siddiqui was killed while covering a clash between Afghan security forces and Taliban, according to news agency Reuters where he was Chief Photographer. In a tweet, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said the killing of the journalist was a painful reminder of mounting dangers faced by media in Afghanistan. "Media working in Afghanistan and journalism itself in the country is under increasing threat. Our deep condolences to the family & friends of @dansiddiqi. A painful reminder of mounting dangers faced by media in Afghanistan. Authorities must investigate this and all killing of reporters," the UNAMA tweeted. TOLO News reported that Siddiqui was killed in Kandahar's Spin Boldak district, which has been captured by the Taliban. Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani yesterday expressed grief over the demise of Indian photojournalist Siddiqui. "I am deeply saddened with the shocking reports that Reuters Photojournalist Danish Siddiqui was killed while covering the Taliban atrocities in Kandahar," he said. "While I extend my heartfelt condolences to Sidiqqui's family and also to our media family, I reiterate my government's unwavering commitment to freedom of speech and protection of free media and journalists," he asserted. The US has also said that it is 'deeply saddened' by the photojournalist Danish Siddiqui and called for an end to the violence in Afghanistan. (ANI) Representative image New Delhi [India], July 17 (ANI): The Indian mission in Pakistan has been put on high alert after the kidnapping of an Afghan envoy's daughter, said sources. After the attempted kidnapping of Afghan diplomat Najibullah Alikhil's daughter in Islamabad, the Indian mission staff and their family members have been asked to remain vigilant and alert and take extra security precautions. The sources said they have been issuing alerts to High Commission personnel regularly. According to Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) statement, Silsila Alikhil was abducted for several hours on Friday, July 16, and severely tortured by unidentified individuals on her way home. The statement said that after being released from the kidnappers' captivity, Silsila Alikhil is under medical care at the hospital. "The MoFA strongly condemns this heinous act and expresses its deep concern over the safety and security of diplomats, their families, and staff members of the Afghan political and consular missions in Pakistan," the statement said. Afghanistan MoFA called upon Pakistan to take "immediate necessary actions to ensure full security of Afghanistan embassy and consulates as well as the immunity of the country's diplomats and their families in accordance with international treaties and conventions. "While the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs is following the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, we urge the Pakistani government to identify and prosecute the perpetrators at the soonest possible time," the statement added. (ANI) Maldives former President Mohamed Nasheed Male [Maldives], July 17 (ANI): Maldives Parliament Speaker and former president Mohamed Nasheed on Saturday rebuked the leadership of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), stating that the ruling coalition's partner, Adhaalath Party has 'monopolized' the government. In a statement posted on his Twitter handle, Nasheed said although the main-ruling MDP won the presidential election by a large margin, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has allowed Adhaalath to monopolize his decisions. He further said the majority of Maldivians are progressive and do not support the ideologies of Adhaalath Party. Nasheed also accused the MDP government of withdrawing support for its non-muslims labeling 'Hisaan bill', under the pressure of conservative religious parties. "The government therefore rightly put forth a bill in our Parliament that criminalises such labelling. But when the conservative religious parties who are part of a political alliance with the government objected, the government withdrew support for its own bill," he said. This comes days after Nasheed declared his decision to break political alignment with President Ibrahim Solih, indicating a period of political instability and administrative perplexity than already present. Nasheed has hinted that he may form a coalition with the main opposition, the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM). Over its recent break-off with MDP, Nasheed said, "if the government is unable to employ the leadership required to support this bill and all it stands for, then I find it very difficult to support the government." "We achieved political progress with the support of coalition partners, but when President Solih made clear that he will allow one rather minor coalition member, the Adhaalath party, to monopolize his every decision it also became clear that the current dynamics of this coalition violate every principle of our representative democracy," he said. (ANI) Representative image Bangkok [Thailand], July 17 (ANI): Amid the record rise in COVID-19 cases, Thailand has decided to impose a countrywide ban on public gatherings and is considering more restrictions on the movement of the citizens. On Saturday, the country's coronavirus task force reported 10,082 new COVID-19 cases and 141 more deaths. According to Channel News Asia (CNA), the COVID-19 tally now stands at 391,989 cases along with 3,240 fatalities. The latest rise in cases and deaths has occurred despite partial lockdowns in Bangkok and nine other provinces this week. According to an official announcement, a ban on public gatherings has been imposed, with a maximum penalty of a two-year jail term or a fine of up to USD 1,220. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said that that his government is considering more restrictions as the country continues to face its worst COVID-19 outbreak yet. "There is a need to expand measures to limit people's movement as much as possible and closing more facilities leaving only the essentials," Prayut said on his Facebook page on Friday. The strict curbs have been imposed in Bangkok and several other provinces for two weeks since Monday as the Prayut government attempting to curtail the new COVID-19 infections. (ANI) Representative image Beijing [China], July 17 (ANI): The unholy nexus of China-Pakistan-Turkey to be viewed with utmost caution as they use global platforms to sustain and propagate their vested interests, according to a think tank. As per International Forum For Rights And Security (IFFRAS), the China-Pakistan-Turkey nexus put forth a very dangerous narrative, devoid of freedom for the liberal world that otherwise harps on democracy and a rights centric approach towards establishing a global rule-based order. An interesting discernible pattern is that when China is at the helm of affairs in an international organisation, it immediately aids the entry of similar authoritarian regimes such as Turkey and Pakistan. As is seen, Turkey has aligned with Pakistan and China in its own self-interest in order to rise to a position of prominence, says IFFRAS. Over the years, China and Turkey have also been strengthening their economic and strategic ties with Pakistan. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have ambitions to reclaim the glory of Turkey's erstwhile Ottoman Empire as the leader of the Muslim world. Turkey which has been embroiled in various wars with many foreign states in the past has been reeling under severe financial difficulties. China's BRI has given the country strategic depth as a trade and transport hub by interlinking the continents of Asia, Africa and Europe. In fact, Turkey's own Middle Corridor connectivity project to access the Caucasus and Central Asia through the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway line has been harmonized with the BRI objective and its investments. Piggybacking on China, Turkey has been benefitting from the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and also as an observer at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), says the think tank. Turkey is also being increasingly referred to as a Chinese Client State. The Chinese influence has become so pervasive that Turkey despite being very vocal about the plight of Rohingyas has maintained a measured silence on the Uyghurs. Story continues President Erdogan who otherwise takes pride in positioning himself as the Caliph of the Muslims has deliberately ignored the allegations of Chinese racial genocide of the Uyghur Muslim community in China's Xinjiang province. Moreover, fuelled by a radical Islamic thought process oriented towards expanding ties based on religion, Turkey has undoubtedly become closer to Pakistan over the years. The two countries have also been working on a high-level military arrangement possibly involving the sharing of technology related to the development of nuclear weapons, says IFFRAS. Turkey has even appeased Pakistan by supporting Pakistani establishments, at times even radical separatists/terror groups with financial and political support. Further, Turkish media agencies have been actively involved in pushing the Pakistani narrative worldwide on contested issues in the subcontinent. Both China and Turkey have in fact tried to bail out Pakistan repeatedly from the radar of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog, where it has been put on the grey list owing to its linkages with terror groups. The so-called iron brothers, China and Pakistan have also come to an agreement to strengthen their collaboration with the United Nations and other multilateral global organisations to support their core concerns. Turkey and China have repeatedly spoken on issues in favour of Pakistan in the United Nations. While China has ensured Pakistan gets observer status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Pakistan is trying to include China in the SAARC. All three countries: China, Turkey and Pakistan also attempt to keep the chair revolving amongst themselves in different international bodies to influence their functioning as well as to place their own representatives in decision making positions within these forums. A recent study revealed that China is in an overriding position in numerous vital multilateral forums, with both preferred personnel and prioritised funding, reported IFFRAS. In International Telecommunications Union (ITU), China influences rules that suit the ill-famed Huawei to become a key performer and helps in its expansion. While in the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), China uses the platform to endorse its geo-economic ambitions in the form of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In the aviation sector which has both civilian and military implications, China's placement at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), ensured the exclusion of Taiwan in discussions regarding air navigation and safety standards. Similarly, China pressurised the World Health Organization towards taking a sympathetic stand towards it despite widespread criticism about its handling of the pandemic, attempts at keeping its origin discreet and thwarting the fact-finding team from doing a thorough study. China also promoted certain favoured institutions in the last decade like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, BRICS, New Development Bank, and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade agreement (RCEP) while deliberately trying to sideline other forums such as the SAARC, NATO, ASEAN which it believed were detrimental to its rise and singular dominance in many ways. This multi-layered objective comprises generating new global norms for the governance of critical new age technology, finances, infrastructure, human resource and manipulating the entire process of globalisation towards establishing the dominance of China's communist State. Terms such as the wolf-warrior ambassadors, debt trap, the Health Silk road, the Digital Silk Road, Space Silk Road, and Cheque book negotiations are all driven towards describing the nature of Chinese deliberations in international relations to achieve the country's global ambitions, says the think tank. This intensifying dominance in the international arena has been based on a multitude of economic factors ranging from China's amplified monetary support to the United Nations, both mandatorily as a UN member, as well as increasingly in the form of voluntary donations. China is the second-largest donor with 12 per cent mandatory contributions and is the fifth largest voluntary donor to the UN. China has very strategically devoted its energy, people and expertise to building credibility and shaping developmental goals through global institutions from the prism of its own interests, opines the think tank. (ANI) SPRINGFIELD Land of Lincoln Honor Flight is disappointed to announce that all remaining 2021 flights from Springfield have been cancelled. as well as the public access/gathering and COVID-19 restrictions currently in place at many of the Washington DC venues and the airports as well as on the aircraft and buses. Areas of concern include COVID pre-screening of all passengers and volunteers, face covering requirements which would result in veterans and guardians being masked for multiple hours continuously during the day, COVID testing of non- or partially-vaccinated passengers and quarantine requirements for that group upon return. Joan Bortolon, Land of Lincoln Honor Flight President, issued the following statement: This decision was made after an exhaustive review and analysis of all of the factors involved in our ability to take a flight this year. Based on the current protocols and restrictions, we believe that we will not be able to provide our Veterans the full flight experience in a safe, healthy and comfortable manner. Our veterans deserve the best. We dont want to fly just because we can - - we want to fly when we can do it well and with full honors for our Veterans. We hope we will be able to resume flights in 2022. As a result of the flight cancellations caused by the pandemic, Land of Lincoln Honor Flight has recently developed a Flightless Honor Flight option for any World War II, Korean War Era or Vietnam War Era Veterans who anticipate that they may not be physically able to withstand the rigors of an actual Honor Flight when flights resume in 2022. Veterans who believe they might qualify for this option should contact LLHF as soon as possible for additional information. LLHF can be reached by calling 217-473-2540, 217-585-1219 or 217-652-4719 or by email at JMB4604@aol.com. LLHF is always accepting applications from World War II, Korean Era and Vietnam Era Veterans who would like to participate on an upcoming flight. Applications can be obtained from their website (www.landoflincolnhonorflight.org) or by emailing JMB4604@aol.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Need to get away? Start exploring magnificent places with our weekly travel newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. NAYS: Tillis R-NC LABOR DEPARTMENT: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Julie A. Su to serve as the Labor Departments deputy secretary. Su had been secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency for the past two and a half years, and before that was the states labor commissioner. A supporter, Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, said her leadership skills and proven track record of experience and effectiveness are just what we need. The vote, on July 13, was 50 yeas to 47 nays. NAYS: Burr R-NC, Tillis R-NC EMPLOYMENT LAW: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Jocelyn Samuels to serve as a commissioner on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for a term ending in July 2026. Samuels joined the Commission in October 2020, and was a civil rights director at the Department of Health and Human Services from 2014 to early 2017. A supporter, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said: Workers need a champion at the EEOC fighting for them, and Ms. Samuels has proven over her nearly two decades of experience with the federal government and her recent service as a commissioner of the EEOC that she is that champion. The vote, on July 14, was 52 yeas to 47 nays. NAYS: Burr R-NC, Tillis R-NC The students were charged with misdemeanor simple assault because that crime was most suitable with the elements that (the deputy) could prove (in court), Kerr said. It is the crime which meets the elements to move forward with the case that he had probable cause. Neither the victim nor his father were told the students had been punished, Sellers said. I dont want to ruin these kids lives, but this is not OK, Miller said. It is unacceptable. Sellers said he plans to sue the school system on behalf of the victim and his father. The school district and the principal failed my client in particular for the lack of supervision, the negligent hiring and the negligent practices that led to my client to being sexually assaulted on campus, Sellers said. There were negligent hiring practices. I am talking about anyone at the school who did not do their job that day. School officials contacted the parents of every student involved in the assault, Byrd said. School personnel also tried to stop students from sharing the video of the assault as soon as they were aware of its existence, Byrd said. While some question the timeliness of the school district in responding to the report of this incident, Byrd said, please understand that we have maintained confidentiality of out of respect for all parties involved. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. She died alone on the streets because our system did not allow her family to compel her to get care and would not provide her with low barrier housing that would keep her from the heat while she was acutely psychotic, the obituary reads. Shawna never hurt anyone, yet spent a year in jail because it was the only way for our flawed system to get her the care she so desperately needed. Wrights family agreed to discuss their sisters death with KSL.com and the Deseret News in order to bring awareness to mental health issues and highlight possible policy changes that could have helped because they said they dont want their sisters death to be in vain. In those interviews, Tricia Wright and Knighton said their sister suffered from bipolar and schizoaffective disorder. She was the nicest human being, and she was not a threat to anybody, Tricia Wright said. Yes, she could be scary when she was not under medication. She was much more of a threat to herself. Shawna Wright thrived in subsidized housing when she took her medication, her sisters explained. But after years of success in that environment, she spiraled when she went off her medication. Her caretakers contacted her social worker, but she panicked and brandished a butter knife at her social worker, her family said. This week's recipe roundup features summer classics just a little bit healthier. Many of these are great if you have a garden full of produc SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Ian Benjamin Rogers had five illegal pipe bombs and nearly 50 weapons at his home and shop in Californias wine country, a ThreePercenters bumper sticker on his vehicle, a white privilege card at his house, and text messages that led federal prosecutors to charge him with conspiring to firebomb the state Democratic Party headquarters in Sacramento. His attorney admits his client is in serious trouble, but said Friday that the alleged plot was nothing more than drunken talk between two buddies inflamed by the defeat of former president Donald Trump. Firebombing your perceived political opponents is illegal and does not nurture the sort of open and vigorous debate that created and supports our constitutional democracy, U.S. Attorney Stephanie Hinds said in announcing the unsealing of an indictment Thursday in San Francisco federal court. Also charged is Jarrod Copeland, 37, of nearby Vallejo, who was arrested Wednesday and for whom no attorney is yet listed. Rogers, 45, has been in custody on related state charges since mid-January, when the FBI in an affidavit said he sent text messages that agents interpreted as threats against the offices of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and social media companies Facebook and Twitter. Nebraska agreed to deploy 25 troopers, including logistics support, according to the documents. The team would include "marked or unmarked transportation as required to transport, patrol and command the element," and officers would be "equipped with standard police equipment in tactical uniforms appropriate for environmental conditions." Ricketts announced the deployment on June 19. A few troopers went June 24 to organize logistics, according to Thomas. The rest traveled on June 27 and began work on June 28, he said. Their voluntary deployment was initially slated to last up to 16 days. Last week, though, the governor announced 15 troopers would stay two additional weeks while the rest returned home. Total estimated costs for the mission, according to the agreement, include $83,912 related to travel, $234,554 for personnel and $15,546 for such things as water, fuel, snacks and clothing. Travel costs included an estimated $29,760 for lodging, $26,352 for meals and tips (per diem) and $19,500 for air travel. The estimated cost for salary, fringe benefits and overtime, per person per day, ranged from $444 to $815. In all capital letters and bookended by asterisks, the agreement reads: "NEBRASKA WILL NOT SEEK COST REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS COST ESTIMATES ARE ONLY INCLUDED FOR FUTURE AUDITING PURPOSES" At the beginning of July, Christina Usher assumed her duties as president of one of the oldest Rotary Clubs in the world, Lincolns Downtown Rotary, also known as Rotary 14. In this capacity, Usher will lead the club of nearly 300 members out of the era of online Zoom meetings and into a new hybrid style for the 115-year-old organization at a new location, the Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown Lincoln. Usher said she has two primary themes for her year as Rotary 1 president. First, building community," she said. "Post-pandemic lockdown, it is vitally important for us to gather in person, reinvest in our personal and business networks, and to again build friendships that stretch beyond our closest circles circles weve been 'stuck' in the last year because of the pandemic. From this foundation of community, we can reach further and stronger in service to others." Second, Rotary is all about sharing smiles, Usher said. We serve in order to bring hope to others; to provide funding or information or support to those around us," she said. "And, in turn, we share joy. As you look at all of our photos depicting the service and gifts weve given, the common theme across those pictures is smiles! Fun, joy, hope all wrapped up in a smile. "We're incredibly excited to welcome our ninth cohort to the academy," said Erin Burnette, director of the academy. "This group has overcome such a tumultuous end to their high school careers and brings such genuine excitement to the prospect of starting their time at Nebraska. They are bright, eager and community-focused individuals, and I have no doubt they will quickly find ways to positively impact the academy, the College of Business and the university as a whole. Our team feels very honored to be able to have a front-row seat as we help this cohort learn, grow and realize their potential as they progress through their college career." But what we are seeing from so-called conservatives these days is less apathy toward democracy than full-fledged retreat from democracy -- and growing hostility toward same. We are, sad to say, overstocked with examples. There is the January putsch at the U.S. Capitol. There is the recent rash of voter suppression laws. There is the decimation of the Voting Rights Act. There is that effort to delegitimize the 2020 election. And there is this: a February poll by the American Enterprise Institute, which found that just under 40 percent of Republicans support the use of violence if elected leaders will not protect America. Only 17 percent of Democrats felt the same. In a sense, yes, the question is a setup -- what does will not protect America even mean? Yet even taking that into account, it is telling that so-called conservatives are so much more willing to resort to violence. In their insistence that the deposed, defrocked and disgraced former president is still president -- and in their disregard for a democratic process which says otherwise -- the right displays a chilling affinity for authoritarian rule. And never mind that, from Amin to Zedong, one is hard-pressed to recall a strong man government that did not stomp upon the rights and even the humanity of its people. However, Jerry, one of my interviewees who lives in North Carolina and grew up Methodist, cited the white evangelical position against restrictive immigration policies as a reason to question his faith. Today, Jerry identifies as spiritual but not religious; while still an evangelical, Jerry explained, When it came to issues of immigration, we wanted our kids to know what it means to be an outsider. We want our kids to have a global experience. His theological interpretation of the Bible at that time taught Jerry to welcome outsiders, and he applied this to national borders. Political changes can shift religious beliefs. Jerrys growing cultural awareness eventually replaced his evangelical interpretation of Scripture. He notes, As opposed to looking to the Bible or church for answers, lets have a multicultural world perspective to answer those questions. Likewise, Sarah grew up in Kentucky, spending much of her childhood in church services, Bible studies and Christian camps within a Baptist denomination. Part of me likes the idea of church, she says, but I think I like the idea of just helping people more. Thats my idea of what a Christian is, someone who helps others. She admits this while maintaining that for her personally, religious identity is unimportant. KENOSHA A teenage girl was shot late Friday afternoon after she apparently attempted to steal a car at a local gas station and convenience store near Downtown, according to police. The incident began just after 5:20 p.m. at the Mobil gas station at the intersection of Sheridan Road and 50th Street. According to a release from the Kenosha Police Department, a person left a vehicle running and unattended at the gas station. The juvenile then reportedly stole the car, and while driving away, the owner, a man, fired shots at the car and struck her, said Sgt. Dusty Nichols of the Kenosha Police Department. The gold sedan ended up crashing into a fence nearby at the citys bulk waste collection site on 50th Street, just west of Sheridan Road. Police said the girl was transported via Fight for Life helicopter to Wisconsin Childrens Hospital in Wauwatosa. Her condition was not immediately known, Nichols said. The helicopter landed in Kenosha at the City Hall parking lot, where its crew assumed care of the girl from Kenosha Fire Department paramedics. A Kenosha News photographer observed that the girl appeared to be conscious. The helicopter left the City Hall lot at about 6:15 p.m. Gov. Tony Evers has ordered the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Sat., July 17, 2021, in honor of Miller. Airman 2nd Class Edward J. Miller gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving, and we honor and remember his bravery and service as he returns home to his final resting place, said Evers. On behalf of the state of Wisconsin, we thank Airman 2nd Class Miller for his service, selflessness, and sacrifice, and offer our sincere condolences to his family members and loved ones as they find closure so many years later. Copperas Cove, TX (76522) Today Cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. 1. Yes. They are not doing their duty as lawmakers; they should face consequences. 2. Yes. The Democrats may have a point, but they should be required to return to work. 3. No. With no filibuster option available, Democrats would be unable to stop a bad bill. 4. No. Most Texas voters oppose the GOPs voting measures, so they had to be stalled. 5. Unsure. Abbott wants to take a stand, but jailing lawmakers may be too harsh. Vote View Results Killeen, TX (76540) Today Cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Big cities are fast-paced and fun, and their museums and historical sites are world-famous. But if youre looking to explore history in a way thats more personal and slower-paced, countless small towns across the country are ready and waiting to welcome you. And most small towns are warm, family friendly, and pet friendly, so your furkid will be welcome, too! We searched through a number of small towns, and came up with a list of our five favorite places that will help you connect with the past - and your pet. 1. Wake Forest, NC Located just north of Raleigh, Wake Forest has it all - warm, welcoming residents, natural beauty, and a cosmopolitan vibe. Unofficially founded in 1832, it also boasts a long history. Like most Southern small towns, Wake Forest has its earliest roots in agriculture. But it actually started off as a Victorian-era college town, and its ties to education have endured. Today, downtown Wake Forest offers a charming assortment of restaurants and small businesses that welcome four-legged patrons! Bring your favorite furkid along to venues like Wake Forest Coffee Company, the Norse Brewing Company, and Art Walk Wake Forest. OMAHA -- It was the one tree the residents in a Dundee neighborhood thought would never fall. They were wrong. The huge oak, estimated by homeowner Charlie Agulla to be between 100- to 150-feet tall, silently toppled in last Saturday morning's hurricane-force winds. "I didn't even know it happened, and I was awake," Agulla said. It was the lone oak and a landmark on a block with silver maples that everyone thought would tumble first. When the old oak fell, it decimated a huge pine tree and a redbud tree, spreading across the Agullas' front yard and their neighbor's driveway. Agulla said it's become all he and his family talk about, and a stop on what he calls the "tree-damage tour" in the hard-hit neighborhood. People tell them that they feel bad about gawking, he said, but it's an unbelievable sight. The roots of the tree alone stretch 10 feet high and 23 feet across. At first glance, it looks like a wall of green carpet topped by a row of bushes. "The first three or four days it was like Berkshire weekend," said Agulla, who lives about a block from Warren Buffett. "Their jaws just dropped." Louis Tushla died in the first minutes of the Dec. 7, 1941, raid that brought the U.S. into World War II. But his remains were never identified. He began his journey home to Atkinson on Thursday from a building at Offutt Air Force Base that had a lot to do with ending that war. Tushla, a 25-year-old Navy fireman 1st class, was assigned to the engine room of the battleship USS Oklahoma when it was attacked and sunk at Pearl Harbor. The bodies of most of the 429 service members who died werent recovered until the ship was refloated in 1943. Almost 400 of them could not be identified despite efforts soon after the war ended. They were buried in Hawaii as unknowns. In 2015, the remains were disinterred and brought to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agencys lab at Offutt for identification using modern DNA technology. The lab is housed in a massive building where B-29 aircraft were built during World War II including the two planes used to drop atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which precipitated the end of the war. Tushla was identified in March 2020 through a DNA match with a nephew, Dennis Tushla. There was a request for out-of-state travel for journalism students, Hakonson said Journalism teacher Erica Brockmoller was getting ahead of the curve with this request. Students who qualify for the National Fall Convention if they win through the Nebraska High School Press Association contest. Hakonson said the results wont be known until October and there is a quick turnaround to the National Convention, hence the early request, which the board approved. The Orthman Community YMCA submitted a request for a district driver and a bus for a youth fishing trip on Sept. 11 to Johnson Lake. Hakonson said they have helped out the YMCA in the past with requests like this one, the board approved. In the buildings and grounds section, the board received a proposal for hallway tile at Sandoz Elementary. Hakonson said while the construction is complete, they have found the need for a minor addition. The new rubber chips on the schools playground can stain the hands of the students, who then come inside and run their hands down the white walls of the hallway, this makes it difficult to keep the walls clean. Hakonson said Mike Byrns is install tile over the top of the painted drywall; the tile was already purchased in the Sandoz new addition project. The board approved the proposal. A raspberry to ... those nasty blood-sucking ticks. Did you know that during the past 20 years theres been a 2 times uptick in tick-borne diseases? This includes an especially large increase in Lyme disease in the nations Midwest and northeast regions. With issues like climate change on the rise, as well as invasive species and woody plant encroachment, we might see further increases of ticks, expanding the chances of a further increase in case transmission, said Dominic Cristiano. A graduate student in applied biology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Cristiano is researching better ways to inform Nebraskans about potential risks of tick-borne diseases. Ultimately, he plans to use the data to compare Nebraskans perceptions of tick risks to the actual threat the arachnids pose. Cristiano shouldnt have a lot of trouble rustling up tick-haters in Nebraska. Whats not to hate about an arachnid that burrows its head into your skin, engorges itself with your blood, and, if thats not enough, it leaves some of its victims seriously sick. In his speech about voting rights on Tuesday, President Joe Biden told the audience at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia that he wasnt preaching to you. But that was false humility. Bidens speech was very much a sermon, and an effective one, about the importance of defeating an assault on democracy. What the speech wasnt was a new battle plan for countering efforts by Republican state legislatures to make it harder for Americans especially voters of color to exercise the franchise. Yes, Biden called for enactment of the gargantuan For the People Act, which passed the Democratic-controlled House and is stalled in the Senate, as well as the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. He also urged Congress to counter a Supreme Court decision earlier this month that narrowed the protections of what was left of the Voting Rights Act after the court gutted a key provision in 2013. By all appearances, faith in America has fallen on hard times. Skepticism has written God out of legislation, education and chunks of everyday life. By some estimates, 75 churches close per week. Yet, despite societal pressures, those who keep the faith reap healthy rewards. Writing in the Scientific American last month, David Rosmarin, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School and Director of the McClean Hospital of Spiritual and Mental Health noted that last year, American mental health sank to its lowest point in history. Yet, the only group to actually see improvements in mental health were those who attended religious services at least weekly (virtually or in person.) According to Rosmarin, health care professionals today falsely disconnect spiritual behaviors from science and clinical practice. However, in the mid-1960s, Dr. Paul Tournier, a Swiss physician, and considered by some to be the father of modern holistic medicine saw a profound link between faith and mental and physical health. Tournier wrote that a healthy spiritual life, can insure victory over the negative forces of selfishness, hate, fear and disorder which destroy peoples and undermine the health of individuals. On the flipside, he went on to say faith gives people, joy, energy and zeal needed in the daily battle for life and for the defense of health. WASHINGTON (AP) It took only two months for U.S. invaders to topple the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001, a seemingly tidy success against a government that had given refuge to 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden. Twenty years later, the United States is withdrawing visions of victory long vanished and an ascendant Taliban arguably within reach of restoring their rule. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) President Joe Biden has nominated former Iowa Gov. Chet Culver to the board of a federal organization that works to ensure rural areas have access to credit. If confirmed by the Senate, it would be Culvers second turn serving on the board of the Federal Agriculture Mortgage Corp., commonly referred to as Farmer Mac. President Barack Obama appointed Culver to the board in 2012 and he served until December 2019, when he was removed by President Donald Trump. Farmer Mac is governed by a 15-member board, five of whom are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Five members are elected by stockholders representing banks and insurance companies and five are elected by stockholders representing the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of lending and service organizations focused on financing the agriculture sector. Farmer Mac was created by Congress after the farm crisis of the 1980s. The bottom line is we want to make sure capital is flowing to rural America to farmers, to rural communities, to co-ops. Any rural-based business or industry can benefit from Farmer Mac, Culver said. I want to make sure that continues into the future and thats another reason Im privileged and honored to serve." I will never get vaccinated, Bruno Auquier, a 53-year-old town councilor who lives on the outskirts of Paris. People need to wake up, he said, questioning the safety of the vaccine. While France already requires several vaccinations to enter public school, Auquier pledged to take his two children out of school if the coronavirus vaccine became mandatory. These new measures are the last straw, Auquier said. The government warned of the continued spread of the delta variant, which authorities fear could again put pressure on hospitals if not enough people are vaccinated against the virus. The pandemic has cost France more than 111,000 lives and deeply damaged the economy. During a visit to a pop-up vaccination center in the southwest, Prime Minister Jean Castex exhorted the French to stick together in order to overcome the crisis. There is only one solution: vaccination, he said, stressing it protects us, and will make us freer. At the Paris protest, a manual worker in his sixties expressed bitterness about jobs in his sector sent offshore. A 24-year-old royalist said he was there to demand the return of God and the King." Iconic fast food restaurant chain Sonic has returned to Lancaster County. The Sonic on Lincoln Highway East in East Lampeter Township reopened Wednesday, according to a restaurant spokesperson. The countys two other Sonic locations - in Brownstown and Rapho Township near Mount Joy - will reopen by the end of the year, Sonic account supervisor Ale Iraheta said. All three closed in December. Open positions for the East Lampeter Township site ranging from carhop to general manager have been posted on Sonics website. The restaurants, which opened in Lancaster between 2006 and 2008 through a partnership that included Malvern businessman Donald Welsh, closed in December after an unsuccessful attempt to find buyers. In all, 75 employees lost their jobs due to the closures, according to information filed with the state. At the time, a spokesperson for the Oklahoma-based drive-in burger chain told LNP | LancasterOnline it hoped to resume operations in the county. Iraheta did not immediately respond to questions about number of employees needed to staff the locations, wages, benefits and whether the sites are operated by the company or franchisees. Sonic, which has 3,500 restaurants in the U.S., specializes in burgers, sandwiches and frozen drinks. Customers park in drive-in stalls and push a button to place their order. Carhops, usually on roller skates, deliver the orders. A new state database should make it easier for police departments and other law enforcement agencies to prevent problem officers from moving from one force to another. Gov. Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania State Police announced the database Friday. The plan originated last summer as part of state-level efforts on police reform in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The database of law enforcement officers includes information on whether an officer has a history of criminal charges or discipline, according to the governors office. And law enforcement agencies are now required to maintain all employment records, including performance evaluations and reasons for separation, and provide them to a potential employer. This is an important tool for our law enforcement agencies, Wolf said in a news release. It will help agencies identify potential red flags in candidates, which helps agencies invest in better employees theyll want to train and retain and keep officers with a history of misconduct away from roles where they can cause further harm. Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams supported the idea last year when Attorney General Josh Shapiro put together a coalition to advance a database. This reform increases transparency and, hopefully, will also serve to strengthen the trust between the community and members of law enforcement, Adams said Friday. Shapiro called the database a down payment on reform, one of many steps we need to take to fulfill the promise of safety and the promise of justice, so that every Pennsylvanian can be, and can feel, safe in their own community. According to the governors office, the database will contain more than 1,300 law enforcement agencies and about 30,000 to 35,000 officers, of whom more than 22,000 are municipal law enforcement officers. In addition to signing legislation Wednesday creating the database, Wolf signed police reform legislation that requires mental health evaluations with a focus on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for law enforcement officers as a condition of continued employment, such as after use of deadly force. The YMCAs future in Lancaster County appears more secure after a brush with bankruptcy last year. The boards of the Lancaster Family YMCA and YMCA of York and York County recently approved a merger, and expect the two organizations to officially become the YMCA of the Roses by December, according to One United Lancaster. It was less than 18 months ago when the YMCA of Greater Brandywine in Chester County pulled out of a merger with the Lancaster Y shortly after Gov. Tom Wolf announced the states pandemic shutdown order in March 2020. In June 2020, Lancaster Y board members made a public ask for donations in order to prevent a permanent closure of the organization. It was weighed down by $6 million of debt stemming from among other things the construction of its City Center branch in Lancaster city and its Lampeter-Strasburg location in West Lampeter Township. Before the pending merger with York, the Lancaster Family Y was able to cut down its debt by selling the land that hosts Camp Shand every year in Cornwall to Lebanon County. Lancaster County children still have full access to the camp, according to One United Lancaster. The two Y branches in Lancaster County and the five in York County will retain their names. A call to the administration at the YMCA of York and York County was not returned Friday. Larry Richardson has led the YMCAs in both counties since September, when they signed off on a management agreement. The expectation is to fully explore an extension of that management agreement hopefully through 2021, Lancaster Family YMCA board president Steve Kirchner said in September. A merger is a possibility. Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. One of Pennsylvanias two U.S. Senate seats is up for grabs in 2022 as two-term Republican incumbent Pat Toomey prepares to step aside and the state braces for a particularly high-stakes election year. The Senate opening has drawn plenty of interest from Democrats looking to shore up a narrow congressional majority, Republicans looking to limit key aspects of the Biden agenda, and observers believing the seat is likely to flip or too close to call. The race will be exceedingly expensive either way. Democrats With less than a year to go until the primary (unless the date is changed because of redistricting issues), several higher-profile Democrats are officially in the running others are rumored to be waiting in the wings. Montgomery County Commissioner Valerie Arkoosh (website | Twitter) is in the former category and running to be the first woman senator from Pennsylvania. She brings a high-profile Emilys List endorsement to the race and a significant amount of cash on hand. Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (website | Twitter) has also declared his second run for Toomeys seat in six years, this time with burgeoning household-name status, way more money, and more scrutiny, too. State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (website | Twitter) the first openly gay Black man to be elected to the state legislature brings rising-star momentum, progressive bona fides, and a string of viral moments to compete with Fettermans fundraising juggernaut. State Sen. Sharif Street (website | Twitter) the pro-gun reform, pro-retail politics Philadelphia lawmaker formally announced his intent to run but has yet to file a financial report with the FEC. Pennsylvania hasnt had a Black U.S. senator before. U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb reportedly told donors to expect a Senate run but hasnt taken additional steps. Lambs interest comes with his current job possibly set to be drawn out of existence. The other declared Democratic candidates are: Kevin Baumlin , chief of emergency and urgent care services at Pennsylvania Hospital | website , chief of emergency and urgent care services at Pennsylvania Hospital | website Brandaun Dean , former mayor of Brighton, Alabama | website , former mayor of Brighton, Alabama | website Larry Johnson , a Beaver County attorney, teacher, and progressive conservatism advocate | website , a Beaver County attorney, teacher, and progressive conservatism advocate | website Alexandria Khalil , member of Jenkintown Borough Council | website , member of Jenkintown Borough Council | website John McGuigan , former president of the Norristown Municipal Council | website , former president of the Norristown Municipal Council | website Kyle Norton , a Philadelphia-based campus safety and security consultant | Twitter , a Philadelphia-based campus safety and security consultant | Twitter Eric Orts , business professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania | website , business professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania | website Alan Shank , an Indiana County native and self-proclaimed commonsensist | website , an Indiana County native and self-proclaimed commonsensist | website Lew Tapera, a Montgomery County native, businessman, and retail worker | website Republicans Kathy Barnette (website | Twitter) of Montgomery County is a Fox News fixture and former congressional candidate who embodies the pro-Trump aspirations some in the GOP have for Toomeys successor. Jeff Bartos (website | Twitter) is a Montgomery County-based real estate developer who lost the race for lieutenant governor to Fetterman in 2018 and comes to this very costly U.S. Senate race with the backing of a monied new PAC and more moderate footing. Sean Gale (website | Facebook) is a Montgomery County-based attorney whos running on a pro-Trump platform with unfettered disdain for the seats current occupant, Toomey, whom Gale calls a RINO and swamp rat. (Toomey voted to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol siege.) Sean Parnell (website | Twitter) is a Trump critic-turned-Trump favorite who earned the former presidents blessing in a failed bid for Conor Lambs 17th congressional district seat in 2020 and whos trading barbs with Bartos this time over whos farther to the right. Carla Sands (Twitter) is Trumps former ambassador to Denmark and a well-connected and well-financed investment CEO whos from Cumberland County but spent much of her adult life in California. The other declared Republican candidates are: John DeBellis , small business owner and excessive regulations opponent from Allegheny County | website , small business owner and excessive regulations opponent from Allegheny County | website Bobby Jeffries , former congressional candidate and current MAGA millennial | website , former congressional candidate and current MAGA millennial | website Ronald Johnson , former Fredonia council member and current pro-gun, America first Oil City resident | Facebook , former Fredonia council member and current pro-gun, America first Oil City resident | Facebook Martin Rosenfeld , former deputy sheriff and accountant from Elk County | website , former deputy sheriff and accountant from Elk County | website Craig Snyder , Philly-based business and political consultant, never Trumper | website , Philly-based business and political consultant, never Trumper | website Everett Stern, banking whistleblower and failed independent candidate for Toomeys seat in 2016 | website Other Erik Chase Gerhardt, a Montgomery County master carpenter whos seeking the Libertarian Partys nomination | website WHILE YOURE HERE... If you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundationsand readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker raised $114,181 in the second reporting quarter of 2021. Smucker, first elected to the House in 2016, now has more than $950,000 in cash on hand and $40,000 in his leadership PAC, a sizable war chest that could be used for his 2022 reelection race or donated to other Republicans as the party seeks to regain a majority in the midterm election. The money raised from April to June includes contributions from approximately 70 individuals -- mostly people living in his district -- and 24 political action committees. Of those PAC contributions, Smucker received $4,500 from companies that had previously pledged to suspend political contributions to members of Congress who objected to the 2020 presidential election results. In the immediate aftermath of the Jan. 6 insurrection attempt, more than one hundred major corporations vowed to suspend political giving or to halt donations to the 147 members of Congress who voted against certifying the presidential electors from several states won by Joe Biden in November. Smucker was one of 138 House Republicans who voted to object to certifying Pennsylvanias 20 electors. Smuckers second quarter campaign finance report shows he received contributions from four companies that had previously announced they would not support objectors or would halt all political giving. He received: $1,000 from engineering firm Lockheed Martin $1,000 from dialysis company DaVita $1,000 from insurance company Cigna $1,500 from pharmaceutical company Merck Smucker also received a $250 individual contribution from AllStates federal affairs and public policy director, Saat Alety. AllState vowed to stop all political giving after Jan. 6, Quartz reported. Lockheed Martin explained why it reversed course to restart its political giving in a statement given to Defense News last month: Following the customary start of a new cycle evaluation of our political engagement program, our PAC program will continue to observe long-standing principles of non-partisan political engagement in support of our business interests. Cigna, Merck and DaVita did not respond to requests for comment. Toyota gave $1,000 to Smuckers campaign in March, after it had also made a similar promise to suspend political giving to election objectors. After being criticized for backtracking on its pledge, the company again vowed on July 8 that it would pause contributions to those who objected to the election results. Smucker defended his vote against certifying Bidens win in Pennsylvania, telling LNP | LancasterOnline at the time that Congresss certification of the Electoral College results was the only time throughout the [constitutional] process I can speak for my constituents in my district. He said Pennsylvanias presidential election was tainted because the Secretary of State issued guidance to counties that did not conform to state election law, and he said the state Supreme Court inappropriately interfered when it ruled that mail-in ballots could be counted if they arrived at elections offices up to three days after polls closed. Biden won Pennsylvania by 80,000 votes, and two audits of the results found no evidence of widespread fraud. The total number of votes that arrived in the three-day window that Smucker cited was just 10,000 and were not included in the final certified results of the election. Fundraising for 22 Smuckers largest individual donors for the second quarter include Barry and Barbara Shaw of Elizabethtown, and David and Susan Zook of Gap. Both couples contributed at least $11,600, the maximum amount they can give to a single member of Congress in a two-year election cycle. Congressman Smucker continues to be focused on raising the funds necessary to win back the Republican majority in 2022 to stop Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi and Congressional Democrats' socialist policies, wrote Jenna Geesey, Smuckers campaign manager, in an email. Smuckers contributors have refused to back down to the radical left and medias cancel culture and support the congressmans efforts to protect free enterprise and personal liberty, Geesey added. Smucker has not spoken to LNP | LancasterOnline since Jan. 6. On Thursday evening, he spoke at a town hall-style meeting in Elizabethtown that was hosted by a chapter of Free PA, a conservative group whose members traffic in a wide range of conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and COVID-19 vaccines. Reporters were not allowed in the meeting. Smucker and his staff avoided speaking to a reporter outside the meeting. For his 2020 reelection, Smuckers campaign reported spending more than $600,000 over the two-year cycle. His district, which includes all of Lancaster County and the southern part of York County, could change significantly by the time voters go to the polls in November 2022, thanks to the decennial redistricting process. Pennsylvania lost one House seat as a result of the 2020 Census. Success! An email has been sent with a link to confirm list signup. Joe Biden Insists for Social Control over U.S. in Philadelphia Speech July 16, 2021 (EIRNS)Joe Biden made a mockery of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on July 13, with his grotesque speech on his version of the word democracy, which apparently means the right to vote for Joe Biden, without being exposed to other viewpoints. No other election has ever been held under such scrutiny and such high standards, he proclaimed. The big lie is just thata big lie. He managed to deliver the whopper that In America, if you lose you accept the results, with a straight face, as though the response to Trumps 2016 victory was anything close to accept[ing] the results! Trumps entire administration was one concocted scandal after another, designed to send a messageto him and to the American peoplethat he would not be allowed to govern. He demanded the passage of laws related to voting, and for the Department of Justice to use its authorities to challenge the onslaught of state laws undermining voting rights in old and new ways. Likening lawssome of which may indeed be wrong, but certainly not uniformly soto one of the darkest periods of American history, he asserted The 21st Century Jim Crow assault is real, its unrelenting, and were going to challenge it vigorously. What a mockery he makes of true battles against massive injustice! Presenting what are plainly partisan proposals as a simple defense of freedom, he claimed Never before have we decided who gets to count, what votes count. What a silly thing to say. There have always been rules in elections, and both parties have a very clear idea of what sorts of regulations will support their electoral chances. But a benefit to one party over the other does not mean that a regulation is wrong. Take voter identificationwhich must be accompanied with no-fee state identification documentsas an example. Bidens push for fascism came through with his warning of threats of election subversion, not just abroadwhich I spent time with Putin talking aboutbut from home. He claimed that in 2022 there will be a new wave of unprecedented voter suppression and raw and sustained election subversion, demanding for the need to work together to stop foreign interference in our elections, or the spread of disinformation from within. And how might the spread of disinformation be stopped? Simplegovernment-directed censorship. Calling essentially for a war against his political opponents, Biden said, Peddlers of lies are threatening the entire foundation of our country.... I swore an oath to you, to God, to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. Thats an oath that forms a sacred trust to defend America against all threats, both foreign and domestic. And what is the magnitude of these domestic threats? Were facing the most significant test of our democracy since the Civil War. Thats not hyperbole, since the Civil War. The Confederates back then never breached the Capitol as insurrectionists did on January 6. If the United States were truly facing the greatest threat since the Civil Warduring which habeas corpus was suspended and millions of Americans were physically fighting each other in deadly combatwould any means of rising to that existential challenge be too extreme? White House Tells Facebook How To Censor: Does First Amendment Apply? July 16, 2021 (EIRNS)During a press briefing yesterday, Press Secretary Jen Psaki explained that the White House is coordinating with social media companies to stop disinformation about COVID-19. Were flagging problematic posts for Facebook that spread disinformation, she said, matter of factly. The White House is not just making general suggestionsit is pressing for their enforcement. She said that the White House expects the platforms to measure and publicly share the impact of misinformation.... This should be provided not just to researchers but to the public. She also stated that the White House has proposed a robust enforcement strategy. She said that the administration is urging social media platforms to promote quality information sources over low-quality information. Pushing for action, she reminded media, Its important to take faster action against harmful posts. As you all know, information travels quite quickly on social media platforms sometimes thats not accurate. This to the media that publicized Russiagate, and still cover anything and everything attacking China, especially if its not true. Joe Biden, asked on July 16 for comment about Facebooks role in COVID, responded that because the only pandemic is now among the unvaccinated, they [Facebook] are killing people. Investigative journalist Glenn Greenwald went after the governments demands for censorship: The Biden administration is telling Facebook which posts it regards as problematic so that Facebook can remove them. This is the union of corporate and state powerone of the classic hallmarks of fascismthat the people who spent five years babbling about fascism support. While there is, indeed, an enormous amount of nonsense posted about COVID-19, one can ask whether banning discussion is even helpful. Given the absolute and complete discrediting of the media and expertariat generally, banning the discussion of a certain viewpoint may have the opposite effect! If a viewpoint cannot be publicly expressed on Twitter, then it cannot be met with thoughtful replies that encourage reflection. (Although this is not the norm on Twitter, it does happen.) Some of the claimssuch as about figures in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, or VAERSare easily refuted. And the 180-degree turn on the Wuhan virology lab leakcensored when Trump said it and now embraced to create a war with Chinahardly gives credibility to the would-be arbiters of truth! But more essentially, it is absolutely clear that if companies (whose private nature is much ballyhooed by censorship proponents) are taking actions due to pressure from the government, the First Amendment prohibition on limiting speechwhich applies to the governmentwill apply to them as well! This not mere speculation. It comes from Supreme Court decisions: In a 1973 Supreme Court case, the Court held that Congress may not induce, encourage, or promote private persons to accomplish what it is constitutionally forbidden to accomplish. An article written by Glenn Greenwald on Feb. 20on the occasion of social media CEOs being brought, yet again, to Congress to be scoldedquotes an ACLU Director, Ben Wizner, For the same reasons that the Constitution prohibits the government from dictating what information we can see and read (outside narrow limits), it also prohibits the government from using its immense authority to coerce private actors into censoring on its behalf. The American Civil Liberties Union had successfully defended the National Rifle Association in a 2018 suit against New York State and Gov. Andrew Cuomo on the basis that threats against business entities that facilitated the actions of the NRA constituted a viewpoint-based attack on the NRAs freedom of speech. A 1963 Supreme Court case took up the state of Rhode Islands issuing to bookstores lists of books the government considered objectionable, with a request that they voluntarily cease selling the book. The Supreme Court ruled this a violation of the First Amendment, even though the state legislature did not directly pass a law preventing the sale of certain books: The [Rhode Island] commission deliberately set about to achieve the suppression of publications deemed objectionable, and succeeded in its aim. The threat from the state was clear to the Court: People do not lightly disregard public officers thinly veiled threats to institute criminal proceedings against them if they do not come around. The Court summed it up: Their operation was in fact a scheme of state censorship effectuated by extra-legal sanctions; they acted as an agency not to advise but to suppress. What is required is either a Supreme Court ruling or new legislation to make clear the limits of government interference in social media discussions, and the limits of the social media companies themselves to censor viewpoints they consider objectionable, but which are not illegal. Taliban fighters are gaining control of many areas in northern Afghanistan causing families to flee. The areas are home to many ethnic minorities. Thousands of families are crowding into camps because they fear living under the Talibans rule. Afghanistans Refugee and Repatriations Ministry said, during a recent two-week period, 5,600 families fled their homes. Most were from the northern part of the country. Outside the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif is Camp Istiqlal where 50 families live in difficult conditions. The temperature can reach 44 degrees Celsius. And there is one bathroom, a hole in the ground, for the whole camp. Many families told of how the Taliban took their towns and villages. Even after promises and negotiations, there is doubt that the Taliban will not repeat their severe rule of the past. Yaqub Maradi fled his village when the Taliban arrived. He said they tried to intimidate villagers into staying. Maradis brother and other family members were arrested and, held hostage to stop them from leaving, he said. Maradi continued, Maybe he is released today, but he cannot leave. The Taliban have enforced their own taxes in areas they control. Ashor Ali is a truck driver. He told The Associated Press he pays the Taliban $147, or half of what he makes, for each load of coal that he takes across the border of a province. The group is promising Afghans, including minorities, that they have nothing to fear. Taliban negotiators are attending international conferences. They send their former ministers to Afghanistan from Qatar, where they have a political office. The Talibans leadership council has its headquarters in Pakistan. The group still requires Islamic rule. It said its methods and beliefs are less severe than before. But fleeing local people said it seems many Taliban commanders either have not gotten the message or are not listening. In February 2020, the Taliban signed an agreement with the United States. It reportedly prevents the rebel group from capturing provincial capitals. But Kandahar in the south and Badghis in the north, are facing attack. People in Afghanistans capital Kabul also fear a Taliban attack. The Interior Ministry said this month that a rocket defense system has been built to protect the city. But the statement offered no details about where it came from or what it cost. The United States, Russia, China and Pakistan have all warned the Taliban against trying to gain a military victory. They warn they will be international pariahs, or rejected by other countries. Taliban leaders promised they are not doing this. But their negotiators boasted of their gains in recent meetings in Iran and Russia. The group blames the Afghan government for not restarting talks aimed at including leaders from both sides of the conflict. Suhail Shaheen is the Talibans political spokesman and a member of its negotiation team. He told AP that he waited for a high-level delegation from Kabul to come to Doha for talks three times. They never came, he said. The government delegation was to include several officials and leaders. Former President Hamid Karzai, National Reconciliation Council chief Abdullah Abdullah, and local commander Ata Mohammad Noor were to attend. Afghan officials who knew of the planned meetings confirmed they aimed to travel to Doha. But they said President Ashraf Ghani has been unwilling, often blocking efforts. The officials spoke to reporter on the condition that they remain unidentified. Last week, U.S. President Joe Biden urged Afghanistans leaders to find common ground. He said it was up to Afghans to bring an end to many years of war. Ninety percent of the U.S. and NATO military withdrawal has been completed and General Scott Miller has left his command. Im Gregory Stachel. Kathy Gannon reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story intimidate v. to make (someone) afraid province n. any one of the large parts that some countries are divided into boast v. to express too much pride in yourself for something you have done or are connected with The new numbers show slightly more than a third of the 188,829 people encountered at the border in June had unsuccessfully tried to cross at least one other time in the previous 12 months. The CBP last month expelled 104,907 people under the pandemic powers. The Centers for Disease Control and Protection since October has offered an exception to that order for children traveling alone and announced Friday it would allow the exception to stand following a review, allowing those minors to avoid deportation. The CDC said it determined there is sufficient infrastructure in place to protect the children, caregivers, and local communities in the U.S. from the virus. The number of single adults encountered at the border fell in June, but they were the largest group of people trying to cross. Encounters with children traveling alone increased by 8% last month, to 15,253, compared with 14,137 in May. June's figure is still well below the high of 18,663 unaccompanied children encountered in March by the Border Patrol, which began publishing numbers in 2009. The number of children in CBP custody fell to 832 on June 30 from 5,767 at its peak on March 29. She said the standards proposed in March make no sense scientifically, children are not now, nor have they ever been, miniature adults. Stolzer said elementary age students are concrete operational thinkers, and they cannot think metaphorically, hypothetically, systematically or abstractly. She said for 20 years she has been publishing peer reviewed scientific articles on the medicalization of boyhood and the differences between boys and girls, males and females are really, really different. Stolzer said boys and girls, are different hormonally, neurologically, psychologically, socially, cognitively, they learn differently, they think differently, they problem solve differently and they input and output differently. She said to say male and females are somehow blended and merged is to promote an, outright scientific lie. She said it is important to teach anatomy and physiology, but in developmentally appropriate ways. Parents, you have to stand up, this is time for grit and determination, Stolzer said, across all races, across time, parents have been the primary teachers of human sexuality to their children. Not at all. A little but not enough to alter my schedule. Enough that I try to stay inside as much as possible. It's really done a number on me. Vote View Results Court documents unsealed on Tuesday in the 25-year-old Kristin Smart murder case revealed details from the investigation, including the discovery of sexually-graphic videos at Paul Flores San Pedro home and human blood found in the the soil around Ruben Flores residence in Arroyo Grande. The filings are related to a request by Deputy District Attorney Christopher Peuvrelle to add two counts of drugged rape to charges against Paul Flores, 44, who is charged with murder in the disappearance of the 19-year-old Cal Poly freshman. Smart disappeared May 25, 1996 and was declared legally dead in 2002. Her body has not been found. Ruben Flores, 80, Paul Flores father, has been charged with accessory to murder after the fact and is accused of helping his son hide Smarts body. Both men were arrested on April 13 and charged on April 14. They made their first in-person court appearance in the case on Wednesday, and have pleaded not guilty to all charges. +2 Judge denies request to charge Paul Flores with rape in Kristin Smart murder case A judge on Wednesday denied a request by the prosecution to charge Paul Flores, who accused of killing Cal Poly student Kristin Smart, with rape. Prosecutors filed their request on June 25 and sought to include evidence of rapes that Paul Flores allegedly committed in Los Angeles County years after Smarts disappearance, in order to support their theory that Flores killed Smart while he tried to rape her. San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Craig Van Rooyen ultimately denied the two rape charges, citing the possibility that the evidence could unfairly influence a jury. He did, however, unseal more than 80 pages related to the prosecutions request, despite the objections of Bob Sanger, Paul Flores attorney. Sanger argued the press coverage of the sensitive information alone could also prejudice a jury. Sanger said there was no evidence Smart was murdered or raped, accused prosecutors of puling a publicity stunt and called the evidence speculative. This has been an effort to focus on Paul Flores for 25 years, Sanger said, adding that none of the evidence points to the rape and murder of Smart. You dont convict someone by dirtying them up, thats not allowed. Contained within the prosecutions July 9 reply to the defenses opposition to the rape charges were the results of search warrants executed at Paul Flores San Pedro home and Ruben Flores Arroyo Grande residence in 2020 and 2021. Additionally, the filings contained accounts of more than two dozen unidentified women, including some who were allegedly raped by Flores and some who described his sexually aggressive behavior over the years. On Feb. 4, 2020, San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs investigators executed a search warrant at Paul Flores San Pedro home, where they seized several electronic devices that contained numerous homemade videos that appeared to show Flores having sex with women, some of whom drift in and out of consciousness, according to court records. Some of the videos were allegedly located on an external hard drive inside a folder labeled practice, and contained at least one video of a woman with a ball gag in her mouth. On his home computer, Paul Flores allegedly conducted Google searches for what appear to be rape fetish videos, including one titled Real Drunken Girls Drugged and Raped while Passed Out, according to the July 9 filing. +2 Preliminary hearing in Kristin Smart murder case postponed A preliminary hearing for the two suspects charged in the murder of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart has been delayed. Investigators also allegedly discovered prescription drugs such as Tramadol and Flexeril, which Peuvrelle described as date rape drugs. Four days after the February search warrant, Jamilyn Holman, identified as Ruben Flores neighbor, took a picture of a travel trailer backing up to the deck located behind Flores house in the 700 block of White Court in Arroyo Grande, according to court records. Sheriffs investigators returned March 15, 2021 with another warrant to search Flores house again, this time with ground-penetrating radar and two cadaver dogs. Both dogs pointed to an area of disturbed soil approximately four feet by six feet under the deck, a spot where the presence of human blood was detected, according to records. Soil samples analyzed by a forensic serologist allegedly tested positive for human blood. The tests, however, could not screen out primate or ferret blood, although no primate or ferret remains were located at the dig site, and the blood samples did not contain human DNA, court records show. Additionally, DNA testing was conducted on the mattress located in Paul Flores dorm room in the days following Smarts disappearance and where cadaver dogs allegedly detected the scent of human decomposition. Samples were compared to Smarts parents, but were inconclusive, according to court records. A DNA sample from an alleged rape in Redondo Beach in 2007 matched Flores, although the case was rejected by the Los Angeles County District Attorney, according to court records. Van Rooyen did not preclude Paul Flores from being prosecuted on rape charges in Los Angeles County. Paul Flores has raped and victimized so many women that its hard to keep track, Peuvrelle said. Paul and Ruben Flores are scheduled to appear for a 12-day preliminary hearing beginning Aug. 2 in Department 5 of San Luis Obispo County Superior Court. Local featured Angelina County, cities research options for EMS services JAY BRITTAIN/For The Lufkin Daily News Due to long response times and a financial deficit for EMS services, the city of Lufkin is recommending Angelina County assume responsibility for emergency medical services outside city limits starting in January 2022. In the two weeks since the citys announcement, local officials have begun discussing the next steps. Lymbery Guzman Stewart Pitts Wright JOEL ANDREWS/The Lufkin Daily News PAULETTE Kennedy Freeman It has been two weeks since the city of Lufkin announced its intention to halt Emergency Medical Services to the rest of Angelina County in 2022, and local officials have begun discussing the next steps. The agreement Lufkin chose to cancel began in 2008 and extended EMS services throughout the county. In 2009, each city and the county agreed to pay a total of $200,000 for those services, with each city paying a rate per constituent. Debate over whether other cities ought to pay for these services surfaced in 2019, when newly sworn-in Angelina County Judge Don Lymbery began collecting on late payments. The cost increased to $248,830.86 for the county to continue paying at that time each city paid a rate of $4.77 per resident. You have to supply the people with (Emergency Medical Technicians), Zavalla Mayor Carlos Guzman said in 2019. That, I know. Its a lot of money, but trust me, when someone loses a life or something goes wrong or someone is hurt, not having the service is the last thing they want on their mind. And Zavalla is a large reason Lufkin cited for not continuing services; it takes the city more than 30 minutes to reach the southernmost Angelina County city, if not longer, according to a city of Lufkin press release from early July. Thats true, Guzman said on Thursday. They cant get down here fast enough. It takes 30 to 40 minutes to get to parts of the county. For some, those who are further away, it takes 40 to 45 minutes. But this also gives these cities and Angelina County just six months to coordinate, create a solution and implement it. Lymbery said he and the commissioners have been at a conference, so they havent had a ton of time to really dig in deep, but they do plan to do more research before communicating with the cities. He met with the city of Lufkin and knows the number of calls to each of the areas in Angelina County and has some perspective that way. I need to get a bunch of information as to cost and things and probable outcomes before we can sit down with the city leaders, he said. Lymbery had an afternoon meeting planned Friday and said he expected three more on Monday with EMS agencies that could work under a contract. He also wanted time to meet with the leaders of local volunteer fire departments before the other city leaders. Lymbery also was reluctant to bring the cities in too early, though he said theyre going to have to be involved in the process. You have to understand, the county is big. And theyre not going to want to cover anything thats outside of their city limits, he said. If they do, thats going to be the first because theyve never paid for anything thats outside of their city limits. Up to now, they have never paid for any citizens of Angelina County that is outside of their specific city limits. City administrators and managers from Zavalla, Huntington, Hudson and Diboll have met twice since Lufkin announced the end of the ambulance services to begin brainstorming. All agreed this will take coordination and communication while they each still learn which options are better for their communities and the county at large. It was just a preliminary meeting, Guzman said. We just met to see where we are and where we can go from there. The biggest concern is what Angelina County plans to do, Huntington city manager Bill Stewart said. There isnt any way at this point to know what the county plans, he said. I will be honest our biggest concern is all these people out here in the county and their need to have an ambulance service, Stewart said. Im talking about a real emergency, not minor things they could go to the hospital for in a personal vehicle. We need to have access to the people. The best thing these leaders can do is to keep the county as a whole in mind which includes those communities without elected city representatives available to discuss these options, he said. This is bringing us closer together and giving us an opportunity to not only communicate more, but to work together for the benefit of all the people and communities, Stewart said.Thats really not something that has been done in the past few years, and I think thats something everybody wanted, but weve not done so. The county and cities had not had any communication, Lymbery said, because the cities had not contacted him. Thats what theyre saying about you they havent heard from you, Pct. 3 Commissioner Terry Pitts told Lymbery. I think they just want to be informed. Interim Diboll city manager Keith Wright who served as the Lufkin city manager before retiring in 2020 believes the county should take a lead on this issue. The same sentiment was echoed by the other leaders, though Guzman also made the point that the cities cannot relinquish total control to the county; it should remain a countywide issue. The first step is to set up a meeting with county officials to discuss this issue to see what their thoughts are, Wright said. Pct. 1 Commissioner Rodney Paulette agrees with Lymbery and is hesitant to bring the cities in too early. He wants to make sure plans are made and the county isnt just shooting from the hip. He believes its way too early for that. Our goal is the same as the cities we want a countywide situation that satisfies our citizens, Paulette said. But how do we do that? The devil is in the details. Pct. 2 Commissioner Kermit Kennedy said the work the cities have done and are doing to gather information and meetings may be helpful to the countys information-gathering process as well. The four city leaders agreed individual stations set up at each city would best serve the communities; further discussion for the Central and Pollok area will need to be had for those constituents, as well. There are two possible options the leaders are considering: contract services with an EMS company or establish a countywide Emergency Services District like the Hudson Volunteer Fire Department attempted to do for the Hudson area in 2019. Both options will need a lot more thought, investigation and discussion before either is presented to the public, all four leaders said. Stewart began looking at alternative ambulance services in 2019, when Lymbery approached Huntington about unpaid ambulance expenses. But while some contractors did not respond to requests for information, the ones that did said the city alone could not pay what the company would need to consider setting up shop. However, Stewart said a countywide proposal may make the difference in determining whether a company would consider the area he believes a unified effort is key here. A part of contracting services, though, may require the cities to come up with places to house the machines, Hudson city manager James Freeman said. Pitts spoke with Tyler, Polk and Smith counties, which went through similar transitions, and he said it was a breath of fresh air. They are all getting ambulance services for free, he said. Which I was so glad to hear. The ambulance services only derive revenues from calls, so they are paid by the insurance companies and Medicare instead of through tax revenue. Notably, tax revenue is used to pay for current services and has caused a debate about double taxation between the cities and county. It sounds really good, Pitts said about the contract services. I was thinking $1 million to get this started. Paulette had heard similar stories and pointed to Sabine County, which has a similar situation. The contracted services may also be more cost-effective for residents because the establishment of an ESD would require setting up a new taxing entity. The actual figures to back up this claim still need to be determined and will be considered before any recommendation is made. I do think we should limit the district to just EMS to keep the cost down, Wright said. But we need to think about how to support it or not to support it, the long term implications of how we provide EMS in the county. Freeman, Guzman and Stewart all said they had not had much experience in an ESD and were not sure of all the implications it may have. They will determine this by asking questions, researching and looking at how other Texas counties manage their districts. Nacogdoches County has five ESDs that split the northern half of the county, similar to the precinct system. Additionally, the ESD would require an election to be established. In order to do so, the issue would require a petition signed by 100 registered voters in order for it to be added to the November 2021 ballot, Wright said. But even if the district is voted in, the question will then become how the cities ought to set it up and whether that can be done by the time Lufkins services end. I think (the deadline of Jan. 1, 2022) is doable if we move and start making decisions and determining which way we are going to go, Wright said. County and city officials shared a similar optimism but are looking at a long road with a lot of research ahead of them. A new cooking and event series aims to dig deeper into the rich history of Black agriculture and foodways in Wisconsin. Chef Yusuf Bin-Rella of TradeRoots Farms and Pasture and Plenty are partnering to present a four-part cooking demonstration and seminar series entitled Explore the Landscape. The series will begin with a virtual event on Thursday, July 22, featuring a lecture on the history of human migration from doctoral candidate Chris Keeve and an Afrodiasporic Summer Picnic cooking demonstration lead by Bin-Rella. Participants will also learn about the Cheyenne Valley, Wisconsin's largest rural Black settlement in the 19th century and one of the few that existed beyond the South. Nearly 150 Black settlers built a farming community near Hillsboro that lasted until the early 20th century. To be honest, it was a history that I hadn't heard before, said Christy McKenzie, owner and founder of Pasture and Plenty. I was so excited to learn that the Cheyenne Valley continues to really celebrate that heritage. Much of Roadrunner is a whirlwind of places and people, peppered with Bourdain quotes, clips of the old movies he loved, and interviews with the inner circle of filmmakers who accompanied him on his adventures. We see his famous friends, like chef Eric Ripert and rocker Josh Homme. Its a lot of fun, but we already begin to see the fracture between Bourdain the public figure and Bourdain the man, and how the former left little room for being the latter. As he traveled and saw the suffering and hardship in places like Haiti, Lebanon and Borneo, Bourdain's brash public presence began to recede. He talked less and listened more, and cared less about food and more about people. As he evolved as a public figure, the private man struggled to find happiness. He was quick to embrace people and just as quick to abandon them. Theres an interview filmed for one of his shows where Bourdain is talking to rocker Iggy Pop and asks him what thrills him. Pops answer, for a man who lived a life even wilder than Bourdains, is surprising: Being loved, and appreciating the people who are giving that to me. Bourdain nods his head, but clearly has no idea what Pop is talking about. Dear Editor: In a speech to the Republican Women of Greater Wisconsin, Sen. Ron Johnson falsely and robustly denied climate change. I am appalled that his habitual statements continue to mislead his U.S. constituents whereas 65% of Americans are concerned about this crisis and urging the federal government to do more. The senator may not be aware of the World Weather Attribution Study, which concluded that the Pacific Northwest heat wave would be virtually impossible without human-caused climate change. These extreme temperatures in late June killed hundreds of people in Oregon and Washington. Climate change is real. A recent draft report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations body of scientists asserts: Species extinction, more widespread disease, unlivable heat, ecosystem collapse, cities affected by rising seas and other devastating climate impacts are accelerating and bound to become painfully obvious before a child born today turns 30. In May 2021, a state administrative judge finally ruled in his favor, but Baukin says it took more than a month to see the aid; he was told that DWD has not loaded the judges notes into its antiquated computer system, prolonging the wait. Out of frustration, he stopped checking his online portal with the department, so it took two weeks to realize hed been paid. Pierre Young, 51, of Milwaukee is struggling to make rent after losing his part-time ministry warehouse job and being denied jobless compensation. His federal disability status torpedoed his regular claim, and he lost out on PUA after being told that he failed to submit his pay stubs fast enough. He is appealing that decision but sold his two trucks to pay bills as he waited. The 1998 Chevy Tahoe and 2002 Dodge Ram pickup a beater with a heater netted about $800 together. But Youngs newfound lack of transportation is limiting his work options, making it hard to even score an interview, he said. Hed love to take a 12-week construction job he found, but getting to the job site in Iowa would be impossible. A felony conviction on his record a barrier for many Wisconsinites is likely further harming his search, Young said, but my lack of a vehicle is really whats got me in a box. The high bacteria levels at Olbrich and McDaniel Park beaches definitely can be attributed to the heavy rains we had recently, as well as wildlife in the area, especially geese, Braun said. Heavy rains wash bacteria from animal droppings into the lakes, followed by nicer days and warm sunshine, which is a recipe for bacteria growth, she said. Algae reminder Blue-green algae is another health concern aggravated by recent rains. The Public Health website cautions park users to avoid contact with blue-green algae blooms, which appear blue-green, green, reddish-purple, or brown, and cause the water to be murky. Both people and pets should not swim at areas posted with signs saying the water is closed for swimming due to blue-green algae blooms or high bacteria levels. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources also issued a reminder Friday for beachgoers and lake users across the state regarding the toxic risks of blue-green algae, or pond scum. Blue-green algae can cause illness if swallowed or inhaled in water droplets, or irritation if rubbed on the skin under clothing, according to the DNR. Dubbed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as chronically homeless, these individuals face a gauntlet of obstacles in the quest for a safe place to live. HUDs endless End Homelessness in 10 Years campaigns, despite efforts by well-intentioned individuals and agencies, failed to overcome decades of budget cuts and congressional antipathy toward the broken and broke men and women wandering the streets. Lesser known, though, is how HUDs policies grow homelessness. Millions of people not in HUD-funded shelters (for reasons including capacity and inflexible regulations) fail to qualify as homeless by HUD, and thus are ineligible for assistance. As Jani Koester, a longtime advocate for students experiencing homelessness in Madison, told me, If you are self-paying in a motel or doubled up, you are given a few phone numbers for other resources but not included in the system for HUD housing supports. Koester convened a committee to address the invisible homeless family and youth population across Dane County. Why expand services for those who lack places of their own to live? Because research confirms that family and youth homelessness becomes the unwitting feeder system for adults on the streets. Trauma and instability experienced by youngsters can fester into adult homelessness. The confrontational resistance began then when, instead of cowering, brave Afro-Cuban artists leading calls for change fought back, coming home from prison to pledge an even greater commitment to their motto, #PatriaYVida, Homeland and Life, a poignant battle cry and anthem created by Afro-Cuban rappers, seen and circulated my millions worldwide, but especially, where it counts, inside Cuba. After a day of silence, in which Cuban diplomats took to Twitter echoing Diaz-Canel in blaming the unrest on the United States, President Joe Biden released a statement early Monday morning making it clear he stood with the Cuban people. But he didnt go any further. We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cubas authoritarian regime, Biden said. The Cuban people are bravely asserting fundamental and universal rights, he added. Those rights, including the right of peaceful protest and the right to freely determine their own future, must be respected. The United States calls on the Cuban regime to hear their people and serve their needs at this vital moment rather than enriching themselves. At this possible tipping point in Cuba, what should be the U.S. response? President Joe Biden has said he wants to restore Americas moral leadership around the globe. He has been given a golden opportunity to do so next week. Since 1959, every U.S. president from Dwight Eisenhower to Barack Obama has issued a Captive Nations Proclamation, condemning communist tyranny and pledging Americas support of those captive peoples yearning to be free. It so happens that five communist regimes are still in the world: China, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos and Cuba. But the White House is said to be thinking of replacing the Captive Nations phrase for Free and Open Societies Week. While such a change would probably please George Soros whose own vehicles for destabilizing other countries are called Open Society Foundations and other progressives, it would sorely disappoint the brave Cuban dissidents who are standing up to Cubas communist rulers. The bipartisan Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation has got in right, urging Biden to demonstrate the commitment of the United States to promoting liberty and human rights by issuing a strong 2021 Captive Nations Week proclamation. All who support freedom should second VOCs motion. Edwards is the distinguished fellow in the B. Kenneth Simon Center for Principles and Politics at The Heritage Foundation: heritage.org. His many books include biographies of Ronald Reagan, Barry Goldwater and William F. Buckley Jr. Under the tax code provision that Standing Akimbo is challenging, Thomas wrote, a business that is still in the red after it pays its workers and keeps the lights on might nonetheless owe substantial federal income tax. Can you imagine? In a country where profitable corporations and rich individuals find ever more creative ways to avoid paying federal taxes, forcing a money-losing business to pay more than its fair share is not just outrageous, its downright un-American. There are some glimmers of hope that the federal government will eventually liberalize its sclerotic view of marijuana. In January, Republican U.S. Rep. W. Gregory Steube of Florida introduced a bill, the Marijuana 1-to-3 Act, that would knock pot off the Drug Enforcement Administrations list of most dangerous substances, Schedule I, and list it in Schedule III, the category for drugs that have a currently accepted medical use and a risk of dependence. In April, the House of Representatives passed the SAFE Banking Act, which would allow cannabis-related businesses to access the banking system in states where they are legal and regulated. The bill passed with bipartisan support 321 to 101 and had the backing of 106 Republicans. In 2013 I had penned these thoughts while thinking about the tyranny unleashed upon the unprotected babies in our city. I would expect there would be a global outrage if an army of 600 militia men, armed for war, burned a peaceful town down. I would likely join the cry for justice. I would expect Facebook and Twitter to light up with posts for weeks if it was discovered that a father gave his daughters to invaders to do with as they wish. This is wrong on so many levels, and one would find few people to disagree that that father is not only a danger to his children, but to all of civilization. I would expect a man who chops his dead wife up into twelve equal pieces and then sends those pieces throughout the land to not escape the death penalty would cause a shortage of pitchforks and tiki torches. Yet, today, in our land and around the world, two organizations are largely unchallenged in their unjust and inhumane ways. UNICEF gets its pass because of its clever and well-put-together commercials and propaganda. Planned Parenthood will cunningly evade the questions on funding while they slaughter the unborn. Both organizations will gather large sums of money from taxpayers in America and individual donors. Making both UNICEF and Planned Parenthood holding governments around the world hostage. Participation is getting easier. National grant money is now available to foot between 90% and 100% of the $5,000 bill to participate in CSIs program, and a partnership with a Boise State University multidisciplinary program is helping candidates finish the college degrees they need to become certified teachers. More cash is flowing into K-12 schools, too, priming the pumps for new programs. Two thirds of a historic $440 million infusion of federal coronavirus relief funds have already hit Idaho coffers, and school districts which get the final say in how 90% of the K-12 money is spent got access to the bulk of it July 1. As the next school year nears, Linder and Dobbs suggest districts use some of their stimulus as seed money to start local grow-your-own teacher programs. The money is meant to go to high-poverty schools to support students most impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Dobbs encourages districts to target their new grow-your-own programs at recruiting current high school students to become teachers; if they do, a new wave of educators could emerge from a group of students who felt the brunt of learning losses and the fallout of the pandemic writ large. Other districts needs loom large enough that they cant afford to prioritize new programs. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Tuesdays ceremony is the culmination of a year-long effort by Sen. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, and Jerome Mapp, planning and zoning director for Caldwell. Im so grateful I was able to work with Jerome to help make his vision a reality, Wintrow said. Its so important to honor and recognize the achievements of Idahoans, especially Idahoans of color, whose contributions have not always been front and center in our state history. I hope this will lead more people to learn about Vernon Bakers legacy and acts of bravery, helping keep the story of this American hero alive for decades to come. Mapp, a constituent of Wintrows in District 19, reached out in June 2020 looking for a way to honor Baker. The pair later connected with the Idaho Division of Veteran Services and Maj. Gen. Michael Garshak. Im thankful that on that day we will create a lasting legacy in the name of Vernon Baker, Mapp said. For those, who will enter into this building will have the opportunity to learn about him and the sacrifice he made as well as other African Americans made for our country. Mapp is slated to speak at Tuesdays event, which will start at 11 a.m. at Gowen Field, south of the Boise airport. +3 Crapo: Idaho's Gold Star Families Memorial Monument Opinion: Idaho is now home to one of our nations Gold Star Families Memorials thanks to the hard work and dedication of many Idahoans. +4 'It changed me' - Mini-Cassia veterans gather to share stories on National Vietnam War Veterans Day About two dozen of Mini-Cassias 400 known Vietnam War veterans gathered Monday for a dinner held in their honor on National Vietnam War Veterans Day. +2 Remembrance ceremony to honor Vietnam veterans President Donald J. Trump signed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017, and President Barack Obama proclaimed March 29, 2012, as Vietnam Veterans Day. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) More people living along the eastern edge of an Oregon wildfire were told to evacuate late Thursday as the inferno began spreading rapidly and erratically in hot afternoon winds and threatened to merge with a nearby, smaller fire that had also exploded in size. The Bootleg Fire, the largest wildfire currently burning in the U.S., has now torched an area larger than New York City and has stymied firefighters with erratic winds and extremely dangerous fire behavior. The fire, pushed by winds from the south, has the potential to move 4 miles (6 kilometers) or more in an afternoon and there is concern it could merge with the smaller, yet still explosive Log Fire, said Rob Allen, incident commander for the blaze. The Log Fire started on Monday as three smaller fires but exploded to nearly 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) in 24 hours. It is also being fanned by winds from the south, Allen said. Firefighters were all pulled back to safe areas due to intense fire behavior and were scouting ahead of the main blaze for areas where they could make a stand by carving out fire lines to stop the inferno's advance, he said. Crews are watching the fire, nearby campgrounds "and any place out in front of us to make sure the publics out of the way, Allen said. He said evacuation orders are still being assessed. HELENA, Mont. (AP) Environmental regulators have filed a motion to dismiss a legal case that sought to block the president of an Idaho-based company from being involved in proposed mines in northwestern Montana under a state law that punishes companies and their executives who don't clean up mining pollution. The filing on Wednesday drew criticism from environmental groups that supported the bad actor sanctions being sought against Hecla Mining Co. President and CEO Phillips Baker Jr. In 2018, the Department of Environmental Quality sought to have Baker removed from two silver and copper mining projects Hecla proposed near and beneath the Cabinet Mountains near Libby and Noxon. Baker was the vice president and chief financial officer of Pegasus Gold, which went bankrupt in 1998 before cleaning up pollution from three gold mines, including the Zortman-Landusky Mine near the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. The state and federal governments have spent more than $50 million in cleanup costs and water treatment will continue in perpetuity, officials have said. DEQs dismissal of the enforcement action ignores its responsibility to enforce the bad actor law and prioritizes mining executives over Montanans, Andy Werk Jr., president of the Fort Belknap Indian Community, said in a statement. Thats the fine line there, weve had dogs that go both ways, Peterson says. Weve had dogs that we dont handle enough, and weve had dogs that go out with the sheep, and by the fall, theyre pretty much feral. You cant catch them. I grew up out here on the ranch, grew up with the dogs, like any young boy, fascinated with the puppies, just always been close to the dogs on the ranch, Peavey says. But if I got caught petting a puppy in the corral, Id get harped on by the sheep foreman or my grandfather, dont touch those dogs, theyll love people more than theyll love sheep and they wont do their job. But of course Id still pet them when they werent looking. I learned I could make friends with some of these dogs, they can learn to appreciate people, and do their job just fine. The trouble is, if these dogs dont receive any affection from people at a young age, and periodically throughout their lives, then they grow up wild, they grow up feral, and when you need to catch a dog, especially when its wounded or needs medical attention, you cant! Its next to impossible. Theres also a fine line in training when it comes to a guard dogs temperament around outdoor recreationists, Peterson says. But elected leaders in the county did shed a little more light on why only 34.7% of residents have had one shot and 31.6% are fully vaccinated, trailing only neighboring Carroll and far-west Lee counties for the worst rate in Virginia and. Patrick County has by far the worst in the West Piedmont Health District, which also includes Henry and Franklin counties and the city of Martinsville. Crystal Harris, chair of the Patrick County Board of Supervisors, said in an email that residents have been telling her that they never took a flu shot, and there is a high mortality rate for the flu as well, they dont see the need in taking the Covid vaccine either. While others have said there is not enough information about the vaccine. Supervisor Clyde DeLoach, who said he got his vaccine as soon as possible, wrote by email that some residents have real health concerns about the vaccine, but most who refuse seem to do so because they do not accept that the vaccine is efficacious or that the virus is a real threat. Supervisor Denise Stirewalt: In conversations with some of the citizens, they just chose not to take it. Its a choice. Im curious, what are the vaccination rates for the flu? The delta variant officially has arrived across the Southside, as variants are causing a greater danger in what is now an increased number of cases statewide of COVID-19. The Virginia Department of Health on Friday reported a second death because of the infection by a variant in the West Piedmont Health District. There also were six more cases up to 56 and Sovahs hospitals in Martinsville and Danville are treating patients infected with variant. And they are getting sicker and sicker. Its unclear whether any of the new cases in the district were caused by Delta as of last week, officials were saying no but there are two cases in the neighboring Pittsylvania-Danville Health District. Paige Bordwine, an epidemiologist with the Virginia Department of Health, said the delta version is the up and coming variant in Virginia. As of Friday, Sovah Health-Danville was treating two COVID-19 patients and two more were at the Martinsville facility, said Sheranda Gunn-Nolan, market chief medical officer for Sovah Health at both campuses. These patients are much sicker than the patients we were seeing a year ago and frequently need care in our Intensive Care Unit, she told the Register & Bee on Friday. Outbreaks, like COVID-19, take much time to eradicate, said Public Health Director Karen Powell. Even with the best precautions and a very effective vaccine, the virus is still prominent and is being transmitted from person to person. We are watching the numbers begin to climb back up, with the trends in variants, and I expect this to continue. The community needs to understand and remember that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over and we must continue to be precautious and vigilant to protect ourselves. We are enjoying many more activities this summer than the last. Families are traveling, kids are going to camp, and mass gatherings of friends and families are in full swing. Yet, the COVID-19 virus is still out there and people are getting sick. The Missoula City-County Health Departments COVID-19 testing clinic is now offering free testing for residents who are planning to leave the state. MCCHD has seen incredible demand for this service from our community and is excited to offer this to Missoula County residents, Missoula County Health Department spokeswoman Hayley Devlin said in a Friday press release. Devlin said her office gets lots of inquiries from people wondering about testing for travel. We get calls every day, she added. The health department encourages residents to book a test with plenty of time to receive the results if they are required by the travel destination, as labs are only open on business days. The tests administered are standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, the release said. It is up to the traveler to know whether a standard PCR tests meets the requirements of the travel destination. PCR test results usually take about two to five days since results have to be sent to the state lab, Devlin said. Rapid testing isnt an option since PCR results are usually more accurate. PLANTATION, Fla. (AP) A man abducted his girlfriend's young son during an argument and then sped off in her car before losing control and crashing into a tree, killing both himself and the child in the fiery wreck, her family said. Plantation police identified the dead in Thursday's early morning crash as Ryan Yates, 25, and 3-year-old James Oizan-Chapon, but have not released many details. But the boy's grandmother, Maria Cid, told WPLG-TV that Yates was arguing with her 25-year-old daughter, Yasmin Cid, at about 3:30 a.m. Thursday when when he grabbed James and drove away with him in her black 2014 Mercedes-Benz as the mom tried unsuccessfully to free her son. The Mercedes hit the tree at high speed, splitting in two and erupting in flames. Yasmin Cid soon arrived at the scene. I heard two booming sounds right after the crash and then a woman screaming for her baby, witness Elizabeth Velasco told the TV station. She was like, My baby! My baby! I actually started crying when I heard that because I felt really helpless. The inferno has stymied firefighters for a week with erratic winds and extremely dangerous fire behavior, including ominous fire clouds that form from superheated air rising to a height of up to 6 miles (10 kilometers) above the blaze. We're expecting those same exact conditions to continue and worsen into the weekend, Krake said of the fire-induced clouds. Early on, the fire doubled in size almost daily, and strong winds Thursday again pushed the flames rapidly. Similar winds gusting up to 30 mph (48 kph) were expected Friday. It's burning an area north of the California border that has been gripped by extreme drought, like most of the American West. Extremely dry conditions and heat waves tied to climate change have swept the region, making wildfires harder to fight. Climate change has made the West much warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive. The blaze was most active on its northeastern flank, pushed by winds from the south toward the rural communities of Summer Lake and Spring Lake. Paisley, to the east of the fire, was also at risk. All the towns are in Lake County, a remote area of lakes and wildlife refuges with a total population of about 8,000. David Henkin, an attorney from Earthjustice who argued the case, said Thursdays order could be the end of legal proceedings unless the county decides to appeal again. We are hopeful that the mayor will stop wasting taxpayer resources on courts and focus on what he says he wants to do, Henkin said, noting the administration has said it is committed to reusing the Lahaina wastewater. If that is the case, he said, then stop fighting in court and trying to gut the Clean Water Act and just focus on that task, which is frankly all our clients who are all Maui residents ever asked the county." Maui County Communications Director Brian Perry said Thursday that the county is disappointed in the ruling but prides itself on its environmental stewardship that began decades ago when its leaders made the decision to focus on water reclamation and reuse rather than ocean outfalls. He said the Lahaina facility treats incoming wastewater to the highest quality in the state. The recycled water is used for irrigation, he said. A troubling aspect to this ruling is the potential impact to the countys recycled water program, Perry said. The county will continue to analyze the impact of this ruling. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, The Maui News. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday he believes Afghan forces can secure the country as the U.S. withdraws, but success will depend on whether they have the will to put up a fierce fight against the Taliban. Thousands of Afghans have fled the country in recent days as Taliban forces have surged through northern Afghanistan. In an interview with the Associated Press, Pompeo said he is confident Afghan forces can repel the Taliban, but it's a matter of will. I saw on TV the other day, I saw some 22, 23-year-old Afghan males say, 'It's really dangerous here, I want to get out,'" the former secretary of state said. What those Afghans should have been saying is its really dangerous here, give me an M16. Under former President Donald Trump, Pompeo oversaw U.S. negotiations with the Taliban and remains the only secretary of state to have met face-to-face with senior Taliban officials. He applauded President Joe Bidens move to withdraw from Afghanistan rare praise from a Trump loyalist but said he was worried that U.S. counterterrorism operations could be hurt in the process. Vienna has for centuries been a center for espionage and diplomacy and was a hub for clandestine spy-versus-spy activity during the Cold War. The city is currently the site of indirect talks between Iran and the United States over salvaging the nuclear deal that was negotiated there in 2015. Those talks are now in hiatus and it was not immediately clear if any members of the U.S. negotiating team were among those suffering from injuries. The problem has been labeled the Havana Syndrome, because the first cases affected personnel in 2016 at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba. In May, officials said at least 130 cases across the government are were under investigation, up from several dozen last year. People who are believed to have been affected have reported headaches, dizziness and symptoms consistent with concussions, with some requiring months of medical treatment. Some have reported hearing a loud noise before the sudden onset of symptoms. Particularly alarming are revelations of at least two possible incidents in the Washington area, including one case near the White House in November in which an official reported dizziness. Although some are convinced the injuries are the result of directed energy attacks, others believe the growing number of cases could actually be linked to mass psychogenic illness, in which people learning of others with symptoms begin to feel sick themselves. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 However, since June 2018, no graduates of the Virginia nursing school have been approved to practice in Maryland because Nwaokwu or Bangura have failed to provide paperwork required of out-of-state applicants by Maryland regulators, the affidavit says. Some of those who graduated from the Florida nursing school with backdated transcripts are listed as people who passed the New York State Board Examination, the FBI says. The FBI agent said a New York State Office of Professions employee told him that their internal license procedure is fraught with disorganization, but the agent said it's unclear why Nwaokwu has advised all of his co-conspirators to apply for a license in New York. Receipts showed that students paid between $6,000 and $18,000 for the fake transcripts and certificates from the Virginia school, the affidavit says. An FBI undercover agent purchased a diploma from the Florida school for approximately $16,000. The FBI agent who wrote the July 8 affidavit said he hadn't communicated with any employers of any graduates of the Florida nursing school due to the covert nature of the investigation but has verified that at least four graduates have worked for health care entities that bill Medicare and Medicaid and private insurance. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 But the Alder Creek Fire was getting close enough to recommend the evacuations, he said, and more than 200 structures are being threatened and watched. Theres always the possibility of additional evacuations so we are constantly monitoring the situation and planning out ahead, Williams said. The Alder Creek Fire was discovered southwest of Wise River on July 8 and as of Friday morning had grown to 3,463 acres. More than 220 personnel are fighting and trying to contain that fire and protect houses and other buildings. Another wildfire, the Trail Creek Fire west of Wisdom, was also discovered July 8 and had grown to 9,544 acres on Friday. Montana Highway 43 was still closed for 18 miles to the Idaho border and the fire was threatening several private residences. Winds and topography were generally pushing that fire to the east, Williams said, and firefighters were especially concerned about the western and southern parts of the Alder Creek Fire. Theres some pretty difficult terrain through there, he said. With Alder Creek, the main focus is going to be with (protecting) the homes in the Wise Creek area. Its firefighter safety, public safety and the homes in that area. Biden is unlikely to take this eminently avoidable risk. Back in 1994, he said candidly, If Haiti a God-awful thing to say if Haiti just quietly sunk into the Caribbean or rose up 300 feet, it wouldnt matter a whole lot in terms of our interest. President Bill Clinton proceeded to prove him right. In the grandly named Operation Uphold Democracy, Clinton sent troops to remove the military junta that had overthrown President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and restore him to power. It succeeded in those objectives without doing any lasting good. Robert Fatton Jr., a Haitian-born political scientist at the University of Virginia, told Time magazine in 2019, If anything, the situation now is probably more catastrophic than it was in the mid-1990s. The U.S. intervention, he concluded, was a euphoric moment, which ended in disaster. The democracy we tried to uphold has long since broken down. For Americans, though, it didnt matter if the country was governed well or terribly. Haiti was a political and humanitarian disaster before we went in and after we left. Yet none of what happened in the following years had any noticeable effect on the security or prosperity of the American people. Ruby Valley Search and Rescue hosted a massive search and rescue training event with 45 participants on July 10 in the Gravelly Mountains of southwest Montana. Participating in the training were neighboring SAR units, Madison Valley Search & Rescue and Beaverhead Search & Rescue, as well as the Madison County Sheriff's Department, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officers, Civil Air Patrol, and LifeFlight personnel. Initial planning for the event also included U.S. Forest Service staff. The realistic training was designed to prepare teams for operation and cross-communicate in the case of a mass-casualty event in a remote area. For this training, the scenario was a multiple-victim bear attack. The planners of the training scenario placed "victims" with simulated bear attack injuries at the actual sites where grizzlies mauled archery hunters a couple hunting seasons ago in the Gravelly Range. Teams dispatched to the training rescue mission were not previously aware of these locations and had to "search" for the victims and "rescue" the victims as they would on an actual mission. Daines asked about demographics involved in violent crime in the city, to which Twito said it seems to be young people turning to gun violence very quickly. Three shootings this past week led to the arrest of two younger men, one in his late teens and the other in his early twenties. A shootout between two young men in late June led to the arrest of an 18-year-old man and the death of a 22-year-old. That crime looked to be meth-related, and it occurred close to a popular restaurant at just after 11 p.m., said Twito. So, its very concerning, he said. The legalization of marijuana was also addressed as the state and local governments contend with the end of pot prohibitions in the state. St. John anticipates driving under the influence charges to increase by the thousands due to the recreational use of the drug. He said those numbers were based on observations by law enforcement in states where the drug has been legal for years. He also anticipated the gateway drug will exacerbate the problem of other drug use and lead not only to more meth and heroin addictions, but to more theft and violence. The focus of the conversation was on rapidly increasing crime rates, drugs like methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl and the impacts those crimes have on the community. The university has received bids for the project that are all within the increased authority amount, and Muffick doesnt anticipate any additional increases for the project in the future. The scope of the project remains the same, Muffick said. Construction on the new Food Zoo is expected to begin in December and will begin with the partial demolition of the Lommasson Center as well as the north wing of Craig Hall, a student residence building. The project will be supported through the universitys bond proceeds and will not be paid for with student tuition, state taxes or academic budget funds. "The infrastructure improvement projects underway at UM right now are student-centered investments," said university spokesperson Dave Kuntz in an email. "Every major construction project taking place between now and 2025 will be student-focused, with the intent to strengthen academic quality, improve access to student resources, and build upon the strong on-campus vibrancy at UM." About 100 employees with offices at the Lommasson Center will be temporarily relocated to the first six floors of Aber Hall this fall, Kuntz said. Some offices will remain online during construction. A new fire in the forest near Garnet Ghost Town helped confound weekend plans across western Montana as smoke inversions reached unhealthy levels on Friday. The Bureau of Land Management temporarily closed the historic site and surrounding area for public safety and to clear roads for firefighters. The closure order affects most of the southwestern portion of the Garnet Mountains, from Elevation Mountain on the northeast to I-90 on the south. Some major landmarks within this closed area are Garnet Ghost Town, Garnet Range Road, Elevation Mountain, Douglas Creek, Mulkey Gulch, Bear Gulch, Deep Creek, Elk Creek, Gambler Gulch, First Chance Gulch, Cave Gulch and Top O Deep, and Keno and Kennedy roads. Known as the Anderson Hill Fire, the blaze is estimated at 1,000 acres and overlaps parts of Missoula, Granite and Powell counties. Winds blowing west to east should keep the Anderson Hill smoke away from Missoula, but lots more will blow in from big fires in Oregon and Idaho. The plumes on Friday kept pollutant levels at the unhealthy for sensitive groups or unhealthy warning most of the day, with similar conditions expected for the weekend. His death has prompted weeks of protests. On July 5 at least six activists were arrested by security forces when protesting outside the Palestinian Authority headquarters. Multiple witnesses said the police used pepper spray and beat the protesters with batons. Some 150 people demonstrated in Ramallah on Saturday evening, holding up posters of Banat and chanting anti-Abbas slogans. The protest was peaceful and there were no reports of violence or arrests. The Palestinian Authority, seen as a crucial partner of the U.S. and other Western countries, has formed an investigative committee into Banat's death. His brother said that weeks later, the family has heard little from the government. The Palestinian Authority has not responded to requests for comment. Until this moment, we have failed to obtain a death certificate. How can you have a citizen who dies without issuing a death certificate? Ghassan Banat said. Accompanied by two family lawyers, the brother rejected what he said were attempts by the authority to send tribal elders to the family in hopes of closing the case and stopping it from reaching the courts. JACKSON, Miss. Mississippis only level-one trauma hospital and academic medical center will require all employees and students who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 to wear an N95 mask while inside, a decision that a top official acknowledged would not be popular with everyone in the countrys least vaccinated state and may result in the loss of employees. BANFORA, Burkina Faso (AP) Florent Coulibaly, a soldier in Burkina Fasos army, says he hasn't been sleeping well for the past few months as he is often roused at 3 a.m. to fight jihadi rebels. Until recently life was peaceful in western Burkina Fasos Comoe province, but an increase in attacks by extremist groups in the countrys west has put the military on edge. It tires us. It gives us a lot of work. It scares us, too, said Coulibaly, 27. We dont know where (the jihadis) are going to come from. They see us, but we dont see them. They know us, but we dont know them. Over the past six months, his battalion has doubled its patrols from once a week to twice, but Coulibaly says the men are ill-equipped, overworked and worry the area could be overrun by jihadis. Burkina Faso is experiencing an increase in extremist violence by groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Last month, at least 11 police officers were killed when their patrol was ambushed in the north. The country also experienced its deadliest violence in years when at least 132 civilians were killed in an attack in its Sahel region. Members of the Border Network for Human Rights and Borders Dreamers and Youth Alliance hold a banner during protest outside a U.S. Federal Courthouse to demand that Congress pass a Clean Dream Act in El Paso, Texas on March 5, 2018. Researchers from the University of London and ETH Zurich have documented significant problems with the security of Telegrams encryption system. While Telegram fixed the four specific security flaws identified by the researchers, they also highlighted underlying problems to Telegrams general approach to encryption. This has been a long-standing criticism against Telegram due to its use of a home-grown and closed source encryption scheme called MTProto. For years, security professionals warned that Telegrams encryption is based on an unproven algorithm, custom-developed by Telegram itself, rather than on proven industry standards. Martin Albrecht and Lenka Marekova from the Information Security Group at the University of London, and Kenneth Paterson and Igors Stepanovs from the Applied Cryptography Group at ETH Zurich have now provided a formal analysis of the problem. Their paper, Four Attacks and a Proof for Telegram, is to appear at the IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy 2022. The results from our analysis show that for most users, the immediate risk is low, but these vulnerabilities highlight that prior to our work, Telegram fell short of the cryptographic guarantees given by other deployed cryptographic protocols such as Transport Layer Security, Albrecht said. First the researchers showed four attacks on Telegrams encryption scheme. It should be noted that Telegram patched all of these vulnerabilities before the researchers disclosed the flaws. Researchers assessed that the most significant vulnerabilities relate to the ability of an attacker on the network to manipulate the sequencing of messages coming from a client to one of the cloud servers that Telegram operates globally. Dubbed the crime-pizza vulnerability, the researchers gave the light-hearted example of sending the messages, I say yes to, followed by pizza, and then I say no to, followed by crime. If the order of the messages pizza and crime is reversed, it would appear that the client is declaring their willingness to commit a crime. The second attack was mostly of theoretical interest. The vulnerability allows an attacker on the network to detect which of two messages are encrypted by a client or a server. However, the researchers stated that other cryptographic protocols are designed to rule out even such attacks as every bit of information leaked could be exploited. Telegram awarded the researchers a bug bounty for discovering a flaw that could, in principle, allow attackers to recover some plaintext from encrypted messages. While this seems alarming, it would require an attacker to send millions of carefully crafted messages to a target and observe minute differences in how long the response takes to be delivered. The flaw was in the implementation of Telegrams official Android, iOS, and Desktop clients and was patched in June. It is mostly mitigated by the coincidence that certain metadata in Telegram is chosen randomly and kept secret, the researchers noted. The presence of these implementation weaknesses, however, highlights the brittleness of the MTProto protocol: it mandates that certain steps are done in a problematic order, which puts significant burden on developers including developers of third-party clients who have to avoid accidental leakage. The researchers also showed how an attacker could mount a man-in-the-middle attack on the initial key negotiation between the client and the server. This allows an attacker to impersonate the server to a client, enabling it to break both the confidentiality and integrity of the communication. Luckily, this attack is also quite difficult to carry out, as it requires sending billions of messages to a Telegram server within minutes, the researchers stated. However, it highlights that while users are required to trust Telegrams servers, the security of those servers and their implementations cannot be taken for granted. Some good news for Telegram is that the researchers found that its custom MTProto encryption scheme can provide a confidential and integrity-protected channel if the changes they suggested are adopted. The Telegram developers communicated to us that they did adopt these changes, the researchers stated. Telegram awarded a cash price for this analysis to stimulate future analysis. However, this comes with significant caveats. The researchers explained that cryptographic protocols like MTProto are built from building blocks such as hash functions, block cyphers, and public-key encryption. In a formal security analysis, the protocols security is reduced to the security of its building blocks. This is no different to arguing that a car is road-safe if its tyres, brakes and indicator lights are fully functional, the researchers said. However, in the case of Telegram, the security requirements on the building blocks are unusual and have not been studied in previous research. This is somewhat analogous to making assumptions about a cars brakes that have not been lab-tested, the researchers said. Other cryptographic protocols such as Transport Layer Security, which is widely used on the Internet, do not have to rely on these sort of special assumptions, they said. Another caveat is that the researchers only studied the three official Telegram clients and no third-party clients. Some of these third-party clients have substantial user bases, the researchers noted. They said the brittleness of MTProto is a cause for concern as the developers of these third-party clients could make mistakes in implementing the protocol that causes the timing leaks they found. Alternative design choices for MTProto would have made the task significantly easier for the developers, the researchers concluded. Now read: WhatsApp versus Telegram The Adventist Health St. Helena/St. Helena Hospital Foundation Mobile Health Unit will host two back-to-school Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine clinics for anyone 12 or older on Tuesday, July 20. The first-dose vaccine clinics will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Helena High School, and from 5 to 7 p.m. at Calistoga Junior/Senior High School. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Special offer: $1 for your first 3 months! "We are pleased to offer these timely vaccine clinics to our Upper Napa Valley families. Its important that we vaccinate as many adolescents as we can prior to the school year to help ensure our community stays healthy during this pandemic," said St. Helena Hospital Foundation President and CEO Glen Newhart. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at preventing COVID-19 disease, including the Delta variant. Funded by community supporters, the Adventist Health St. Helena/St. Helena Hospital Foundation Mobile Health Unit has administered over 33,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses so far this year. In addition to the first-dose clinics in St. Helena and Calistoga, the Mobile Health Unit will hold second-dose clinics on Aug. 10. All clinics are open to anyone needing second doses. Traffic was tied up in St. Helena on Saturday after a car collided with a utility pole, knocking power lines into the roadway. Main Street between Pratt Avenue and Deer Park Road was closed in both directions after the incident was reported around 2:30 a.m., police sources said. Local authorities issued several Nixle alerts Saturday morning to advise drivers to avoid the area and take alternate routes. The northbound lane reopened around 2 p.m.; but the southbound lane remained closed as of 5 p.m. PG&E reported more than 180 customers lost power on Saturday. The agency expected to have power restored by 11 p.m. Heath said hes already reached out to The Eagles, and he feels optimistic about using the name Hotel California for the inn. We believe we will be able to call it Hotel California, but if that doesnt work, his backup plan is to call it Hotel Cali, instead. Its going to happen, one way or the other, said Heath. In the past, The Eagles have been protective of the name Hotel California. In 2017, the rock band sued a Mexico-based hotel using the name Hotel California. That case was eventually settled and according to a story on NPR.org, "the hotel and its affiliates will continue to use the service mark and trademark 'Hotel California' in Mexico." Besides the purchase price of the mansion, Heath said hes prepared to invest several million to turn the former home into an inn. Yet, for Heath, Its not all about money. Theres a greater purpose behind this project to help others that are suffering from addiction. The house has a long history. Originally known as the William Andrews House, it has been described as one of the most architecturally significant buildings in Napa. Attendees at the June 22 meeting, asked about the positives of the department, said they thought the police are fairly responsive, especially in emergency situations. Cathy Odom said the department responded within a few minutes when a man with a knife who was saying he was going to kill someone, according to Odom was running down the street earlier this year outside her kids window. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} They were there for us when we needed them, Odom said. Its kind of how the whole city does when theres an emergency, when theres a fire, a flood, an earthquake. Everyone is trained to come during that emergency and people dont realize how important that is until that emergency happens. Kelly Moore, an asset manager at Zapolski Real Estate, said at the meeting that the new chief needs to be aware of the unique and changing makeup of the community, which she referred to as a blue collar community with affluence. Odom added that she thinks itll be difficult for the new chief to bring changes to policing into the city because some Napa residents are resistant. On the other hand, she said, the younger people affiliated with groups such as Stop Napa Hate and Black Lives Matter want change immediately, which she said doesnt align comfortably with the often slow-moving, bureaucratic process of government. The city of Napa Planning Commission on Thursday approved a new set of AT&T antennas for cell phone and data service which will be housed in a cupola on the roof of the Best Western Plus at 100 Soscol Avenue. The AT&T project will provide increased cell phone coverage and higher data speeds in the area using 4G broadband cellular technology, said AT&T Mobility representative Charlene Schlager at the meeting. The cell antenna cupola will be located on the opposite side of the roof from an existing cell antenna cupola, which the planning commission approved in 2005. The commission voted 3-2 to approve the project, with planners Bob Massaro and Ricardo Hurtado opposing. As added conditions, commissioners asked that cautionary and informational signage around the cupolas be in both Spanish and English and that both cupolas are painted the same color at the same time. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Special offer: $1 for your first 3 months! Amy Martenson, writing on behalf of the Napa Neighborhood Association for Safe Technology, wrote a letter to the commission questioning several aspects of the project. Among other questions, Martenson wrote that the applicant should provide hard data to show proof of a gap in cellular telephone service, raised concerns about 5G technology and questioned whether the project complied with the National Environmental Policy Act. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) The California attorney generals office is launching its first required investigation of a police shooting of an unarmed civilian, acting in a Los Angeles County death where police said the suspect walking on Hollywood Boulevard turned out to have a fake gun. We will take every step necessary to ensure a thorough, impartial investigation and review is completed, Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement Friday. State lawmakers, spurred by nationwide concerns over killings by police, last year approved legislation that requires the attorney general to determine whether police have violated the law in cases where civilians die. Previously, local prosecutors usually made those decisions. But lawmakers limited the state investigations to cases where a civilian without a weapon is shot to death by an officer. In the shooting before noon on Thursday, officers said they responded to reports of a man walking around with a handgun along the Walk of Fame. At least one person reported seeing him pointing a gun at someone. Officers said a fake handgun was recovered at the scene, and LAPD Detective Meghan Aguilar, a police spokesperson, said she was told that it appears to be exactly like a gun. CLOVIS, Calif. (AP) A lightning strike likely ignited a 2020 wildfire in California's Sierra National Forest, but the U.S. Forest Service said Friday it could not determine an official cause of the fire. September's Creek Fire burned 600 square miles (1,500 square kilometers) and spread so quickly that hundreds of Labor Day holiday campers had to be rescued by a series of harrowing helicopter flights. All 214 campers were delivered safely. Investigators did not rule out arson and lit cigarettes as the cause, but said there were no illegal marijuana grow sites nearby that could have started the fire. Forest service officials said an undetermined status is not uncommon with a fire this complex. Investigators spent countless hours hiking rugged terrain to determine the cause, interviewed numerous leads, and eliminated multiple potential causes. In the end, lightning remains as the probable cause," said Dean Gould, forest supervisor of the Sierra National Forest. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) San Francisco Bay Area health officials on Friday urged residents to again wear masks inside public buildings, offices or businesses regardless of whether they are vaccinated. The counties of San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, Alameda, Contra Costa, Sonoma and the city of Berkeley stopped short of requiring masks indoors. But officials in those localities said wearing them will ensure all unvaccinated people are masked in those settings. The region stopped requiring those who have been vaccinated to wear a mask indoors last month when California fully reopened its economy and did away with social distancing and capacity limits for indoor businesses and restaurants. The Bay Area has seen some of the highest vaccination rates in the state. Several of the areas seven counties have at least 80% of their residents 12 and older vaccinated with at least one dose. The announcements came Friday amid a spike in COVID-19 cases, most of them the highly transmissible delta variant that has proliferated since California fully reopened its economy on June 15. The vast majority of new cases are among unvaccinated people. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. BREAKING: Azerbaijan opens fire near Armenia-Azerbaijan border, more on latest developments US Embassy in Armenia issues statement on incidents near Yeraskh TALK TIME: Armenian military figure says Azerbaijan needs Syunik Province to implement pan-Turkism idea Armenia acting PM makes new personnel appointment Assistant to Armenia acting PM sacked Ex-deputy chief of Armenian army's General Staff appointed First Deputy Defense Minister Nathalie Loiseau expresses concern over current escalation between Armenia and Azerbaijan Defense motions to release opposition Armenia bloc member physician on bail One dollar drops below AMD 492 in Armenia Russia Deputy FM, OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs discuss Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Armenia ex-PM Vazgen Manukyan: Azerbaijan's ultimate goal is to seize Syunik Province Armenia acting MOD resigns, to be replaced by deputy chief of army's General Staff Armenia Ambassador to UAE and Bahrain recalled Yerevan court rejects attorneys' motion to lift pre-trial measure against ex-PM Vazgen Manukyan Court hearing over case of Armenian doctor begins (LIVE) Armenia President: We underscore deepening of cooperation with both EU, France Toivo Klaar: Deeply worrying developments continue on Armenia-Azerbaijan state border Head of Armenia's Yeraskh village undergoes surgery, is in stable condition Citizen of Karabakh's Stepanakert commits suicide French Member of European Parliament, Armenian MPs visit Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial Court hearing over case of Armenia ex-PM adjourned Opposition 'Armenia' bloc to take parliamentary mandates, 'I Have Honor' still considering Armenia ombudsman-led group in Yeraskh village for fact-finding work Aviation expert: Air Arabia has not signed any agreement to become Armenia national carrier Court session on Armenia ex-PM Vazgen Manukyan criminal case starts Armenias farewell ceremony to Djivan Gasparyan to be at Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall Criminal case launched into Armenia Yeraskh village mayor sustaining shrapnel wound in Azerbaijan shooting Lilit Makunts submits parliamentary mandate withdrawal petition to Armenia Central Electoral Commission Australia MP joins demand for Armenian Genocide recognition Armenia army officer arrested in connection with conscripts death Shots fired for about 4 hours at Armenia Gegharkunik Province village, says its prefect Armenia PMs Office SNCO launches trilingual website on war crimes of Azerbaijan Yeraskh village mayor, injured in Azerbaijan shooting, undergoing surgery in Yerevan Yeraskh village head, wounded by Azerbaijan shooting, is transferred to Yerevan hospital at night 194 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Los Angeles Armenians bid farewell to Djivan Gasparyan (VIDEO) Marukyan to authorities: Take ambassadors accredited in Armenia to Yeraskh Azerbaijan soldier wounded on Nakhchivan border with Armenia, Baku reports Erdogan: Turkey ready to take over Kabul airport management World oil prices going up MOD: Azerbaijan armed forces fired on Yeraskh section positions until 2am France envoy to Armenia: When Yeraskh can't sleep Yerevan stays awake too Newspaper: Pashinyan to be elected Armenia PM without voting in parliament Classroom for children with special needs is created at No. 6 school of Armenias Charentsavan Newspaper: Businessmen also targeted by Armenia authorities El Salvador 'House of Horrors' killings shock public Yeraskh village mayor wounded during Armenia-Azerbaijan border shootings Armenia MOD: Situation at Yeraskh section remains tense Ombudsman: Azerbaijan army shootings in Yeraskh part of Armenia in recent days are criminal Canada to open borders for vaccinated visitors starting from Aug. 7 Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova affirm aspiration to become full-fledged members of EU Azerbaijan is among top 10 countries that have used Israeli spy software Afghanistan recalling its ambassador and diplomats from Islamabad in wake of envoy's daughter kidnapping Armenia opposition party leader: Enemy wants to seize Tigranashen, Armenians need to show resistance Head of Armenia's Kut village says gunshots were heard last night Armenia 2nd President issues statement Armenian businessman Khachatur Sukiasyan's brother detained under case of gunshots fired in Yerevan, to testify Armenia Central Electoral Commission chairman discharged from hospital, feels fine Brother of combine driver in Armenia's Tegh village: Negotiations with Azerbaijanis lasted 4-5 hours Armenia MOD: Azerbaijani army opens fire at Armenian military posts in Yeraskh, intensive firing follows Armenia businessman Khachatur Sukiasyan doesn't refute his brother's participation in incident in central Yerevan Past.am: Azerbaijani soldiers throw stones at car of Armenia State Revenue Committee Syunik division's deputy head 3 chairwomen of Armenia's courts appointed in one day First session of Armenia's newly elected parliament to be held on Aug. 2 Digest: Armenian snap elections results upheld, over 130,000 vaccinated against COVID-19 in Armenia Newspaper: Combine driver accidentally crosses border in Armenia village, Azerbaijanis hold him hostage since morning Armenia government to support businesses that provided shelter to Karabakh citizens in Syunik Province Aliyev fires 4 vice-presidents of State Oil Company of Azerbaijan at once Armenia acting PM dismisses MFA's Secretary General Vahagn Melikyan Artsakh President: Stepanakert residents to also benefit from program to build homes for young families France police shoot man who decapitates child Putin, Aliyev to discuss implementation of agreements over Nagorno-Karabakh One dollar falls below AMD 493 in Armenia Results of staff talks between Armenian and Russian armies summed up Man's body found under bridge in city of Armenia's Kotayk Province Armenian journalist presents his and Lapshin's voice and text messages Mumbai death toll rises to 33 Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan doesnt hesitate to attribute obvious falsifications to trilateral statement State commission member says Armenia supports Russia's initiative for fight against cross-border cartels Kremlin confirms preparing for Azerbaijan presidents working visit to Moscow Armenia MP gives name of ruling party's candidate for parliamentary speaker US Embassy in Armenia on Aliyev's statements: Special attention should be paid to final settlement At least 2 people die in US shooting Armenia university applicants who are cut can apply for competition for open spots Armenia analyst: Azerbaijan's statements show that the war continues Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to conduct drills near border with Afghanistan Which professions Armenia university applicants prefer? German flood death toll tops 160 Car falls into Armenia Lori Province town gorge, driver dies on the spot Armenia International Studies expert: I am accused of overestimating Turkish factor, expansion of Turkeys influence Merkel has had considerable personal contribution to strengthening of Armenia-Germany relations, says Sarkissian Downtown Yerevan street incident shooter is well-known businessmans brother Criminal case launched into Armenia soldier's death Erdogan arrives in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on a two-day visit Armenia, Iran customs officers meet at Meghri border checkpoint 92 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Bus collides with truck in Pakistan, 27 people killed Details emerge from downtown Yerevan street shooting, the injured is US citizen 7 injured, including children, after major road accident near Armenia town bridge Half a million Chinese demands from WHO to check US biolaboratory A California doctor has been accused of selling fake Covid immunization pellets and vaccine cards, the U.S. Department of Justice said, NBC News reported. The doctor, Juli Mazi, of Napa, was arrested and charged with wire fraud and false statements related to health care, according to a criminal complaint. Mazi, a homeopathic doctor, allegedly told patients that her homeoprophylaxis immunization pellets contained "a very minute amount" of the Covid-19 virus and that by taking them they would develop a "full lifelong immunity," the Justice Department said in a press release. Mazi encouraged her patients to buy the pellets by falsely telling them that the Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccines contained "toxic ingredients," according to prosecutors. Customers who purchased the pellets were given a Covid vaccination card and were instructed to fill it out so it appeared as if they received both doses of the Moderna shot, the release and complaint state. The agency said this is the first US federal criminal fraud prosecution related to fake immunizations and vaccine record cards. At least one person purchased the pellets for $243. Financial records showed that between January 2020 and May 2021, Mazi received over $221,000 in transactions, the criminal complaint states. Twenty-five of those transactions noted they were for coronavirus treatments. Authorities began their investigation in April after someone contacted the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General and said that their family members had purchased immunization pellets from Mazi. If convicted, Dr. Juli Mazi faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and five for making false statements. US Intelligence assessments paint an increasingly bleak picture of the Taliban's quickening advance across Afghanistan and the potential threat it poses to the capital of Kabul, warning the militant group could soon have a stranglehold on much of the country in the wake of the US withdrawal of troops, multiple sources briefed on the intelligence tell CNN, the latter reported. The Taliban advance is "accelerating at an accelerating pace," said a congressional source with knowledge of the intelligence, echoing concerns raised by other officials who have acknowledged the security situation is deteriorating even more rapidly than previous assessments have indicated. While multiple sources familiar with recent US intelligence assessments argue Kabul is not at imminent risk of a takeover, thanks in part to the threat of US airstrikes and the size of the Taliban force. US intelligence agencies currently believe that the Taliban could effectively choke off the Afghan government's import supply if they choose to do so and will likely encircle much of the country in the near future. In addition, these sources say Taliban fighters could potentially move on the capital once they are confident the outcome would be successful. YEREVAN. Last year's events have created a new reality in the region. Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia stated this at Saturdays joint news conference with visiting European Council President Charles Michel. "It should be noted that the use of force and mass atrocities cannot resolve the Karabakh [(Artsakh)] conflict, the settlement of which is possible only through negotiations within the framework of the only format with an international mandate: the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship. In this context, I consider it important to mention the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs on April 13, in which they call on the parties [to the conflict] to resume the high-level political dialogue under the auspices of the Co-Chairs at the earliest opportunity to achieve a final, comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of principles well known to the parties. I already have welcomed several times this announcement of the start of peace talks, emphasizing that Armenia is ready to resume talks, but Azerbaijan has not responded at all, and according to information received from unofficial sources, Azerbaijan intends to provoke new military clashes in Artsakh and on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, whose expression we see today in the Nakhchivan part of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The incidents provoked by Azerbaijan also do not allow to start the work aimed at the delimitation and demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, which I have also referred to several times in public, including during the election campaign. The unconditional and immediate return of [Armenian] prisoners of war, hostages, and other detainees held in Azerbaijan, in accordance with international humanitarian law and the tripartite declaration of 9 November 2020, has been highlighted as a priority in our negotiations with President Michel. I would like to emphasize that Azerbaijan's practice of not returning the prisoners of war, hostages, and other detainees is not the only case of its violation of the November 9 trilateral statement. As you know, the November 9 statement envisages the unblocking of all transport and economic infrastructures in the region. Azerbaijan obstructs this process not only with obvious threats to occupy Armenia's sovereign territory, but also, in spite of its obligations, refuses to provide Armenia with a corridor for the operation of the Armenia-Georgia-Azerbaijan-Russia railway," the Armenian acting PM said. YEREVAN. I would like to once again welcome the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, who is on a working visit to Armenia. During the productive and constructive talks with my colleague, we exchanged views on the active cooperation between Armenia and the EU, joint programs, as well as a wide range of issues related to the further development of relations. Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia stated this at Saturdays joint news conference with visiting European Council President Charles Michel. "This is my second meeting with Mr. Michel in the last 1.5 months. I would like to emphasize in particular that the contacts between Armenia and the EU have never been so intense, which undoubtedly testifies to the mutual commitment to develop the relations. As always, our current and future plans were at the center of the discussions. From this point of view, the importance of ensuring the necessary conditions for the successful implementation of joint programs was especially emphasized. We touched also upon the challenges that arose in 2020; that is, the novel coronavirus and the aggressive war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] since September 27, and its consequences. In this context, I would like to express our special gratitude and satisfaction to Mr. Michel for his efforts to both combat the new type of coronavirus and mitigate its effects, as well as his personal efforts to assist those affected by the aggression unleashed against Artsakh, including his interested contribution to the return of [Armenian] captives," the Armenian acting premier said. Pashinyan reflected on Armenia-EU relations, too, noting: "Armenia will work consistently and constructively to unblock regional communications, restore the pre-existing communication channels, and construct new roadsin particular the North-South highway [of Armenia], and the EU support are crucial here. In this context, I would like to express our gratitude for the EU's intention to provide about 2.6 billion euros for projects to be implemented in Armenia within the framework of the Eastern Partnership. (). Despite the war , regional challenges, our country continues the irreversible path of democratic reform. The EU is one of Armenia's key partners in bringing this ambitious reform agenda to life. Armenia is ready to continue active cooperation with the EU and EU member states, focusing on the implementation of institutional reforms, the establishment of the rule of law, and the strengthening of democratic institutions in our country. In this context, the importance of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement should be noted. The successful completion of the ratification process of the agreement and its entry into force is an important event in Armenia-EU relations. We [i.e., Armenia] attach importance also to the Eastern Partnership, which is the key initiative of our relations with the EU, and we are seriously preparing for the summit to be held in December, hoping that it will be effective." YEREVAN. Sixteen people have been apprehended and taken to police stations today from outside the government building. Edgar Janoyan, deputy head of the information department of the Police of Armenia, on Saturday informed Armenian News-NEWS.am about this. "The citizens have been taken to the police for failing to comply with the requirements of Article 182 of the Administrative Code; for failing to comply with a lawful request by a police officer," he added. Police officers have been carrying out tight surveillance at the main building of the Armenian government since Saturday morning. They have apprehended Gegham Nazaryana member of the Armenia bloc, led by second President Robert Kocharyan, as well as Taron Ghazaryan, Garnik Melkumyan, and Vardan Galstyanmembers of the student union of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation-ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party, who tried to hold a peaceful protest outside this government building. YEREVAN. First of all, I would like to greet you, congratulate you on the [snap parliamentary] election results, as a result of which you have received a mandate that gives you legitimacy to implement the reforms. Visiting European Council President Charles Michel stated this at Saturdays joint news conference with Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia. "The EU wants to be a very committed, active, and engaged partner for Armenia's stability, prosperity, and security. In this context, we had the opportunity to talk about Armenia-EU relations: But I send you a strong message: we stand with you and reaffirm the allocation of the unprecedented 25.6-billion euro financial package to Armenia to assist in the implementation of Armenia's priorities. We had the opportunity to talk about those priorities on which your teams will work together with the EU so that these measures will not be theoretical or virtual, but are implemented as soon as possible through specific programs. We are facing the [coronavirus] pandemic everywhere in the world. Europe is trying to export vaccines; we will continue to do so," Michel added, in particular. The European Council chief informed that he will be in Azerbaijan on Sunday, and in Georgiaon Monday. "The EU wants to be engaged in this region. We want to strengthen ties with the countries of the region and prepare for the Eastern Partnership summit. We want to work with you in the coming months to move forward on certain issues. We are all naturally affected by the result of this [i.e., Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)] war [last year] that has struck Armenia. Here I would like to pay my respects to all the victims and their families. The EU assists, is ready to assist in the work done within the framework of the [OSCE] Minsk Group [to resolve the Karabakh conflict]. We want to inspire to continue the work of the Minsk Group. We see four issues that need to be addressed in the short, medium, and long term in order to bring stability and prosperity to this region. The first is the moderate rhetoric, trying to avoid aggressive rhetoric. In a very specific example, in recent weeks we have had the opportunity to discuss the issue of captives with other EU partners, as well as the issue of minefield maps. We hope that it will be possible to move forward responsibly and positively on this issue. The second point is the delimitation of borders. We hope that this also will be possible and it will be possible to start a process of negotiations, dialogue. We believe it is useful that the armed forces of both sides withdraw from the disputed territories, so that discussions can take place. Third point: to be able to discuss possible cooperation in the domain of transport. Maybe there are other domains where regional processes can be implemented to promote economic growth and dialogue. And the fourth point is the peace talks and the [Karabakh] status issue. I am also very careful about the issue of preservation of cultural heritage, which may be possible to resolve with the assistance of organizations such as UNESCO. The EU stands ready to stand with you, to be a constructive and committed partner to assist you in resolving your issues, as well as in advancing the values of democracy," said the President of the European Council. YEREVAN. It is simply impossible not to see a contradiction here. Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia stated this at Saturdays joint news conference with visiting European Council President Charles Michel, and when asked whether he sees a contradiction between the Azerbaijani leaderships statements on establishing peace, on the one hand, and on the other hand, invading the sovereign territory of the Armenia and organizing provocations on the border. "We [Armenia] have a clear position on the situation at the borders. I made a proposal at the Security Council session; we are talking about the mirror withdrawal of [both] troops, the return to permanent deployment sites, and now we are negotiating the deployment of Russian border guards or international observers along the border, and carrying out delimitation and demarcation workunder international auspicesof borders. The meaning of the whole policy of Azerbaijan is that it constantly wants to create a false impression that Armenia is against peace talks, against peace, against delimitation; but the reality is completely different. We have expressed our readiness to act in accordance with the statement made by the [OSCE] Minsk Group Co-Chairs on April 13. We can also say that the international community and our views on the border situation completely coincide because a number of countries have made statements and assessments since May 12 [when Azerbaijani troops started their incursion into Armenias territory], and, also, the European Parliament has adopted a resolution in this regard, and the [respective] approaches worded are generally in line with our views," said Nikol Pashinyan. He drew attention to the fact that when we study the policy of Azerbaijan, we see that it has territorial ambitions towards most of its neighbors. "The issue here is not only about Armenia. They talk about West Azerbaijan, they have South Azerbaijan, Northwest Azerbaijan, and so on. The list of Azerbaijanis is very broad, and I believe this is a threat not only to the security of Armenia, but also to the region in general. This is not just a matter of political rhetoric. When we study what is taught in Azerbaijani schools, we see this aggressive policy towards neighbors. Not to mention the recently opened so-called disgraceful trophy park [in the Azerbaijani capital Baku] where children are taken on excursions. This, of course, puts Armenia and the Armenians in the first place among the [Azerbaijani] hatred toward neighbors. I say this to stress our commitment to the establishment of lasting stability, peace in the region. We are ready to start negotiations on the basis of the principles known to the parties, according to the Co-Chairs' April 13 statement. I am glad that Mr. Michel spoke today about the importance of clarifying and deciding the status of Nagorno-Karabakh because that is the cornerstone of the settlement of the conflict. We are ready to start work toward the demarcation and delimitation of the borders, in case of the presence of the appropriate conditions," said the Armenian acting prime minister. He spoke also about the issue of Armenian captives in Azerbaijan, noting: "The presence of captives, in a situation where Azerbaijan has a written obligation to return everyone, certainly considerably undermines the atmosphere of cooperation in the region, and this is an important agenda around which we must combine efforts." YEREVAN. Strengthening the resistance in Armenia's southern regions is part of the EU's 2.6bn-euro assistance program. Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia stated this at Saturdays joint news conference with visiting European Council President Charles Michel. "Projects initially worth 80 million euros are planned to be implemented there. It is about the development of various new agricultural infrastructures. There are problems regarding access to water, pastures, there are infrastructure problems there. We believe that the southern regions [of Armenia] have a great potential for tourism in particular, and assistance should be provided in this sector as well. The next direction is the North-South [highway] project. We will soon announce a tender for the [construction of its] Sisian-Agarak section where there are tunnels and bridges. Moreover, this will be an unprecedented amount of construction, and the EU is ready to provide 600 million euros in assistance here," Pashinyan added. YEREVAN. Police officers on Saturday did not allow reporters or ordinary citizens to stand in front of the main building of the government of Armenia and even in the area of surrounding streets, or to sit on benches there while European Council President Charles Michel was in the building. And as soon as Michel left the government building, the police completely closed off the area around the building, and they did not even allow the people to pass through that part. To Armenian News-NEWS.ams question of why even the work of the reporters was not allowed, a policeman responded: "We have been instructed that no cameras shall be seen in the area." Sixteen peopleincluding opposition "Armenia" bloc member Gegham Nazaryan who is the father of a soldier who died in the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) war last year, three young members of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation-ARF Dashnaktsutyun Partywere apprehended by the police today from nearby the main government building. YEREVAN. No criminal case has been initiated so far in connection with the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) war in 2020, regarding voluntarily being taken prisoner. Armenian News-NEWS.am was informed about this from the information received from the Police and the Investigative Committee of Armeniaand in response to a respective written inquiry. The Investigative Committee has informed that large-scale investigativeincluding questioningand some other judicial actions have been and are being carried out with all Armenian POWs and captives who have been returned from Azerbaijan. "The body conducting the proceedings is conducting an investigation to find out the circumstances behind the capture of servicemen, servicemen included in the reserves, and volunteers. The received data are operatively transferred to the competent state bodies, as well as to international organizations," Rafayel Vardanyan, an Investigative Committee official, told Armenian News-NEWS.am. To note, criminal accountability is envisaged in Armenia for crimes against military service procedure. Three Democratic members of the Texas House of Representative who traveled to Washington, D.C., this week have tested positive for COVID-19, the Texas House Democratic Caucus said Saturday. The trio, who have not been identified, were fully vaccinated, the caucus said. They were among the more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who fled Texas for the nations capital on July 12 to break quorum in an effort to block a Republican-backed voting bill. Some were criticized on social media for appearing maskless on a private plane en route to D.C. Under federal guidelines, masks remain a requirement on commercial flights, but not on private aircrafts. The Texas House Democratic Caucus said one of its members tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday and that the person was asymptomatic. Rapid tests were then administered to all members, most of whom have reportedly been staying in the same D.C. hotel. Two lawmakers tested positive on Saturday, the caucus said. One of them has mild symptoms, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Caucus chairman Rep. Chris Turner said in a statement that the group of lawmakers was following all [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidance and protocols. This is a sober reminder that COVID is still with us, and though vaccinations offer tremendous protection, we still must take necessary precautions, Turner said. We are in touch with public health experts in Texas to provide additional guidance. Our caucus will follow all recommendations from public health experts as we continue our work. While the World Health Organization has urged everyone including those who have been fully vaccinated to continue to wear masks and practice social distancing because of the continued spread of the delta variant, the CDC has said that fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing. The CDC has also advised that most fully vaccinated people with no COVID-like symptoms do not need to quarantine, be restricted from work , or be tested following an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, as their risk of infection is low. Story continues Current research suggests that while breakthrough COVID-19 infections are still possible in vaccinated people, the risk of severe symptoms is greatly reduced post-vaccination. Vice President Kamala Harris (standing) met with some Democratic members of the Texas state legislature on Tuesday. (Photo: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS via Getty Images) As the Associated Press noted, some Texas House Democrats met with Vice President Kamala Harris earlier this week, but it was not immediately known whether the three people who tested positive for COVID-19 were among them. Earlier this month, California said it was reinstating a mask mandate for all lawmakers and staff at the state capitol regardless of their vaccination status after an outbreak of COVID-19 cases there. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) address Texas State House Democrats as they meet with Senators on Capitol Hill on July 14, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images) Three vaccinated Texas lawmakers who were part of a group that flew to Washington DC to prevent the GOP in their state from passing voting rights restrictions have tested positive for Covid-19. Caucus leaders say that the first member of the group tested positive on Friday night. Rapid tests came back negative for everyone else, but further tests came back positive for two other members on Saturday. More than 60 Democrats from the Texas House of Representatives left the state on private jets earlier this week to deny the GOP the quorum they needed to pass the bills aimed at restricting mail-in ballots and some early voting procedures. The states House in Austin reconvened on Tuesday, but the missing Democrats meant that under its rules there were not enough members present to conduct business. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Many of the lawmakers posed for a picture onboard one of the planes, and critics were quick to point out that they were not wearing face masks, as is required by the federal government on commercial flights. The House Democratic Caucus is following all CDC guidance and protocols, Chairman Chris Turner said in a statement. This is a sober reminder that Covid is still with us, and though vaccinations offer tremendous protection, we still must take necessary precautions. We are in touch with public health experts in Texas to provide additional guidance, he added. Our caucus will follow all recommendations from public health experts as we continue our work. During the course of the week, members of the group had meetings with vice president Kamala Harris, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and US Senator Joe Manchin, but it has not been confirmed if anyone who tested positive was present. The groups departure from Texas came amid a wave of GOP-led efforts around the country to restrict voting in various ways, as well as the campaign from progressive Democrats to reform the US voting system at the federal level, which has stalled amid a refusal from centrist Democrats in the Senate to change or abandon the filibuster. Story continues If passed, the bills would add new restrictions for those who assist others in casting ballots, a provision criticized by disability advocates. It would also ban drive-thru voting pioneered by Harris County in the November elections and 2020 primaries, as well as a 24-hour early voting period the county allowed at some precincts last year. Other provisions in the bills would institute new identification requirements for mail-in voting and ban the distribution of mail-in ballot applications. Some of the more hardline aspects of the legislation were reportedly removed in recent weeks, such as restrictions for Sunday voting hours which activists decried as a direct response to efforts by Black churches to transport voters to the polls on Sundays. Read More Texas nurse gives birth in gas station bathroom Third California venue cancels on Gaetz and Greenes America First rally Tennessee Covid vaccine boss reveals she received a dog muzzle in mail after being fired without explanation A nurse at StarMed Specialist Centre administers the Sinovac vaccine in Singapore. (PHOTO: Reuters/Caroline Chia) SINGAPORE The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Saturday (17 July) confirmed 68 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, taking the country's total case count to 62,981. Of them, 60 are local cases, including 29 out of 58 linked infections who belong to a fast-growing KTV lounges/clubs cluster. Two cases are currently unlinked. The cluster is now linked to 148 cases, making it the biggest active cluster here as well as the largest recorded cluster in the community to date. The previous largest recorded cluster in the community was at Changi Airport Terminal 3, linked to 108 cases, which was announced to be closed almost one month ago. The remaining eight cases are imported, of whom one was detected upon their arrival here while seven developed the illness during their stay-home notice or isolation period. Saturday marks the seventh day in a row where new local infections are reported. This comes three days after authorities announced 56 new COVID-19 community cases the majority of whom were added to the KTV cluster the highest number of such cases reported daily since 8 April last year. Among those included in the KTV cluster is a 40-year-old passenger on board a Dream Cruises ship, which turned back three days after it set off from Singapore on a cruise to nowhere following the discovery. The first reported case in the cluster was a Vietnamese hostess on a short-term visit pass to Singapore and who had been to many of the KTV outlets. Three new clusters; total 29 active clusters The three new clusters announced by the MOH on Saturday are the Case 64782, Case 64850 and PSC Express Pte Ltd according to its website, PSC Express is a company that provides "express sea cargo operations" between Singapore and Batam clusters. There are three cases in each of the new clusters. The MOH did not provide any details on Case 64782 and Case 64850, and cases linked to the infection or the two new clusters. In total, there are currently 29 active clusters, which have between three and 148 infections. Story continues The Case 64263 cluster has been closed, the ministry said, as there have been no more cases linked to it for the past two incubation periods, or 28 days. Overall, the MOH noted, the number of new cases in the community has increased from 17 cases in the week before to 239 cases in the past week. "We are likely to see rising cases in the coming days as we step up efforts to detect them to contain their spread in the community," it said. The number of unlinked cases in the community has also increased from eight cases in the week before to 22 cases in the past week. The 7-day moving average number of all linked community cases and all unlinked community cases are 31.0 and 3.1 respectively. Six more KTV lounges/clubs with likely ongoing transmission The MOH's epidemiological investigations have found that there is likely ongoing transmission at the following KTV lounges/clubs: Quinn KTV (207A Syed Alwi Road) Club AURA (442 Orchard Road) Club Ion (271 Bukit Timah Road) Icon II (35 Selegie Road) Club Lucky Thai (5001 Beach Road) M. Sakhon (5001 Beach Road) This brings the total of such premises where there is likely ongoing transmission to 15. "All visitors to the affected premises are advised to monitor their health closely, and minimise social interactions as far as possible, for 14 days from their date of visit or interaction. They are encouraged to see a doctor immediately if they feel unwell," the ministry said. Among those included in the KTV cluster is a 40-year-old passenger on board a Dream Cruises ship, which turned back three days after it set off from Singapore on a cruise to nowhere following the discovery. The first reported case in the cluster was a Vietnamese hostess on a short-term visit pass to Singapore and who had been to many of the KTV outlets. 5 require oxygen supplementation; 1 in ICU Over 62,000 cases in Singapore, or over 99 per cent of the total tally, have fully recovered from their infection. As of Saturday, 196 cases are currently warded in the hospital, most of whom are well and under observation. There are currently five cases of serious illness requiring oxygen supplementation, and they are all unvaccinated. One case aged above 60 and unvaccinated is in critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU). Apart from the 36 patients who have died from COVID-19 complications, 15 others who tested positive for the virus were determined to have died from unrelated causes, including three whose deaths were attributed to a heart attack and another four, whose deaths were attributed to coronary heart disease. Over the last 28 days, 14 local cases required oxygen supplementation, were admitted to the ICU, or passed away. Of them, 10 are unvaccinated, four are partially vaccinated and none are fully vaccinated. As of Thursday, 6.57 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered under the national vaccination programme. Some 4.1 million have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Of some 2.55 million who have completed the full vaccination regimen, 71,877 are individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 and have received at least one dose while the remaining are those who have received two doses. As per the MOH guidelines, recovered individuals who are likely to have a strong immune response against COVID-19 within the first six months after their infection are recommended to receive a single dose of vaccine to further boost their immunity against the disease. Those who have received the Sinovac's CoronaVac vaccine locally are not included in Singapore's national vaccination numbers. As of 3 July, 17,296 people here have received one dose of the Chinese-made vaccine. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Related stories: Singapore's KTV cluster grows to 120 COVID cases largest recorded in community Fishmongers at all markets to be tested for COVID-19 following port cluster Enforcement is 'cat and mouse' game, agencies stretched: Lawrence Wong COVID: Dine-in to be scaled back to groups of 2 from 19 July COVID: Over 400 nightlife venues that pivoted into F&B suspended ISLAMABAD (AP) The daughter of Afghanistans ambassador to Pakistan was abducted in the middle of the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, held for several hours and brutally attacked, officials in both countries said Saturday. No one has been arrested in connection with Friday's assault on Silsila Alikhil, 26. The Afghan foreign ministry issued a statement demanding a quick investigation, saying she was severely tortured. A hospital medical report, seen by The Associated Press, said she suffered blows to her head, had rope marks on her wrists and legs and was badly beaten. There was a suspicion that she had several broken bones and X-rays were ordered, the report said. The report also said her abductors held her for over five hours and that she was brought to the hospital in Islamabad by police. There were no details about the abduction itself or the circumstances of her release. Pakistan called the attack disturbing and said that security at the residence of the Afghan ambassador in Islamabad has been reinforced. The Afghan foreign ministry said it strongly condemns this heinous act" and expressed concern for Afghan diplomats and their families in Pakistan. Relations between the two countries are fraught with suspicion and animosity. They routinely trade accusations, with Afghanistan claiming Pakistan is sending thousands of jihadi militants to fight in Afghanistan and providing safe haven for the Taliban. Pakistan in turn accuses Kabul of harboring the anti-Pakistani group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan the Pakistani Taliban and also the secessionist Baluchistan Liberation Army. As violence escalates in Afghanistan with the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops, some within the Afghan government have stepped up verbal assaults on Pakistan. In Kabul, the Afghan foreign ministry summoned Pakistani Ambassador Mansoor Ahmad Khan on Saturday to lodge a strong protest" over the attack. The ministry said it "explicitly called on the Pakistani government to take immediate action to identify and punish the perpetrators of this crime." Story continues A leading female senator in Pakistan, Sherry Rahman, condemned Friday's attack and tweeted that the Afghanistan Ambassadors daughter is a young woman, and should not face ANY obstacle in walking about in central Islamabad, plus more importantly, she is entitled to diplomatic protection in Pakistan. Hamid Mir, a well-known Pakistani journalist who survived a 2014 shooting in the southern port city of Karachi asked in a tweet how something like this could happen in Islamabad. What is the use of expensive safe city cameras? He also noted that Pakistani journalists and even a police officer have been abducted in Islamabad, with few culprits ever arrested. Most of Islamabad neighborhoods are upscale, with wide tree-lined boulevards. The Pakistani capital is home to all the diplomatic missions in the country, the majority of them located inside a heavily fortified enclave. The Afghan mission, however, is outside that enclave. Pakistan's foreign ministry said in a statement that the safety and security of the diplomatic missions, as well as the diplomats and their families, is of utmost importance. Such incidents can and will not be tolerated. ___ Associated Press writer Babar Dogar in Lahore, Pakistan, Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, and Rahim Faiez in Kabul, Afghanistan, contributed to this report. KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan politicians met with representatives of the Taliban insurgents in Qatar on Saturday with each side calling for peace even as fighting escalates and uproots thousands of people. Two decades of conflict have taken a turn for the worse as U.S.-led international forces withdraw and the Taliban launch offensives around Afghanistan, taking districts and border crossings while encircling provincial capitals. Negotiatiors have been meeting in Doha since September but failed to make substantive progress with time running out before foreign troops' full exit by Sept. 11. "Let's ... take important steps to continue the peace process, to prevent the killing of the people," Abdullah Abdullah, head of the government's High Council for National Reconciliation, said at the start of new high-level talks intended to last two days. "Because we cannot pay the price for this in blood and we cannot escape responsibility for it," Abdullah said. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban's deputy leader and negotiator, regretted lack of progress. "But there should still be hope and the Taliban will make efforts for talks to have positive result," he said. In the latest impact of fighting, around 12,000 families in northern Takhar province have had to flee their homes as fighting continues, local officials said. Many gathered at a school in the provincial capital with few supplies. "We were not helped or even given a carpet. Not even a dog can live here," Mohammad Amin, one of those who had fled, told Reuters. In southern Kandahar province heavy fighting has taken place and the Taliban earlier this week seized Spin Boldak, an area on the border with Pakistan, though the Afghan government said on Friday it had regained control of the border crossing. Reuters journalist Danish Siddiqui was killed on Friday while covering a clash between Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters in the area. Story continues Officials on the Pakistan side of the border said the crossing had opened on Saturday, allowing hundreds of Afghans stranded in Pakistan during the fighting to return. More than 2,000 people were displaced in Kandahar this month, according to the United Nations' humanitarian agency, and Kandahar's provincial governor on Friday evening declared a curfew in Kandahar city at night due to the fighting. The U.N. refugee agency estimates 270,000 Afghans have been displaced inside the country since January, bringing the number of people forced from their homes to more than 3.5 million. (Reporting by Orooj Hakimi and Abdul Qadir Sediqi in Kabul; Additional reporting by Gul Yousafzai in Quetta; Writing by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne) By Yereth Rosen ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - Political foes of Alaska's Republican governor have legally sufficient grounds to pursue their campaign to oust him from office through a recall election, the states highest court ruled on Friday. The campaign to recall Governor Mike Dunleavy, who has about 17 months left in his term, is legal and may proceed, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled. Whether Dunleavy's detractors have made their case that his alleged shortcomings - that he is incompetent and corrupt - justify his removal from office is up to the voters, the court said. The people asked to sign petitions must decide whether the allegations are serious enough to warrant a recall election; each voter in the voting booth must decide whether the allegations are serious enough to warrant removal from office, the opinion said. Dunleavy, a former teacher, school administrator and legislator representing Wasilla, was elected governor in 2018, positioning himself as a political acolyte of then-U.S. President Donald Trump. His tenure has been rocky as Alaska struggled with financial difficulties and its dependence on dwindling oil revenues. The governor's foes argue that he deserves to be recalled because he is unfit and has abused his power. Among grounds cited by recall supporters, Duleavy is accused of illegally using his budget veto to punish judges for abortion-rights rulings and violating ethics laws by using state funds for partisan campaign purposes. To qualify a gubernatorial recall for the Alaska ballot, campaigners must satisfy a two-phase test, gathering petition signatures totaling 10 percent of votes cast in the previous statewide election and, subsequently, gathering signatures totaling 25 percent of the votes cast. The Recall Dunleavy campaign reported it had 81 percent of the required second-phase signatures as of April. In a statement Friday, Dunleavy blasted the courts ruling, saying it will subject elected officials to baseless, expensive, and distracting recall elections by their political opponents. Story continues Dunleavy faced problems other than the recall threat. In a showdown with the legislature, he vetoed this years entire Alaska Permanent Fund dividend, a cherished oil-wealth payout to residents made annually since 1982. This week CNBC ranked Alaskas business climate dead last among all 50 U.S. states. CNBC cited Dunleavys actions specifically, saying he relentlessly slashed University of Alaska funding and made other poor decisions. (Reporting by Yereth Rosen in Anchorage, Alaska; Editing by Steve Gorman and Kim Coghill) CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan opposition activist and former mayor Emilio Grateron has taken refuge in the Chilean diplomatic residence in Caracas, Chilean and Venezuelan authorities said, amid a wave of arrests of political adversaries of President Nicolas Maduro. Security forces this week arrested opposition leader Freddy Guevara as well as other activists of opposition party Popular Will, accusing some of them of being involved in gang violence that paralyzed the capital last week. Popular Will dismisses the accusations as false and says Maduro is jailing adversaries to stifle dissent. Chile's foreign ministry said in a statement late on Friday that it had received Grateron as a guest "at the request of opposition leader Juan Guaido, and intends to provide protection to this person, who suffers political persecution." Guaido in 2015 was elected as a legislator for Popular Will and is recognized by the United States as Venezuela's legitimate president, following Maduro's disputed 2018 re-election. "Thanks to those who saved me from evil," Grateron wrote on Twitter on Saturday. "The truth will set us free." Venezuela's foreign ministry said on Twitter late on Friday that Chile was "helping whitewash the violence suffered by the population of Caracas in recent weeks" by receiving Grateron. The chief prosecutor's office has said it will charge Guevara, one of Guaido's closest allies, with terrorism and treason. (Reporting by Deisy Buitrago; Editing by Mayela Armas and Daniel Wallis) Gov. Andrew Cuomo used campaign funds to pay the attorney representing him in his sexual harassment case despite previously stating that he would use state financing to pay for his legal fees. Cuomo's reelection campaign, "Andrew Cuomo for New York," gave Glavin PLLC, a New York-based law firm, $111,774 on May 3 and $173,098 on June 2, according to disclosures released by New York's Board of Elections on Friday. That same June day, Cuomo told reporters that he would use taxpayer funding rather than campaign finances for his legal defense amid the New York State Assembly's "impeachment investigation" into claims of sexual harassment against the governor. "The way it works is the Executive Chamber has retained a counsel, and that is a state expense, [as] it has been in every investigation, so that's where we are now," he said at New York City's Javits Center on June 2. TRANSIT UNION CHIEF BREAKS WITH CUOMO AMID SCANDALS It was estimated in early June that Cuomo's legal defense could cost New York taxpayers up to $2.5 million. Representatives for Glavin PLLC and Cuomo did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner's requests for comment. On Thursday, it was reported that Cuomo would be questioned by lawyers from Attorney General Letitia James's office as part of her inquiry into claims of sexual harassment against him, which is separate from the Assembly's impeachment investigation. Debra Katz, the attorney for Cuomo accuser Charlotte Bennett, celebrated the fact that Cuomo "will be questioned under oath by seasoned investigators with the New York State attorney generals office." "He will not be able to deflect questions like he has at his press conference, and he will not be able to play with words," she said in a press statement. "Will he admit to his inappropriate behavior, or will he continue his ridiculous lies and victim-blaming? Which story will he tell this time?" Story continues Richard Azzopardi, a senior Cuomo aide, was reportedly interviewed by James's office last month, signifying that her investigation may be nearing a close. "I cannot comment on whether or not we've interviewed the governor of the state of New York, but we have engaged in a number of interviews already," James said during an unrelated press conference on June 24, adding that she "cannot speak to whether or not we've communicated with members of the governor's administration." Cuomo denied all allegations of inappropriate touching, but he did apologize for making women feel uncomfortable. James's investigation into claims of sexual harassment expanded in May to look into claims that a top adviser tied counties' COVID-19 vaccine access to support for the governor, which Garvey said "malign[ed] a decadeslong public servant." The New York Democrat faces other scandals threatening his governorship. The governor has been accused of directing state health officials to give special COVID-19 testing access to members of his inner circle. Azzopardi denied those claims as "insincere efforts to rewrite the past" in an email to the Washington Examiner. The alleged use of state resources in the promotion of Cuomo's book, American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from COVID-19 Pandemic, has also attracted scrutiny from elected officials. In April, James received a referral to conduct a criminal investigation into Cuomo's use of state resources to promote the book after a March 31 ethics complaint from a liberal watchdog group sought an inquiry into whether he violated a law prohibiting "the use of campaign funds for personal use." Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli authorized James to examine "any indictable offense or offenses," including "the drafting, editing, sale, and promotion of the governors book and any related financial or business transactions." Cuomo insisted that members of his staff volunteered to help with the book, though his office acknowledged there might be some "incidental" use of state resources, according to the New York Times. In addition, the Democratic governor is under federal investigation for his handling of nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic after Melissa DeRosa, a top Cuomo aide, acknowledged that the governor's office hid the state's nursing home coronavirus death toll out of fear of political retribution from then-President Donald Trump. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Facing mounting pressure from within his party to resign, Cuomo, who is eligible to seek a fourth term in office in 2022, has vowed not to step down, saying all allegations of impropriety against him are false. Cuomo has signaled that he's running, holding a $10,000-per-person fundraiser last month at which he raised more than $1 million toward his reelection efforts. Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, Andrew Cuomo, Campaign Finance, Sexual Harassment, Law, Budgets and Deficits, New York, Campaigns Original Author: Carly Roman Original Location: Andrew Cuomo used campaign funds to pay attorney in sexual harassment case, disclosure shows Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas is traveling around the state and meeting face-to-face with residents in an effort to combat vaccine hesitancy as COVID-19 cases rise and vaccinations remain low, AP reports. Why it matters: Hutchinson's statewide vaccination tour which has drawn skepticism and in some cases, hostility from residents distinguishes the governor from other Republican elected leaders, who often portray health leaders as adversaries even as they try to bring down cases, per AP. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free The big picture: Hutchinson, who took over as head of the National Governors Association this month, has made combating vaccine resistance a priority. He has urged the Food and Drug Administration to grant full approval to vaccines instead of emergency authorization, a move he says would counter one of the prevailing arguments by vaccine opponents, per AP. Arkansas has the highest rate of new COVID-19 cases in the United States and about 35% of the state's population has been fully vaccinated, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Driving the news: In his meetings with residents, Hutchinson seeks to empathize and understand why an individual may be against getting the vaccine. He also encourages individuals to heed advice from their own doctors and medical professionals, not conspiracy theories. "Let me make sure its clear: Im not asking you to trust government," Hutchinson told a group of residents. "Im asking you to look at, do your own research, talk to people that you trust, and that to me is the right approach." Go deeper: Arkansas governor working to reverse vaccination trends Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free. With cases of the highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant on a rapid rise, a coalition of Bay Area county health officials urged local vaccinated residents to once again wear masks indoors in public places. The measure is voluntary and comes after Los Angeles County said its residents will be required to wear masks indoors, regardless of their vaccination status, beginning late Saturday. The plea was issued Friday locally by health officials in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Sonoma counties, and the city of Berkeley, CBS SF Bay Area reports. "We are asking our residents to collectively come together again in this effort to stem the rising cases until we can assess how our hospital capacity will be impacted," said San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip. "The Delta variant is spreading quickly, and everyone should take action to protect themselves and others against this potentially deadly virus," Alameda County Health Officer Dr. Nicholas Moss said. For the first time since January, COVID-19 infections are up in all 50 states. New cases over the past week surged 69%, while hospitalizations are up 36%, and deaths have increased 26%, Michael George reported for "CBS This Morning: Saturday." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says unvaccinated Americans are driving the numbers, accounting for nearly all deaths and almost all of the hospitalizations. "99.5% of all the deaths to COVID are in unvaccinated people," said Dr. Anthony Fauci. "That's a very, very striking statistic that should get people to appreciate why it's so important to get vaccinated." Doctors say vaccinated people do have a strong level of protection against the Delta variant, but masks are still important to stop the virus from spreading to others. Officials in the Bay Area said the mask recommendation for places like retail stores, grocery stores and theaters is out of an abundance of caution. It is recommended even for people who are vaccinated "as an added layer of protection for unvaccinated residents," officials said. Story continues "Businesses are urged to adopt universal masking requirements for customers entering indoor areas of their businesses to provide better protection to their employees and customers," the statement continued. In San Jose, Sushi Confidential owner Randy Musterer said he's not sure yet what he'll require of his customers or employees after Friday's announcement. "It's unfortunate that we're possibly going to fall back again," Musterer said. "We were hoping that we were coming out of the pandemic, especially here in the Bay Area approaching herd immunity." Bay Area Health Officers will revisit this recommendation in the coming weeks as they continue to monitor transmission rates, hospitalizations, deaths and increasing vaccination rates throughout the region. In San Francisco, cases are rising among the unvaccinated. Black and Latino people are getting shots at a lower rate than others and Mayor London Breed urged them to get the vaccine. She said Thursday that every person hospitalized with COVID-19 at San Francisco General Hospital is unvaccinated and most are African American. San Francisco supervisor Shamann Walton said the highest number of cases are in the Bayview District, a largely Black neighborhood, "because we are not doing everything we can to protect each other. This is a cry to my community We need you to get vaccinated." San Francisco has one of the highest overall vaccination rates in the nation's most populated state. At least 83% of residents 12 and older have received at least one dose. Word that Bay Area health officials are once again asking people to put on their masks while indoors regardless of their vaccination status comes as a disappointment to many. "I feel like we're just now getting back to normal and asking the people who are vaccinated to put their masks on once again, I feel, is not fair," said Ashtyn Civelli of Campbell. Santa Clara County has one of the highest vaccination rates of any large county in the nation, with 76% now fully vaccinated. Even there, the virus and its variants are spreading. "Unfortunately, even though we have very high rates of vaccination and the excellent protection that affords, we are still seeing our case rates rise," said assistant health officer Dr. Sarah Rudman. Rudman said cases are still well below the winter surge but have tripled in recent weeks. "Especially among the unvaccinated population and those who are not yet eligible, including our younger population," she said. Rudman said the recommendation is a way to ensure that unvaccinated people are wearing their masks. Saturday Sessions: Tedeschi Trucks Band perform Key To The Highway Saturday Sessions: Tedeschi Trucks Band perform "Bell Bottom Blues" Saturday Sessions: Tedeschi Trucks Band perform Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?" President Joe Biden will meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi later this month in Washington, the White House said Friday. The meeting set for July 26 comes at a pivotal point in the U.S.-Iraq relationship, and amid growing concerns about more frequent attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria. There have been at least eight drone attacks targeting the U.S. presence since Biden took office in January, as well as 17 rocket attacks. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Biden also looks forward to strengthening bilateral cooperation with Iraq on political, economic and security issues to include joint efforts to ensure the enduring defeat" of the Islamic State militant group. The attacks on U.S. forces have been blamed on the Iranian-backed militias that make up the bulk of Iraqs state-supported Popular Mobilization Forces. The Biden administration has responded by twice targeting Iraqi militia groups operating inside Syria, including one close to the Iraq border. The relationship has been complicated since last years U.S. drone strike killing of Irans expeditionary Quds Force commander Qassim Soleimani and senior Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at Baghdad International Airport. That strike was ordered by then-President Donald Trump. But with the Biden administration seeking to revive an Obama-era nuclear accord with Iran, there have been signs that Iran is looking to curb, at least for now, militia attacks on the U.S. Soleimanis successor Esmail Ghaani last month called on Iranian-backed militias to remain calm until after nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, The Associated Press reported last week. Kansas City, Kansas police detectives are investigating the deaths of two men fatally shot in the citys Armourdale neighborhood early Friday. Officers were alerted to the bodies of two men just before 5 a.m. by a person arriving at work in an industrial area in the 700 block of Pawnee Avenue who called 911, Nancy Chartrand, a department spokeswoman, said in a statement Friday afternoon. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The man who called police reported the two men were unconscious and did not appear to be breathing. Police found the victims, described as men in their early to mid twenties, near a vehicle that appeared to have crashed into another vehicle. Emergency medical personnel declared both men dead at the scene. Gunshot wounds were believed to have caused their deaths, police said. The deaths marked the 18th and 19th homicides reported in Kansas City, Kansas since Jan. 1, according to data maintained by The Star. The city experienced 55 killings in 2020, The Stars data shows. The police departments major case unit is investigating the killings. Police are encouraging anyone with information to contact the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). The Chicago Cubs are trying to put on blinders and keep their focus on what they can control over the next two weeks leading up to the trade deadline. They kicked off a favorable schedule to start the second half by taking advantage of the worst team in baseball, securing a 5-1 win Friday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks behind a quality start from right-hander Kyle Hendricks. But after Thursdays trade that jettisoned outfielder Joc Pederson to the Atlanta Braves, the scrutiny will only intensify as July 30 draws closer. All the reports and rumors flying from now until then, you probably could put a full scrapbook together and see the rollercoaster that its going to take everyone on, first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. My position is just staying one day at a time and not really worrying about whats going to happen. Whats going to happen is going to happen. None of us have any control of it. The uncertainty of who will remain on the roster casts a shadow that will be hard to escape for the Cubs and the veterans who are attractive trade pieces. This isnt the first time the Cubs core players have dealt with trade speculation, especially an offseason that saw them move on and trade formerly key contributors. Every time towards the trade deadline, you get caught up too when youre buying, Who we getting? Who we getting? Who we getting? and lose focus, Rizzo said. Obviously theres going to be a lot of names thrown around here and there, but with Joc going, it just heats up and intensifies everything. Just win today and have fun and enjoy it because being a seller before years ago, when you lose your friends it sucks. And thats why I play this game and try to enjoy every single day because you cant take it for granted. As the Cubs look to retool, Hendricks remains an important piece moving forward. Since his rough April, Hendricks has a 2.65 ERA in his last 14 starts, which includes holding the Diamondbacks to one run in six innings Friday. He has gone at least six innings in all but one of those starts. Story continues Hendricks, who improved to 12-4, battled command at times, especially in the fourth when the Diamondbacks loaded the bases with one out behind a double and two walks. He struggled to spot his changeup but battled and got a fly out and strikeout looking to end the inning to maintain the Cubs one-run lead. Hendricks wanted to set the tone coming out of the break. He felt he could have been more aggressive to avoid long counts and the three walks he issued. Hendricks made good pitches when he needed to, however, and was overall pleased with the outing. Like his teammates, Hendricks is trying not to worry about what moves could affect the Cubs roster in the next two weeks. Its definitely all mental, you just have to keep reminding yourself were going to be playing baseball no matter what, Hendricks said. And that happens all the time guys come and go. Its unfortunate. Its part of the game. You get close with guys and they leave, but everyone that enters this clubhouse is a part of the family, whoever we have at the moment. So thats what we focus on. A sacrifice fly off Jake Marisnicks bat put the the Cubs ahead 1-0 in the first. The long ball powered the Cubs the rest of the way. Rizzos solo home run in the fourth tied him with Aramis Ramirez for sixth in franchise history with 239 homers. It also moved him past Phil Cavarretta for the 10th-most extra-base hits (533) by a Cub. The first thing I think of is just staying healthy and being on the field and playing a lot of games every single year and putting myself in position to be able to play, Rizzo said of the milestones. This is a historic franchise, its Wrigley Field, its the Chicago Cubs when you hear that its just really special. In the seventh, Patrick Wisdoms 13th home run moved him into a third-place tie for the team lead with Willson Contreras despite not playing in his first game until May 25. Jason Heyward added a two-run pinch-hit homer, his second since coming off the injured list in early June. That stretch was tough and weve really needed that reset at the All-Star break, Rizzo said. Coming out today, just the message is go 1-0. Its so cliche, its so easy to say but its hard to do. If we can just embrace just winning today and win the day and enjoy it. The head of the World Health Organization said Thursday that it was too early to rule out a potential connection between the coronavirus pandemic and a laboratory leak, AP reports. Driving the news: WHO is asking actually China to be transparent, open and cooperate, especially on the information, raw data that we asked for at the early days of the pandemic," Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, per AP. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free Tedros said there was a "premature push" to rule out the theory that the virus might have originated from a Chinese government lab in Wuhan. The big picture: The theory that COVID-19 started in a lab has gained traction in recent months, especially following President Biden's move in May to order the intelligence community to investigate the origins of the virus. More than halfway into Biden's 90-day push to determine the cause of the virus, the intelligence community remains divided over whether the virus leaked from a Wuhan lab or emerged naturally, CNN reports. Some senior Biden administration officials overseeing the intelligence review now say that the theory that the virus accidentally escaped from a lab in Wuhan is at least as credible as the possibility that it emerged naturally in the wild, per CNN. China has dismissed attempts to link the origins of the virus to the lab in Wuhan saying attempts are politically motivated. What they're saying: I was a lab technician myself, Im an immunologist, and I have worked in the lab, and lab accidents happen, Tedros said. Its common. " We need information, direct information on what the situation of this lab was before and at the start of the pandemic." "If we get full information, we can exclude (the lab connection)," Tedros said. Go deeper: The COVID lab-leak theory goes mainstream Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free. HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's foreign ministry branch in Hong Kong said new U.S. sanctions on Chinese officials and its updated business advisory on the city are "extremely rude" and "extremely unreasonable" bullying acts with "despicable intention". The United States imposed sanctions on Friday on seven Chinese officials over Beijing's crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong, Washington's latest effort to hold China accountable for what it calls an erosion of rule of law in the former British colony. The Biden administration also issued an advisory on Friday to warn U.S. businesses about risks to their operations and activities in Hong Kong after China's imposition of a new national security law there last year. A spokesperson for the Commissioner of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong in a statement late on Friday strongly condemned the U.S. actions, saying they were blatant interference in Hong Kong and China's internal affairs. "(U.S.) worries about Hong Kong's business environment is fake; its attempt to destroy Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, endanger China's national security, and hamper China's development is real," he said in the statement. He added the implementation of the security law has reinforced Hong Kong's position as an international financial and business hub, and U.S. sanctions and pressures are no more than "a waste paper" which will not stop China from growing. On Saturday, a Hong Kong government spokesman said Washington has repeatedly attempted to slander the legislation over the last year. "The U.S. Administration's latest attempt to issue a so-called 'advisory' ...based on totally ridiculous and unfounded fear-mongering about the situation in Hong Kong only serves to prove yet again its hypocrisy and double standards, driven by ideological hegemony," the spokesman said in a statement. (Reporting by Clare Jim; Editing by Kim Coghill) BEIJING (Reuters) - A COVID-19 vaccine developed by a unit of China's Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products largely retained its neutralising effect against the Delta variant but there was a slight reduction, Chinese researchers found in a laboratory study. Scientists and regulators are watching closely to see whether the Delta variant, which is significantly more contagious than the original variant of the new coronavirus, will render available vaccines and treatments insufficient. Tested against particles mimicking the real Delta variant, serum samples from people vaccinated with Zhifei's three-dose regimen showed a 1.2-fold reduction in neutralising effect compared with against particles mimicking an older variant, researchers said in a paper published on Friday without peer review. https://bit.ly/2VRzWxL However, researchers cautioned that data from clinical trials or real-world use were still necessary to determine how well the shot can prevent people from getting sick by the variants. Efficacy results from the Phase III clinical trial is yet to be published for the vaccine. The study, where samples from 28 people were collected and tested, also found that samples from those who received their third dose at longer intervals between the second shot showed a greater activity against variants. Over 100 million doses of Zhifei's vaccine, dubbed ZF2001 and approved for emergency use in China and Uzbekistan, have been administered, the paper said. Authors of the paper include researchers from Institute of Microbiology at Chinese Academy of Sciences, which is jointly developing the vaccine with Zhifei's unit, and other Chinese institutions. (Reporting by Roxanne Liu and Ryan Woo; Editing by Kim Coghill) Authorities are searching for a missing boater after rescuing seven others when their vessel crashed and capsized early Saturday. The Coast Guard rescued the people from waters off Castle Island in Boston Harbor around 3 a.m. Their boat had smashed into rocks and a day marker. The search and rescue became a recovery mission late Saturday morning after making little progress, according to WCVB. COAST GUARD RESCUES 3 OFF NEW HAMPSHIRE FOUND CLINGING TO VESSEL: REPORTS All seven rescued from the water were taken to area hospitals, authorities said. COAST GUARD TRIES TO DISSUADE CUBANS CONSIDERING FLEEING COUNTRY BY BOAT The victims suffered various injuries. Further details were not immediately available. The Boston Fire Department assisted with the rescue and is assisting in the recovery operation, along with the Boston Police Department, State Police, Massport and Coast Guard. This is the second time in only a few weeks that a tragic incident occurred off the coast of Castle Island. A swimmer was reported missing on July 1. His body was recovered later that day. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The 19-year-old victim was seen in the water with his brother, but he did not return to the surface, Boston.com reported. The Daily Beast Dominic LipinskiAs responses go to learning of a devastating attack on the principles of discretion and buttoned-up restraint that the institution you represent stands for, it was somewhat understated.Oh gosh! is said to have been the response of one of Prince Charles aides when told by a tabloid reporter of the news of Prince Harrys forthcoming memoir as he was attending an official event at which Charles was the guest of honor.The Sun says it broke the news of the books publication to A museum in New York City's Chinatown that recently reopened after its archives were damaged by a fire last year is now facing more heat as protestors gather to boycott the institution. The protest: The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) reopened on Wednesday, since shutting down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to a crowd of protestors accusing the institution of supporting mass incarceration and gentrification, reported Hyperallergenic. The museum allegedly accepted a $35 million concession included in a community give-back program as part of Mayor Bill de Blasios plan to shut down Rikers Island and build four smaller detention centers throughout the city in its place. One of which would be at Chinatown's 125 White Street. MOCA co-chair Jonathan Chu, a real estate developer who owns several buildings in Chinatown, was also criticized for contributing to the gentrification of the area. Protestors claimed that Chu and his family evicted Jing Fong, a beloved restaurant that hundreds rallied to save upon news of its closure as the business was also affected by the pandemic. Artists partake in the movement: In October 2020, the Chinatown Art Brigade, an Asian American and Asian diasporic artist-activist group, sent an open letter to the museum outlining its grievances. The group demanded that MOCA reject the jail plan, including any give-back offers, and remove Jonathan Chu from MOCA's Board. They also pushed for the abolition of prisons and policing, which they noted was vital to stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Other groups have expressed disapproval of MOCAs actions over the past year, including 19 members from Godzilla, an artist collective and network, who announced their withdrawal from an exhibition in March. The exhibition then had to be canceled. In a letter sent on July 12, artists Colin Chin and Nicholas Liem requested to have their photo series, "Documenting Persistence In Oaklands Chinatown," withdrawn from an exhibition. It read: We believe MOCAs complicity with mass incarceration which disproportionately affects Black and Latinx people and the gentrification of Chinatown undermines its aforementioned purpose. It is contrary to the expressions of solidarity between the Asian American and Black communities against police violence and gentrification highlighted in our work. MOCA responds: The museum's president, Nancy Yao Maasbach, said that the issues brought up by the protestors are completely unrelated to the museum or its mission, according to CBS NY. Story continues The mayor had an agenda with Rikers Island and the borough-based jails. We have no information or knowledge about mass incarceration or criminal reform. We're a social history museum about Chinese Americans. So for them to conflate the two together it's unfair, she said, according to Gothamist. She told Gothamist that the museum hasn't "received any other capital funding from the city" and without the monetary support, the museum won't survive. Though Maasbach said they "value voice in protest," she said that the protest was "based on false information and conflating different issues. Featured Image via @thechinatownartbrigade (left), (right) Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! McDonald's Awards $500,000 in Scholarships to 55 AAPI Students Jeremy Lin Pledges $1 Million for COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Efforts Artist Christine Sun Kim Becomes the First Deaf Asian American to Sign the National Anthem at the Super Bowl Japanese City Lights Up Candles Outside Quarantined Hotel to Show Love and Support A woman in Cuba. Illustrated | AP Images, iStock On Sunday, July 11, Cubans across the country took to the streets in an effort to bring attention to entrenched poverty, hunger, and decades of one-party rule. "This is the largest popular protest against the government that we've seen in Cuba since 1959," Cuban activist and art historian Carolina Barrero reported to The New York Times via text message. President Biden announced his solidarity with the protesters via an official press release: "We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cuba's authoritarian regime." On Thursday he followed up with another statement calling the country a "failed state." What Biden didn't mention is that some of the primary architects of modern Cuba are U.S. policymakers like himself. At a press conference on July 12, President Miguel Diaz-Canel accused the United States of creating "a policy of economic suffocations" with the purpose of provoking "social outbursts, misunderstandings, and dissatisfaction." History supports his claim. On October 19, 1960 nearly two years removed from the revolution the U.S. began the longest trade embargo in modern history by prohibiting commerce with Cuba. According to a State department memo, the goal of the policy was to block "money and supplies to Cuba, to decrease monetary and real wages, to bring about hunger, desperation, and overthrow of government." More than 60 years later, Washington's self-fulfilling prophecy may finally be coming to fruition, but it has come at the cost of thousands of lives, an entrenched economic depression, and the dignity of an entire nation. I traveled to Cuba multiple times between 2015 and 2017. I immediately saw the obvious impacts of the embargo including the dilapidated colonial buildings, stores with bare shelves, pharmacies in low supply of medicine, young women selling themselves on the boardwalk to feed their families, and antique cars outfitted with newer model engines flown in by relatives piece by piece in suitcases. Story continues As a guide named Javier Huerta told me during my first trip to the island in 2015, "Life in Cuba is dura [hard]. It requires a great deal of imagination and a high tolerance for suffering." But, he went on, "It didn't have to be this way." Javier was a proud history teacher turned tourist guide. He was passionate about his nation's past, but he loathed the idea of showing uninformed vacationers around the island. "When my first child was born I suddenly realized my pockets were empty," Javier explained. "And, well, tourism is much more profitable." "Most assume, because we lack material wealth, that we hate our government," explained Javier on a bus bound for Santa Clara, where we were scheduled to visit Che Guevara's tomb. "But it's not that simple. The revolution brought real opportunities for the working class. What's complicated our lives are the terrorist attacks and economic blockade." In 2017, with Javier in mind, I visited a museum in Havana named Memorial de La Denuncia, which is located in Miramar at the old Ministry of the Interior. The museum pays tribute to the deaths of more than 3,000 Cubans who have lost their lives at the hands of terrorist attacks, many of which were U.S.-funded. Just beyond the main entrance, there is a stairway leading to the second floor. The wall to the left of the steps is lined with thousands of small crosses, which cast long shadows upon the white-washed wall. "You see the crosses?" my guide asked. "Each one represents a Cuban who has died at the hands of your country." Upstairs I read about the French freighter La Coubre, which left Europe with 76 tons of Belgian munitions in 1960. According to the exhibit, the CIA rigged the ship with explosives prior to crossing the Atlantic. Upon arrival in Havana harbor, undercover agents allegedly detonated a series of small explosions designed to lure as many people as possible on board. Once the ship was packed with people, the agents then triggered the remaining explosives, provoking a massive explosion that killed 101 people, and injured another 200. The day after the explosion, with munition shells from the ill-fated ship in his hands, Fidel Castro addressed thousands of mourners in La Havana. During his speech he belted out, "Homeland or death." The U.S. continues to deny involvement in La Coubre and definitive links have never been established. However, in the eyes of most Cubans, the charges are credible due to the fact that the attack mirrors a long history of U.S. intervention including provocations of war and multiple attempts on Fidel Castro's life. Also represented in those 3,000 crosses were the 161 Cubans who were killed in President John F. Kennedy's failed invasion of the Bay of Pigs in 1961, which cemented the perception on the island that U.S. aggression had little to do with what was best for everyday Cubans. Shortly after, Che Guevara attended the Organization of the American States conference in Uruguay. During his stay, he gave a note to one of Kennedy's secretaries that read, "Thanks for the Bay of Pigs. Before the invasion, the revolution was weak. Now it's stronger than ever." Empirical research confirms Che's theory. In 2017 a pair of researchers analyzed the impact of U.S. intervention on human rights in 144 countries between 1975 and 2005. They found that economic and military intervention is ineffective at impeding authoritarian regimes. Their work supports the notion that foreign intervention legitimizes anti-imperialist rhetoric, and in turn, facilitates the ability of authoritative leaders like Fidel Castro to rally supporters against a common enemy. We will never know what an autonomous Cuba sans U.S. interference would have looked like, but the true cost of the U.S. blockade has never been more clear. The United Nations, which has called for an end to the embargo since 1992, estimates that the policy has cost Cuba upwards of $130 billion across six decades. Today, 1.5 million Cubans or roughly 13 percent of the country's population live abroad. Shortly after the revolution, many Cubans left for political reasons, but now, Cuba's emigration crisis is rooted in the economy. The money expats send home helps buoy the national economy, but restrictions passed during the Trump years drastically reduced their flow, further crippling the nation. In turn, the global pandemic has brought the nation's already fragile economy to its knees, and it may prove to be the last straw. Alongside a food crisis and a new wave of emigration, massive protests are testing the communist party's resolve in unprecedented ways. To be certain, economic mismanagement and corruption within the communist party has contributed to the problems facing Cuba today. However, if Diaz-Canel and his government survive this latest test, I sense it will be the result of the United States' long history of intervention in Cuba's domestic affairs. As Javier pointed out the last time I saw him, "The blockade allows our government to blame its own shortcomings on U.S. policy." And so long as that's true, the communist party may well continue to defy the odds. You may also like Melania Trump reportedly tried 4 times to block an election night party at the White House Weapons of mass destruction Congressional Black Caucus chair Joyce Beatty among those arrested during Capitol voting rights protest A protester demonstrating in support of the scheme holds up a placard that reads: "I am an American" A federal judge in Texas has ruled that a programme protecting migrants who came to the US as children from deportation is illegal. Judge Andrew Hanen said new applicants should not be enrolled in Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca). But he said the ruling does not require the government to deport any Daca recipients. Nearly 650,000 people - known as Dreamers - are currently enrolled in the programme. President Joe Biden has ordered his administration to strengthen the initiative. The US Supreme Court last year blocked a bid by former President Donald Trump to end Daca. In Friday's ruling, Judge Hanen agreed with a group of states that had filed a lawsuit arguing the programme was illegally created by former President Barack Obama in 2012. Texas and eight other conservative states said Mr Obama had acted without due congressional authorisation. Daca recipients are shielded from deportation, granted work authorisation, can have driving licences and apply for education financial aid. This is the second time a federal court in Texas has dealt a blow to Mr Biden's immigration agenda. In January, a judge blocked the Democratic president's attempt to impose a 100-day moratorium on deportations. Democratic US Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey tweeted on Friday it was time for Mr Biden's party, which commands narrow majorities on Capitol Hill, to act. "Congress must seize the moment and any and all opportunities to finally provide a pathway to legalisation for millions of undocumented immigrants," he said. Mr Biden has already proposed legislation that would provide a path to US citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the US. According to the Politico website, Democrats plan to create a way to citizenship for Dreamers and other undocumented groups in a forthcoming $3.5tn (2.5tn) spending bill. However, it is unclear whether the immigration provisions can get by the Senate's strict rules. Story continues The legal blow to Daca comes on the day that the numbers of migrants arriving at the south-western border broke yet another record. Border officials caught migrants there 188,829 times in June, the largest number in a single month in more than two decades. This included over 15,000 children who were travelling alone, said US Customs and Border Protection. Also on Friday the Pentagon confirmed to the BBC that Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas was being used by US immigration officials to fly undocumented migrants into the country's interior. Click here to see the BBC interactive A 6-year-old girl was killed and five adults were injured Friday night in a shooting in southeast Washington, D.C., according to police. Officers with the Metropolitan Police Department's 7th District heard an eruption of gunfire and responded to the scene on a street corner near the city's Congress Heights neighborhood, where they found the victims, said Ashan Benedict, the executive assistant chief of police for the Metropolitan Police Department. Three adult men and two women were transported to hospitals with nonlife-threatening injuries. The child was also transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. JUVENILE CARJACKING INCIDENTS QUADRUPLE IN DC SINCE 2020: POLICE DATA This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. "Our thoughts and prayers and condolences go out to the family of that victim and all the victims of tonight's shooting," Benedict said at the scene of the shooting. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER "There is too much gun violence still perpetuated in this city and too many children being harmed, innocent children, by gunfire," Benedict added in a plea to community members for help in finding the suspects. There have been 101 people killed in the District of Columbia in 2021, on par with 2020's year-to-date homicides, according to police data. Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, DC, Crime, Gun Violence, Crime, Law Enforcement, Law Original Author: Jeremy Beaman Original Location: DC shooting leaves 6-year-old dead and five adults injured Reuters Neighbors knew something was wrong in that squat green house when a young woman's screams pierced the quiet of their neighborhood in Chalchuapa, a small town about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from San Salvador, this nation's capital. Jacquelinne Palomo Lima, 26, and her mother had been lured to the windowless dwelling by the man who lived there 51-year-old former policeman Hugo Osorio - who had promised them information about Palomo's missing brother, Alexis, a family member told Reuters. Neighbors called police when they heard Palomo's screams on the night of May 7 as she fled the home only to be overtaken by Osorio, who allegedly hit her in the head with a metal pipe and dragged her back inside. Cars drive past a sign welcoming people to the city of Evanston, Illinois. Editor's note: Cicely Fleming, the only member of the Evanston City Council to vote against reparations legislation passed this year, wrote about the city's plan in April. This is an update. See the original column here. Evanston, Ill. Four months have passed since Evanston made history as the first municipality to approve a housing program resolution labeled as reparations. The celebration ended, the media left, the academics moved on, and not one Black resident in Evanston has been repaired. The resolution that passed on March 22, 2021, was merely suggestive, not legally binding (resolutions are, by definition, simply "a formal expression of opinion, will or intention" agreed on by a legislative body, committee or other group). With no approved application or selection criteria, the $25,000 housing vouchers remain another example of the governments unfulfilled promise to the Black community. I will admit, it has only been four months and the government is not known for its expeditiousness. However, our premature celebration of a program that did not even have a codified timeline for implementation leaves Black Evanstonians still waiting. The past harms we set out to repair are being exacerbated when elders call looking to access funds that are not ready to be dispersed. When Evanston natives who have relocated learn that they are ineligible, not because there was no harm, but because they moved away (though eligibility would return if they moved back); when the Black folks who questioned the plan (yet were told by white folks how great this is) are left behind, again having their voices ignored, we are not repairing harm, we are adding to it. While I still say that the March 22 resolution was not reparations, I am even more concerned with the snail's pace being taken to get the housing program up and running for the 16 residents who need the support. As we near the end of the federal COVID-19 eviction moratorium, it is imperative that we move to get these funds to the banks on their behalf to ensure that 16 more Black families do not lose their already-undervalued and over-mortgaged homes to the same banks that continue to thrive on the racial inequities that built this country. Story continues There is no perfect plan, but ours was rushed through plagued by the desire to meet media expectations and personal and political ambitions. It's not the responsibility of states to repay the debt of chattel slavery; that falls to the federal government. But cash payments to Evanstonians for the wrongs of redlining and mortgage discrimination would have been more efficient, more equitable and a more accurate model of reparations than the city's current plan. And that effort, unlike the one that has been stalled for several months, could have started with the elders of Evanston the ones who directly experienced housing discrimination. It's hard to see how money from the current plan, which passed without enough input from the Black residents who are supposed to benefit from the coffers, can be distributed without a lottery. A random system that could potentially give repair to an 18-year-old who can prove lineage before giving monetary repair to the teen's great grandmother is inherently unfair. All of these challenges come at a time when the Evanston City Council has four new members, and the city has elected a new mayor, who are also being faced with leading the city through COVID-19 recovery. The committee in charge of Evanston's reparations program is slated to meet again in August, and current proposals for implementation may be rejected by an entirely new group of city leaders. The elders of our community deserve better. They deserve real, meaningful repair. Cicely Fleming, an Evanston, Ill., native, a member of the city council and a founding member of The Organization for Positive Action and Leadership, a group committed to promoting equity in government. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Evanston, Ill., plan doesn't fix harm, it adds to loss One of the wilder movies Ive seen from the main competition slate of this years Cannes Film Festival is a 2 -hour Russian drama called Petrovs Flu. A film about a family of three in the grip of a pesky virus might seem either aptly or poorly timed, but this one, adapted from a novel by Alexey Salnikov, was conceived and shot before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Full of nagging coughs, hallucinatory sequences and beguiling narrative detours, its a madly disorienting romp through a wintry post-Soviet labyrinth that switches time frames and perspectives as though it were succumbing to a series of fevers, though here the condition being diagnosed is less a physical malady than a spiritual and institutional one. A work of defiant social critique that gives way to passages of dreamy beauty and tenderness, Petrovs Flu is the first new feature from the 51-year-old director Kirill Serebrennikov since his 2019 release from house arrest, a punishment that is widely believed to be retaliation for his outspoken criticism of the Russian government. His imprisonment kept him from attending the 2018 Cannes premiere of his previous feature, Leto; he wasnt allowed to attend the festival this year either. Still, while Serebrennikov may be banned from leaving Russia, his imagination, as well as his cast and crew, have been left gratifyingly free to roam: In its form-bending construction and surreal imagery, Petrovs Flu plays like the work of an artist thrillingly unbound. If Serebrennikov was missed in Cannes a placard bearing his name was left over an empty seat at his premiere, a sadly common tribute to dissident filmmakers who are restricted from traveling he was of course not the only one unable to attend this years resurgent but still COVID-impacted festival. Having been forced to cancel its 2020 edition in the immediate wake of the pandemic, the festival rebounded this year with an enormous lineup of movies that was hailed as an uncommonly exciting one by many of the journalists in attendance. Was that a reflection of the quality of the program, or just a collective expression of delight at the mere fact of being back in Cannes again? Having opted to skip the festival this year myself, I couldnt really say. But if the 20 or so Cannes titles I did manage to see, most of them at screenings here in Los Angeles, are any indication, it seems safe to say that the excitement is far from unfounded. Story continues With Cannes 2020 called off, Cannes 2021 reaped the benefits of not one but two years worth of new movies. Some of the highest-profile titles in contention for the Palme dOr like Benedetta, Paul Verhoevens tale of transgressive goings-on in a 17th century monastery, and The French Dispatch, Wes Andersons comic tribute to a bygone era of journalism were originally selected for the 2020 festival and opted to hold back their releases a year in order to premiere at Cannes. Such was also the case with Memoria, the long-awaited latest from the revered Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul, back in competition for the first time since his 2010 Palme winner, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives. Quietly and sometimes not so quietly mesmerizing, Memoria represents a departure for Weerasethakul in some respects: Set and shot in Colombia, its his first feature made outside Thailand and his first to feature a Hollywood star, in this case Tilda Swinton. (Swinton was one of the queens of Cannes this year, having also appeared in The French Dispatch and Joanna Hoggs superb The Souvenir Part II, which premiered outside the official selection in Directors Fortnight.) But the differences are superficial; happily, Weerasethakul hasnt dulled his sensibility or skimped on the slow, graceful magic that seems to flow forth from his movies like water. For all their mystical underpinnings, his stories are premised on the simple notion that extraordinary things beauty, hilarity, connection, transcendence are everywhere around us, if were only patient enough to look. Or, as the case may be, to listen. Swinton, speaking mostly Spanish, plays a Scottish botanist who finds herself in Bogota, where her days and nights are disturbed by mysteriously loud, thudding noises that apparently only she and the audience can hear. For a while the movie follows her as she tries to figure out the nature and origin of these sounds, a journey that becomes sadder and stranger, more revealing and more baffling, as she wanders out into the jungle. There, friendly faces, painful secrets and ancient histories lie in wait, as do the sights and sounds of a natural world in richly suggestive bloom. Building to a conclusion that left my jaw on the screening room floor, Memoria casts a spell like nothing else Ive seen from Cannes this year; I hope youll get the chance to see it when Neon releases it in U.S. theaters. (It shared the festival's jury prize, effectively third place, with Ahed's Knee, the latest from the Israeli director Nadav Lapid.) Another Neon-backed title, this one premiering in the festivals Special Screenings section, was The Year of the Everlasting Storm, a collection of seven short films that offer revealing glimpses of the pandemics impact all over the world. The seven filmmakers who contributed to the project are Jafar Panahi, Anthony Chen, Malik Vitthal, Laura Poitras, Dominga Sotomayor, David Lowery and Weerasethakul, all of whom were tasked with filming under tight restrictions and without leaving their own confines. Like most omnibus works, its a fascinatingly mixed bag, though I was particularly fond of Panahis Life, the latest work from an Iranian filmmaker sadly accustomed to shooting in confinement, and Chens The Break Away, a tense drama about a Chinese family feeling the strain of extended isolation. The impact of the pandemic also manifested itself, briefly but eerily, in a couple of the features I saw from the competition. The best of these was Drive My Car, an exquisite slow burn of a movie from Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi, who was previously in Cannes with Asako I & II. Richly expanded from the Haruki Murakami short story of the same title, Drive My Car follows a grief-stricken actor and director (an excellent Hidetoshi Nishijima) who takes on an artists residency in Hiroshima, where hes assigned a driver (Toko Miura) who, like him, is hiding some serious emotional turmoil beneath a coolly reserved surface. If that sounds like the setup for a conventional drama of behind-the-wheel bonding, well, it is and it isnt. Hamaguchi is known for his elongated running times, but Drive My Car, which lasts nearly three hours, doesnt waste a single minute: Nearly every scene of this richly novelistic movie which won the festival's screenplay prize teems with ideas about grief and betrayal, the nature of acting, the possibility (and impossibility) of catharsis through art, and the simple bliss of watching lights and landscapes fly past your car window. (Its been an interesting Cannes for car movies, and not just because F9 screened in the festivals designated Hollywood blockbuster slot. Notably, the French director Julia Ducournau galvanized the competition and won the Palme d'Or, becoming only the second female director to do so in the festival's history with her body-horror thriller Titane, which had more than one critic invoking David Cronenbergs classic of vehicular erotica, Crash.) Another strong competition entry that touches glancingly on the pandemic is Joachim Triers The Worst Person in the World, a sharp Norwegian dramedy that follows an almost 30-year-old woman named Julie (Renate Reinsve, winner of the Cannes actress prize for her sensational performance) as she navigates career shifts, romantic partners (Anders Danielsen Lie, Herbert Nordrum), wayward impulses and a pervasive feeling of being out of step with others' expectations, and possibly her own. Funny and charming and sexy as all get-out, but with melancholy shadows that unsurprisingly lengthen as time passes, its a portrait of millennial angst and indecision that Trier rattles off with some of the same dazzling formal energy and all the boundless sympathy that he brought to his earlier youth dramas like Reprise and Oslo, August 31st. One of the pleasures of The Worst Person in the World, another forthcoming Neon release, is that its heroines indecision about love, sex, work, family is what propels the narrative at every turn. Something similar could be said of the filmmaker played by Vicky Krieps in Bergman Island, a playful, wistful meta-charmer that unfolds almost entirely on Faro, the Swedish island where Ingmar Bergman made his home and shot several of his films. Beginning as a sun-dappled cinephile travelogue, this competition entry from French writer-director Mia Hansen-Lve (Things to Come) gradually shapeshifts into something stranger and less determinate, something that doesnt really pay tribute to Bergman the people on Faro have that base amply covered so much as use his legacy as a jumping-off point. Like most pictures that premiere in Cannes, Bergman Island, which will be released by IFC Films, encountered a mixed reception; for every journalist who admired Hansen-Lves cleverness and restraint, there was another who found her latest too coy and slight by half. But if auteurial understatement is always something of a Cannes specialty, this years festival also made room for more emotionally emphatic fare: If you didnt care for the heavy-handed lyricism of Sean Penns competition misfire, Flag Day, you could at least warm to the gorgeous animated images and earnest speeches of Where Is Anne Frank, an involving if overly didactic retelling of Franks story from Israeli director Ari Folman (Waltz With Bashir). But for sheer emotional force, few movies wielded as bluntly effective a sledgehammer as Blue Bayou, the latest from Korean American writer, director and actor Justin Chon (Gook, Ms. Purple). Screening in Un Certain Regard, a section devoted to younger emerging filmmakers, the movie stars Chon in a terrific performance as Antonio LeBlanc, an underemployed tattoo artist and loving family man who has lived in Louisiana most of his life, having been adopted from Korea when he was 3. But due to a stroke of bad luck and some long-ago misfiled paperwork, hes soon threatened with deportation and separation from his wife (Alicia Vikander) and their kids. Its a loaded scenario, emotionally and of course politically, that Chon cranks up to 11 with a wildly unsteady directorial hand and some questionable narrative choices but also a commitment to his actors that just about holds it all together. Blue Bayous manipulations can be infuriating, but at its best, it makes you feel the directors own rage against a punishingly unjust system; impressively, Chon refuses to soft-pedal the violence inherent in the act of tearing a family asunder. Thunderously received in Cannes and due to be released Sept. 17 by Focus Features, this is an anguished, imperfect movie that captures something of the raw imperfection of life. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Facebook stepped up its criticism of President Joe Biden's remarks that the platform was "killing people," saying that the White House was "looking for scapegoats" after missing its Fourth of July vaccination goal. The social media platform slammed Biden's comments, asserting that Facebook "will not be distracted by accusations which arent supported by the facts." "The fact is that more than 2 billion people have viewed authoritative information about COVID-19 and vaccines on Facebook, which is more than any other place on the internet. More than 3.3 million Americans have also used our vaccine finder tool to find out where and how to get a vaccine," a Facebook spokesperson reportedly said in a text message to NBC. "The facts show that Facebook is helping save lives. Period." WHITE HOUSE SAYS SOCIAL MEDIA BANS FOR MISINFORMATION SHOULD EXTEND TO ALL PLATFORMS A Facebook official then told the outlet that the White House was "looking for scapegoats" after falling just short of its holiday goal for COVID-19 vaccinations. "In private exchanges, the Surgeon General has praised our work, including our efforts to inform people about COVID-19. They knew what they were doing. The White House is looking for scapegoats for missing their vaccine goals," the official said. Representatives for Facebook did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner's attempt to confirm these statements. On Friday, Biden made headlines when he said that the social media platform was "killing people" due to the spread of disinformation about coronavirus vaccines. "Theyre killing people," Biden said when asked to share his message to companies such as Facebook. "The only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated, and theyre killing people." All 50 states and Washington, D.C., are experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases that experts believe is fueled by the high transmissibility of the virus's delta variant, which now makes up a majority of new cases in the United States, according to the New York Times. Story continues The rise has resulted in halted openings in some localities, such as Los Angeles County reimposing its indoor mask mandate even for fully vaccinated people, as well as crackdowns on the spread of misinformation about vaccines. The White House has asked Big Tech to impose stricter protocols, calling on the platforms to censor posts claiming that the vaccines lead to infertility. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday the administration is working "to engage with [social media platforms] to better understand the enforcement of social media platform policies" before singling out "the false narrative that remains active out there about COVID-19 vaccines causing infertility." "Again, this is troubling, but a persistent narrative that we and many have seen, and we want to know that the social media platforms are taking steps to address it," she continued. "That is inaccurate, false information. If you were a parent, you would look at that information, and that would naturally raise concerns, but it's inaccurate. And that is an example of the kind of information that we are flagging or raising." The administration estimates that "12 people" account for 65% of the posts spreading vaccine misinformation on Facebook, and Psaki promised reporters on Friday the White House would supply data to back up that claim. Psaki appeared to be referencing the "Disinformation Dozen" report compiled by the Center for Countering Digital Hate in May, which named author Joseph Mercola, who called Psaki's claim "nefarious, ominous and a complete violation of my freedom of speech," as one of its top 12 spreaders of disinformation. "As the primary carriers of information, a few social media platforms have met utility criteria," he wrote. "When a government collaborates with business to censor citizens, it is illegal." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER More than 33 million cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed in the U.S., and 606,190 deaths have been attributed to the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 336 million doses of the vaccine have been administered, resulting in 160.7 million people being fully vaccinated in the U.S., the CDC added. Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, Facebook, Joe Biden, Coronavirus, Vaccination, Misinformation, Big Tech, White House, Technology, Healthcare Original Author: Carly Roman Original Location: Facebook says White House 'looking for scapegoats' after missing vaccine goal The 2019 computer repair invoice apparently signed by Hunter Biden is not a forgery, a retired FBI agent concluded. Wayne Barnes, a 29-year FBI veteran, issued a 24-page report analyzing the signature on the paperwork for a laptop and hard drive given to a computer shop in Delaware for repairs in April 2019. He compared the "RHB" signature, which feasibly stands for Robert Hunter Biden, with other documents known to have been signed by Biden, who is under federal investigation. "The general pattern and flow of the signature matches the other known signatures from RHB," assessed Barnes, who is now a private investigator in Florida, in the report commissioned by Just the News that goes into detail about the fashioning of the letters and the autograph's "psychological implications." The 51-year-old son of President Joe Biden has never denied the authenticity of the computer materials that offer a look into his personal life and business dealings, and he has never directly addressed the computer repair invoice. FORENSIC ANALYSIS OF HUNTER BIDEN LAPTOP BY EX-FBI AGENT FINDS 'NO EVIDENCE' OF FAKE DATA John Paul Mac Isaac, the computer store owner, said the hardware was never retrieved by the owner, and the laptop and hard drive were seized by the FBI through a grand jury subpoena dated December 2019. "This just confirms what we have known for months," Brian Della Rocca, a lawyer for Mac Isaac, told Just the News about the signature analysis. "Hopefully, those who refused to believe John Paul will now give him the credit he deserves. John Paul has always known that it was Hunter Biden who came into his shop on that fateful day, even if Hunter cannot remember." One copy of the hardware's contents was obtained by Rudy Giuliani, then a personal lawyer to former President Donald Trump, and the contents have been shared with various media outlets. On a media blitz for his memoir about his struggle with drug addiction, Beautiful People, the younger Biden said he didn't know if the laptop was his and falsely claimed the U.S. intelligence community concluded the story surrounding the device was "Russian disinformation." Story continues CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Concerns about Hunter Biden gained broader attention late last year after multiple outlets reported he is being investigated by the Justice Department in connection with his taxes and possible overseas business with China. Biden said in April he was "cooperating completely" with the investigation and insisted he is "100% certain" he will be cleared of wrongdoing. "All I can do is cooperate and trust in the process," the president's son added. Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, Hunter Biden, FBI, Investigation Original Author: Daniel Chaitin Original Location: FBI veteran conducts signature analysis on Hunter Biden laptop repair receipt The yearslong fight to stop the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii has laid bare the fractured relationships between researchers and the communities they rely on for science. Why it matters: At almost 14,000 feet, the dormant volcano is a coveted location for astronomers looking to answer deep questions about the universe. But for many Native Hawaiians, it's a sacred place that has already been desecrated by past telescopes. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free. What's happening: Construction of the TMT has been stalled since about 2015, when protests on the mountain blocked equipment. The protests also forced those pushing to build the telescope to reevaluate their plans and work more closely with the Native Hawaiian community to find a potential path forward for the project. The organization building and developing the telescope has had clearance to proceed with construction since 2019, but before moving forward it's waiting to see what a major report that helps the astronomy community set priorities says about the telescope. It's not yet clear what the survey will recommend for the telescope, with some astronomers advocating for an alternate site in the Canary Islands. How it works: The TMT is designed to be one of the most powerful ground-based telescopes ever built, with the ability to take more-detailed photos of distant objects, including planets that may harbor signs of life, and probe the nature of dark matter and dark energy a mysterious substance and a force that dominate the cosmos. Many astronomers argue that it is needed to answer some of the biggest cosmological questions out there today, like how galaxies in the earliest days of the universe formed. If built, it would join 13 other telescopes already on Mauna Kea. The debate around whether the TMT should be built on Mauna Kea is often framed by supporters of the telescope as a struggle against an Indigenous population that didn't understand or appreciate the science of the telescope. Yes, but: Those against the building of the telescope don't see it that way. Many of the protestors who refer to themselves as protectors see their stance as pro-science. Story continues Those protesting have witnessed damage to Mauna Kea and broken promises about when older telescopes will be decommissioned and removed. "It's science that informs our understanding of the sacredness of this mountain. It's science that gives us the concern that the damage that could be done to this island could have ramifications for the whole ecosystem on the island of Hawaii," said Davianna Pomaikai McGregor, professor of ethnic studies at the University of Hawai'i Manoa. Between the lines: Native cosmology and knowledge passed down through generations have historically been dismissed by mainstream science as legends, but Polynesian communities have studied astronomy for thousands of years, using it to navigate vast areas of the ocean. "It is a common experience to hear cultural knowledge dismissed as stories, anecdote, 'not science,'" said Aurora Kagawa-Viviani, a post-doctoral researcher and scientist at the UH-Hilo Hawaii Cooperative Studies Unit at the University of Hawai'i Hilo. "This kind of thing tends to concentrate power in the 'expert' and perpetuate hierarchies of power in unnecessarily small-minded ways." Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free. Bravo Although Steve Gold was incredibly excited about his Ancramdale, NY, listing, finding a buyer for the massive property was proving to be more of a challenge than he anticipated. As he explained on Million Dollar Listing New York's July 15 episode, "Selling Artemis Farm and all of its 450 acres, to be honest, it's more of an undertaking than I even imagined." With that in mind, Steve turned to someone he trusts immensely for real estate advice, Dorinda Medley. "Dorinda isn't just the queen of the (Refiles to fix garble in headline) By Petra Wischgoll and David Sahl ERFTSTADT, Germany/WASSENBERG, Germany (Reuters) -The death toll in devastating flooding in western Germany and Belgium rose to at least 170 on Saturday after burst rivers and flash floods this week collapsed houses and ripped up roads and power lines. Some 143 people died in the flooding in Germany's worst natural disaster in more than half a century. That included about 98 in the Ahrweiler district south of Cologne, according to police. Hundreds of people were still missing or unreachable as several areas were inaccessible due to high water levels while communication in some places was still down. Residents and business owners struggled to pick up the pieces in battered towns. "Everything is completely destroyed. You don't recognise the scenery," said Michael Lang, owner of a wine shop in the town of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler in Ahrweiler, fighting back tears. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Erftstadt in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where the disaster killed at least 45 people. "We mourn with those that have lost friends, acquaintances, family members," he said. "Their fate is ripping our hearts apart." Around 700 residents were evacuated late on Friday after a dam broke in the town of Wassenberg near Cologne, authorities said. But Wassenberg mayor Marcel Maurer said water levels had been stabilising since the night. "It's too early to give the all-clear but we are cautiously optimistic," he said. The Steinbachtal dam in western Germany, however, remained at risk of breaching, authorities said after some 4,500 people were evacuated from homes downstream. Steinmeier said it would take weeks before the full damage, expected to require several billions of euros in reconstruction funds, could be assessed. Armin Laschet, state premier of North Rhine-Westphalia and the ruling CDU party's candidate in September's general election, said he would speak to Finance Minister Olaf Scholz in the coming days about financial support. Story continues Chancellor Angela Merkel was expected to travel on Sunday to Rhineland Palatinate, the state that is home to the devastated village of Schuld. In Belgium, the death toll rose to 27, according to the national crisis centre, which is coordinating the relief operation there. It added that 103 people were "missing or unreachable". Some were likely unreachable because they could not recharge mobile phones or were in hospital without identity papers, the centre said. COMMUNITIES CUT OFF Over the past several days the floods, which have mostly hit the German states of Rhineland Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia and eastern Belgium, have cut off entire communities from power and communications. RWE, Germany's largest power producer, said on Saturday its opencast mine in Inden and the Weisweiler coal-fired power plant were massively affected, adding that the plant was running at lower capacity after the situation stabilised. In the southern Belgian provinces of Luxembourg and Namur, authorities rushed to supply drinking water to households. Flood water levels slowly fell in the worst hit parts of Belgium, allowing residents to sort through damaged possessions. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited some areas on Saturday afternoon. Belgian rail network operator Infrabel published plans of repairs to lines, some of which would be back in service only at the very end of August. HIGH ALERT IN THE NETHERLANDS Emergency services in the Netherlands also remained on high alert as overflowing rivers threatened towns and villages throughout the southern province of Limburg. Tens of thousands of residents in the region have been evacuated in the past two days, while soldiers, fire brigades and volunteers worked frantically throughout Friday night to enforce dykes and prevent flooding. The Dutch have so far escaped disaster on the scale of its neighbours, and as of Saturday morning no casualties had been reported. Scientists have long said that climate change will lead to heavier downpours. But determining its role in these relentless rainfalls will take at least several weeks to research, scientists said on Friday. (Reporting by Petra Wischgoll and Leon Kuegeler in Erftstadt, David Sahl in Wassenberg, Matthias Inverardi in Duesseldorf, Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels, Christoph Steitz in Frankfurt and Bart Meijer in Amsterdam Editing by Frances Kerry) Estefan, 63, who left Cuba for the United States with her family when she was two years old, said she hoped the Cuban police and military would throw their support behind the protests. "I call on the United Nations to condemn the Cuban government and their tactics against their own people, that they're using violence, that people are disappearing, that they've killed people," the "Turn the Beat Around" singer told Reuters in an interview. Thousands took to the streets in towns around Cuba last Sunday to protest power outages, a COVID-19 surge, widespread shortages of basic goods and the one-party system. The protests, the biggest in decades in Cuba petered out this week as security forces were deployed and government supporters mobilized. U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet called on Cuba on Friday to release protesters and journalists arrested at the demonstrations and denounced alleged excessive use of force against some of them. Estefan, a three time Grammy winner, said she was proud of the young people in Cuba who risked their lives to protest. McALLEN, Texas (AP) In Republicans' bid to retake control of Congress, this traditionally Democratic stretch of South Texas has quietly become a top battleground. After making unexpected gains last November, the GOP is zeroing in on a trio of House seats in the region as key targets heading into next year's midterm elections. They include the 15th Congressional District, which hasn't sent a Republican to Washington since its creation in 1903, but where a GOP newcomer came within three points of winning in 2020. Republican leaders believe the party is on the precipice of a political realignment among Hispanic voters in communities along the U.S.-Mexico border like McAllen. Inroads among Latinos could potentially offset the party's growing vulnerabilities among voters, particularly in the suburbs. The elections next year will determine whether these shifts are enduring or a more limited response to the turbulent politics of the Trump era, as Democrats hope. But with Congress having just a six-seat majority in the House, Democrats in Texas say the party has to take the threat seriously. I dont think theres any question that we need to be concerned about it and we need to put more resources into it, said Gilberto Hinojosa, the chair of the Texas Democratic Party. Republicans' top target in the area is the 15th District. It currently stretches from the border's Hidalgo County, which is more than 90% Hispanic, to the eastern suburbs of San Antonio. Voters here have never sent a Republican to Washington, which is why national party leaders were so stunned when Monica De La Cruz-Hernandez, a small business owner, came within 10,000 votes of beating Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, a two-term Democrat. Sitting behind her office desk in Alamo earlier this month wearing cowboy boots and a campaign T-shirt, De La Cruz-Hernandez, who is running again, credited her performance to former President Donald Trump. She said his colorful personality had sparked new interest in national politics that changed many Texans minds about politics. Story continues When they paid attention to what was happening on the national stage, I think that the lights started to turn on for people where they saw, you know what? My conservative values no longer align with the Democrat Party, she said. The bottom line is that the Hispanic values are pro-God, pro-life and pro-country. And we are conservatives down here. Border security, she said, is number one issue from the north side of the district to the south side of the district, as border crossings have soared. And Republicans in the state have been laser-focused on the issue, with Trump staging a post-presidential visit to the border last month that drew hundreds of supporters. Democratic state lawmakers have been focused on blocking a sweeping election overhaul bill and have been camped out in Washington though some Democrats representing the Rio Grande Valley did not join them. Nationally, the Pew Research Center estimates that about 38% of Hispanic voters supported Trump in 2020, compared with 28% in 2016. While Trump lost Hidalgo Country by 17 percentage points in 2020, he more than doubled his support from 2016, when he lost by a whopping 40 points, earning just 28% of the vote. And he flipped a handful of other nearby districts, including Zapata County, which Democrat Hillary Clinton had won 66%-33%, and Kenedy, which Clinton carried 53%-45% Beyond those gains, Republicans point to other data points to support their optimism. Javier Villalobos in June was elected mayor of McAllen, becoming the first Republican to hold the post in decades. Texas' redistricting process, which is controlled by state Republicans, could produce districts that are even more favorable to GOP candidates as the lines are redrawn to reflect the state's gain of two congressional seats. Villalobos, who joined Trump at his border briefing and was hailed as a superstar" by other officials at the event, said he saw his election as part of a trend driven both by Trump as well as economic changes as more Hispanics have entered the middle class. Historically, its been Hispanic people are very conservative, but they vote traditionally Democrat. And little by little, even the older people are changing, he said. "And thats a beautiful thing. Competition is good. It's unclear whether the gains Republicans made in 2020 will carry over when Trump isn't on the ballot in 2022. Democrats insist their poor performance last year was a one-off and point to unique circumstances, including the party's decision to largely forgo in-person campaigning during the pandemic. The McAllen mayor's race, they also note, was nonpartisan, and turnout was less than 10,000 votes. Gonzalez, the Democratic incumbent in the 15th District, insists he's unfazed by the strong showing of De La Cruz-Hernandez. He described last year's results as "an anomaly driven by a pandemic that devastated the district, killing thousands of residents, including some of his personal friends, and dissuaded many elderly voters from casting their ballots. He pointed to concrete gains made under the Biden administration that he will campaign on, including an economic recovery, mass vaccinations and relief dollars that helped keep small businesses open. Everyone at the end of the day is running on results and the work that we've done and we will be running on what we've done for the people," he said. But Hinojosa, the Texas Democratic chair, was more cautious. He acknowledged the party was caught off guard by a surge in first-time voters who cast ballots for Trump. Because no one thought the races would be competitive, little money and effort were spent on the contests, with no canvassing, phone banking or get-out-the-vote drives. Trumps message, he said, also resonated with voters, especially in the Rio Grande Valley, where poverty rates are high and the economy remains hobbled by a shuttered southern border. He cited concerns about the future of the oil and gas industry, the border, and calls from some Democrats to defund the police, which freaked out many voters who have ties to law enforcement. It was just almost a perfect storm for the Republicans down here, he said, noting the party lacked the resources that were needed to shore up support down here because the races werent considered competitive. In preparation for next year's election, he said he has already held meetings across South Texas with local leaders, forming coalitions along the border, as well as hiring a full-time organizer. Were going to spend a heck of a lot more money and lot more time than we ever have before just to make sure that what Republicans say is going to happen wont happen," he said. Were not going to take any chances." But interviews with voters suggest there is work to be done. Eryc Palomares, 42, who lives in McAllen and works in a medical laboratory, said he was thrilled to see others like him who had broken their allegiance to the Democratic Party because thats all weve seen, thats all weve known here." It's as if they have you already brainwashed: Go vote Democrat. Thats all it was here, said Palomares, who now tends to vote Republican. People are waking up, said Manuel Pescador Jr., 54, an occupational safety consultant and local activist who lives in McAllen. Pescador Jr. said he switched parties seven years ago, rejecting what he saw as a culture of handouts and false promises," and now rails against immigrants who enter the U.S. illegally. They come here, they refuse to assimilate and theyre here to use everything they can, in any way they can. And so thats why I call them depleters, he said. Thats why that Hispanics that can vote, vote Republican, because we know whos coming in. Joe Guerra, an independent who lives in McAllen, didn't vote in last year's presidential election, but said he wasn't at all surprised by the GOP's gains. The Republican Party was, for years, just a token presence here. But the conservative spirit has always been here," he said. "They were always there and (Trump) just had the ability to bring them out. Thats who theyve always been. Gunmen abducted at least 60 people and killed one person in northwestern Nigeria after riding motorbikes into five villages and firing into the air, Reuters reports. The big picture: The abductions come amid an increase in armed robberies and kidnappings for ransom in Nigeria, predominately in northwestern areas. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free. A kidnapping took place in Zamfara state on Friday and gunmen killed a village head, a police official and council member, per Reuters. The gunmen, known locally as bandits, have increasingly targeted schools. Driving the news: "The armed bandits rode on over 70 motorbikes and each motorbike was (carrying) three people with weapons destroying properties and abducting people," Junaidu Badarawa, one of five people who were kidnapped but later released, told Reuters. Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free. Nearly 300 people boarded buses in Grapeland Park on Friday for an overnight trip to Washington, D.C. Their hope, organizers said, is to bring a show of love for the cause of Cuban freedom amid unprecedented protests right to the steps of the Cuban embassy and the White House. My mothers been crying for a week every time she watches the news, but she couldnt be here because I have a little sister, said Gabriela Lastra, 21, as tears streamed down her face. She came to Miami from Cuba at the age of 3. No one else is going to help us, unless we make them help us. She and her cousin, Amanda Velazquez, 22, said theyre hoping to make their voices heard in the capital. Over the past week, Velazquez said some of her co-workers have asked why she is on the streets protesting each day, with many assuming the central issue in Cuba is the lack of access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Protesters in Cuba have chanted for freedom and the end of the authoritarian government. If I can make even one person aware, she said, I would be satisfied. The trip was planned primarily through social media channels over the course of two days, according to Carlos Garcia, one of the organizers. All six tour buses making the trip were hired for the weekend through private donations, he said. Joanna Quesada gives the Liberty sign as she waits to board a Washington, D.C.-bound bus at Grapeland Park in Miami on Friday, July 16, 2021. Cubans boarded buses for a trip to Washington to protest in support of Cubans currently demonstrating in the island. Seven staff members from the office of Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla were at the parking lot. Karla Fortuny, the commissioners chief of staff, said the Cuban American National Foundation reached out to the commissioner Thursday asking for help with providing free parking for the weekend for the 200 cars that were expected to arrive. Several former Cuban political prisoners, including Jorge Luis Garcia Perez, known as Antunez, spoke as people boarded the buses carrying Cuban flags, protest signs with the faces of those missing amid protests in Cuba and posters bearing slogans like Patria y Vida Homeland and Life and Cuba Libre. Many families brought children, who joined in the chants with their parents. Story continues Were not going to allow the Biden administration to laugh at the sacrifice, pain, and tears of the Cuban people, Antunez yelled to the crowd in Spanish as they boarded. Jose Barrera, 56, had brought crates of water bottles to the parking lot a gesture of support, he said, for my people. If we bring it to where Biden is, to his house, he cant look away, Barrera said. A woman carrying signs looks for friends as they wait to board buses bound for Washington, D.C. Once in Washington, D.C., protesters plan is to arrive at the Cuban Embassy, joined by other Cuban-American protesters from across the country, at 11 a.m., then move to the White House in the afternoon, said Luis Enrique Ferrer Garcia, the head organizer. We want to send a clear message to the Biden administration, Ferrer, a leader with the Cuban opposition group UNPACU, told the Miami Herald. The Cuban people want liberty, the Cuban people want freedom, and theyre looking to the United States to take the side of the people. He said that, in total, he expects around 1,500 people to show up to protest at the embassy, most of them from places other than Miami. Buses are expected to come in from across the country, including New York and New Jersey. Cristina Canales, a director with the Cuban American National Foundation who assisted with the rush to organize, said that as soon as Ferrer posted about the possibility of the trip on social media channels, members of the community began to reach out to him, hoping to join. His phone blew up, Canales said. If they are on the streets in Cuba, we need to be as well, Canales said. If we have the ability to use our voice and not get arrested, not get shot at, we have to use that voice. JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia is evaluating whether to end COVID-19 restrictions on movement as planned or extend them, as the country battles with a surge of new infections and a crumbling economy, senior minister Luhut Pandjaitan said on Saturday. The curbs on movement, which include the closure of shopping malls and a work-from-home order for non-essential workers, on the islands of Java, Bali and 15 other cities across the archipelago, are set to end on July 20. "Decreased mobility does not indicate a decrease in cases. We are evaluating... whether further extension is needed," Panjaitan, the country's minister of maritime and investment affairs told a virtual press conference, adding that the government will announce its decision in a matter of days. Fueled by the spread of the more virulent Delta variant, Indonesia has reported more new coronavirus cases than any country in the world, data from the latest seven-day average from a Reuters tracker showed. It was second only to Brazil in terms of the number of deaths. On Saturday, it recorded 51,952 new cases and 1,092 new deaths. The vaccination rate is low at 6% of Indonesia's 270 million population. "From the bottom of my heart, I want to apologise to all Indonesians if it (government policy) is not optimal," Pandjaitan said. Southeast Asia's largest economy earlier this month slashed its full-year GDP outlook taking into account the restrictions. The country's finance minister Sri Mulyani told the conference that Indonesia will expand its COVID-19 recovery budget to 744.74 trillion rupiah ($51.38 billion) from 699.43 trillion rupiah. As Indonesia repeatedly reported record infections and COVID-19 deaths in recent weeks, health experts are calling the country Asia's new epicentre for the virus. Health services in the country are overwhelmed and requests to help people find hospital beds or oxygen tanks have been shared on social media, while reports of those who died trying have risen. ($1 = 14,495.0000 rupiah) (Reporting by Nilufar Rizki; Writing by Fathin Ungku; Editing by Louise Heavens) CBS News Videos Democrats are under pressure to take action after a federal judge in Texas on Friday ruled that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program is illegal. The program protects hundreds of immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation. The new ruling bars the government from accepting new applications to the program, but does not impact those who are already recipients. CBSN political contributor and White House reporter for The Associated Press Zeke Miller joins CBSN's Lana Zak with more on the judge's justification for that ruling and the latest on the controversial audit of 2020 ballots in Arizona. Jul. 16State District Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ruled Friday a man wounded in a July 4 shooting by New Mexico State Police will remain jailed without bond until his trial on criminal charges tied to the incident. Jaime Bravo, 40, of Portales faces three counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer and two counts of evading an officer. He is accused of firing at least one shot at state police officers and leading them on a foot chase in a neighborhood on Santa Fe's south side. Bravo also is accused of pointing a gun at a Sandoval County deputy a few days earlier. Sommer said that incident weighed in her decision to keep him incarcerated. A criminal complaint said the July 4 incident began when a Santa Fe police officer conducted a welfare check on a man sitting on the Rail Runner tracks near the N.M 599 exit of Interstate 25. After Bravo brandished a gun and fled from the officer, state police were called in for assistance. The state officers found Bravo in a residential area nearby, where he fired a shot and fled again. They returned fire, striking him, the criminal complaint said. Bravo was hospitalized for treatment of his gunshot wound. His public defender, attorney Bradford Kerwin, filed a motion requesting a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether Bravo is competent to stand trial. The motion was approved Thursday. Kerwin wrote in the motion that Bravo seems unable to understand the nature of his charges and to rationally communicate with his legal counsel. In addition to the June 30 allegation in Sandoval County and the July 4 incident, Sommer said Bravo has a history of charges for violent crimes, most of which occurred in the 2000s. Due to prior convictions, Bravo faces an additional charge for being a felon in possession of a firearm, the judge said. "Given the defendant's propensity for ignoring the restriction on firearms and the fact he used a firearm in two instances recently, I find no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably ensure the safety of law enforcement or the community," she said. Story continues Kerwin noted that prior to June 30, Bravo hadn't been arrested in nearly 15 years. "Given the recent state of law enforcement shootings, it would be within the realm of one's reasonableness to feel unsafe with law enforcement officers approaching you," Kerwin said. A criminal complaint filed July 7 in Sandoval County says a man was accused of assaulting someone with a rock on the night of June 30 on an off-ramp along I-25. Sandoval County Deputy Arnold Noriega wrote in the complaint he saw a man matching the assailant's description walking along a road. As Noriega ran after the man on foot, the man reached into his backpack and pulled out a small black pistol and pointed it at the officer, the complaint says. It wasn't until Bravo was identified July 4 in Santa Fe that state police determined he also was the suspect in Sandoval County. Noriega confirmed the match, according to the complaint. Bravo faces another charge of assault on an officer. The July 4 shooting that injured Bravo was one of four in the Santa Fe area in recent weeks. The state police officers involved in the shooting were placed on standard administrative leave. The state police agency, which is investigating the shooting, has not yet identified them. Representatives of the Afghan government and Taliban insurgents met in Doha for talks Saturday as violence raged in their country with foreign forces almost entirely withdrawn. The two sides have been meeting on and off for months in the Qatari capital, but the talks have lost momentum as the insurgents made battlefield gains. Several high-ranking officials, including former Afghan former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah, gathered in a luxury hotel on Saturday after morning prayers. They were joined by negotiators from the Taliban's political office in Doha. Former president Hamid Karzai had also been due to travel to Doha but remained in Kabul, according to a source. US special envoy on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad was present as the two sides began to meet, an AFP correspondent said. "The high level delegation is here to talk to both sides, guide them and support the (government) negotiating team in terms of speeding up the talks and have progress," said Najia Anwari, the spokeswoman for the Afghan government negotiating team in Doha. "We expect that it (will) speed the talks and... in a short time, both sides will reach a result and we will witness a durable and dignified peace in Afghanistan," she told AFP. The sides were meeting behind closed doors after a brief interaction with the media. - 'Ready for dialogue' - The Taliban have capitalised on the last stages of the withdrawal of US and other foreign troops from Afghanistan to launch a series of lightning offensives across the country. "We are ready for dialogue, for talks and negotiations, and our priority is to solve the problems through dialogue," Taliban spokesman Muhamad Naeem told the Al Jazeera broadcaster ahead of Saturday's talks. "The other side must have a true and sincere will to end the problems." Talks between the government and the Taliban side led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar began with Koranic recitations, Naeem tweeted Saturday. Story continues "As we pursue our greater goals, we have to go beyond the details," Baradar said in his opening remarks. For his part, Abdullah said: "We must denounce forcing our views upon each other and the people through unpeaceful means." A key crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan partially reopened on Saturday, days after the Taliban took control of the Afghan side of the border. A Pakistani border official, who did not want to be named, said small groups were being allowed into Chaman in Pakistan, while hundreds were heading into Spin Boldak in Afghanistan. Pakistani Noor Ali, who had been visiting Kabul, said it took him two attempts to reach the border in recent days because of fighting in Kandahar province. "I was scared, but the Taliban did not create any problems, they checked my documents and allowed me to go through," he told AFP after arriving in the nearby city of Quetta. An AFP journalist witnessed people crossing in both directions. The Taliban have also tightened their grip on the north, with clashes continuing Saturday in the stronghold of warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum that borders Turkmenistan. Also on Saturday, the French government flew out around 100 of its citizens and Afghans working for the embassy from the capital, as security deteriorated, a French diplomatic source said. Several other countries including India, China, Germany and Canada have flown out their citizens or told them to leave in recent days. There have been weeks of intensifying fighting across Afghanistan, with the Taliban pressing multiple offensives and overrunning dozens of districts. - Taliban onslaught - As fighting raged over large swathes of Afghanistan, a war of words was also heating up between Kabul and Islamabad, after the Afghan vice president accused the Pakistani military of providing "close air support to Taliban in certain areas". Pakistan strongly denied the claim, with its foreign ministry saying the country "took necessary measures within its territory to safeguard our own troops and population". Islamabad had touted a conference of regional leaders to address the spiralling violence. Instead it announced it would delay the summit until after the Muslim Eid al-Adha feast, due to start next week at the end of the annual hajj pilgrimage, clearing the way for the Doha gathering. Afghanistan's southern border has long been a flashpoint in relations with its eastern neighbour. Foreign troops have been in Afghanistan for nearly two decades following the US-led invasion launched in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks. With their departure, fears have growing that Afghan forces will be overwhelmed without the vital air support they provide. burs-gw/hc ABC With Jimmy Kimmel on vacation this summer, a bunch of guest hosts have been swinging through his late-night show, from Wanda Sykes to Arsenio Hall. But comedian and Big Mouth creator Nick Kroll may be the only one who actually applied to be a writer on Jimmy Kimmel Live! 16 years ago. You know whats crazy back in like 2005, I actually applied to be a writer on this show and the feedback we got back was these jokes suck ass. But I dont know, I kinda think they hold up, Kroll said during his monologue Friday night. From there, he shared some of his admittedly dated jokes about how there will never be a dumber, more racist president than George W. Bush and this reaction to the news that Britney Spears had shaved her head: Boy, Britneys dad needs to hide his Flowbee better... then freeze her bank accounts and generally restrict all her personal freedoms for almost two decades. Speaking of people that I would like to send to space, did you guys see this? he said, transitioning to a more current topic. Florida congressman and piece of human shitIm sorry, alleged piece of human shitMatt Gaetz was in town this week to raise money in the fight against homelessness. Im just kidding, he went to a Free Britney rally. Britney Spears Sobs in Court Describing Dads Abuse After playing the clip of Gaetz essentially using the Britney Spears controversy to rehab his own tainted image, Kroll said, At first I was impressed that Matt Gaetz was on the right side of an issue, then I was bummed that we were wearing almost the same exact suit. But now I realize that he was only there because he thought he was gonna get a free Britney. I just love that the guy whos been accused of sex trafficking a minor is suddenly an advocate for troubled children getting less supervision, he added. Finally, after presenting an elaborate bit about Shark Week and coastal justice warriors called Kroll Me a River, he joked, This would be a great segment for my Gutfeld packet, right? Story continues For more, listen to Nick Kroll on The Last Laugh podcast. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. South Korea summoned the Japanese ambassador on Saturday over "undiplomatic" remarks about President Moon Jae-in and the possibility of a summit during the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, according to Seoul's foreign ministry. A senior Japanese diplomat had reportedly ridiculed Moon's desire to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, describing the South Korean leader as "masturbating with himself". The diplomat, who was not identified, added in the same interview with South Korean cable network JTBC that Moon was in a "tug of war only with himself" since Japan has "no space to pay attention to Seoul-Tokyo relations" at the moment. The comments come as the two countries have reportedly been in talks over staging a top-level encounter during the Games to improve ties that have plunged to their worst level in years over historical disputes. Following JTBC's report, the Japanese ambassador said it was his deputy Hirohisa Soma who had spoken the "highly inappropriate" words, though he did not confirm exactly what was said. "While it is true that such terms were used during the conversation it was not directed at President Moon," Ambassador Koichi Aiboshi said in a statement. "I have sternly warned Deputy Chief Soma," he added. South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun called for punitive measures. Such remarks "seriously denigrate" efforts to restore ties and "appropriate action should be taken", he told Aiboshi during their meeting, according to the foreign ministry. Tokyo and Seoul are both major US allies, democracies and market economies, but relations between them are strained by ongoing disputes over compensation for Japan's early-20th century colonial rule over the Korean peninsula. At a press conference earlier this month, Japan's leader reportedly acknowledged "very difficult" relations because of wartime issues, but said it was up to South Korea to respond to these matters. kjk/lb A Knox County gas station and convenience store that unfairly upped the price of gasoline to take advantage of consumers during the Colonial Pipeline shutdown will have to pay more than $5,000 in profit disgorgement, the Kentucky Attorney Generals office said. Brothers Market in Girdler raised the price of regular gasoline by 9.3 to 19.4 percent after the pipeline shut down in May, selling 6,860 gallons of gas for an extra profit of $5,666, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Camerons office said in a news release. The Office of Consumer Protection received eleven complaints of suspected price gouging at Brothers Market, the AGs office said. While investigating these complaints against Brothers Market, the Knox County retailer admitted to increasing their gasoline prices to capitalize on increased buying spurred by the Colonial Pipeline shutdown, the news release stated. The business reached a settlement with the state, agreeing to give up the extra profit. If the retailer violates the Kentucky Consumer Protection Act again, the store will be liable for the waived civil penalties, totaling $41,160.24, and will face additional enforcement action by the Attorney Generals office, the news release stated. Some stores around Kentucky reported shortages of gas during the shutdown that followed a cyber attack by hackers, but a AAA spokeswoman said that was because consumers who were worried about a possible shortage rushed to fill their tanks and gas cans, depleting supplies at some gas stations. Jul. 17BOSTON A Dominican national previously residing in Lawrence pleaded guilty yesterday to fentanyl distribution charges. Luis Aybar-Guerrero, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Nov. 18, 2021. In August 2020, Aybar-Guerrero was indicted along with co-conspirator Guillermo Aybar-Guerrero. According to charging documents, investigators conducted controlled purchases of fentanyl from Guillermo on June 10 and 17, 2020. On June 25, 2020, investigators set up a third controlled purchase, at which time Guillermo was arrested in possession of approximately 30 grams of suspected fentanyl. It is alleged that Guillermo retrieved these 30 grams of fentanyl from his brother, Luis. A search of Luis' residence resulted in the seizure of an additional 263 grams of fentanyl as well as a scale, baggies and other drug-distribution paraphernalia. A plea hearing for Guillermo is scheduled for July 27, 2021. Photograph: Brandon Bell/Getty Images This week, the Guardian reported that what are assessed to be leaked Kremlin documents describe Donald Trump as an impulsive, mentally unstable and unbalanced individual. Vladimir Putin, the documents say, therefore decided to assist Trumps rise to power in 2016 as a way to weaken America. Related: Frankly, We Did Win This Election review: a devastating dispatch from Trumpworld Five years on, as America digests a string of bombshell revelations about the last days of Trumps presidency pulled from a string of new books, Russias judgment seems born out. Taken together, these Trump books show just how close the US came to disaster amid stark warnings from military leaders and almost unprecedented fears of an attempted coup. They also revealed new and shocking claims about Trump and his inner circle, including praise for Hitler and an apparent desire to have protesters shot. In Nightmare Scenario, Yasmeen Abutaleb and Damian Paletta of the Washington Post show how Trump failed to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. Trump, they report, wanted to send infected Americans to Guantanamo Bay and seemed to hope Covid would take out his national security adviser. In Landslide, Michael Wolffs second sequel to Fire and Fury, the book that birthed the genre, Trump is shown isolated and unhinged in the White House, pushed to extremes by Rudy Giuliani before, during and after his supporters deadly attack on the Capitol. He also reports and Fox News denies that Rupert Murdoch personally approved the early call of Arizona which signaled Trumps defeat with a pithy Fuck him. In Frankly, We Did Win This Election, Michael Bender reports the 2020 campaign in exhaustive detail. He also tells us Trump believed Adolf Hitler did a lot of good things, wanted to execute whichever aide leaked news of his retreat to a White House bunker as anti-racism protests raged last summer, and told his top general to just shoot those demonstrating in Lafayette Square outside. Story continues In I Alone Can Fix It, Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker show that general, Mark Milley, resisting Trump but fearing a Reichstag moment, a coup by supporters of a president preaching the gospel of the Fuhrer. Four days later, on 6 January this year, Trump supporters did storm the US Capitol, seeking to overturn the election, looking for lawmakers to capture and kill. He should be a political pariah. But its important to continue to show what hes doing Tara Setmayer The two Pulitzer-winning Washington Post reporters also report that Vice-President Mike Pence defied his own Secret Service agents and refused to leave the Capitol as it came under attack. They even show Milley reassuring the speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, that Trump will not be allowed to use nuclear weapons. So, on Friday, did Susan Glasser of the New Yorker, whose Trump book will come out next year. For good measure, Glasser also reported Milleys efforts to stop Trump attacking Iran. To the reader, America really did come to the brink of disaster. Asked for Trumps thoughts, a spokesperson directed the Guardian to a statement issued on 9 July, before some of the most alarming revelations were public. The interviews he sat for were a total waste of time, Trump said, as the authors were bad people who write whatever they want to write. But Trump did respond to Leonnig and Rucker also authors of a bestseller on the start of his presidency, A Very Stable Genius. Denying their reporting, he said Gen Milley should be impeached, or court-martialed and tried and called Pelosi a known nut job. Tara Setmayer, a former Republican strategist now a senior adviser with the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, told the Guardian such statements were the rantings of a raving madman. But hes a madman with millions of followers, including powerful elected members of the United States government. Donald Trump and Gen Mark Milley, who reportedly feared a coup by the presidents supporters. Photograph: Jim Young/Reuters Therein lies the rub. Many Trump books report important news. Many trade in salacious gossip. But all in some way document a moment in US history that is unprecedented and which has not ended. Trump retains control of a party committed to advancing his lie that his defeat was the result of electoral fraud and to attacking the voting rights of opponents. It is therefore important, Setmayer said, for the media to continue to cover both Trump and the avalanche of books about him. Related: Landslide review: Michael Wolffs third Trump book is his best and most alarming It is unconscionable given his behavior that the Republicans would give him the time of day, she said. He should be a political pariah. But its important to frame it all in the proper context, to point out when hes not telling the truth. And as long as thats done, then I think you have to continue to show what hes doing. The chase Trump is not a reader but he knows what is written about him. According to Politico, earlier this month he woke to news broken by the Guardian of the passage in Benders book in which he is reported to have praised Hitler. Trump again denied the remark, Politico said, but also told an adviser: That doesnt mean [former chief of staff] John Kelly didnt tell Mike Bender that. That doesnt mean other people didnt say it. Former aides jockey to tell their sides of the story. Pence and Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law-cum-adviser, have signed deals for memoirs. Trump has even claimed to be writing his own book, news that prompted leading agents and publishers to reach for their very longest bargepoles, with which not to publicly touch it. Most influential Trump world figures have spoken on or off the record. As one former aide told Politico: Its fraught right now as to who is telling the truth. Theyre all trying to go back in time and curate their own images. All have reason to be cautious. Trump remains powerful and angry. Nobody had ever heard of some of these people that worked for me in DC, he said in yet another statement this week, adding: For the first time in their lives they feel like something special, not the losers that they are and they talk, talk, talk! Our thesis was that the desire to understand this critical period of history would continue. I think thats been proven Keith Urbahn Portrayals of key meetings and moments fuel the new Trump books, all written in a style made famous by Bob Woodward, the Post veteran whose own third Trump book is due out in September. Drawn from anonymous sources, scenes are reproduced as if the reporter is in the room, quotes reported verbatim. It all adds up to a tempting prize for other journalists, jockeying to scoop the hot new read. Keith Urbahn is a former speechwriter and Pentagon chief of staff who co-founded Javelin, a leading Washington literary agency. He told the Guardian: Over the last year, various editors have told us theyre skeptical, that the demand that we saw in the last few years of the Trump presidency for political books was necessarily going to decline as soon as he was out of office. And our thesis was that it wouldnt. Maybe it would diminish a little bit. But that the desire to understand this critical period of history was going to continue. And I do think thats been proven. Supporters cheer as Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas, Texas, 11 July. Photograph: Andy Jacobsohn/AFP/Getty Images A glance at the Amazon bestseller list suggested Urbahn was right. Leonnig and Rucker led the way, days before publication, with Wolff third and Bender fourth after a few days on sale. Pro-Trump books by Mark Levin and Jesse Waters filled out the top five. The presence of the two Fox News hosts echoed a note of caution from Setmayer. Deep reportage of the excesses of Trump, she said, further confirms to the 80-plus million who voted for Joe Biden that they made the right choice. Clearly. But you had over 74 million people who still voted for Donald Trump. Does it make a difference to them? I fear that for the large majority of those people, it does not. If anything, it further entrenches them in this idea that Donald Trump was somehow the victim, that the deep state was indeed after him. And Im not quite sure how you ever break through to those people. Related: Nightmare Scenario review: Trump, Covid and a lasting national trauma Most likely, the publishing world never will. But as Urbahn said, plenty of other readers look back on the Trump era with a mixture of anger, surprise and shock. I think the books are a great way to make sense of that history in ways the daily drumbeat of news stories and tweets does not. Its not possible. Only books are really a way of doing that. The record Journalism, so the cliche goes, is the first draft of history. Books based on journalism are therefore seen as the second. Setmayer said: I think that the books by the more credible journalists are doing that, versus the more salacious ones. We can let history be the judge. Asked to judge, the historian Sidney Blumenthal, a Clinton aide turned Lincoln biographer, warned that the history the books are trying to write is not yet over. It would be complacent to regard this as something comfortably in the past, he said. The insurrection Trump organised and coordinated and had paid for revealed weaknesses in the system that the entire Republican party now is devoted to exploiting, through not only voter suppression but future election suppression. All this demonstrates how dangerous Trump remains. And why books about him sell. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, feared President Trump might provoke war with Iran as he tried to cling to power, Susan Glasser writes in The New Yorker. Flashback: Iran was repeatedly raised in White House meetings with Trump in the months after the election, and Milley repeatedly argued against a strike, Glasser reports: Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free Milley ... was worried that Trump might set in motion a full-scale conflict that was not justified. Trump had a circle of Iran hawks around him and was close with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who was also urging the Administration to act against Iran after it was clear that Trump had lost the election. "If you do this, youre gonna have a f-----g war," Milley would say. Between the lines: It's stunning that Milley is allowing these detailed accounts of his thinking to be reported while he's still in the job. The WashPost's Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker report in their book, "I Alone Can Fix It," out Tuesday, that Milley saw Trump's post-election behavior as a "Reichstag moment ... The gospel of the Fuhrer." Milley considered resigning after the Lafayette Square photo op on June 1, 2020, and told his aides that was "prepared to be fired, or even court-martialed," Glasser reports. Two days later, in the Pentagon briefing room, Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced that he didn't support invoking the Insurrection Act against protesters, and said he tried to "stay apolitical." Soon after, Glasser writes, "Esper, Milley, and the Centcom commander, Frank Mackenzie, were scheduled to attend a White House meeting on Afghanistan." Trump, enraged, lit into Esper before Milley could even sit down. The President went "apes---t" on Esper, Milley told associates, one of the worst such reamings-out he had ever seen. Trump would go on to fire Esper days after he lost the 2020 election. Keep reading. Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free. Andrew Tezna was in a high-ranking position at NASA. Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images A NASA executive was sentenced to 18 months for filing fraudulent paperwork for COVID-19 relief. Andrew Tezna used the more than $285,000 he received on a French bulldog and a Disney membership. A US attorney said Tezna used COVID-19 relief programs as "a personal piggy bank." See more stories on Insider's business page. A senior executive at NASA who received $285,000 in COVID-19 relief to fund lavish spending was sentenced on Thursday to 18 months in prison. The Justice Department said Andrew Tezna, 36, of Leesburg, Virginia, applied for more than $350,000 in COVID-19 relief from the Paycheck Protection Program and Virginia unemployment. He paid $6,450 to a dog breeder for a French bulldog, according to prosecutors. He also paid $18,447 toward a loan on a Toyota Sienna and $4,992.81 toward a loan for a Land Rover. He spent $2,500 on Disney Vacation Club and paid off $140,000 in personal debt, including $48,961.81 on a loan for a swimming pool, prosecutors said. When Tezna pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud in April, Raj Parekh, acting US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia said the NASA executive used the government's COVID-19 relief programs as "a personal piggy bank." The government said Tezna submitted three loan PPP applications to banks, totalling $272,284. He submitted another two applications to the Small Business Administration for $69,500. And he applied for $15,950 in COVID-related unemployment in Virginia. He also filed a false financial disclosure report to NASA, where he worked in the Senior Executive Service. His yearly salary was $170,801, according to court documents. Tenza used the name Andalasia Designs for his PPP applications, according to court documents. He said the company had three employees, with an average monthly payroll of $34,700, according to prosecutors. The company did not have a monthly payroll, they said. He also used his mother-in-law's name and social security number, according to the Justice Department. He was said to have claimed she was laid off from her position as a nanny. Story continues "While serving in a high-ranking position at NASA, this defendant used the identities of others to carry out a brazen scheme in which he exploited taxpayer-funded programs during the global pandemic for his own personal benefit," said Parekh on Thursday in a statement. US attorneys on Thursday filed paperwork seeking to recover $285,449.11 from Tezna. When federal law enforcement officials interviewed Tezna at his home in December, he told them he'd sell the house to repay the loans, according to a pre-sentencing report. But when he sold the home in January, he instead used the money to buy a new home in Florida. Read the original article on Business Insider A Nigerian separatist leader arrested last month and brought back to his country to face trial was detained illegally in Kenya and needs medical help, his wife and lawyers have said. Nnamdi Kanu's outlawed movement, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which agitates for a separate Biafran state for ethnic Igbos in southeast Nigeria, has been accused of attacks on police, a charge it denies. His arrest was one of two moves by President Muhammadu Buhari's government against separatists in recent weeks as the Nigerian leader comes under pressure to deal with the country's growing insecurity. Nigerian officials said Kanu was arrested at the end of June and brought back to the country with the help of Nigeria's partners, though officials have given few details of where or how he was detained. His UK-based wife Uchechi Okwu-Kanu told AFP he had been travelling in Kenya on business when he was arrested, held and tortured for eight days, before being flown back to Nigeria. "This was an extraordinary rendition, he was taken on Kenyan soil and taken to Nigeria," she said in an interview this week. She said Kanu, who is also a British citizen, needed a visit from UK consular services to get access to medical treatment for a heart condition and should be transferred out of security service detention to a prison. "If he is transferred to prison he will have a doctor who can check on him every day," she said. The British High Commission in Abuja has said it is ready to provide consular assistance and was seeking clarification about the circumstances of his arrest. Kanu's lawyers visited him this week in Abuja, they said. They say the 53-year-old IPOB leader was travelling on his British passport when he was illegally detained in Kenya and extradited back. "He was initially accused of being an Islamic terrorist by the Kenyan Security Force upon his arrest, which was apparently a decoy to keep him till the arrival of the Nigeria Security Force who consequently extradited by rendition to Nigeria," lead counsel Ifeanyi Ejiofor told AFP. Story continues He said the legal team planned to challenge Kanu's extradition and his treatment. One European diplomatic source in Nigeria told AFP his government had also confirmed Kanu was detained while in Kenya. Kenya's interior ministry has said that it is not aware of the case at all while Kenya's high commissioner to Nigeria told local media his country was not involved in the arrest and extradition. Kanu appeared in court in Nigeria's capital Abuja in June, where a judge remanded him in custody until his trial resumes in late July. - Separatist tensions - Calls for a separate state of Biafra in the southeast are sensitive. A unilateral declaration of independence by an Igbo army officer in 1967 sparked a brutal 30-month civil war that left more than one million people dead, most of them Igbos, from the effects of conflict and disease. In recent months, southeast Nigeria has seen a surge in attacks, with around 130 police and security officials killed and around 20 police stations attacked this year, according to local media tallies. IPOB has denied its armed wing, Eastern Security Network or ESN, is behind the violence, accusing the government of a smear campaign. Southeastern separatism is just one of the challenges facing Buhari's government ahead of the 2023 election. This month, security forces raided the home of Sunday Igboho, a firebrand leader who advocates for an independent nation for the Yoruba ethnic group in the southwest. Igboho was on the run after a gun battle that killed two of his men and weapons and ammunition were discovered at his home, the Department of State Services intelligence agency said. A nation of more than 210 million and over 250 ethnic groups, Nigeria is regularly rocked by ethnic tensions in different regions of the country. The three largest groups are the Hausa-Fulani in the north, the Igbo in the south-east and the Yoruba in the southwest. pma/lhd/ Along a street in a sprawling Johannesburg township, near a shopping mall plundered during last week's unrest, police fling open a refrigerator door and toss out packets of vegetables and milk. They then haul it, squeeze it between brown sofas and a bed already loaded on the back of a white van. On top of that goes a leather armchair, followed by a blue child's quad bike that wobbles precariously until it is securely strapped. South African police who watched helplessly while mobs went on a looting rampage last week, are now on a campaign to recover goods stolen in full view of television cameras. "Everybody will have to be able to show us the receipts for those flat screens, fridges and all that," Police Minister Bheki Cele said on local television earlier in the week. "It is going to be a very tough time in many houses... you must give us the receipt of the appliance, and if you don't have the receipt, hard luck." Officers in northern Johannesburg's Alexandra township were true to the words of their boss, squeezing through alleyways only just wide enough to walk down, seizing anything that looked new but did not have a receipt. Soldiers deployed to help quell the unrest stand guard, cradling guns as residents watch timidly from the side of the road. With the initial booty loaded away, the men head back into the labyrinth of narrow alleyways that criss-cross the sloping township. They weave past corrugated iron, plywood and plastic houses crammed tightly together, brushing against lines of laundry strung across their path. One policeman climbs onto stacked concrete blocks marking small front yards to look over the shacks and shouts out directions. "You have anything here?" asks a soldier peeping into a shack. They enter homes and come out with sacks of clothes and other pilfered items. Some would have been sold, while others kept for personal use A few residents are perched on their roofs, from where they look down at the parade. Story continues It emerges that larger looted objects are stored on rooftops because of a lack of indoor space in the small makeshift structures that are part of some South African townships. - Bustling streets - With no ladder, one officer is given a leg-up to climb onto a rusty corrugated iron sheet that cracks loudly under his feet -- all to see if anything else is hidden on roofs. Colleagues urge him to tread carefully and avoid the dangerous tangle of electric wires supplying power to the township. A printer, a sound system and a vacuum cleaner are lowered to the ground. The latter would probably have been sold to an informal car washer, one officer suggests, hammer in hand. A woman peers out from her front door, warming her hands around a steaming cup of tea. She greets the officers and watches them make their way back to the vehicles. Soldiers remain behind to secure the area as all the remaining goods are packed into the vans. The street around them is bustling with life. Meat sizzles on open-air grills while a group of people burn a pile of waste further up the hill. With the confiscated goods headed to a warehouse where business owners will identify them, the vans drive away, leaving butternut, onions and spinach strewn on the dusty road. cts/sch-sn/jxb ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Amid the stench of dead fish, protesters marched Saturday along Florida's Tampa Bay to call for state assistance in dealing with a growing outbreak of harmful red tide. More than 100 people took part in the event along the St. Petersburg waterfront carrying signs and shouting, Save our bay, make polluters pay. Among other things, the protesters want Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency that would free up more resources for the bay. The St. Petersburg City Council this week adopted a resolution calling for an emergency declaration. The governor's office has said such a declaration is not necessary and that sufficient money is available for the outbreak from the state Department of Environmental Protection. This is not political, Aimee Conlee, one of the event organizers, told the crowd. This is life. This is water, and water is life. Hundreds of tons of dead marine life has been removed from Tampa Bay in recent weeks because of red tide, a toxic algae bloom that occurs naturally in the Gulf of Mexico but is worsened by the presence of nutrients such as nitrogen in the water. Many experts say blame for Tampa Bay's unusually large outbreak rests with the old Piney Point phosphate operation in Manatee County. A leak earlier this year in a reservoir at Piney Point dumped more than 200 million gallons (757 million liters) of contaminated water into the bay. Nutrients that feed red tide can get into Tampa Bay and Gulf waters through other sources as well. Red tide outbreaks and reports of dead fish are also being reported in Manatee and Sarasota counties. In addition to fish kills, red tide can cause respiratory problems for some people especially with existing conditions such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis. ___ Event organizer Aimee Conlee's last name has been corrected. It's Conlee, not Comlee. Alaska's Supreme Court ruled Friday that the recall campaign to oust Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy is legal and may proceed, Reuters reports. The big picture: The governor's political opponents, who are leading what they say is a bipartisan campaign, argue that Dunleavy has abused his power and is unfit for office. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free Recall supporters cite allegations that Dunleavy illegally used his budget veto to punish judges for abortion-rights rulings and violated ethics laws by using state funds for partisan campaign purposes, per Reuters. To qualify for a recall election on the Alaska ballot, campaigners must garner petition signatures totaling 10% of votes cast in the previous statewide election and, subsequently, get signatures totaling 25% of the votes cast, per Reuters. What they're saying: The court said that voters will determine whether Dunleavy is fit for office. "The people asked to sign petitions must decide whether the allegations are serious enough to warrant a recall election; each voter in the voting booth must decide whether the allegations are serious enough to warrant removal from office," the opinion said. The other side: Dunleavy, who has about 17 months left in his term, said in a statement that decision will subject officials to "baseless, expensive, and distracting recall elections by their political opponents," per Reuters. More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free Carole Cadwalladr - Michael Bowles/Shutterstock An "independent" group of scientists that regularly criticises the Government for not introducing tougher Covid-19 restrictions is being run by a body which boasted last week that it is "good at creating havoc" and was founded by an activist journalist accused of peddling conspiracy theories about Brexit, The Telegraph can disclose. The Citizens, founded by Carole Cadwalladr, describes itself as "founders and producers" of Independent Sage, a committee of academics that claims to "provide independent scientific advice". The Citizens is also currently bringing legal action over ministers' use of apps such as WhatsApp to communicate about official business, and claims to be gathering evidence of "the privatisation of the NHS". Writing in the body's newsletter, Ms Cadwalladr states that its "mission is impact journalism" and says that it has "been running a handful of experimental projects in stealth mode", including Independent Sage. The group's role was highlighted by an NHS doctor who said there was "something quite disingenuous about a supposedly independent scientific group being formed by what appears to be a political organisation". Independent Sage claimed to have been founded because of a lack of "openness and transparency" by the official Sage committee of government advisors. Its members regularly criticise the Government's approach to Covid-19, including decisions to ease lockdown restrictions. But the doctor suggested that Independent Sage had lacked transparency by failing to fully declare the role of The Citizens. "If you want to lobby against a government, fine," the doctor said. "But dont also claim to be an objective, independent voice." Ms Cadwalladr initially founded The Citizens in 2019 to "support further investigation" into alleged offences committed during the Brexit campaign - none of which have been proven, despite police investigations which were later dropped. Story continues It was financed using money provided by a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for her investigations into pro-Brexit figures, including Arron Banks, the co-founder of the unofficial Leave.EU campaign, who is suing Ms Cadwalladr for libel. Ms Cadwalladr, who carried out investigations into the role of Cambridge Analytica, a data firm, in the Brexit campaign, has previously apologised for falsely claiming that Mr Banks had been found to have broken the law. She has been labelled a conspiracy theorist over her claims that Russia influenced the 2016 referendum. In recent weeks, Ms Cadwalldr updated her Twitter profile to describe herself as co-founder of The Citizens, which she bills as the "parent" of Independent Sage. Independent Sage's website simply states that The Citizen organises a "small support team" to help with "public events and media activities". 'We are already good at creating havoc' The Citizens' Twitter biography states: "Public service journalism. Founders & producers of @independentSAGE & @FBOversight." The Real Facebook Oversight Board is another panel set up by The Citizens. On Tuesday, The Citizens tweeted: "We are a new and still tiny non-profit organisation but we are already good at creating havoc." The tweet was deleted after being highlighted by the NHS doctor. Earlier, in a newsletter on May 17, Ms Cadwalladr wrote of The Citizens: "Our mission is impact journalism and for the last 12 months, weve been running a handful of experimental projects in stealth mode: challenging the governments claim to be following the science in the pandemic, launching an emergency intervention against Facebook ahead of the US election, organising MPs to take the government to court and investigating the awarding of government contracts to high-profile Conservative donors." The phrase "challenging the governments claim to be following the science" contained a "hyperlink" to the Independent Sage website and the post was signed off "Carole x". Independent Sage was launched in May 2019 by Sir David King, the former chief scientific adviser, who said the panel of 12 experts would provide "robust, unbiased advice", with meetings broadcast live online. Speaking ahead of the launch, Sir David said: "Science is fundamentally a system based on peer review. When it comes to scientific advice of any kind, transparency is essential." It later transpired that the panel included a series of academics linked to Labour, a race adviser who had described Boris Johnson's administration as a "far-right Conservative government" and the author of a book which claims that the NHS is being privatised by stealth. Yesterday Ms Cadwalladr said the links between Independent Sage and The Citizens had been "on the organisation's website since Day 1." "I'm incredibly proud of what the Citizens has done to support the work of the scientists on Independent Sage & the impact it has had," she tweeted. A spokesman for Independent Sage said the body had nothing to add to Ms Cadwalladr's remarks. When a Massachusetts state trooper saw two cars with their hazard lights flashing in the emergency lane of Interstate 95 at 2 a.m., the natural response was to go and offer help. What should have been a routine incident proved to be anything but. The motorists in distress were wearing military fatigues and carrying an array of unregistered firearms, including three AR-15 rifles. MASSACHUSETTS POLICE ARREST GROUP OF ARMED MEN WHO 'DO NOT RECOGNIZE OUR LAWS' AFTER HOURSLONG STANDOFF Even their vehicles, a 2018 Ford Transit and 2006 Honda Ridgeline pickup truck, were unregistered. What followed was a surreal nine-hour standoff 15 miles north of Boston between police and the group of 10 men and one teenager, who were all members of an organization called the Rise of the Moors. Law enforcement revealed earlier this week that they incapacitated the group using a high-pitched sonic weapon. They told the police that they were from Rhode Island and were en-route to an undisclosed destination in Maine for what they described as military training. Exactly where they were going remains a mystery. But a Facebook posting does at least give a hint of what they were doing, if not why. It shows three people trudging through woodland at an undisclosed location, two of whom appear to be in army fatigues. One is clutching what appears to be an assault rifle and another a handgun. The group's refusal to license either their weapons or vehicles was justified by the groups philosophy: a complicated mish-mash of libertarianism and religious separatism. They essentially have taken ideas from two separate ideologies, Rachel Goldwasser of the Southern Poverty Law Center said. There is the Moorish religion and the Sovereign Citizen movement. They have combined elements of both of them. Sovereign Citizens are a complicated beast. What is foundationally true for all Sovereign Citizenships is they have renounced the citizenship where they were born and or naturalized. Story continues In its most benign manifestation, Sovereign Citizen groups refuse to cooperate with the authorities. Some even issue driving licenses and number plates. But there have been outbreaks of violence by Sovereign Citizens who feel that direct action is needed to protect their rights." The I-95 group's take on the philosophy rests on two planks. The first is that they are indigenous to a patch of land in Rhode Island. The second is an assertion that their rights as Moors are protected by the Moroccan-American Treaty of Friendship that was signed in January 1787. "There are catalysts which will make a Sovereign Citizen violent, Goldwasser added. It is a good sign they did not react violently. It can be something as minor as a traffic stop which sets them off," she said. A study by the University of North Carolina a few years ago had scathing words about the Sovereign Citizen movement. At their most harmless, sovereign citizens are cranks who talk what seems like gibberish to cops and magistrates and judges and then become law-abiding when they face real legal trouble, it read. At a different level, they may severely burden the courts and other government offices with the filing of hundreds and hundreds of pages of nonsensical documents. That seems to have been the template followed by the Rise of the Moors in Massachusetts when they appeared before Malden District Court. Many were wearing Moroccan-style fezzes. They refused to cooperate with court-appointed lawyers, with two of the group even refusing to give their names. Quinn Cumberlander, 40, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, insisted that he was a foreign national and therefore could not face criminal charges. Nevertheless, he invoked his right to bear arms under the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Then, there were the actions of Lesley Malave, who preferred to be known by his Moorish name of Moreeno Bey. Malave, who was not involved in the Wakefield standoff, tied the court up in knots when he filed a complaint after his partner was pulled over for speeding in November 2019. Citing the 1787 treaty, he accused the police of surrounding the car like a pack of hyenas." He presented his Moorish identification cards and signed and dated legal documents using the Moorish calendar as well as the Gregorian one. Leonard Kesten, the lawyer representing the police, remembers his encounter with the Rise of the Moors well. I had never heard of them. If you represent towns, cities, and police, you get some interesting cases, he said. They were relying on the Constitution while saying they are not subject to our laws, which seems to be problematic. Then, there was the problem about the document filing fee. Instead of meeting the $400 demanded by the court, Malave offered a silver coin that he said was worth $913. He offered the coin, and the judge didn't want any part of it. He just went away, and it never went any further, he recalled. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER I am a child of the '70s. I can recognize people have a different view, and I find them interesting. He was not armed, and its one thing to have a different view. Its another having AR-15s. It gives you food for thought," Kesten said. Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, Crime, Law Enforcement, Law, Race and Diversity, Religion, Firearms Original Author: David Millward Original Location: 'Rise of the Moors' mystery: Separatist group stays quiet on Maine training plans President Donald Trump's lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was always "buzzed," according to Michael Wolff's new book. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Rudy Giuliani was "incredibly drunk" on election night, according to biographer Michael Wolff. Trump aides worried that the former New York City mayor would smash valuable White House china, Wolff said. Giuliani was "always buzzed" and Trump had concerns about his drinking, Wolff claims in his new book. See more stories on Insider's business page. Rudy Giuliani was so drunk on election night that former President Donald Trump's aides were concerned he'd accidentally smash valuable White House china, presidential biographer Michael Wolff told MSNBC. Wolff described how on the night of November 3, 2020, the former New York City mayor was struggling to maintain his balance while trying to convince others that Trump had won re-election. At one point, he was pulled aside into the White House's china room by several aides of the former president, Raw Story reported. "And at that moment, Rudy was incredibly drunk, weaving this way and that way," Wolff told MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell on Friday afternoon. "And the china, those place settings from every president are very valuable, and Trump's aides were obviously, or rightfully, concerned about what Giuliani was saying to the president about the election, and giving him this misinformation," Wolff continued. "But they were also concerned that he was going to break the china." Read more: We identified the 125 people and institutions most responsible for Donald Trump's rise to power and his norm-busting behavior that tested the boundaries of the US government and its institutions Wolff then elaborated that Giuliani was "really drunk." According to Wolff's new book, "Landslide: The Final Days of the Trump Presidency," Trump aides thought Giuliani was "always buzzed" or "hopelessly in the mumble tank." Trump once said in the days following the November 2020 election that Giuliani drank too much and often said things that weren't true, Insider's Sonam Sheth reported. Wolff's new book makes other bombshell allegations. Trump's close associates believed the former president was "off his rocker," Wolff also wrote. Read the original article on Business Insider MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin in June offered U.S. counterpart Joe Biden the use of Russian military bases in Central Asia for information gathering from Afghanistan, the Kommersant newspaper reported on Saturday, as American troops leave the country. Taliban fighters have made major advances as U.S. forces pull out after 20 years of war, a security headache for Moscow which fears refugees may be pushed into its Central Asian backyard and its southern defensive flank destabilised. In a rare offer during a period of frosty relations between Washington and Moscow, Putin proposed at June 16 talks with Biden in Geneva that they coordinate on Afghanistan and put Russia's bases in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to "practical use", Kommersant reported, citing sources. The newspaper said this could involve the exchange of information obtained using drones but that there had been no concrete response from the U.S. side. The Kremlin did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier this month, Reuters reported that the Biden administration was in talks with Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan about temporarily taking in thousands of Afghans who worked with U.S. forces and now face threats from the Taliban, citing three sources familiar with the matter. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday said the U.S. and NATO alliance withdrawal from Afghanistan made the political and military situation more uncertain, which in turn exacerbated the terrorist threat in the region. Speaking at a conference with senior Central Asian officials in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, Lavrov said Russia wanted to help kickstart peace talks between the warring sides in Afghanistan. (Reporting by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne) MOSCOW (AP) The Russian military has used its heavy-lift transport planes to help douse wildfires in Siberia, the Defense Ministry said Saturday. It said that the crew of Il-76 military transport planes dropped 336 metric tons (370 tons) of water on blazes in Sakha-Yakutia in northeastern Siberia over the last 24 hours. The ministry said that military helicopters also dropped water to extinguish fires and carried firefighters. The regional branch of the Emergency Situations Ministry's in Sakha-Yakutia said more than 2,000 of its personnel were battling the wildfires. The Russian state agency responsible for fighting forest fires, Avialesookhrana, said that more than 300 fires had engulfed about 857,000 hectares (over 2.1 million acres). It noted that Sakha-Yakutia was the worst affected, with 123 fires covering more than 725,700 hectares (around 1.8 million acres). Russia has been plagued by widespread forest fires, blamed on unusually high temperatures and the neglect of fire safety rules. Get essential education news and commentary delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here for The 74s daily newsletter. Every year, as much as one-third of college-bound high school graduates never show up to their first day of class. Its all too easy for students to miss important deadlines, forget about necessary paperwork or get lost in the byzantine financial aid process. Known as summer melt, this phenomenon has long plagued high schools and colleges. In response, savvy schools and nonprofit partners in the college access field have turned to virtual advising to keep students on track when they cannot meet in person over the summer. In Connecticut, for example, the CT RISE network sends text messages to thousands of students in nine high schools. The program has been so successful that the Connecticut State Department of Education is now offering access to the texting software to 26 additional schools. These kinds of practices were crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, as millions of students facing overwhelming financial and academic challenges were unable to connect face-to-face with counselors and advisers. The number of students completing their Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA has plunged, and schools doubled down on virtual advising strategies to help combat this COVID melt. Now, those same strategies can serve as a foundation for a more flexible, impactful approach to counseling moving forward. Here are three steps schools can take to create an effective virtual advising program that can serve students far beyond the pandemic. First, schools must decide how they will communicate with students virtually. The best programs will make use of a variety of platforms, including texting, email, social media, videoconferencing and newsletters. Its easy to drown in a sea of options, but the choice among the many available platforms should be driven by both the kinds of interventions a school hopes to offer (e.g., one- or two-way texting, social media campaigns and outreach, virtual meetings with students and families) and the kinds of students the school serves. If students lack regular access to email outside school, for example, an email campaign may be of little use. Story continues Second: Data is key. Without it, schools are in the dark, and virtual counseling efforts will fail. Schools cannot text students reminders without first creating a database of students and parents phone numbers. A robust system of virtual advising is built on data. Grade-point averages, coursework and standardized test scores are all vital pieces of information that can help schools develop stronger, more effective advising solutions. Schools must also collect data on the impact of their advising programs. They should set clear goals and milestones and then measure whether those are being reached. Clear data-sharing agreements between districts and schools and the community-based organizations and vendors with whom they partner will be critical in avoiding any confusion over what data is available and how it can be used. Finally, schools must avoid an ad hoc approach and instead determine what interventions make sense for their communities and individual students. When FAFSA deadlines approach, schools might want to roll out a community-wide campaign, sending every student an email or a text message with reminders of important dates and forms and links to helpful resources. They could organize Zoom calls with small groups of students to discuss their college plans and what steps they are taking. Triaging is important: Some students may need one-on-one advising sessions to address their questions, while others might require a lighter touch. Schools should let data inform what interventions are needed for which kinds of students, and when. Directly asking students about the level of support theyre interested in will help guarantee they get what they need. Having a clear plan in place will allow schools to determine how to best make use of their limited time and resources so students receive the right kinds of care and support. To help, the College Advising Corps has created a guide to help districts, schools and community-based organizations like college access programs choose the right types of communication for them and parse the large variety of available platforms, from texting tools like Remind and SignalVine to virtual meeting services like Zoom and Google Hangouts. The 500 members of the National College Attainment Network can help districts and schools support their students as they navigate college-access mile markers like FAFSA completion and comparisons of financial aid offers. The College Advising Corps offers districts a rich library of resources. Additional aid is coming in the form of more than $120 billion in the American Rescue Plans Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund to help state education agencies, districts and schools support existing initiatives and create new ones. Districts have considerable flexibility in how to spend these funds, including on college and career readiness. While COVID-19 has challenged even the best-laid education plans, it has also spurred developments in support that may serve students well for years to come. By creating a thoughtful and robust virtual advising plan, schools can help ensure that their students have the support and resources they need to keep moving forward on their college journey. Bill DeBaun is director of data and evaluation at the National College Attainment Network. Related: Sign up for The 74s newsletter Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast / Photos Getty Have you missed seeing rich, privileged people make a big deal about enjoying themselves on the French Riviera, while you stare at their antics through a smudged phone screen? Probably not, but the Cannes Film Festival has returned from its pandemic slumber anyway. And remarkably, the red carpet looks pretty much the same as it did before. Timothee Chalamet wore things! He held hands with Tilda Swinton on the red carpet! Supermodels swept through events wearing feathers and tulleand in Bella Hadids case, a gold lung-shaped chest piece. After more than a year of Zoom award shows and at-home step and repeats, celebrities are back celebrity-ing. Its almost as if they picked up right where they left off in March 2020. Titanes Wild Orgy of Sex and Violence Stuns Cannes Cannes fashion has always epitomized glamour, sometimes to a rigid degreeremember, this is the same festival that infamously forced women to wear heels at its premises until the late 2010s. Dated dress codes can be seen as reflecting archaic morales, but actresses like Sharon Stone in her voluminous Dolce & Gabbana gown hardly seemed to mind. But then there were others like French model Tina Kunakey, who showed up to the Croisette in a hooded Valentino creationthink couture sleeping bagthat squashed any stereotypical French male gaze. And so the Cannes red carpet remains a sartorial battle ground, a very chic fight of old versus new. 1328181394 Bella Hadid at the Three Floors premiere. Kate Green It was one of the most talked-about looks of the festival, and for good reason. Bella Hadid wore a daring Schiaparelli look from the French houses fall-winter 2021/22 collection, designed by Daniel Roseberry, to the premiere of Tre Piani (Three Floors). Special kudos should go to her shoulders, which held up the very heavy-looking brass bronchi and lungs. 1328211517 Salma Hayek at the Kering Women in Motion dinner. Andreas Rentz Salma Hayek left her pet owl at home and dressed up in a sequined blue gown for the Kering Women in Motion Award. It was somewhat of an old-school look that could have worked if the same event were held five, 10, or 15 years ago. But it was heartening to see the return of that timeless type of all-out glitz. Story continues 1327670731 Jodie Turner-Smith in Gucci at the Stillwater premiere. Vittorio Zunino Celotto Jodie Turner-Smith opted for custom Gucci, as one does, with a black vinyl corset and ostrich-feather skirt, for the Stillwater premiere. The actress also happens to be the face of the Italian line, so this was some obligatory red carpet promotion. She was later the victim of a jewel theft that took place in her Croisette hotel room, and tweeted about spending her last day in Cannes talking to police. At least she got to wear the jewels first. 1233944867 Hippolyte Giardot, Mathiew Amalric, Benicio Del Toro, Tilda Swinton, Timothee Chalamet, Wes Anderson, Adrian BRody, Lyna Khoudri, and Bill Murray arrive at The French Dispatch screening. JOHN MACDOUGALL Thoughts and prayers to everyone else who bravely kept walking The French Dispatch red carpet after Timothee Chalamet and Tilda Swinton ate it all up in their little outfits. Swinton wore a pink and orange Haider Ackermann gown (with gold sleeves!), so never let anyone else try to tell you those two colors dont match. Chalamet wore iridescent Tom Ford. OK fine, we missed this!! 1233945660 Adrien Brody and Georgina Chapman. VALERY HACHE In the middle of all that, their co-star Adrien Brody brought his partner, Marchesa designer Georgina Chapman. Shockingly, she wore Marchesa. The former wife of Harvey Weinstein, who went into a self-imposed exile after he was accused of numerous sexual assaults in 2017, has made no attempt of a style rebrand for her next chapter. Her dress exudes the type of fussy femininity that initially ushered Marchesa to stardom; it looked out of place alongside Chalamet and Swintons more modern looks. Sharon Stone attends the "A Felesegam Tortenet The Story Of My Wife" screening. Lionel Hahn/Getty Another potentially eyebrow-raising pick: Sharon Stone in Dolce & Gabbana at the premiere of The Story of My Wife. Theres no denying the gowns dreaminessor how refreshing, and potentially subversive, it is to see a 63-year-old actress wearing something so princess-y. But the Italian label has been hard at work attempting some brand rehab after a racist 2018 incident, and has lately been seen on everyone from Jill Biden to Megan Fox. 1233836266 Cannes Jury President Spike Lee arrives to the opening ceremony with his fellow members (and pink sunglasses.) VALERY HACHE Spike Lee in a pink power suit and matching sunglasses! No words are necessary here. 1327833942 Tina Kunakey in Cannes on July 9. Pascal Le Segretain Tina Kunakey showed up to the Benedetta screening in couture Valentino, which also looks like the fancy version of burying oneself in a comforter. Jodie Foster and Alexandra Hedison attend the "Annette" screening. Samir Hussein/Getty Jodie Foster, who won a Golden Globe while wearing her pajamas earlier this year, finally got a proper red carpet moment at the Annette screening in Givenchy. She looked edgy, but comfortable, and very, very French. Two other things: Foster walked the red carpet with her wife, Alexandra Hedison, and conducted a press conference speaking fluent French. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Talk about an out of this world haircut. (Sorry, we couldnt resist). To look his best before heading to space on Sunday, billionaire Sir Richard Branson got his locks spiffed up by a local stylist. Actually, Sean Donaldson, who owns salons in Miami Beach and Brickell, has been Bransons go-to guy for years. But the Scotland-born grooming pro has always done his clients hair while the Virgin founder was living his best life with his feet firmly on the ground. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. We were curious what kind of look the billionaire adventurer chose for his awesome mission, which launched him and five crew members 53.5 miles above the Earths surface from Virgin Galactics spaceport in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Donaldson spoke to Miami.com about the experience and the so called Zero Gravity Haircut. Tell us about Richards pre-launch haircut how many days in advance did you cut it? I did it the day before. We were in New Mexico already and he said, I need a fresher look for tomorrow. He gave me ideas and we agreed for a tighter, cleaner look with more texture through the top. And I got to work. Did he have any specific requests? He told me what he was thinking, and we planned the look. The whole idea was to give a more modern yet rugged-classic look. The eyes of the world and beyond were going to be on him. He wanted it to be sharper around the sides and the back; tailored yet loose. Yet still recognizably Richard Branson. What was it like being in New Mexico before the launch? Did he confide in you how he felt beforehand? Being in New Mexico before the launch was absolutely magical. To visit Spaceport felt like being in one of the wonders of the world. Its breathtaking. The atmosphere was electric and very alive. It was a surreal experience. We spoke about his excitement and his enthusiasm and for what he was about to embark on and what it would mean for future space travelers. I got the impression this was more exciting to him with regards to the future of commercial space travel and opening the doors for all of mankind having the chance to go to space, which he had dreamed of as a small boy. How long have you been cutting his hair and how regularly do you see him? I have been very fortunate to know Richard and [his wife] Joan Branson for many decades, and I have cut Richards hair everywhere from Miami and London to Necker Island and all the way to South Africa. However, never did I ever imagine I would be cutting his hair the day before he went on this historic, pioneering trip. To say this was an unforgettable experience is an understatement. BERKELEY, California (Reuters) -Tesla Inc said on Saturday it has introduced an option for some customers to subscribe to its advanced driver assistance software, dubbed "Full Self-Driving capability", for $199 per month, instead of paying $10,000 upfront. Tesla has previously said its subscription service would generate recurring revenue and expand the customer base for pricy features including lane changing on highways and parking assistance. But the U.S. electric carmaker reiterated on Saturday that the current features "do not make the vehicle autonomous," adding they "require a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel.""FSD capability subscriptions are currently available to eligible vehicles in the United States. Check your Tesla app for updates on availability in other regions," Tesla said on its website. Tesla's CFO Zachary Kirkhorn said in April that its planned subscription service would generate recurring revenue for the company, although "there could be a period of time in which cash reduces in the near term." "If ... you look at the number of customers who did not purchase FSD upfront or on a lease and maybe want to experiment with FSD, this is a great option for them," he said during an earnings call in April. Tesla said the subscription service is available in vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving computer 3.0 or above. It told customers that upgrading to the new hardware will cost $1,500. Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk forecast in 2019 that robotaxis with no human drivers would be available in some U.S. markets in 2020. In March, Tesla told a California regulator that it may not achieve full self-driving technology by the end of this year. Tesla has been testing its new semi-autonomous driving software for city streets and last week released "FSD Beta v9" to a limited number of customers. (Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Daniel Wallis) Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), left, and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), speak at a May 7 rally in The Villages, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack / Associated Press) After three Southern California venues canceled Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene's America First rally amid significant public outcry, the lawmakers hosted a protest in Riverside on Saturday evening instead. In a video posted to Twitter on Saturday afternoon, Gaetz called on all California "patriots" to join him and Greene outside Riverside City Hall for a "peaceful protest against communism." A group of loyalists joined them there. "These folks they tried to cancel our venues but they can never cancel our patriotism or our American spirit," Gaetz said in a video filmed outside Riverside City Hall. "They'll hear us all throughout Southern California." The city of Riverside said officials are "aware of the announced event and taking steps to ensure the safety of everyone involved." The abrupt change occurred hours after the Anaheim Event Center backed out of allowing the lawmakers to use the venue, a decision made after city officials shared concerns about other events limiting police resources for the rally. "It was the lack of advance notice for an event that would attract the attention this one would that raised issues for our city," said Mike Lyster, Anaheim city spokesman. The last-minute cancellation was the latest in a series of hiccups for the controversial GOP lawmakers in their attempts to get a fundraising event off the ground in Southern California. Gaetz and Greene have been cohosting America First rallies across the country since early May. Tickets to Saturday's event were free for general admission. However, those who registered were given the option to upgrade to VIP status for $250 per person, funds that were expected to go to the Put America First Joint Fundraising Committee to support Greene's and Gaetz's reelection campaigns. Greene, a Georgia congresswoman, and Gaetz, who represents west Florida, were among former President Trump's staunchest allies. The lawmakers' remarks over COVID-19 safety measures and the false theory that the 2020 election was stolen have raised eyebrows among Democrats and Republicans alike. Story continues Gaetz is also under investigation for allegations of sex trafficking and having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl. He has denied any criminal wrongdoing. Information began circulating last week about an America First rally at Pacific Hills Banquet & Event Center in Laguna Hills planned for Saturday. The venue's general manager told the Orange County Register it opted to cancel it after learning Gaetz and Greene would be speaking. By Thursday, the rally had been moved to the Riverside Convention Center. Many Riverside residents condemned the event and several organizations planned to protest, prompting concern from city officials. By late Friday, that venue was out as well. "Riverside is a diverse and inclusive community, so it is heartening to hear that this event will not move forward," Riverside Mayor Pro Tem Gaby Plascencia said in a statement. "I am disappointed we even got to this point, because these speakers are the antithesis of everything Riverside stands for." Hours later, organizers announced the event would be back in Orange County at the Anaheim Event Center. Dozens of residents contacted the city to decry the event. A few sent messages of support, Lyster said. "As a city we respect free speech but also have a duty to call out speech that does not reflect our city and its values," he said. Greene blamed the inability to maintain a venue on Democrats, which she called "the party of hate," in a post on Twitter early Saturday. "They organized to attack, threaten, & harass every venue we booked in CA to hold an America First rally, which celebrates our great country & freedoms," she wrote. "They think their vicious hate will stop me, but I never give up." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. US Capitol siege in Washington DC on January 6, 2021. Samuel Corum/Getty Images A Trump supporter who stormed the Capitol said the rioters "were just there to overthrow the government." Wall Street Journal reporter Michael Bender detailed her remarks in his new book, "Frankly, We Did Win This Election." "We weren't there to steal things," she said. "We weren't there to do damage." See more stories on Insider's business page. A Trump supporter said rioters were "just there to overthrow the government," a new book by Wall Street Journal reporter Michael Bender says. Saundra Kiczenski, a 56-year-old from Michigan, told Bender she was "confident" that former President Donald Trump won the 2020 election, according to the book "Frankly, We Did Win This Election," published earlier this week. "If someone put a gun to my head and said: 'Did Donald Trump win, yes or no? And if you're wrong, we're going to shoot your head off!' I would say 'yes,'" Kiczenski told Bender, according to an excerpt of the book that was published by The Washington Post. "I'm that confident that this stuff is not made up." In the book, Bender detailed former President Donald Trump's effort to overturn the election after becoming the first incumbent in decades to fail to win reelection. "We weren't there to steal things," Kiczenski, who entered the Capitol on January 6, said, according to the book excerpt. "We weren't there to do damage. We were just there to overthrow the government." But when Trump took to Twitter to urge his supporters to go home, Kiczenski said she felt sad and confused, Bender wrote. "We were supposed to be fighting until the end," she said. Read more: Where is Trump's White House staff now? We created a searchable database of more than 328 top staffers to show where they all landed A pro-Trump mob descended on the Capitol on January 6 in an attempt to interrupt lawmakers voting to certify the win of then-President-elect Joe Biden in the 2020 election. This followed a barrage of lies about the 2020 election from the former president for which he was impeached by the House but then later acquitted in the Senate earlier this year. According to an Insider database, more than 500 people have been charged in connection with the riot, which lasted about four hours. Story continues Several bombshell books portray an inside look at the Trump administration's reaction to the insurrection, including a new book, "I Alone Can Fix It: Donald J. Trump's Catastrophic Final Year," by Washington Post reporters Philip Rucker and Carol D. Leonnig. According to the book, then Vice President Mike Pence, who oversaw the congressional vote, refused to evacuate the Capitol despite the Secret Service urging him to leave. Tim Giebels, Pence's lead security agent, asked the vice president "twice" to evacuate the building, to which Pence said "I'm not leaving the Capitol," according to the book. "We need to get back tonight," Pence told top US officials on a call, according to the book. "We can't let the world see that our process of confirming the next president can be delayed." Read the original article on Business Insider By Kanishka Singh (Reuters) -Some U.S. tech companies expressed disappointment with a ruling by a federal judge that blocked new applications to a program that protects immigrants who were brought to the United States as children from deportation. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen on Friday sided with a group of states suing to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, arguing that it was illegally created by former President Barack Obama in 2012. "We have long argued in support of this program, filing an amicus brief in this case, and we are very disappointed by the decision (from the judge)", Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said. "Dreamers and immigrants make the United States and Twitter better", a spokesperson from social media platform Twitter said in an emailed statement. Twitter, Google, Microsoft and Photoshop maker Adobe urged the U.S. Congress to come together to protect Dreamers, with Google saying they wanted DACA to be "cemented" into law. Microsoft President Brad Smith said that the "disappointing" ruling created "uncertainty yet again for Dreamers." The judge ruled on Friday that the program violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) when it was created but said that since there were so many people currently enrolled in the program - nearly 650,000 - his ruling would be temporarily stayed for their cases and their renewal applications. Biden, who was vice president when Obama created the program, has said he wants to create a permanent pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients, known as "Dreamers." On Saturday, Biden vowed to preserve the program that protects from deportation hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, promising to appeal the judge's ruling invalidating it and urging Congress to provide a path to citizenship. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru, Editing by Nick Zieminski) Jul. 17NEWBURYPORT "The Bachelorette" contestant Christian Smith is scheduled to join Mayor Donna Holaday as judges when competitors in the second Yankee Homecoming Waiter/Waitress Race sprint down Liberty Street on Aug. 2. Smith is an agent with Keller Williams Realty Newburyport and he recently appeared on the 17th season of "The Bachelorette". The Yankee Homecoming Waiter/Waitress Race was restarted, after years of dormancy, when Anchor Stone Deck Pizza server Leanne Paparella brought home the Ryan Kelley-designed trophy in 2019. The race had to be cancelled last year during the pandemic, but wait staff from Newburyport get a chance to compete again next month. According to race organizer Cheryl Munick, the event is designed to bring attention to local restaurants and wait staff. "Although we have a lot of tourists and people coming into town during Yankee Homecoming, they aren't necessarily visiting our restaurants," Munick said. "So we wanted to come up with a creative idea to draw attention to our amazing restaurants in Newburyport." The short foot race runs up and down Liberty Street in front of The Daily News, and requires runners to carry a loaded tray through a restaurant-themed obstacle course while avoiding distractions like flying breakfast cereal. "Everybody had a ball watching and cheering on the obstacle course," Munick said. "If you have a favorite restaurant, please ask your favorite server to come down. This really is just to draw some attention to them." According to Munick, only Newburyport/Plum Island wait staff will be allowed to enter the race, which also gives a chance for the local restaurants to get their menus out to the public. "We encourage the restaurants to bring a copy of their menus down and any incentive that they want to come up with to draw people into their restaurant during the Yankee Homecoming festival," she said. "So, the marketing is all up to them. We will have a table down by the race route and they can get it all out there." Story continues The table will be set up in the newspaper's parking lot. Any of the participating wait staff will also need to wear a t-shirt with a logo of their restaurant while running the race. The first place male and female competitors will receive $250 each, while the second place man and woman will receive $150 each. According to Munick, the city's restaurant community needs all of the help it can get after the COVID-19 pandemic canceled last year's Yankee Homecoming events. "The race is fun to watch and, for the servers who can partake, they will have a greater opportunity to win the cash prize," Munick said. The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic has also created a unique challenge for the race organizers. "We all know that the restaurants are really short-staffed right now," Munick said. "We already have some restaurants who told us that they can't do it this year. But we also have others that are like, 'yes, we are gathering people right now.' The first year of the race we had 51 servers but we figure we probably will get about hopefully 20. It will still be fun and entertaining." The race will take place on Monday, Aug. 2. Registration will take place from 3:30 to 4 p.m., while the race begins at 4:30 p.m. "It really didn't take that long the last time," she said. Yankee Homecoming Waiter/Waitress Race website: https://yankeehomecoming.com/event/waiter-waitress-race/ Staff writer Jim Sullivan covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News. He can be reached via email at jsullivan@newburyportnews.com or by phone at 978-961-3145. Follow him on Twitter @ndnsully. The Chicago White Sox are locking up their All-Star pitcher for a few more seasons. Lance Lynn agreed to a two-year, $38 million extension with the club Saturday. The team announced the news, noting that Lynn also has a team option for the 2024 MLB season. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The deal will reportedly pay Lynn $18.5 million in both 2022 and 2023. His option is for $18 million, according to Jon Heyman. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Lynn has been the team's best starter after being acquired in a trade during the offseason. In 16 starts, Lynn has a 1.99 ERA. His 28.5 percent strike out is Lynn's best figure since his 34 2/3 innings stint as a rookie. Prior to the extension, Lynn was in the final year of his contract. He was set to become a free agent at the end of the season, but liked his time with the White Sox enough to sign a deal before hitting the market White Sox setting up future rotation with Lance Lynn signing The move gives the White Sox more clarity in their rotation moving forward. While the team's rotation has been excellent in 2021, both Lynn and Carlos Rodon were set to hit the market at the end of the year. Both players made the All-Star team this season. Lynn's extension ensures he'll remain with the team moving forward. Barring an extension, Rodon will be a free agent after the World Series. By signing Lynn, the White Sox could go into next season with Lucas Giolito, Dallas Keuchel, Lynn, Dylan Cease and Michael Kopech as its rotation. Giolito has taken a step back in 2021, but Cease looks like a solid pitcher after a terrible 2020. Kopech has been used as a starter and reliever, and battled injuries, but has looked like a potential superstar when he's pitched. While that rotation has promise, it's also fairly thin. The White Sox don't currently have much depth behind those five players, and there will be questions about how many innings Kopech can throw in his first year as a starter. The Lynn signing won't completely fix that problem, but should help mitigate it. A dependable All-Star pitcher with a history of churning out 200-inning seasons is just what this rotation needs moving forward. Story continues Lance Lynn signed a deal to stay with the White Sox. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) More from Yahoo Sports: Many people have left London in search of cheaper rent and a better work-life balance. Photo: Reuters/John Sibley Moving to London to build a career is a well-trodden path. For years, young people have left their hometowns for the bright lights of the capital, with the hope of landing a good job with a decent salary. However, the explosion in home-working due to the pandemic is shifting the focus away from a London-centric view of work. Research already suggests that the pandemic and the onset of remote working has accelerated migration out of the capital and other major UK cities particularly among young workers. According to a survey of more than 1,000 UK workers by the Adecco Group and YouGov, 52% believe we will see a reverse brain drain of talent away from urban areas. Those in the capital are predicting the biggest movement of UK workers out of the city, with 57% believing many workers will no longer feel the need to live within commuting distance of top city firms. Life outside the capital can mean cheaper rent, less time spent commuting and a better work-life balance. But will the pandemic reverse brain drain in the long-term and are there any downsides for young workers and graduates making their way up the career ladder remotely? Brain drain happens when educated young professionals such as graduates leave a place or business to move somewhere to benefit from better pay, working conditions, lifestyle and potentially work-life balance, says Rachel Jones, director of talent at corporate services firm Sodexo UK and Ireland. Typically, it is regarded as economically costly to the country or place the individuals are leaving. With many businesses now embracing remote working long-term, broader talent pools may open up where location is no longer a barrier. This could lead to fewer graduates looking purely for job opportunities in London in the future. Read more: Do people really want to return to the office on 19 July? Migration out of the capital was already an issue prior to the pandemic, with many people leaving London in search of cheaper rent and a better work-life balance. Before lockdown, only 27% of Londoners intended to live in London for the rest of their lives. Now, this desire has dropped further, to 20%. According to data collected by TotalJobs, a third of people say that long-term flexible working would encourage them to move, rising to 37% of 18- to 24-year-olds nationally. Story continues For Londoners, this is even more of a game changer. A significant proportion (43%) said that if their London-based employer offered them flexible or remote working, theyd be encouraged to move out of the capital. Moving plans have previously been put on hold for 38% of Londoners, due to job commitments. London used to be the goal for many aspiring professionals, and attracted the best of global talent, says careers expert Laura Trendall Morrison, founder of GameChanger Consultancy. However, with Brexit relocating key agencies across European cities and causing redistribution of employees between London and Europe for multinational companies, as well as the pandemic and disproportionate living and housing costs, London now perhaps seems less attractive to professionals and graduates than it did 20 years ago. This is good news for regional areas, despite the likelihood of rising local house prices. However, this doesnt necessarily mean that London-based businesses will lose out, because access to top talent within rural areas may remain as a result of new hybrid working measures. I think we'll see a rise in what's termed agile working living outside of London, and mainly working remotely, and maybe commuting in for key meetings every fortnight, says Trendall Morrison. I did this myself in the 2000s and this meant a better standard and affordability of housing, more access to parks and green spaces and better balance and wellbeing. The critical thing for graduates is London is a city where networking opportunities are everywhere, Trendall Morrison adds. Therefore it's important for any graduates choosing to work remotely to plan a networking strategy to maximise their time in the capital when coming into the office. However, while remote working is great for many workers, people should be wary of potential drawbacks. For some employers, remote workers face an "out of sight, out of mind" mindset and may find themselves missing out on vital networking or progression opportunities. Those who choose to commute to the office will have the opportunity to network more easily and may find themselves first in line for promotions. Read more: Does remote working really kill career progression for women? Practically, young workers may face difficulties when working from home, such as working in a shared house, without the technological benefits or peace of a home office, says Jones. Entirely working from home could also impact their learning and professional development. The experience individuals have in the early days of learning on the job can be the building blocks for how they perform throughout the rest of their careers. Other downsides for young people working remotely can be lack of integration with the organisation, says Morrison. This can lead to not feeling part of the culture, and missing out on building those key relationships with colleagues, she explains. Development at work can often depend on those informal learning and mentoring moments between colleagues, the chance conversation in the coffee queue that leads to a special project. If employers are conscious of potential bias towards in-office workers and ensure all employees have an equal chance to progress, these problems can be mitigated. Likewise, young people need to be supported virtually so they can learn on the job successfully. But loneliness a key problem for many young people, especially during the pandemic may remain an issue. Working alongside others can be an opportunity to socialise and prevent isolation. Many young people also form lifelong friendships in those early years, bonds that are not only emotionally necessary and stabilising but valuable professional networks, says Jones. Regardless of where a young person works, businesses need to step up and provide the relevant tools and training for their employees. Watch: How to resign without burning bridges Three drug dealers who used "COVID-19" and "Drop Dead" to mark their heroin and fentanyl loads were busted in New York City in June with $5 million worth of drugs, prosecutors said Friday. Authorities seized nearly 40 pounds of both drugs from the suspected traffickers in two Morris Heights apartments in the Bronx and a vehicle during a June 11 bust, the New York City Special Narcotics Prosecutors office said. "This seizure of 40 pounds of heroin and fentanyl has saved lives," Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said. "The fact that the packagers used 'COVID-19' as a brand name illustrates the callousness of these alleged traffickers, as opioid overdose deaths surged during the pandemic." The indictment charges alleged traffickers Hector Morillo, 46; Jaime Artiles, 47; and Freddy Hernandez-Reyes, 44, with operating as a major trafficker in possession of a controlled substance in the first and third degrees. They were all arraigned Friday. On June 11, agents with the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force Group T-22 were surveilling the two apartments at 1730 Montgomery Avenue. At 5:15 a.m., they observed Artiles park a Honda Pilot, followed by Reyes carrying a weighted-down bag out of the building to the car. Reyes then re-entered the apartment building with a light blue bag. Agents followed Artiles and the vehicle with the weighted-down bag in the back as he stopped at the Interstate 95 lower level near the George Washington Bridge. Around 10:30 a.m., agents allegedly saw Morillo circle the block around the building before entering. He and Reyes were both seen leaving unit 4G. They then exited unit 6E shortly afterward, authorities said. Reyes was carrying three plastic bags, including one appearing to contain stamps and envelopes used for branding and packaging doses of drugs, officials said. The agents stopped both men and searched the bags, which allegedly contained 1.5 kilograms of heroin and fentanyl. Story continues Morillo also had an ID card issued by Dominican Republic National Investigations, which prosecutors believe was fraudulently obtained. Agents obtained a search warrant later that day for both apartments where they found heroin and fentanyl in brick and powder form, thousands of packages of glassine envelopes containing a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, packaging equipment, stamps, grinders and scales, authorities said. The results of DEA Laboratory analysis on some of the substances seized in the case are pending, officials said. The stamps were branded with names like "COVID-19" and Drop Dead" below an image of a skull. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "Here in New York City, 75% of all drug overdoses are linked to fentanyl. Fentanyl is death," said Ray Donovan, the Drug Enforcement Administration special agent in charge. Powell said Sweet Briar College constantly uses its large campus as a laboratory of sorts for students to gain hands-on learning, and was excited to extend that into the region beyond its campus. Warren anticipates receiving the raw data collected Thursday in September in about six to eight weeks. As soon as we get that data in our hands, were going to dive into it and start sharing it with the community, Warren said. When developing the routes, Warren said they focused on areas where many people live, work, shop and play, and where more vulnerable populations such as elderly people and children frequented. Routes drove past the citys five colleges and universities, public schools and retirement communities, as well as several local parks and both rural and urban residential neighborhoods. Warren said she hopes the data will be used by Lynchburg City Council, the planning commission and Lynchburg City Schools, as well as other community businesses and organizations, to inform future land use in the city and start conversations about how to address heat risk already being experienced by the city. With the help of other sheriffs deputies, such as Deputy Jason Shafer and Sgt. Shad Hudson, Hunley said they have cut down countless trees on the property, mowed grass, cared for and righted gravestones and completed innumerable others tasks to ensure longevity for the cemeterys life. Most essential, said Hunley, is seeking funding sources for the restoration and maintenance of the site, money to ensure the cemetery will exist in perpetuity. He was charged with seeking out grant funding, and with Delaneys help, White Rock Cemetery was recently awarded more than $3,000 in annual funds from the African American Cemetery and Graves Fund through the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. When Tweedy called Hunley to tell him she got the first check, Hunley said he was driving, and was so emotional that he literally had to pull over. We are ecstatic, he said. This is a massive undertaking, and money like this could mean continued care for the graveyard and assurance that it will never again reach the point it did before Munson began its restoration. Currently, he is putting out bids for a crew to take on the project, and said anyone interested can reach him at the sheriffs office. CHIBA The government has asked airlines to halt new bookings by the general public for flights arriving in Japan during the period when arrivals of athletes and delegation officials for the Tokyo Olympics increase, sources have said. With one week to go until the start of the Tokyo Olympics, the transport ministry is seeking to limit the number of arrivals to smoothly conduct coronavirus testing and other border controls at five airports to prevent the spread of COVID-19, they said. Arrivals of visitors related to the Olympics are expected to peak on Sunday. The ministry has asked airlines to stop accepting new bookings for flights arriving at the five airports Tokyos Haneda, Narita near the capital, Chubu in central Japan, Kansai in western Japan and Fukuoka in southwestern Japan during busy times of the day from last Sunday to next Thursday, the sources said. During especially congested times, even bookings for visitors related to the Olympics may be halted, while transit passengers are exempted from the request. If there is an increase in reservations during the busy period despite the request to halt new bookings, the ministry may ask airlines for the reason and demand that they be canceled if it deems the airlines were not following the request. Japan's Self-Defense Forces will deploy state-of-the-art F-35B stealth fighters in southwestern Miyazaki Prefecture, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said Friday, as the country ramps up defenses around its Nansei Islands. Six F-35Bs will be stationed at the Air SDF's Nyutabaru Air Base in fiscal 2024, with two more to be added in fiscal 2025. The decision comes amid increasing military activity by China near the Senkaku Islands, which are part of the Nansei chain and are claimed by China as the Diaoyu. "It was the best fit," Kishi told reporters Friday. On Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands, Nyutabaru is located relatively close to the Nanseis, as well as to U.S. squadrons of F-35Bs at the Marine Corps Air Base Iwakuni. It has previously hosted squadrons of F-15s and other fighter jets. The Defense Ministry briefed local authorities of the plan on Thursday. "It is extremely important to have the support of the local community," Kishi said. Developed by Lockheed Martin, F-35Bs require just a short runway to take off and can land vertically. They are in use by defense forces in the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere. A popular beach in Iwate prefecture that was badly damaged in the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami has reopened for the first time since the disaster. Takata-matsubara beach was one of the most popular beaches in northeastern Japan. But the disaster destroyed 90 percent of the sandy beach and all 70,000 pine trees in the area, except one, which miraculously survived the tsunami. Authorities reopened the beach following the completion of restoration with the planting of 40,000 pine trees with the help of a local non-profit organization and others. In a ceremony on Saturday, the mayor of Rikuzentakata city, Toba Futoshi, wished for a safe environment for everyone who visits the beach. A man from a nearby city said he often visited the beach in his childhood and he hoped his children will have similar happy memories of playing at the beach. The mayor said the opening of the beach will help revitalize his city and that he hopes it will attract many visitors. The reborn-beach has an electric evacuation board to warn people in the event of a tsunami, in addition to lifeguards and a wireless, disaster alert speaker system. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. But Person said hell surrender his gavel to Mayor Brandon Kelliher for Mondays meeting, citing the chambers leading role in developing the rail park on top of its separate involvement with Sustainable Beef. The five QGF committee members also sit on the NorthWestern committee, but theyre joined by a representative from the utility when considering requests to draw on the latter fund. Person said about $750,000 is available in the NorthWestern fund, last tapped in 2018 to help finish off the long renovation of North Plattes historic 1913 post office building into the Prairie Arts Center. QGF has about $1.5 million in uncommitted funds, he said, a figure that rose by $350,000 when Nebraskaland Days said it wouldnt need the QGF line of credit it received in June 2020. Council members had approved that line of credit as a backstop in case the annual festival had trouble paying its bills after losing most of its 2020 edition to COVID-19. The fund also has already earned at least $325,000 of its maximum $650,000 in new annual funds under QGFs 20-year-old funding formula. At the end of June, I had the honor of presenting the family of Glen Schreurs with medals from his service in World War II. Glens family had requested them from the National Personnel Records Center, which keeps track of medals and other documents from American soldiers service, and they asked my office to help them finish the process. This same agency helped me track down two of my uncles service medals a few years ago. Like my uncles, Glen was a Nebraskan who served his country admirably in World War II. Glens heroism at the Battle of Okinawa and elsewhere in the Pacific Theater earned him eight medals and badges, including a Purple Heart, a Sharpshooter Badge with a rifle bar, and a Bronze Star with an oak leaf cluster. It was especially moving to give Glens family this last medal: My uncles earned the same one, one of them also with an oak leaf cluster. Glen was barely of military age when his name was called in the draft. He served as a rifleman until his honorable discharge after being wounded in the final year of the war. He then returned home to Nebraska, where he started a beautiful family. Twenty-eight of his children, grandchildren and other relatives were present in Omaha to receive his medals. The cryptocurrency industry in China was further hit today as Anhui province said it would close all crypto mining operations due to energy consumption concerns. The province in east China will shut down the energy-intensive projects as part of a package of changes to address a power supply shortage. Cryptocurrency prices continued to drop overnight, with Bitcoin down just over 4 percent, Ethereum down 6 percent and XRP down 5 percent. The news was reported by hf365.com, a media group affiliated with the government of Hefei, Anhuis capital. Going forward, Anhui will rework its regional energy system. This includes strictly controlling projects that require large amounts of energy and power and constructing new data centres in a more centralised way. Cryptocurrency prices fell last month after authorities from Chinas Sichuan province ordered a state-owned power grid to cut the energy of 26 cryptocurrency mining farms in the region. Major Chinese BTC mining pools were hit by the order, leading to a 17 percent hashrate drop on the Bitcoin. Previously, authorities in Xinjiang directed power plants in the Zhundong Economic Technological Development Zone to shut down their mining facilities. Both Xinjiang and Sichuan have historically been major Bitcoin mining hubs in China due to their abundant fossil fuel and hydroelectric energy. Shortly after, the Peoples Bank of China (PBoC) told the countrys major financial institutions to stop facilitating cryptocurrency transactions. In a statement, the PBoC said banks must not provide products or services such as trading, clearing, and settlement for cryptocurrency transactions. They must also identify exchanges over over-the-counter dealers capital accounts and cut off the payment link for transaction funds. By City AM More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Months-long protests against the construction of the $800 million Namakhvani hydropower plant in western Georgia beg a simple question: Why bother with big dams anyway? In Georgias case, they cost more to build than other sources of renewable energy, uproot locals, and provide less power than projected. Even hydro investors concede that the changing climate is making them less dependable. Yet the business-friendly Georgian Dream government seems unwilling to concede that few recent hydropower projects are fulfilling their promise. Back in 2016, Georgia joined the European Commissions Energy Union, which required the government to design and approve a Renewable Energy Action Plan. Two years later, Tbilisi announced that the country has the potential to generate up to 4 billion kWh from wind every year, or 30 percent of Georgias needs. It quickly signed 17 memoranda of understanding with 11 companies and promised 333 MW installed wind capacity by 2020, ramping up to 686 MW by 2025 and 1130 MW by 2030. So far, only one wind farm has opened: Kartli, near Gori, has six turbines and a modest capacity of 20.7 MW. By comparison, in the five years to 2019, 33 hydropower plants (HPPs) were opened, according to the Economy Ministry. Four more wind projects are on the drawing board, says Nugzar Khaindrava of the state-owned Energy Development Fund, which promotes private-sector energy investment. Khaindrava believes interest in wind is growing and that the four projects, with a total capacity of 236 MW, should break ground this year. Moving forward, the share of wind farms in our portfolio is almost the same as that of hydropower plants, Khaindrava told Eurasianet. Related: Saudi Arabia And UAE To Lead OPEC Oil Production Increase Yet the big bets are still on hydropower: the proposed $1 billion Nenskra dam in Svaneti and the Namakhvani cascade an idea that dates from Soviet times in the Rioni Valley. (Namakhvani was the focus of those spring protests, which caused the Economy Ministry to seek EU mediation.) Their installed capacity 280 and 433 MW, respectively sounds impressive, but hydro plants in Georgia tend to produce less than advertised, while Kartli has proven the opposite. Winter wind In the past, Georgian officials have argued that generating electricity from wind is expensive and unreliable a claim opponents of hydropower now make about dams, pointing to shrinking glaciers, the changing climate, and the proliferation of new, cheaper wind technologies. The technology of wind turbines is improving every year, it is getting more efficient, said Beka Natsvlishvili of the Platform for Fair Energy Policy, an advocate for transparency in the energy sector. The argument that wind is cost-prohibitive no longer holds, he said. Building a wind farm is much cheaper than building hydropower plants and the wind farm is much more profitable from an ecological point of view because it causes much less damage to the environment than hydropower plants, Natsvlishvili told Eurasianet. Moreover, wind farms provide energy when Georgia most needs it, says Khaindrava from the Energy Development Fund. The main plus of [wind] energy is that it follows the consumption patterns in our country. We have an energy deficit for nine months a year, coinciding with the winter period. Wind energy has a higher potential in the winter months; it directly responds to our needs, Khaindrava said. Even better than the wet thing Compare the output of several small and medium hydropower plants built in the last decade with the Kartli wind farm. According to data provided by the state-run energy distribution company, eight HPPs built since 2010 are similar in capacity to Kartli. Over the past two years, all provided less than their forecast capacity, whereas Kartli slightly beat expectations. Larsi HPP, for example, was built in 2014. In size (19.5 MW), it is similar to Kartlis. But while Kartli in 2019 generated exactly as projected (84 million kWh) and even more in 2020 (90 million kWh), Larsi HPP generated 73 million kWh in each of the last two years instead of the 98 million kWh that the Energy Ministry anticipated back when it was commissioned in 2014. Lasha Iordanishvili from Tbilisi-based investor Ltd Peri, the sole shareholder in Larsi, said the output was within an acceptable range but conceded that rivers are lower than in the past: Water resources have decreased compared to the last decade. The rivers of the Caucasus produce less water now, he told Eurasianet. Related: China's New Carbon Market Doubles Share Of World Emission Trading And now for the price tag. Larsi cost $30 million, Kartli $28.8 million. True, the power generated from wind costs more on the open market. The government has a purchase agreement with Kartli at 6.5 U.S. cents per kWh, while electricity from HPPs constructed in recent years costs the government 6.02 cents. But industry consensus expects wind to cost less as technologies improve. Tongue-tied? So why isnt wind being commissioned with urgency? The Ministry of Economy, which manages the energy sector, declined to answer Eurasianets questions. Same with the investor behind a recent hydropower project that isnt meeting expectations. But Natsvlishvili of the Platform for Fair Energy Policy believes the slow adoption of wind is due to institutional inertia, that dams are more familiar to officials than new wind technologies. HPPs are a simpler system. They [authorities] know how to do it, the system is adapted to that, and that is why they prefer it. New technologies require a lot of work, professionalism, and systemic thinking, which is not well developed in our country yet, said Natsvlishvili. By Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Fueled by copious sums of drug money, large cartels have taken control of large swathes of Mexico and for over a decade have been challenging the rule of law and the state. The systemic theft of crude oil and derivative products, most notably the theft of gasoline, has long plagued Mexicos hydrocarbon sector with it estimated that organized crime groups are earning up to $400 million annually from the theft of petroleum and refined products. The scale of the problem was highlighted by Mexicos national oil company Pemex, estimating in early 2018 that oil theft was costing it more than $1.6 billion annually. Petroleum theft, including refined products, in the violence-driven Latin American country typically is performed using illegal pipeline taps. Dwindling petroleum output and heavy indebtedness along with rampant fuel theft was severely impacting the national oil companys performance. By 2018 the problem was so severe that during that year alone it was estimated that a record number of 14,910 illegal taps were identified on its 10,563-mile-long pipeline network. Mexicos national oil company estimated that during 2018 it was losing around 74,000 barrels of crude oil daily to petroleum thieves, known locally as huachicoleros. The situation was so severe that police intervention was insufficient and the Mexican army was called upon to confront thieves sporting military-grade automatic weapons in light armored vehicles. Such a substantial volume of petroleum theft was sharply impacting Mexicos economy where over 2% of gross domestic product and around 6% of export income is generated by the oil industry. The problem was so grave and having such a sharp impact on Pemexs and ultimately the government's revenues that on gaining Mexicos top job in December 2018, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador launched a major crackdown on oil theft. That reputedly saw the volume of crude oil being lost by Pemex to theft plunge to around 5,600 barrels per day by the end of 2020 or less than a tenth of what it had been two years earlier. The notable reduction in petroleum theft saw President Obrador declare victory over petroleum theft in early 2019. Despite the significant progress made in stamping out hydrocarbon theft, there are signs that it's rising once again and the declaration of victory by authorities was premature. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a marked impact on Latin Americas second-largest economy causing its gross domestic product to contract by 8.2% during 2020 with poverty and unemployment rising sharply. This coupled with a resurgence in organized criminal activity triggered a marked increase in petroleum theft in Mexico. Data shows that illegal valves (Spanish) on Pemexs pipelines for the period of January to April 2021 rose by a worrying 9.5% compared to the same period a year earlier. That is compared to 11,022 illegal taps identified on Pemexs pipeline network for the full-year 2020 and 13,137 for 2019. It is the states of Hidalgo, Puebla, and the State of Mexico which are the focal points for petroleum theft, and where most stolen refined products are recovered by Mexican authorities. Those numbers indicate not only that President Obrador's declaration of victory was premature, but that petroleum theft is rising with authorities struggling to prevent it from occurring. Related: Why The U.S. Is Desperate To Secure Influence In Oman The sharp spike in hydrocarbon theft is further illustrated by authorities seizing an ever-greater volume of stolen fuels and other derivative petroleum products. It is the states of Hidalgo, Puebla, and the State of Mexico which have experienced the largest increase. During the first two months of 2021 authorities made 794 seizures (Spanish) of stolen hydrocarbons in Hidalgo, which has long been a hotspot for petroleum theft, compared to 581 recoveries during 2020. That worrying 37% increase indicates that the theft of refined petroleum products has surged since the start of 2021 as the economic fallout triggered by the pandemic continues to hit hard in Mexico. Oil thieves in Latin Americas second-largest oil producer are becoming increasingly ingenious and brazen in their attempts to avoid detection while stealing ever greater quantities of oil and derivative products. This has seen huachicoleros resort to using underground tunnels (Spanish) to avoid detection and siphon fuel from illicit taps on pipelines to concealed warehouses. This marked increase in petroleum theft since the start of 2021 will impact Pemexs operations, government revenues, and ultimately the economy. While the days of applying illegal valves and openly siphoning petroleum products from Mexicos pipelines are over, hydrocarbon theft remains a pressing problem plaguing the economically crucial oil industry. That is why President Obrador must continue to devote considerable resources to combating hydrocarbon theft in Latin Americas second-largest economy. By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Govt-and-politics topical alert Nebraska agreed to pay for state troopers' Texas deployment, documents show The agreement under which Nebraska sent its state troopers to the Texas-Mexico border includes no provision for Texas to pay the estimated cost of $334,000, according to documents obtained by The World-Herald. A statement from Gov. Pete Ricketts and the Nebraska State Patrol said that its still possible that the state could be reimbursed. But its unclear how that would happen. Ricketts is among several GOP governors who have sent law enforcement in response to requests from the governors of Arizona and Texas, who are also Republicans. The border-state governors sent a letter June 10 requesting other governors send all available law enforcement in defense of our sovereignty and territorial integrity, citing a crisis at the border. An agreement related to the deployment states that Nebraska will not seek reimbursement from Texas. A patrol spokesperson previously has said the funding was not finalized and said the cost of previous deployments like this one, made through the interstate Emergency Management Assistance Compact, had been reimbursed. The compact is a mutual aid agreement that allows states to share resources in emergencies. Gov. Ricketts sending Nebraska state troopers to southern border A team of about 25 troopers will travel from Nebraska to Del Rio, Texas, later this month in response to a request from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency released some public records related to the mission to The World-Herald on Friday afternoon. In a joint statement, Ricketts office and the patrol said a funding source had not been finalized, and reimbursement was still possible. The language in the agreement was included to expedite the deployment, the statement reads. The State of Nebraska continues to work with Texas, and a funding source has not been finalized. Given the opportunity, the state will seek reimbursement. The state has the resources to pay for the deployment if reimbursement is not ultimately available. However, the documents show there was no apparent expectation that Texas and Arizona would foot other states costs. The two states sought assistance from states across the country to provide the resources necessary to assist in fulfilling the federal governments responsibility to secure the southern border and asked assisting states to cover associated costs. The Texas Department of Public Safety requested 500 state troopers to support its border operations, according to the documents. Cost estimates for the Nebraska troopers are not final, patrol spokesperson Cody Thomas wrote in an email.Final costs will be determined once the deployment is complete, he wrote. As with any operation, real-time costs are paid for through the NSP budget. Nebraskas costs are likely to be higher than the $334,000 estimate. Estimated personnel costs in the agreement cover 16 days for 26 personnel, and the original 16-day deployment was extended for some of the troopers. Nebraska agreed to deploy 25 troopers, including leadership and logistics support, according to the documents. The team would include marked or unmarked transportation as required to transport, patrol and command the element, and officers would be equipped with standard police equipment in tactical uniforms appropriate for environmental conditions. Though the agreement at one point says that an estimated 26 patrol personnel would be assigned to the mission, Thomas confirmed Friday the team included 25 troopers and no civilian personnel. The documents show the mission was scheduled to last from June 18 to July 25. Thomas said in an email that the agreement set out a rough timeline for potential deployment and further discussion with officials in Texas specified dates. Ricketts announced the deployment on June 19. A few troopers went June 24 to organize logistics, according to Thomas. The rest traveled on June 27 and began work on June 28, he said. Their voluntary deployment was initially slated to last up to 16 days. Last week, though, the governor announced 15 troopers would stay two additional weeks while the rest returned home. Gov. Ricketts extends deployment for 15 troopers at Texas border Their voluntary deployment was slated to last up to 16 days, but the governor said Friday that 15 of the troopers will stay two additional weeks. Total estimated costs for the mission, according to the agreement, include $83,912 related to travel, $234,554 for personnel and $15,546 for such things as water, fuel, snacks and clothing. Travel costs included an estimated $29,760 for lodging, $26,352 for meals and tips (per diem) and $19,500 for air travel. The estimated cost for salary, fringe benefits and overtime, per person per day, ranged from $444 to $815. In all capital letters and bookended by asterisks, the agreement reads: NEBRASKA WILL NOT SEEK COST REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS COST ESTIMATES ARE ONLY INCLUDED FOR FUTURE AUDITING PURPOSES The agreement provided to The World-Herald does not have a state officials signature. However, Earl Imler, preparedness and operations section manager at Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, confirmed it was the same as the final agreement. That agency serves as a point of contact to facilitate agreements related to the interstate compact. The documents reveal little about Nebraska troopers specific activities while theyre deployed. The agreement includes that the state of Texas will afford responding law enforcement the same arrest and law enforcement powers, rights and privileges while operating within the state limits of Texas as are ordinarily afforded law enforcement forces of the State of Texas. Texas Public Safety declined last month to offer specific insight into what Nebraska troopers would be doing and declined a World-Herald reporters request for a ride-along. Nebraska State Patrol also has provided few details a description of the mission was redacted from the documents obtained by The World-Herald, which Imler said was due to safety concerns. In his initial announcement of the deployment, Ricketts cited the disastrous policies of the Biden-Harris Administration for creating an immigration crisis on the border. The federal government had fallen short, he said, but Nebraska was happy to step up to help. Critics call for transparency in Nebraska state troopers' border deployment About 25 Nebraska state troopers will deploy this week to the U.S.-Mexico border. Critics who consider the deployment political want more transparency about costs and what the troopers will be doing. Critics such as state Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb and Rose Godinez, legal and policy counsel to ACLU of Nebraska, have said the deployment is political and have called for more transparency. The State Patrol on Friday estimated it would cost $22,300 and take about six months to fulfill The World-Heralds public records request for officials correspondence related to the deployment; employee correspondence related to activities troopers will undertake; and records related to the cost of and payment for the deployment. After the release of documents to the Associated Press, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said Iowa will cover the cost of its troopers deployment. She said Iowa sent 29 troopers for 16 days, according to AP reporting. Reynolds says Iowa will pay for troopers sent to border IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Gov. Kim Reynolds said Monday that Iowa will cover the cost of troopers sent to Texas to fight crime along the U.S. border with Mexico, confirming the state would fund the mission after the release of agreements showing the effort would come at no cost to Texas." South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem deployed National Guard troops using a private donation from a Republican donor, according to the Washington Post. Earlier this month, Taylor Gage, press secretary for Ricketts, said in an email that Nebraska had not been offered a similar opportunity. The refusal by the state of Arizona to live up to the promises it made cannot be countenanced any longer, said Corene Kendrick, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union who represents prisoners in the case. We need to go to trial. A court-appointed expert has concluded that understaffing, inadequate funding and privatization of health care services are significant barriers in improving health care for about 30,000 inmates in Arizonas state-run prisons. Judges in the case have hit Arizona with a total of $2.5 million in past contempt fines for noncompliance. Lawyers for the prisoners were seeking more financial penalties against the state. Silver wrote the fines didnt motivate the state to comply with the settlement. There does not appear to be a contempt sanction robust enough to coerce compliance, Silver wrote. In 2018, a magistrate judge imposed a $1.4 million contempt fine against the state, which paid the penalty but was later reimbursed by the company that at the time was providing health services inside prisons. In late February, Silver issued a $1.1 million contempt fine. Corrections officials said they would ask the former contractor for reimbursement for the second fine, though its unclear whether the company has agreed to do that. User fees under state law have to apply directly to those who pay it, the state Supreme Court justices wrote in the June 30 ruling. Road fees also benefit the public at large and people who don't pay the fee, defining them as a tax under state law, which can't be levied without the General Assembly's permission, the justices ruled. Other user fees, like for fire protection or public works, would likely pass a judicial review because they directly benefit the people paying the fee through lower insurance rates or better sewer lines, said Joshua Rhodes, deputy executive director of the South Carolina Association of Counties. Rhodes's group plans to ask lawmakers in 2022 to change the law so road fees aren't considered taxes. Dozens of counties and cities use the money to pay to build, fix and maintain roads that aren't covered by the state. But they will be asking some of the people who sued over the fees in the first place. The South Carolina Supreme Court case was won by three Greenville County legislators. One of them said he will consider whatever bill is proposed but is leery about broadening the definition of fees that citizens can be charged without legislative oversight. Officials with NOISE (which stands for North Omaha Information Support Everyone) have rejected the portrayal of their three-year-old news site as an advocacy group, and are now wondering if the delay in getting a decision is just a prelude to being rejected, again. I dont think its taken this long for other news organizations to get credentials. We never got any answers back, said NOISE Omahas interim executive director, Myles A. Davis, who called the delay a push off, run around. It shouldnt take this long, Davis said. Access to the governors press conference hadnt been an issue until about a year ago, when NOISE Omaha began submitting questions via email during the press briefings, and asking if NOISE needed any official press credentials. After getting no response, a NOISE reporter attempted to attend a Ricketts press conference on March 31 at the governors hearing room in the State Capitol in Lincoln. The reporter was told she could not enter. WASHINGTON The DACA program protecting from deportation hundreds of thousands of Dreamers who came to the U.S. as children has suffered a major blow, after a federal judge ruled that it was implemented unconstitutionally. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen of Houston issued his ruling Friday in a suit brought by Republican-led states including Nebraska over the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which was implemented by the Obama administration on behalf of almost 650,000 Dreamers fighting to stay in the country. Although Congress may someday enact such a Dream Act, until it does, its continued failure to pass bills coextensive with the DACA population evinces a rejection of this policy, Hanen said in a 77-page decision, which noted widespread sympathy for Dreamers. As much as this court might agree with these sentiments, and as popular as this program might be, the proper origination point for DACA was, and is, Congress. The ruling comes amid a continuing humanitarian crisis: Since the start of the year, U.S. authorities have apprehended or denied entry to more than 200,000 Central American at the southern U.S. border, expelling many of them to Mexico. Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale have been discussing tying the knot. The 41-year-old actress and the 51-year-old actor - who have children Rocco, five, and Rafa, three - have been in a relationship for nine years and want to finally make it official, although the COVID-19 pandemic has put their plans on hold. Speaking to Australia's Good Weekend, Rose said: "I keep going, Lets get around to it, lets do it. And then, you know, you have a baby, and then, oh, theres another baby. It was kind of like that for us. I love weddings, and I know people [for whom] its an important thing, and I respect that totally. I guess for us its just been, we didnt do it, well do it, then no! Pandemic. Meanwhile, Rose revealed that COVID hit home for them as Bobby lost some friends to the virus. The agreement under which Nebraska sent state troopers to the U.S.-Mexico border includes no provision for Texas to pay estimated $334,000 cost, according to documents obtained by The World-Herald. 2279 47th Avenue at Santiago 111 years old and still standing... by Larry Rogers May 2014 Jacob Heyman, an early realtor and real estate developer in the Carville/Oceanside area sold the double lot at 2275 47th Avenue (now known as 2279 47th Avenue) to George W. Winterburn, an English born lawyer, in October 1901. George Winterburn in turn sold the lot and house to John M. Loane in 1903 for the sum of $1360. The house was a 2 story structure. According to family lore, he used the property as a retreat for himself and his lady friends. His wife, Louisa Edgar, had died in December of 1891. Family lore says that the original arched windows and other wood objects came from ships wrecked off the coast and washed up on shore. John Loane and his brother, Abraham Loane, my Great Grandfather, came to San Francisco in 1860 to try their fortune. The Loane family had migrated from Ireland to Philadelphia in 1850. John Loane died in August of 1912 at age 79. As he was childless, the property was passed on to my Grandmother, Mabel Loane Donohue (John Loane's niece). She and my Grandfather, Peter Donohue, a veteran of the Spanish American war and Philippine Insurrection, and their daughter, Maebelle C. Donohue, born June 1907, moved into the house shortly after John's death. They had been living with my Great Grandfather, Abraham Loane, at 1530 Golden Gate Avenue, near Scott, after losing their apartment to the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. The house at 1530 Golden Gate still stands some 108 plus years old. My Great grandfather, Abraham Loane, had purchased the house on Golden Gate Avenue some years after returning to San Francisco from Philadelphia where he had been recuperating from the effects of being a prisoner of war at Andersonville Prison. He was a member of the California Hundred, 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry, and had been imprisoned from July of 1864 till wars end in April of 1865. He married Mathilda Scott in Philadelphia and returned to San Francisco in 1866. My Grandmother's brother, Albert Scott Loane, was a frequent boarder at the house, he was a muleskinner during the Philippine Insurrection and served as a Merchant Mariner til retirement. He died at the house in January of 1935. My parents, Maebelle Donohue Rogers and William Gilbert Rogers were married in December of 1926. I was born in January of 1928. We moved around various parts of San Francisco finally moving into a little cottage on Funston Avenue (13th, just off Lincoln Way} where we lived until 1933 when, due to the economics of the time, we moved in with my Grandmother at 2275 47th Avenue. I was five years of age at the time. I grew up with the sand dunes to the east and the ocean to the west. By this time, thru changes that I don't know about, the house became a full three stories and over the years we moved up and down. My Grandmother would occupy the third floor and we would occupy the first floor, then for what ever reason we would switch. The last move found us on the first floor and my Grandmother on the third floor. Shorty Roberts lived on the street (48th) behind us, as did my piano teacher. The Robert's stables were just down the street on Rivera between 47th and 48th. I remember helping to feed the horses a mixture of molasses and oats, I think. Roberts at the Beach was right there on 48th and just down the street was Taits At The Beach. As a child it was called the haunted house. I remember sitting on the lawn across the way from Taits as it burnt to the ground. The Zoo was within walking distance and the roars of the lions could be heard. I remember during the early war years soldiers practicing beach landings and my Grandmother, who always had a big pot of coffee going on the wood stove, not understanding why she could not serve the soldiers coffee. There was always the horse drawn junk wagon, the horse drawn fruit and vegetable man, the ice man, all got their fair share of that coffee. From the third floor I had a perfect view of the ocean and the ships. A tradition at the house on 47th was a tall flagpole. Originally it stood just in front of the house, but when I lived there it had been moved to just right of the front stairs. When I graduated from Parkside Grammar school in 1942 and moved on to Lincoln High school I was able to see from the third floor windows of the school the flag, which I had raised that morning. As an aside, my mother and her brother both attended Parkside when it was on Taraval Street. All of this ended in 1948 when my folks moved across Taraval to 2446 46th Avenue. I say ended because for reasons unknown to us then or now, the City Fathers in their wisdom decided to notify my Grandmother that the house was condemned. That's why my Mom, Dad, Sister, and I moved over to 46th Avenue. My Grandmother was able to stay a little longer, she moved to the first floor. The upper two floors were then occupied by various tenants. When my Grandmother finally moved out we all sat back and waited for the wrecking crews to come. It never happened. The only wrecking came when the double car garage, that my folks had built on the adjacent lot which had been the site of an earlier shed and workshop, was torn down and a new house built. Although the original house still stands, it looks quite small now and doesn't have the character it once had. May it continue to stand. Contribute your own stories about western neighborhoods places! The Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, is expected to move for the adoption of the Mid-Year Review Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government next week. The Mid-Year Budget, which is the Governments supplementary estimate for the 2021 financial year, would be proposed to the House on Thursday, July 22, at the Parliament House, Accra. Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Majority Leader, announced this on the floor of the House in Accra, on Friday, when he presented the Business Statement for the Ninth Week Ending Friday, July 23, 2021, of the current meeting of the Legislature. He said Tuesday, July 20, is a public holiday in respect of the Eid ul-Adha, and would be observed as such. The Finance Minister would also answer a question on the cost of President Akufo-Addos official travels to France, Belgium and South Africa in May, this year. He is expected to tell the House the cost of air travel of the President using chartered flight between 2013 and 2016. On Wednesday, July 21, 2021, the Minister would tell the House if the Government took a loan to finance the Free Senior High School Policy. Apart from the appearance of the Finance Minister, the House has scheduled some Ministers of State to appear before it to respond to some questions related to their sector ministries during the week. They include the Minister of Energy, who would answer a question on how much money the Government had paid in relation to Independent Power Producers for the past eight years, the breakdowns and the periods involved. He would be expected to tell the House the outcome of the investigation into a shooting incident during an impasse between the people of Lower Manya Krobo and the Electricity Company of Ghana Power Distribution Company. The Energy Minister would also tell the House the progress of work on the connection of electricity to some communities in the Tain, Saboba, Nadowli Kaleo, North Dayi, and Nkwanta North constituencies. The ministers of Communication and Digitalisation, Fisheries, Roads and Highways, Tourism, Arts and Culture; Defence, Trade and Industry and the Attorney General are expected in the House next week to respond to questions. The House would also receive reports of assignments of various committees. The Deputy Majority Leader entreated members to avail themselves at the plenary, especially for the presentation of the Mid-year Budget Review. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ministerial Committee, probing the circumstances that led to the shooting of two civilians during a demonstration at Ejura on June 29, has ended its public hearing. A total of 22 witnesses testified before the Committee over eight days, with three of the hearings held in camera for security reasons. Justice George Kingsley Koomson, Chairman of the Committee, who announced this to wrap up the public hearing, said the Committee used three days to review the evidence obtained from the witnesses. Giving a breakdown of the exhibits submitted to the Committee during the exercise, he said the committee received 117 pieces of video footage, 555 pictures, eight documentary pieces of evidence, two written statements, two physical evidence (spent cartridges) and one audio evidence. He said the Committee would put together its report in the next few days and submit it to the Interior Minister. He expressed gratitude to all stakeholders who supported the Committee throughout the hearing. He, particularly, thanked the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Simon Osei-Mensah, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly and the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) for their immense support in setting up the secretariat for the Committee. Justice Koomson was also grateful to the Chiefs and people of Ejura for their cooperation and audience granted the Committee when it visited the town ahead of the public hearing. The Committee was tasked by the Interior Minister, Mr Ambrose Dery on the instruction of the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to investigate the circumstances that led to the death of two civilians at Ejura during a violent protest on June 29, 2021. Abdul-Nasir Yussif and Mutala Mohammed died from gunshots while four others sustained various degrees of injury. This followed the burial of a social media activist, Ibrahim Mohammed, also known as Kaaka, who died at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi after he was attacked by unknown assailants on June 26, 2021. Other members of the Committee are Prof. Vladimir Antwi-Danso, a Security Analyst and Ms Juliet Adima Amoah, Executive Director of Penplusbyte, a Civil Society Organisation with Ms Marie Louise Simmons, a Principal State Attorney at the Attorney General's Department as the Secretary to the Committee. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Asking the Chief Justice to step aside is "alien to the constitution" according to a renowned journalist, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako. The opposition National Democratic Congress, NDC, wants the Chief Justice, Justice Kwesi Anin-Yeboah, to step aside temporarily, following a $5 million bribery allegation made against him. The General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah at a press conference on Tuesday, 13th July 2021 said: The difficulty with this is that the investigations would concern the Chief Justice, who is the subject of the bribery allegations in this matter and in whom disciplinary authority against Judicial Officers is vested under Section 18 of the Judicial Service Act. Good governance dictates that the Chief Justice steps aside during the pendency of the investigations by the Judicial Service relative to the issue of alleged misconduct on his part as a Supreme Court Judge. The Chief Justice cannot be a judge in his own cause, hence cannot set up a committee to investigate allegations of misconduct against himself. The Managing Editor of the New Crusading Guide newspaper in a panel discussion on Peace FM morning show 'Kokrokoo' said there are lawful ways to deal with the issue than asking him to step aside "I have not seen anywhere in the constitution which says if you have a case against the Chief Justice, he should step aside. There are proceedures to follow and it's in the constitution; step aside is alien. They should go by the law if they are sure the Chief Justice has done something wrong, they should go by the law otherwise, it's a sheer waste of precious time and space..." he said. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video CEBU symphonic folk power metal band, Adamanta, came for power as they released their much-anticipated single "Conquer" on Friday, July 16, 2021. BATHALA'S ACOLYTES Adamanta is composed of members Daphnie, the nymph of the Woodland Realms; Elvin, the Bard; Wulfhammer, the Stormcaller; and Lyra, the Enchantress. 'FOLLOW THE BRAVE TO BATHALA'S GATES' Adamanta said "Conquer" is about conquerors clashing in the setting of pre-colonial Philippines. It also talks about their love for drinking. "Aside from that, we wanted to show the 'isug' (brave/mighty) character of the Visayan precolonial warriors," the band said. Adamanta said the song was originally about the warrior culture of the Vikings involving heavy drinking and pillaging. It then shifted to becoming pirate-themed and throwing caution to the wind with the help of liquid courage/beer. "But as years progressed and we learned more about the pre-colonial Philippines, we shifted our point of view to the Pintados and the Visayan warriors," Adamanta said. "Conquer" was also very much inspired by movie soundtracks and scenes about courage, love for life and battle. 'TO NEW WORLDS WE SEEK' Adamanta started in 2016 as Chrono Storm X. Elvin Ian Bacaltos and Miguel Jaranilla (former bassist) were looking to start a power metal band in Cebu. Power metal is a subgenre of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within a symphonic context. The band posted a few advertisements and found Benjamin "Wulfhammer" Ricafrente III on vocals. "There, we composed a few songs and honed our skills. Those were our experimental days; we played a few local shows with members regularly changing except for Wulfhammer, Elvin, and Miguel," Adamanta said. It was only in 2018 when the band changed its name to Adamanta. Elvin came across their frontwoman, Daphnie, through Saint Theresa's College (STC) music group, Sikabay, to sing alongside Wulfhammer when he had to replace Jaranilla on bass. Story continues Ana "Lyra" Geverola, who is the band's keyboardist, joined the band in 2019 during a curriculum convention at STC. She was also into symphonic metal. "From then on, we decided to embrace the symphonic side that we've been wanting to do all these years," the band said. 'FIGHT FOR THE GLORIOUS DAY' Adamanta is grateful for the positive response of "Conquer." They are also asking fans to be patient with the release of their music video. The band is also asking for support for the fruition of the music video and to #makeConquerhappen. One can purchase their signed posters and postcards priced at P100 to P200. One could also donate to the band directly through Elvin's GCash and BPI accounts. Those who would donate more will get their names at the end credits of the "Conquer" music video. Adamanta also encourages everyone to check their social media pages on Facebook, Youtube and Instagram. "We've risked a lot by trying something different but the support we've received up to this point has been overwhelming. This has been an incredible experience, and we are glad to have shared it with you," Adamanta said. Stream Adamanta's Conquer on Youtube: Photos in this article courtesy of Adamanta In this photo provided by the Bootleg Fire Incident Command, the Bootleg Fire burns at night near Highway 34 in southern Oregon on Thursday, July 15, 2021. Firefighters scrambled Friday to control a raging inferno in southeastern Oregon that's spreading miles a day in windy conditions, one of numerous wildfires across the U.S. West that are straining resources. The Bootleg Fire, the largest wildfire burning in the U.S., has torched more than 377 square miles (976 square kilometers), and crews had little control of it. Credit: Jason Pettigrew/Bootleg Fire Incident Command via AP Firefighters scrambled Friday to control a raging inferno in southeastern Oregon that's spreading miles a day in windy conditions, one of numerous wildfires across the U.S. West that are straining resources. Crews had to flee the fire lines late Thursday after a dangerous "fire cloud" started to collapse, threatening them with strong downdrafts and flying embers. An initial review Friday showed the Bootleg Fire destroyed 67 homes and 117 outbuildings overnight in one county. Authorities were still counting the losses in a second county where the flames are surging up to 4 miles (6 kilometers) a day. The blaze has forced 2,000 people to evacuate and is threatening 5,000 buildings that include homes and smaller structures in a rural area just north of the California border, fire spokeswoman Holly Krake said. Active flames are surging along 200 miles (322 kilometers) of the fire's perimeter, she said, and it's expected to merge with a smaller, but equally explosive fire by nightfall. The Bootleg Fire is now 377 square miles (976 square kilometers)larger than the area of New York Cityand mostly uncontained. "We're likely going to continue to see fire growth over miles and miles of active fire line," Krake said. "We are continuing to add thousands of acres a day, and it has the potential each day, looking forward into the weekend, to continue those 3- to 4-mile runs." In this photo provided by the Bootleg Fire Incident Command, the Bootleg Fire burns at night near Highway 34 in southern Oregon on Thursday, July 15, 2021. Firefighters scrambled Friday to control a raging inferno in southeastern Oregon that's spreading miles a day in windy conditions, one of numerous wildfires across the U.S. West that are straining resources. The Bootleg Fire, the largest wildfire burning in the U.S., has torched more than 377 square miles (976 square kilometers), and crews had little control of it. Credit: Jason Pettigrew/Bootleg Fire Incident Command via AP The inferno has stymied firefighters for a week with erratic winds and extremely dangerous fire behavior, including ominous fire clouds that form from superheated air rising to a height of up to 6 miles (10 kilometers) above the blaze. "We're expecting those same exact conditions to continue and worsen into the weekend," Krake said of the fire-induced clouds. Early on, the fire doubled in size almost daily, and strong winds Thursday again pushed the flames rapidly. Similar winds gusting up to 30 mph (48 kph) were expected Friday. It's burning an area north of the California border that has been gripped by extreme drought, like most of the American West. Extremely dry conditions and heat waves tied to climate change have swept the region, making wildfires harder to fight. Climate change has made the West much warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive. In this photo provided by the Bootleg Fire Incident Command, columns of smoke from the Bootleg Fire rise behind a water tender in southern Oregon on Friday, July 16, 2021. Firefighters scrambled Friday to control a raging inferno in southeastern Oregon that's spreading miles a day in windy conditions, one of numerous wildfires across the U.S. West that are straining resources. The Bootleg Fire, the largest wildfire burning in the U.S., has torched more than 377 square miles (976 square kilometers), and crews had little control of it. Credit: Lisa Chambers/Bootleg Fire Incident Command via AP The blaze was most active on its northeastern flank, pushed by winds from the south toward the rural communities of Summer Lake and Silver Lake. Paisley, to the east of the fire, was also at risk. All the towns are in Lake County, a remote area of lakes and wildlife refuges with a total population of about 8,000. The Bootleg Fire is one of at least a dozen major fires burning in Washington state, Oregon and California as a siege of wildfires takes hold across the drought-stricken West. There were 70 active large fires and complexes of multiple fires that have burned nearly 1,659 square miles (4,297 square kilometers) in the U.S., the National Interagency Fire Center said. In the Pacific Northwest, firefighters say they are facing conditions more typical of late summer or fall than early July. In this photo provided by the Bootleg Fire Incident Command, smoke from the Bootleg Fire rises behind the town of Bonanza, Ore., on Thursday, July 15, 2021. Firefighters scrambled Friday to control a raging inferno in southeastern Oregon that's spreading miles a day in windy conditions, one of numerous wildfires across the U.S. West that are straining resources. The Bootleg Fire, the largest wildfire burning in the U.S., has torched more than 377 square miles (976 square kilometers), and crews had little control of it. Credit: Bootleg Fire Incident Command via AP In this photo taken with a drone provided by the Bootleg Fire Incident Command, a pyrocumulus cloud, also known as a fire cloud, is seen over the Bootleg Fire in southern Oregon on Wednesday, July 14, 2021. Smoke and heat from a massive wildfire in southeastern Oregon are creating "fire clouds" over the blazedangerous columns of smoke and ash that can reach up to 30,000 feet (9,144 meters) and are visible for more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) away. Authorities have put these clouds at the top of the list of the extreme fire behavior they are seeing on the Bootleg Fire, the largest wildfire burning in the U.S. Credit: Bootleg Fire Incident Command via AP In this photo provided by the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshall, flames and smoke rise from the Bootleg fire in southern Oregon on Wednesday, July 14, 2021. The largest fire in the U.S. on Wednesday was burning in southern Oregon, to the northeast of the wildfire that ravaged a tribal community less than a year ago. The lightning-caused Bootleg fire was encroaching on the traditional territory of the Klamath Tribes, which still have treaty rights to hunt and fish on the land, and sending huge, churning plumes of smoke into the sky visible for miles. Credit: John Hendricks/Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal via AP Firefighters spray water from Union Pacific Railroad's fire train while battling the Dixie Fire in Plumas National Forest, Calif., on Friday, July 16, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Noah Berger Firefighters spray water from Union Pacific Railroad's fire train while battling the Dixie Fire in Plumas National Forest, Calif., on Friday, July 16, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Noah Berger Firefighters spray water from Union Pacific Railroad's fire train while battling the Dixie Fire in Plumas National Forest, Calif., on Friday, July 16, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Noah Berger Benjamin Bell watches as the Dixie Fire burns along Highway 70 in Plumas National Forest, Calif., on Friday, July 16, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Noah Berger Jessica and Benjamin Bell watch as the Dixie Fire burns along Highway 70 in Plumas National Forest, Calif., on Friday, July 16, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Noah Berger Jessica Bell takes a video as the Dixie Fire burns along Highway 70 in Plumas National Forest, Calif., on Friday, July 16, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Noah Berger Jessica Bell watches as the Dixie Fire burns along Highway 70 in Plumas National Forest, Calif., on Friday, July 16, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Noah Berger Smoke envelops trees as the Sugar Fire, part of the Beckwourth Complex Fire, burns in Doyle, Calif., Friday, July 9, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Noah Berger Smoke billows behind power lines as the Dixie Fire burns along Highway 70 in Plumas National Forest, Calif., on Friday, July 16, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Noah Berger Smoke rises from the Dixie Fire burning along Highway 70 in Plumas National Forest, Calif., on Friday, July 16, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Noah Berger About 200 firefighters were battling but had little control over the 17-square-mile (44-square-kilometer) Red Apple Fire near the Washington city of Wenatchee renowned for its apples. The flames were threatening apple orchards and an electrical substation, but no buildings have been lost, officials said. In California, the Tamarack Fire in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest quickly grew to 2.5 square miles (6.5 square kilometers) on Friday, prompting evacuations in the Markleeville area in Alpine County. The blaze prompted the cancelation of Saturday's "Death Ride," a 103-mile (165.76-kilometer) bicycle ride in the so-called California Alps over three Sierra Nevada mountain passes. Explore further Evacuations expand in Oregon as fire spreads erratically 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. People use rubber rafts in floodwaters after the Meuse River broke its banks during heavy flooding in Liege, Belgium, Thursday, July 15, 2021. Heavy rainfall is causing flooding in several provinces in Belgium with rain expected to last until Friday. Credit: AP Photo/Valentin Bianchi Just as the European Union was announcing plans to spend billions of euros to contain climate change, massive clouds gathered over Germany and nearby nations to unleash an unprecedented storm that left death and destruction in its wake. Despite ample warnings, politicians and weather forecasters were shocked at the ferocity of the precipitation that caused flash flooding that claimed more than 150 lives this week in the lush rolling hills of Western Europe. Climate scientists say the link between extreme weather and global warming is unmistakable and the urgency to do something about climate change undeniable. Scientists can't yet say for sure whether climate change caused the flooding, but they insist that it certainly exacerbates the extreme weather that has been on show from the western U.S. and Canada to Siberia to Europe's Rhine region. "There is a clear link between extreme precipitation occurring and climate change," Wim Thiery, a professor at Brussels University, said Friday. Stefan Rahmstorf, a professor of ocean physics at the University of Potsdam, referring to the recent heat records set in the U.S. and Canada, said "some are so extreme that they would be virtually impossible without global warming.." Taking them all together, said Sir David King, chair of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group, "these are casualties of the climate crisis: we will only see these extreme weather events become more frequent." A woman walks up the stairs in her damaged house after flooding in Ensival, Vervier, Belgium, Friday July 16, 2021. Severe flooding in Germany and Belgium has turned streams and streets into raging torrents that have swept away cars and caused houses to collapse. Credit: AP Photo/Francisco Seco For Diederik Samsom, the European Commission's Cabinet chief behind this week's massive proposals to spend billions and force industry into drastic reforms to help cut the bloc's emissions of the gases that cause global warming by 55% this decade, this week's disaster was a cautionary tale. "People are washed away in Germany ... and Belgium and the Netherlands, too. We are experiencing climate change," he said on a conference call of the European Policy Centre think tank. "A few years ago, you had to point to a point in the future or far away on the planet to talk about climate change. It's happening nowhere." And climate scientists point toward two specific things that have contributed to this week's calamity. First, with every 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) rise in temperature, the air can take in 7% more humidity. It can hold the water longer, leading to drought, but it also leads to an increase in dense, massive rainfall once it releases it. A man rows a boat down a residential street after flooding in Angleur, Province of Liege, Belgium, Friday July 16, 2021. Severe flooding in Germany and Belgium has turned streams and streets into raging torrents that have swept away cars and caused houses to collapse. Credit: AP Photo/Valentin Bianchi Another defining factor is the tendency for storms to hover over one place for far longer than usual, thus dumping increasing amounts of rain on a smaller patch of the world. Scientists say warming is a contributing factor there, too. A jet stream of high winds six miles (nearly 10 kilometers) high helps determine the weather over Europe and is fed by temperature differences between the tropics and the Arctic. Yet as Europe warmswith Scandinavia currently experiencing an unusual heat wavethe jet stream is weakened, causing its meandering course to stop, sometimes for days, Thiery said. He said such a phenomenon was visible in Canada too, where it helped cause a "heat dome" in which temperatures rose to 50 C (122 F). "And it is causing the heavy rain that we have seen in Western Europe," he said. People carry their belongings past a broken road in Schuld, Germany, Friday, July 16, 2021. Two days before the Ahr river went over the banks after strong rain falls causing severals deaths and hundreds of people missing. Credit: AP Photo/Michael Probst This image provided on Friday, July 16, 2021 by the Cologne district government shows the Blessem district of Erftstadt in Germany. Rescuers were rushing Friday to help people trapped in their homes in the town of Erftstadt, southwest of Cologne. Regional authorities said several people had died after their houses collapsed due to subsidence, and aerial pictures showed what appeared to be a massive sinkhole. Credit: Rhein-Erft-Kreis via AP A regional train sits in the flood waters at the local station in Kordel, Germany, Thursday July 15, 2021 after it was flooded by the high waters of the Kyll river. Credit: Sebastian Schmitt/dpa via AP Rescue workers look down from a balcony as floodwaters run down a main street in Pepinster, Belgium, Thursday, July 15, 2021. Heavy rainfall is causing flooding in several provinces in Belgium with rain expected to last until Friday. Credit: AP Photo/Olivier Matthys The Ahr river floats past destroyed houses in Insul, Germany, Thursday, July 15, 2021. Due to heavy rain falls the Ahr river dramatically went over the banks the evening before. Credit: AP Photo/Michael Probst A car floats in the Meuse River during heavy flooding in Liege, Belgium, Thursday, July 15, 2021. Heavy rainfall is causing flooding in several provinces in Belgium with rain expected to last until Friday. Credit: AP Photo/Valentin Bianchi Light posts along a pathway of the Meuse river as it rises during flooding in Liege, Belgium, Thursday, July 15, 2021. Heavy rainfall is causing flooding in several provinces in Belgium with rain expected to last until Friday. Credit: AP Photo/Valentin Bianchi Even if greenhouse gas emissions are drastically curbed in the coming decades, the amount of carbon dioxide and other planet-heating gases already in the atmosphere means extreme weather is going to become more likely. Experts say such phenomena will hit those areas that aren't prepared for it particularly hard. "We need to make our built environmentbuildings, outdoor spaces, citiesmore resilient to climate change," said Lamia Messari-Becker, a professor of engineering at the University of Siegen. Those that don't adapt will risk greater loss of life and damage to property, said Ernst Rauch, chief climate and geoscientist at the reinsurance giant Munich Re. "The events of today and yesterday or so give us a hint that we need to do better with respect to being ready for these these type of events," he said. "The events themselves are not really unexpected, but the order of magnitude probably has surprised some." 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Construction equipment and supplies were dropped off at the site a few days earlier so that site preparation can start Monday, Bogle said. Construction is expected to take 11 months. The old firehouse on West Main Street will be put on the market in the fall. Weve had some inquiries about it, Bogle said. The project went through several versions as additional state mandates and mounting costs forced changes to the plans. A referendum on a $3.7 million bond was due to go before voters in March 2020, but the vote was delayed six months because of the coronavirus pandemic. The bond was approved in September. The board put the project out to bid in March but received only one proposal, for electrical work. That was nerve-wracking, when we got no bids, Bogle said. The project was rebid, and contracts were awarded in May to Plank LLC, Schenectady, for general construction; Mazzone Plumbing and Heating, Delmar, for plumbing and mechanicals; OConnell Electric Co., Victor, for electrical systems; and Morton Buildings, Castleton, Vermont, for the prefabricated metal building. CT Male, Latham, is the engineer for the project. Meanwhile, Losaw will remain on the ballot for Novembers election since the petitioning period has ended. Anyone interested in running for the seat will have to mount a write-in campaign, Mahoney said. If he (Losaw) wins, hell have to resign again, she said. Losaw has faced intense scrutiny from town officials and residents over the last two months after authorizing former town Assessor Vicki Hayner to hire an outside assessment firm to lower the assessed value of Irving Tissue without Town Board approval. Hayner, who resigned in May amid the controversy, had lowered the companys assessment to $16 million despite a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement that valued the property at $22 million. The PILOT was expiring and the property was set to come back on the tax rolls. The lowered value was based on the towns 73% equalization rate. Hayner later sought a second opinion from the assessment company GAR and lowered the figure again to $11 million, a 50% decrease from the original value. The company was hired for $1,500. GLENS FALLS Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino said he believes he is the strongest candidate in the race, even as U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, of Long Island, has racked up many endorsements. Theres 3 million Republican voters. Theyre going to decide who is the best and most electable conservative going against this Democratic machine. My experience as an executive running a very large county is a road map as to how I would fix the state, Astorino said before a visit on Friday to Miller Mechanical Services in Glens Falls. Astorino, who was the Republican nominee in 2014, served two terms as Westchester County executive before being defeated in 2017. He won in a county where Democrats have the majority, he said. He wiped out a large budget deficit during his tenure. He would bring the same experience to Albany. I cant imagine many people thinking New York state is on the right track because its not in all regions. We have a governor who has already piled up enough scandals to put him in an orange jumpsuit, he said. New Yorkers are proud of their barns and we all know that, state Preservation League President Jay DiLorenzo said Thursday. We see it on the landscape how much they add to the setting, and they evoke strong feelings of tradition of home. Theyre just as much of a landmark as the local theater and local church. DiLorenzo noted impressive historic cathedral barns in Livingston and Monroe counties, which feature a vast unobstructed space on the ground floor. Many barns in New York state are still in agricultural use, but there are quite a few that are not, DiLorenzo said. Theyre vacant, theyre not used whether due to neglect or lack of resources, they may be lost forever to us. Thats something we really want to avoid. The federal Historic Barn Rehabilitation Tax Credit was eliminated in 2018 as a result of changes in the federal tax code under the Federal Tax Cuts and Job Act of 2017. About 50 state barns were successfully restored under the federal tax credit first established in 1996. In the midst of getting all the work done, the authority closed the eligibility period for the higher tax incentive, so Nexamp now will have to settle for a lower one. One concern Nexamp officials expressed is that if this project is held up, another company would scoop up the incentives and connection space. Some supervisors had concerns about the drop of about $2.4 million and wondered whether the county should hold off. Queensbury Supervisor John Strough proposed tabling the resolution. He believes the county should get a second opinion about whether this is a good deal. It reminds me of the Siemens report, and that board decided then that they didnt need an independent consultants report and you know how that turned out, he said, referring to the countys contract for its cogeneration plant, which did not deliver the promised savings. Glens Falls 2nd Ward Supervisor Peter McDevitt seconded the motion. Warrensburg Supervisor Kevin Geraghty said he did not want to get involved in another boondoggle at the airport. Im sure it will be respectful but it will be rigorous. It will be detail oriented. It will not be a conversation or a chat or a discussion. It will be this question and answer format. Its very much unlike a press conference," said Celli, who is now at the firm Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP. Though the investigation is not criminal in nature, Celli said Cuomo can assert his Fifth Amendment right and refuse to answer questions he feels may incriminate him. The timing of Cuomos interview with investigators was confirmed Thursday to The Associated Press by two people familiar with the investigation. They were not authorized to speak publicly about the case and did so on condition of anonymity. Cuomo, in office since 2011, has rebuffed those calls and is moving forward with plans to run for a fourth term next year. Rivals, though, see a Cuomo weakened by scandal as politically vulnerable. Cuomo raised $2.3 million from January through June down from $4 million in the second half of 2020, according to campaign finance filings released late Thursday. ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, a Republican candidate for New York governor, has reported raising $4 million over the first half of this year, exceeding the $2.3 million taken in over the same period by incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo, according to campaign finance filings. Cuomo, a Democrat, has amassed a $18 million campaign war chest but compared with the second half of last year when he took in $4 million, the latest filings suggest a dip in financial support. Cuomo has faced scandals over sexual misconduct allegations as well as his administrations handling of data on coronavirus deaths in nursing homes. Zeldin, of Long Island, has nearly $3.2 million on hand for his campaign. Cuomo, who has been in office since 2011, is expected to run for a fourth term in 2022. Other candidates for governor include former Westchester County Executive and 2014 gubernatorial GOP nominee, Rob Astorino; Lewis County sheriff, Mike Carpinelli; and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's son, Andrew Giuliani. No other Democrats have officially announced plans to run for governor. The argument is not that these bills are perfect, because no election system is. The point is that they are not some un-American throwback to Jim Crow, as Biden claims. If Texas Democrats think one provision or another is wrong, then they should stay in Austin and argue the case to the public. They claim to be fighting for democracy, even as they deny a quorum to prevent democracy from functioning. The Legislatures special session ends Aug. 7, and the Texas Democrats plan to camp out until then. If they set foot back in Texas, Governor Abbott says they will be arrested and taken to the Legislature. But even if they hold out until the session expires, Abbott can simply call a new one. Their flight might be a delaying tactic, but it looks more like a PR stunt. Biden is escalating his rhetoric about Jim Crow and now the Civil War. Part of his aim, after Republicans made gains in 2020 among nonwhite voters, might be to reinforce the message that the GOP is racist. But Biden is also distorting the truth to justify congressional passage of H.R.1, a constitutionally dubious takeover of voting rules in all 50 states. He is trying to appease frustrated progressives who are starting to blame him for the Senates refusal to kill the filibuster. Before Democrats hail quorum breaking as heroism, they might recall that they are trying to pass the most radical agenda in decades with the narrowest majorities in decades. Whos really undermining democracy? This editorial was first published July 13 in the Wall Street Journal. Love 9 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 3 Given the role the internet plays in spreading health misinformation, Murthy said technology companies and social media platforms should make meaningful changes to their products and software to reduce the spread of misinformation while increasing access to authoritative, fact-based sources. Teachers, he said, should expand education on media literacy and critical thinking. Journalists, he suggested, should work to responsibly debunk health misinformation without inadvertently spreading it further. And public health officials and doctors, he suggested, should do a better job answering questions and explaining why public health guidelines sometimes change based on new information. As for everyday Americans, Murthy urged them to verify questionable health information with trusted sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and to exercise critical thinking when exposed to unverified claims. If you have loved ones or friends who believe or spread misinformation, he said, it's best to engage by listening and asking questions rather than by confronting them. While some groups that push health misinformation do so for profit, Murthy wrote that many Americans may be spreading bogus information without intending to cause harm. So with Grobe at home, Marcus has become quite accustomed to her daily routine. But those days are soon going to be over. Grobe, like thousands of employees who have been able to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, is making plans to return to a regular schedule, in an office that isn't home. The transition back into the physical office can be daunting enough for people, but it may also pose myriad challenges for pets like Marcus who have become even closer to their families during the pandemic, said Amanda Kowalski, director of behavior programs for the San Diego Humane Society. However, Kowalski said, there are several ways people can help prepare dogs and cats for long days without the companionship they've gotten used to and make a smooth transition to being home alone again. Kowalski suggests first getting a feel for what kind of behaviors your animal has, what they're really doing, by using a camera. "Technology is your friend, so watch them: See what happens when you leave them alone and record them for a few minutes to see if there is any transitional stress," she said. "Are they stressed on lower levels and bored, or are they getting into destroying toys or experiencing true separation anxiety?" The association, which is an advocate and a resource for dairy producers in Illinois, started in 1933 and represents more than three-quarters of the milk marketed in the state. The primary objective of IMPA is to speak as a unified voice for the Illinois dairy industry, according to its website. In speaking to the media and consumers, Mackinson gets support from other dairy farmers and board members who are well versed on important issues of the day. He names Bryan Henrichs, a southern Illinois dairy farmer for being well aware of milk pricing issues, which remain a priority to address today. The pricing changes started affecting dairy farmers when the 2018 farm bill eliminated the higher of component of the Class I milk price formula and replaced it with a formula based on the simple average of the Class III and Class IV. It had a severe impact on prices. It was one of the biggest challenges we faced this year, said Henrichs of Breeze, Ill. He said some dairy plant practices during the pandemic, including de-pooling cheese, compounded the impact on milk pricing for dairy farmers. Often Mackinson receives questions from consumers about raw milk or animal welfare issues. One common question is, Why are calves taken away from their moms so early? The ages of youth served range from kindergarten age to 22, depending on the program, Klipsch said. The YMCA has increased financial assistance to help young people participate in the programs. Families who have applied and received assistance have told us that their kids have been more anxious and, due to both less in-person schooling and lack of other community programs, they have missed out on a lot of other community programs and social interaction, Klipsch said. "In addition, many families have had a lot of struggle to make ends meet because of changes in work. In 2020, the YMCA curtailed its summer programs because of COVID-19. Program capabilities were reduced because the YMCA wanted to keep group numbers low and didn't want to intermingle student groups. We were very diminished in capacity last year, Klipsch said. We completely cut our resident camp program, and had to reduce bus/transportation capacity by 66% for day camps. All three organizations said there were at least some pandemic precautions still in place. Spring Forward and UT maintained masking and other of the basic mitigations strategies designed to combat coronavirus. About 10:50 p.m. Friday, a 20-year-old woman was shot in the back and abdomen in the 3800 block of West Gladys Avenue in the East Garfield Park neighborhood. The woman was dropped off by a friend to Mount Sinai Hospital where she was listed in good condition, police said. About 10 p.m., a 42-year-old man was shot in the hand my someone while he was standing in an alley in the Austin neighborhood in the 700 block of North Lotus Avenue. After he was shot he ran to the 200 block of North Pine where an ambulance was called and he was taken to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park and listed in good condition. About 9:50 p.m., a 32-year-old man was shot during an attempt robbery in the 5800 block of West Huron Street in the Austin neighborhood. The victim was approached by three males who announced a robbery and displayed a handgun before shooting him in the arm. He got himself to West Suburban Medical Center in good condition, police said. Shortly before 9:15 p.m., a 35-year-old woman was found outside with a gunshot wound to the lower backside in the 500 block of East 80th Street in the Chatham neighborhood. The woman, who police said was uncooperative, was taken in critical condition to the University of Chicago Medical Center. DES MOINES The past seven months under a Democratic administration have made the America of the previous four years unrecognizable to the political speakers at a Christian conservative event held Friday in Des Moines. Former vice president Mike Pence, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were among the speakers at The Family Leadership Summit, the 10th annual event hosted by The Family Leader, an Iowa-based Christian conservative advocacy organization. Pence, Noem and Pompeo are all possible Republican presidential candidates for 2024 likely depending on whether former President Donald Trump decides to run again and they took turns lambasting President Joe Bidens administration. The damage theyve done to this country in such a short period of time, Pence lamented during his remarks. Noem talked about recently becoming a grandmother for the first time, and offered her own lament. I really hate this America that were giving (her new granddaughter), Noem said. I dont recognize the country I had an opportunity to grow up in. Drought is lingering in South Dakota and it looks like it will hang on with us for a while longer. The unfortunate news for South Dakotas producers comes from South Dakota State Universitys ongoing Drought Hour webinar hosted several times a month. Laura Edwards, the SDSU Extension state climatologist, shared the troubling news and some more tips during the presentation on June 28. Edwards said that in 2021, places like Aberdeen have seen four days (as of early June) of over 100-degree temperatures. Before 2021, there were only nine days recorded over 100 degrees in the area since 2009. Were starting to see the heat take its toll, she said. The typical precipitation in South Dakota averages out to about one inch per week in the month of June, with slightly lower totals in July. For all of June, half of the counties in South Dakota have only received half an inch of rain total. Luckily for the area, she said, South Dakota has been able to tread water with scattered rain events in much of the eastern side of the state, but it is not a sustainable water source. The most drastic change the state has seen since April and May has been soil moisture, as it is now at critically low levels. The Emmy nominations always turn up shows that may not have grazed your screen. Like Bo Burnham: Inside, they bear watching before the awards are given out Sept. 19 on CBS. Eight you may have missed: The Boys (Amazon Prime) Consider this the anti-superhero superhero show. Ruled by a group of Spandex-clad celebrities called The Seven, the world is filled with corruption and deception. A group called The Boys tries to stop them with their own seek-and-destroy methods. Antony Starr should have been nominated for his chilling turn as Homelander, the cruel leader of The Seven. The Flight Attendant (HBO max) Big Bang Theory grad Kaley Cuoco shows she had plenty of comic turns in this dark mystery about a flight attendant who finds herself thrust in the middle of a murder case. Hacks (HBO max) Jean Smart just gets better with age. In addition to her Emmy-nominated role in Mare of Easttown, she stars as a comedian trying to maneuver a new world order in this sly comedy. Shes cutting (and right) as she tries to get out of situations not of her own making. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Herman said at one point Schmitz had been employed as a maintenance worker in the apartment complex where Will lived and his apartment was across the hall from her. She said Will had paid him to drive her to various locations in the past and that is what she believed happened the day before she was considered missing. "I had shared tips and leads with investigators so much that I probably made them mad, but I just wanted justice for Mishell," Herman said. "I am so happy that they kept working on the case." Harrison declined to say what changed to allow investigators to change the cause and manner of death from unknown to homicide and take Schmitz from a person of interest to a murder suspect. The case has been turned over to the Pennington County State's Attorney's office where the files have been sealed. "We just refused to give up on Meshell Will's case," Harrison said. "We continued to look at it with new eyes and followed up on many tips and leads over the years. It was important for us to get closure for her family and friends." Schmitz is well-known by law enforcement. BOISE, Idaho (AP) Anti-government activist Ammon Bundy has asked a judge to throw out his conviction for trespassing at the Idaho Capitol and acquit him instead because he says the state's trespassing law should not be applied to public property. Idaho's courts, like many states, allow defendants to ask the judge for an acquittal within several days of a jury verdict. The move is seldom made, however, and rarely successful. It stems from Bundy's arrest on Aug. 25, 2020, after he refused to leave an auditorium in the Statehouse after officials ordered it to be cleared. Officers also said he went limp and refused to stand up and put his hands behind his back. Officers ultimately wheeled him out of the Capitol building on a swivel chair. The arrest came during a special session of the Idaho Legislature that was called so lawmakers could address issues related to the coronavirus pandemic. Bundy was among dozens of demonstrators many of them members of his People's Rights organization who attended the special session to protest because they were angry about coronavirus-related restrictions. During one of the protests, unmasked protesters joined by Bundy forced their way into a House gallery with limited seating, shattering a glass door. Posts understate infrastructure funding in American Jobs Plan A conservative-backed nonprofit resurrected the criticism on Facebook this week, falsely claiming in a widely shared video that "less than 5 cents of every dollar of the $4 trillion 'infrastructure' bill actually goes to infrastructure." First, it should be noted that Biden's $4 trillion plan is actually made up of two distinct bill proposals: the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan. The former is a $2.3 trillion package for hard infrastructure items, while the latter is a companion bill of roughly equal size for soft infrastructure items like investments in child care, family tax credits and other domestic programs. Whether or not you count the companion bill as part of Biden's so-called infrastructure plan, items widely agreed upon to count as infrastructure make up more than 5% of the total, according to Marc Goldwein, senior vice president of the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Goldwein said looking at just the American Jobs Plan, "somewhere between a third and two-thirds" of the proposal consists of projects squarely in the infrastructure category, such as repairing roads and bridges, replacing water pipes, enhancing the electrical grid, investing in airports and improving coastal ports. Looking at the entire $4 trillion proposal, Goldwein said, infrastructure items would still make up at least one-fifth of the total. "It's not just roads and waterways," Goldwein said. "But these are things that we think are pretty indisputably infrastructure." Critics of the proposal may have come up with a 5% figure by only including improvements on roads and bridges in their definition of infrastructure, according to Garrett Watson, a senior policy analyst at the Tax Foundation. Only about $154 billion in the American Jobs Plan went to those items, he said. Indeed, a caption on the video shared widely on Facebook this week accurately stated that "less than a nickel on every dollar" in Biden's set of proposals totaling $4 trillion "would go towards filling potholes or repairing bridges." However, Goldwein said, items like broadband, water systems and other transportation infrastructure are widely considered infrastructure by both Democrats and Republicans, and those items together with repairing roads and bridges make up a larger portion of the plan. Biden's American Jobs Plan is no longer the prevalent infrastructure proposal in Congress. In June, the president endorsed a scaled-back nearly $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure proposal that supporters hoped would have enough Republican support to pass in the Senate. That bipartisan proposal, which would involve about $579 billion in new spending, allocates about $109 billion nearly 19% of the total to roads, bridges and major projects, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Add in other types of transportation infrastructure, such as airports, public transit and ports and waterways, and infrastructure makes up more than half of the bipartisan proposal. The Associated Press conducted the review following months of Trump and his allies claiming without proof that he had won the 2020 election. His claims of widespread fraud have been rejected by election officials, judges, a group of election security officials and even Trump's own attorney general at the time. Even so, supporters continue to repeat them and they have been cited by state lawmakers as justification for tighter voting rules across the country. In Arizona, Republican state lawmakers have used the unsubstantiated claims to justify the unprecedented outside Senate review of the election in Maricopa County and to pass legislation that could make it harder for infrequent voters to receive mail ballots automatically. Senate President Karen Fann has repeatedly said her goal is not to overturn the election results. Instead, she has said she wants to find out if there were any problems and show voters who believe Trump's claims whether they should trust the results. WASHINGTON (AP) A key senator is asking six U.S. airlines to explain the high rates of delayed and canceled flights this summer, and she's asking whether there are labor shortages despite the airlines getting billions in federal aid to keep workers on the job. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, sent letters Friday to the CEOs of American, Southwest, Delta, JetBlue, Republic and Allegiant. She wrote that she is concerned by reports that have highlighted the role of worker shortages in a surge of delayed and canceled flights. In identical letters to the CEOs, Cantwell said each airline did a poor job of managing its workforce and, at worst, "failed to meet the intent of tax payer funding and prepare for the surge in travel that we are now witnessing. Since March 2020, when the pandemic began to crush air travel, Congress has approved $54 billion to keep airline workers employed. As a condition of the aid, airlines have been prohibited from furloughing workers, but they persuaded tens of thousands of employees to take voluntary buyouts, early retirement or long-term leave to cut costs. The cornerstone of South Dakotas criminal justice reform came in 2013 with the passing of then Senate Bill 70. This bill was passed, in part, to avoid building new prison space which is terribly inefficient and expensive to taxpayers. As a result of, or in conjunction with the 2013 reform bill, the judicial system in South Dakota has adopted new practices relating to incarceration for minor offenses, extended use of probation, pre-trial monitoring and a variety of other creative approaches in hopes of unburdening the criminal justice system. This has been an eight-year process and did not happen in just the five or so years Pennington County has been receiving MacArthur funding. Currently, many community issues are being re-categorized from crime problems to social problems. This is an obvious step considering the impacts poverty, addiction and mental illness have on the justice system. This requires more of a social service response in addition to treating many of these conditions as public health issues rather than criminal issues. The Montana Department of Justice is proposing several rule changes to better track sexual assault kits. The open public comment period on the changes closes July 23 at 5 p.m. The changes largely issue timeframes in which healthcare facilities, law enforcement and crime laboratories are required to update a sexual assault kit's status in the state's tracking system, which went live in 2019. Through the system, survivors would be able to track their kit status with a 6-digit code as it moves through the criminal justice process. Kayla Bragg, the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative coordinator for the Montana Department of Justice, said Friday the rule changes further clarify the process that began in 2019. "It's all coming together to make a uniform system that works well in the criminal justice process and providing that accountability on tracking kits from the medical facility to the law enforcement agency and through the entire system." In addition to rehiring employees and providing a hotline to report discrimination, among other relief, JBS will be required to provide clean, quiet, and appropriate locations other than bathrooms for employees religious observances, including daily prayers, and must also allow employees to use locker rooms or other locations that do not pose a safety risk for observation of their religious practices. The settlement is a good reminder that companies need to be more inclusive and diverse. To learn more about providing religious accommodations for Muslim workers, businesses can review the Council on American-Islamic Relations employers guide to Islamic religious practices, which includes information around Muslim holidays, Ramadan fasting and daily prayer. According to the guide, Islam mandates that believers perform prayer five times a day, including morning, noon, afternoon, sunset and night. Before prayer, Muslims are required to wash their faces, hands and feet with clean water. This washing is normally performed in a restroom sink, the guide said. During worship, the guide suggests Muslims stand, bow and touch the forehead to the ground. Worship may be performed in any quiet, dry, clean place. But Al-Qadaffi says he didnt, either. When the video is shown to a jury, I expect they will see that I didnt commit any crime, he said. At an earlier proceeding in lower court, one of the deputies who was injured during the encounter testified that she did not see who kicked her. At that trial, the pair were each found guilty of the misdemeanors, convictions that they appealed to Circuit Court. Originally, Schunn had been sentenced to just 10 days in jail, with an additional 30 days suspended. Al-Qadaffi was given 60 days, with an additional 120 days suspended. No one else was charged in the protest. Al-Qadaffi, a well-known housing rights organizer who works with the Legal Aid Justice Center, was demonstrating as part of a protest against the resumption of evictions in the city. He said he hadnt known Schunn beforehand, nor why she was there. Schunn couldnt be reached for comment. She was earlier acquitted of an unlawful assembly charge from a separate protest on Aug. 16. Her sister Inga Schunn was convicted in the August incident. Just before midnight three years ago, 20 members of the Delta Chi fraternity at Virginia Commonwealth University ran around the back of a Cary Street rowhouse, jumped the fence and started a fight with men from another fraternity. It was yet another alleged violation for a fraternity that has faced discipline in each of the past seven school years. Six weeks earlier, VCU had suspended Delta Chi for a litany of violations, and when the fight occurred, the chapter was awaiting the result of its appeal. Students in the fraternity have been accused of hazing, sexual assault, underage drinking, illegal parties and the fight, according to more than 800 of pages of emails and reports spanning the past 10 years obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch through a Freedom of Information Act request. The records show other fraternities at Virginia Commonwealth University have been punished for many of the same offenses, but none was on the verge of suspension as often as Delta Chi. In February, three semesters after being reinstated from suspension and again barred from hosting social events, Delta Chi threw an off-campus party. The group presented pledges with their big brothers and gave freshman Adam Oakes a large bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey, according to his family. Oakes was told to drink, they said. He tried to skirt the issue by wanting my endorsement, yet walking on both sides of the fence. The Trump base is very large in Virginia, they understood his game, and they didnt come out for Gillespie, Trump said. He got creamed! Gillespie, who also had never held public office but had served as chairman of the Republican National Committee and as counselor to President George W. Bush, lost to Democrat Ralph Northam by nearly 9 percentage points. Last year, Trump lost Virginia by 10 points. Political analysts say Youngkin may be reluctant to take firm positions on political issues that might alienate suburban moderates in the states key battlegrounds. Republicans lost control of the House of Delegates and state Senate in 2019 during a race that involved heated debate over gun control. During Trumps re-election campaign in 2020, Virginia was not a presidential battleground for the first time since 2008. Theres a natural constituency in the Republican Party. By and large, theyll vote for Republicans, whoever it is. Its almost as if Youngkin is winking at them, said University of Richmond professor Carl Tobias, who tracks state politics. Youngkin is also targeting more moderate or independent voters, in the suburbs of Virginias urban crescent that runs from Northern Virginia through greater Richmond, to Hampton Roads. Virginias mental health crisis system was teetering on the edge of failure prior to the pandemic, and the challenges of COVID-19 accelerated its collapse. For hospitals, this meant too many patients and too few staff; therefore, the recent order halting admissions to five state hospitals was unsurprising. This closure to new admissions will result in the streeting of Virginians in crisis. However, admitting patients to facilities with staffing levels insufficient to maintain safety or to uphold the right to treatment is equally unacceptable. In addition to inadequately compensating hospital staff, this public facility crisis has two root causes: insufficient investment in community care proven to reduce hospitalizations and the increasing reliance on state hospitals to admit those who are experiencing a temporary detention order (TDO). Virginia is the 10th wealthiest state in the country but ranks 30th in overall per capita public mental health care spending. Virginia disproportionately funds inpatient care, maintaining the third-highest number of beds on a per capita basis among the 50 states, while shortchanging spending on community-based services where its per capita spending ranks 39th. In other words, when the federal aid runs out, the expenses associated with it should end as well. So before creating new programs or facilities, or adding items to existing services, officials have to consider: Is the idea really a one-time expense? Or will it require ongoing financial commitments, from salaries to materials to building maintenance? For example, in May, Gov. Ralph Northam and General Assembly leaders listed help public schools as a top shared priority for Virginias ARP funds. They stressed their intent to modernize school buildings across the commonwealth, through rehabilitating and upgrading existing facilities, improving air quality and HVAC systems, and improving safety. The cost of upgrading ventilation likely can be planned as a one-time expense. And in hopes of kids having healthy, in-person learning experiences this fall, there is some urgency attached to this goal. In that spirit, lets talk again about someone who shows up frequently in this spot, hip-hop performer Byron Poe Mack. The rapper, producer, DJ and promoter is at it again, in a video with North Carolina partner Cesar Comanche. Check out their collab, Stillborn, at youtu.be/nm9gdev-iD0. Its the stalking horse from upcoming album A Promise Not To Sting. Mack, a Salemite, has been spitting for decades, having first come to attention as one-half of the Mack Jones duo. Without leaving the valley, and while working a day gig, Mack has built a wide-ranging network in the East Coasts hip-hop world, which often finds him touring in the Northeast, and recording with the likes of Comanche and Patrick 9th Wonder Douthit, a living legend of N.C. hip-hop. 9th Wonder helmed this track. Another hard-working figure in the valleys hip-hop scene, Dan Lewin, directed the video, which he shot in Raleigh, North Carolina. These guys arent kids, but they still work hard at something they love. And youve got to love it to keep doing it year after year. Whats more, most of us have to keep doing it year after year to get good at it. Let that be a lesson. On the last Wednesday in June, residents of a 12-story oceanfront condo in Surfside, Florida, went to bed with no reason to believe the building would crumble to the ground. And then it did. Now, questions abound: Why did the collapse occur, could it happen to buildings along the Virginia coast, and should we be worried? Building collapses are very rare and if they are to occur, there will likely be warning signs. Still, in Virginia, like states across the country, few mandates exist when it comes to proactive inspections and making sure condominiums have money on hand for repairs. Once construction is complete, the job of maintaining structural integrity of a building falls to the people who own and live in them a fact that has come under more scrutiny since the Florida collapse. Building owners in Virginia are required to have periodic inspections of certain systems such as elevators and fire protection systems but there are no requirements to proactively or regularly inspect building structure. This is why so many parents are turning out for school board meetings. You just have to Google Loudoun, Va. and up pops a series of videos with men and women standing at the podium pleading with the school board members not to pursue policies that will make their children feel like strangers in their own classrooms. Many supporters of CRT are trying to go on the counterattack, pretending that these policies are nothing more than an attempt to bring transparency to a discipline history which has long glossed over the suffering of minorities. CRT advocates push forcefully back against the suggestion that they are making white children feel bad about anything. But when you sit a third grader down and ask him to reflect upon what it means to be white, which is happening, and when you have discussions about white privilege, and when you divide kids into groups based on eye color and then give treats to the ones who have the preferred eye color just to show them how racism works, you are abusing that child. In fact, you are doing as much damage to that child as any adult who uses his or her power advantage to influence thought, action and emotion. Those who have rightfully criticized the Catholic Church for past abuses should be applauding that assertion, although I have a strong suspicion that they wont. The walk ended with a nonviolent action of civil disobedience on June 28 at Chase Banks World Credit Card Processing Center in Wilmington, where many of our walkers and local Wilmington residents joined us to bring attention to the banks destruction of the planet by being the largest U.S. funder of fossil fuel projects, including the MVP Projects. Chase must do better than green wash its multibillion investments. It must pivot from being a climate rogue to being a climate hero; cutting its investments in dirty fossil fuels and investing in wind, solar, and battery storage to cleanly power our country. Also, by concluding our walk with an arrestable nonviolent action in Wilmington, we challenged President Biden in his hometown to use his huge bully pulpit to take a stand against big bank financing of fossil fuel projects. Without Chases and other banks investments in and loans to oil and gas companies, these projects would cease to be built, and Bidens climate goals could be realized. We kicked off the walk on a day that is significant for both human and cosmic connection, as June 20 is Fathers Day and the Summer Solstice. We emphasized the love parents and grandparents have for their children and grandchildren which President Biden himself invokes often. Fisher would spend more than 30 years in the attorney generals office, a magnet under Miller for future judges, influential lobbyists, mega-litigators and a future governor, Jerry Baliles. Miller also hired the offices first Black lawyer: Billy Robinson, who later would become a legislator. Robinson, assigned to the criminal division, was stopped in rural Southside by a white sheriffs deputy who doubted Robinson was a state lawyer on official business. After that, said Tony Troy, Millers deputy and successor, Miller distributed badges to staff that identified them as his employees. Miller put in place a template for the attorney generals office that remains largely intact nearly 45 years after he left it, believing that his record of modernization and his moderate views would lift him to the governorship and the U.S. Senate. It was not to be. In 1977, with Democrats beset by a center-left struggle, Miller lost the gubernatorial nomination to Henry Howell, the liberal firebrand. In 1978, Miller was narrowly defeated for Senate by Republican John Warner, fill-in candidate for the guy Miller had beat for attorney general, Dick Obenshain, who was killed in a plane crash. In 2013, Miller endorsed Obenshains son, Mark, for attorney general over the Democratic nominee. The commission is limited by some rules it must be evenly split between Democrats and Republicans and Gilliam was a Republican, so whoever fills his seat must be, too. His name came from a list submitted by Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment so commissioners are bound to go back to Norments list to find a replacement. Thats where things get tricky. The only other Norment nominee from Southwest Virginia is John Thomas Jr. of Roanoke assuming you count Roanoke as part of Southwest Virginia. (Opinions on that vary the further west you go). George Barker, D-Fairfax, suggested to WVTF-FM that commissioners might not pick someone from Southwest Virginia. We do have a responsibility to make sure that theres inclusiveness in terms of where the members of the commission are geographically located within the Commonwealth, as well as other types of things related to race, ethnicity, income, age, all those types of things, he said. So its not just one issue, we have to balance a number of things. All thats true but ultimately redistricting is a geographical exercise. Without Gilliam, theres not a single commission member citizen member or legislator from west of Lynchburg. You have permission to edit this collection. Edit Close FLORENCE, S.C. Not many art exhibits come with a brass band, let alone a parade, but The Jamestown African American Art Show on display at the FMU University Place Gallery arrived with both Saturday afternoon. Xavier Harrison and the Sounds of Praise marched from the FMU Performing Arts Center up Dargan Street to the gallery while artists whose work is part of the exhibit and more than a few spectators danced ahead of the band. Today were recognizing African American artists from the Pee Dee and beyond. The Jamestown African American Art show is an extension of Come Celebrate Jamestown where we celebrate the culture and story of Ervin James, my great-great-grandfather, who purchased 109 acres back in 1870, said Terry James with the Jamestown Foundation who organized the exhibition. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Were here to recognize the gifts and talents these young people have, James said. Saturdays event was the first Jamestown event in the last two years. For the last two years we canceled our events sadly, but it was for the safety of the people. We have older family members and older families that wanted to come out, James said. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, legislators across the country filed 389 bills this year to restrict voting, such as measures to make it more difficult to register, cast ballots by mail and vote in-person. Most tend to be in red states. But there also have been some 880 bills filed, mostly in blue states, on everything from increasing early voting opportunities, making it easier to vote by mail and protecting access at polling places. The Brennan Center includes 17 South Carolina bills in its tally, but the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of South Carolina says there are actually 44 bills in the hopper dealing with elections and voting. So far, no major restrictive legislation has passed in South Carolina. But there are forces at work to tamper with election laws here, just like in Texas. First, state lawmakers are all but certain to finish with H. 3444, a bill that will change the S.C. Election Commission by allowing the legislature to have a say on who sits on the board. Currently, the states governor makes appointments with members from both parties, but the bill would split appointments between the governor and legislature, which critics say would lead to a more partisan commission. Both chambers have passed versions of the bill, which probably will find compromise soon. Feds advocate for (mid-guideline) prison term of 18 months for first Jan 6 defendant due to be sentenced on felony charge | Main | Catching up on notable mid-summer stories and commentary July 17, 2021 "Reducing Racial Inequalities in Criminal Justice: Data, Courts, and Systems of Supervision" The title of this post is the title of this short report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine capturing the proceedings of a notable workshop. Here is how the report is described: The Committee on Reducing Racial Inequalities in the Criminal Justice System of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a workshop in April 2021 as part of its exploration of ways to reduce racial inequalities in criminal justice outcomes in the United States. This workshop, the third in a series of three, enabled the committee to gather information from a diverse set of stakeholders and experts to inform the consensus study process. Speakers at the workshop presented on deeply rooted inequalities within the criminal justice system, which exist not only in readily measured areas such as incarceration, but also in a much larger footprint that includes contact with police, monetary sanctions, and surveillance and supervision. This publication highlights the presentations and discussion of the workshop. July 17, 2021 at 11:49 AM | Permalink Comments Post a comment The United States on Friday warned its business community of growing risks of operating in Hong Kong due to China's clampdown, as an increasing number of Western companies consider abandoning the historic financial hub. The United States also imposed sanctions on seven more Chinese officials in Hong Kong as it vowed there would be a price for Beijing's imposition of a draconian security law a year ago. "Beijing has chipped away at Hong Kong's reputation of accountable, transparent governance and respect for individual freedoms and has broken its promise to leave Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy unchanged for 50 years," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. "Today we send a clear message that the United States resolutely stands with Hong Kongers," Blinken said. In a long-awaited advisory that has already been denounced by China, US government agencies led by the State Department told businesses that they face "growing risks" in Hong Kong. "As a result of these changes, they should be aware of potential reputational, regulatory, financial and, in certain instances, legal risks associated with their Hong Kong operations." The advisory acknowledged that Hong Kong, a former British colony handed back to China in 1997, "retains many economic distinctions" from the mainland including stronger protections of intellectual property. But it pointed to a declining climate under the national security law including the arrest of one US citizen -- John Clancey, a prominent human rights lawyer. China imposed the law in June 2020 after massive and sometimes destructive protests that demanded the preservation of fundamental rights promised to the city before the handover. Dozens of people have been charged under the law including the media tycoon Jimmy Lai, former lawmakers and pro-democracy activists. The US advisory also warned of heightened risks to data privacy and less access to information, noting the closure of a leading newspaper, Apple Daily, which was a thorn in the side of authorities. Story continues - New sanctions - The advisory also highlighted that businesses were at greater risk of incurring US sanctions, which have been aimed in particular at banks that work with the police. In the latest sanctions, the United States blocked any US assets of seven deputy directors of the Liaison Office, which represents Beijing in Hong Kong. The United States has already slapped sanctions on top officials including Hong Kong's pro-Beijing chief executive, Carrie Lam, who has admitted that she has struggled to use credit cards as a result. Xia Baolong, director of China's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, said earlier Friday that sanctions will anger China and backfire. "You would only lift a rock and drop it heavily on your own feet," Xia said in a speech. In a statement after reports first emerged of the advisory, the office of the commissioner of the Chinese foreign ministry in Hong Kong said the United States was trying to "mislead" international businesses. "We believe that visionary people around the world will remain clear-eyed, see through the tricks of the US side, and make the right choice," it said. - Growing tensions - Hong Kong emerged as one of the world's premier trading hubs thanks to its business-friendly policies, respect for rule of law and proximity to the vast Chinese market. Since the imposition of the security law, a growing number of international companies have announced plans either to leave or reduce staff in Hong Kong including VF Corp., the US apparel giant known for its Timberland and North Face brands. A survey in May by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong found that 42 percent of its members were considering or planning a move out of the city. Tensions between China and the United States have soared in recent years as Beijing becomes increasingly assertive both at home and abroad. But a State Department official said Friday that the United States "will continue to explore opportunities" for high-level meetings with China so long as talks are "substantive and constructive for our purposes." The comment comes as Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman heads on a visit to Asia, although the State Department did not announce a stop in China. burs-sct/bgs "Titane" has won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, making Julia Ducournau the second female filmmaker to win the festival's top honor in its 74 year history. The win was mistakenly announced by jury president Spike Lee at the top of the show, unleashing a few moments of confusion. Ducournau did not immediately come to the stage to accept the award, instead waiting until the formal announcement at the end of the ceremony. At the end, the win for "Titane" was announced by Lee and presenter Sharon Stone. After the flub, the ceremony continued and other awards were handed out while Lee was seen with his head in his hands. The Grand Prix award was a joint honor split between the Iranian drama "A Hero" and Finnish director Juho Kuosmanen's "Apartment No. 6." Best director was awarded to Leos Carax for "Annette," the fantastical musical that opened the festival. The award was accepted by the musical duo Sparks, who wrote the script and music for the film. Nadav Lapid's "Ahed's Knee" won the jury prize, while Caleb Landry Jones took home the best actor prize. Renate Reinsve won best actress for Joachim Trier's "The Worst Person in the World." CANNES, France (AP) The Cannes Film Festival rolled out the red carpet for the first time in more than two years on Tuesday, launching the French Riviera spectacular with the premiere of Leos Carax's Annette," the introduction of Spike Lees jury, and with high hopes for shrugging off a punishing pandemic year for cinema. FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) One person who went missing from a Colorado River rafting trip in the Grand Canyon during a flash flood was found dead Thursday in frigid water while a second person was found alive, a park spokeswoman said. THE FACTS: All of that is false. The ballots were not unofficial or printed on illegal paper, and even Logan never alleged they were fraudulent. Logan pointed to ballots with the printing slightly offset between the front and back. He claimed this could cause votes to be counted for the wrong candidate if ink from one side bleeds through to another. He said the alignment issues were mostly from polling-place ballots, which are printed onsite, and said about 168,000 ballots were cast that way. The overwhelming majority of Arizona voters cast ballots by mail. We are seeing a lot of very thin paper stock being used especially on Election Day, Logan added. The allegation harkens back to the debunked Sharpiegate conspiracy theory that arose in the days after the election. Election experts say bleed-through doesnt affect the vote count because bubbles on one side of a ballot dont align with those on the other. Ballots that can't be read are flagged and duplicated by a bipartisan team. As with Nebraska, Iowa officials have argued that Texas could later reimburse the state for its expenses. But the agreement released Friday with Nebraska shows that Texas asked other states to absorb the associated costs with this mission for the good of the country. Nebraska's patrol estimated that sending 25 troopers to the border for 16 days would cost an estimated $334,000. However, Ricketts announced last week that he has extended the voluntary deployment of 15 of the troopers. Those troopers will stay an extra 14 days, raising the expected cost of travel, salaries and other expenses. Nebraska is happy to step up to provide assistance to Texas as they work to protect their communities and keep people safe, the governor said last week when he announced the extension, as he blasted the Biden administration for its handling of the U.S. border. The AP obtained the formal agreement with Texas under Nebraskas public records law. Parts of the agreement describing what the troopers would be doing along the border were redacted, with state officials claiming they were exempt from disclosure because they were investigative matters. WASHINGTON (AP) The Biden administration lashed out at Iran on Saturday for accusing it of delaying a proposed prisoner swap to force a quick resumption of indirect nuclear talks. The State Department slammed as outrageous comments made by Irans deputy foreign minister who alleged the U.S. and Britain were holding the swap hostage to the negotiations over salvaging the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA. In a pair of tweets from his verified account, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said the nuclear talks in Vienna could not resume until Irans hardline president-elect is inaugurated in early August. Were in a transition period as a democratic transfer of power is underway in our capital, he said. The nuclear talks must thus obviously await our new administration. This is what every democracy demands, Aragchi said. He added that the U.S. and Britain need to understand this and stop linking a humanitarian exchange ready to be implemented with the JCPOA. Keeping such an exchange hostage to political aims achieves neither, said Aragchi who is Iran's chief negotiator at the Vienna talks. TEN PRISONERS on all sides may be released TOMORROW if US&UK fulfill their part of deal. After hearing nothing from the governor's office, NOISE reached out on July 3 and again earlier this week. Gage responded on Wednesday that he hoped to get back to NOISE next week, adding that there were no press conferences this week that required credentials. Town halls held by the governor, and some news events held outside of Lincoln, do not require credentials to attend. Gage, when contacted by The World-Herald, offered little in the way of explanation for the delay, except that the governor's office was "busy." He did provide a list of the 38 media representatives who were approved for credentials, which includes organizations like Epoch Times, a conservative publication accused of spreading misinformation, and Progressive Farmer, the nation's largest farm magazine. One Lincoln television station received credentials for nine staffers. Gage said the governor's office had not, as of Friday, rejected any applicants. Davis, the NOISE Omaha editor, said he believes that NOISE was originally denied access not because it is an advocacy group, but because some of its financial backers, including the Sherwood Foundation, which is chaired by philanthropist Susan A. Buffett, provide funding to organizations that push for things like early childhood education and abortion rights. When saying I do to 'The King' no one recognised who David and Lily - who has two daughters, Ethel, 10, and Marnie Rose, eight, with her ex-husband Sam Cooper - were, but afterwards when the chapel photographer found out he was snapping the lead of Netflix hit 'Stranger Things' and a British pop star, Elvis impersonator Brendan Paul couldnt wait to get in some photos with the happy couple. David shared: The greatest thing was Elvis didn't know who we were. So, Elvis was just doing his show. The kids, Ethel - Lilys oldest child - did not like music very much, there's a lot of pictures of her like holding her fingers on her ears as Elvis was singing the three songs that we were guaranteed. It was funny that after the wedding, we were taking photos, because Elvis does a 10-minute ceremony and then we took photos. During the photo session the photographer was taking pictures of Lily alone, and was like, Wow, that's crazy you look just like this singer Lilly Allen, you look just like her. And she was like, Yeah I am Lily Allen. And he was like, Oh my god. And then he's taking pictures of me alone and he was like, You look just like the guy in the show Stranger Things, and I was like, Yeah, I'm that guy. And then Elvis got excited and wanted to be in some of our photos which I guess does not happen all the time so we were very happy that the king would deem to take pictures with us. On Friday, the Vatican announced a new order that would barely affect most practicing Catholics: there are now strict rules for when and where the traditional Latin Mass can be conducted. Among other new regulations, priests can no longer decide to celebrate the Latin Mass; they must instead ask permission from their bishops, who should make sure that there is an organic demand from the actual faithful and that the priest is not seeking to celebrate the Latin Mass because he sees the normal, vernacular version of it as invalid. Advertisement The response to this news among a certain group of Catholics was immediate outrage. The lack of mercy shown here toward traditional Catholics, Benedict XVI, and the young laity and clergy drawn to the Latin Mass is stunning, the Catholic journalist Raymond Arroyo said on Twitter. This will create the division that Francis claims to cure through this ill advised and destructive new law. Others warned that such a decision would drive away enthusiastic young Catholics, or talked about how the traditional Latin Mass had drawn them to Catholicism in the first place. Some vowed to continue to attendor in the case of certain priests, conductthe traditional mass. Others spoke openly of their belief that Francis was evil and wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To many Catholics, such an anguished response is hard to understand. The vast majority of Catholics have never attended a traditional Latin Mass, so Francis declaration will have virtually no effect on their lives. But for those who deal with church politics, the matter was extraordinarily serious: in a document that accompanied the order, Francis wrote that he was reversing the Vaticans stance on the Latin Mass because it was being used as a tool to sow division in the church. Why? It has to do with the history of the Latin Mass and how one set of rituals came to stand for an entire worldview. Theologically, there is nothing different about the extraordinary form of the mass, known colloquially as the Latin Mass. The aesthetics are differentpriests face the altar rather than the congregants, and they recite prayers in Latin rather than the common languagebut Catholic experts are quick to point out that one form of worship is as valid as the other. The Latin Mass had been pretty much the only way of saying the mass until the 1960s, when Pope John XXIII and Vatican II modernized the church. In the 1970s, a traditionalist group angered by the recent reforms broke away from the Catholic church, and the Vatican slowly began to allow the Latin Mass in some circumstances in an attempt to bring the traditionalists back into the fold. In 2007, the more conservative Pope Benedict XVI officially lifted the restrictions on the Latin Mass, allowing priests to use the traditional mass in private or whenever a group of the faithful attached to the previous liturgical tradition stably exists. Advertisement Advertisement The traditionalist priests happily took Benedict up on the offer, and Latin Mass-focused parishes cropped up around the world. The issue, according to Timothy P. OMalley, the academic director of the Notre Dame Center for Liturgy, was that many of the clergy and faithful who were drawn to the traditional mass also believed that the Latin Mass was the only authentic and valid way to worship. When Benedict allowed the Latin Mass, what ended up happening was there was a subculture of traditionalists given a mainstream space, he said. Some bickering occurred at the local level, but according to several Catholic liturgical experts, the parish squabbles were not the source of the division Francis was targeting. The problem is these churches attracted very traditional Catholics who disagreed with Pope Francis on pretty much everything, and also tended to believe that they were the real church and everything else wasnt, said Gregory Hillis, a professor of theology at Bellarmine University. The Latin Mass became a point around which traditional Catholics could unite, and a symbol of what they thought the church should be. Advertisement So by cracking down on the Latin Mass and undoing Benedicts decisions, Francis appears to be trying to remove potential sources of frictionand more importantly, to send a clear message to the traditionalists who for years have agitated against him. Advertisement There is a tendency among Catholic observers to warn about the specter of a schism during times of disunity. But many academics believe that, eight years into Francis pontificate, the Church is at one of the most divided points in its recent history. Francis has a highly organized and well-funded opposition within the church, with numerous high-ranking opponents in the Vatican. In the U.S., in particular, there are a number of conservative bishops and priests who seek to undermine the pope, Advertisement This problem has been festering, said Steven Millies, a theology professor at the Catholic Theological Union. We know there are people who have not said that they separated themselves from the pope and the church, but they have. We know it, we can see it. And it was inevitable that this problem was going to need to be confronted. He called the situation something uncomfortably close to open revolt against Rome and described Francis decision as overdue. OMalley also attributed Francis actions to a realization that traditionalism had become a crisis and that the church was in danger of fracturing. But its not only traditionalists who balked at Francis order. Even some who described themselves as more progressive expressed discomfort with the autocratic way he went about it. To those outside the church, Francis papacy is known for his views on divorce, homosexuality, climate change, and capitalism. But inside the church, the more hotly discussed topics have to do with bureaucracy, hierarchy, and leadership style. His legacy has been one of decentralization and simplification. His supporters may find the conservatives in the Vatican frustrating, but they also laud the pope for not squashing all dissent. So when Francis suddenly announced, after only relatively light consultation with some bishops, that he was making a unilateral decision, many observers were baffled by what they saw as a very different style from the pope they knew. Advertisement This appears to be sort of a nuclear option, Hillis said. It does seem to go against what hes been about in so many ways. Hillis, along with many other experts, believes that instead of undercutting dissent, the order will fuel it. Traditionalists have already begun to describe themselves as a persecuted group, akin to practitioners in China. I think its difficult to figure out what the end game is, he said. Its the logic of suppression, which I dont think is a very Christian approach to dealing with adversaries. OMalley warned that traditionalists would perceive the order as an insult and expects conflicts to crop up when bishops do remove the Latin Mass. Millies warned that dissident clergy were already working to create a parallel church and that more American bishops are likely to reveal their opposition to Francis and the modern version of the church as they deal with the fallout. This is a big deal, Millies said. These people feel the church abandoned its authority when it began addressing itself to a modern world thats not built on the church as its foundation. Theres a 500-year-old argument underway here. The bigness of it will be lost on a lot of people who dont understand what the real argument is. Listen to the entire episode below, or subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts. Cubas Communist regime has endured for over six decades and outlasted more than 10 American presidents, several of whom predicted and pushed for its downfall. But in recent days, a government that survived pressure from one of the most powerful nations in the world is facing its toughest fightfrom its own people. From social media to the streets, Cuban Americans have added their voices to the call for a new government in Cuba, and many of them are challenging the historic American narrative about the country. One of these people is Amalia Dache. Shes Afro-Cuban and a professor of higher education at the University of Pennsylvania. She researches the role of race in higher education and student activism. Shes also the author of the book Rise Up! Activism as Education. On Fridays episode of A Word, we spoke about the uprising and the myths and realities of racial equity in Cuba. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jason Johnson: When you talk to Cubans on the island and then look at the conversation happening in U.S. politics and media, whats the most critical disconnect or misunderstanding about the uprising? Amalia Dache: So the CubansCuban natives, Cubans who are dissidents of the revolution, which many of my family are, and Cuban Americans hereagree that Cuba has to change. Cuba has to be more democratic. Between both the island and the United States, thats the agreement with Cuban Americans and Cubans on the island. I mean, just engaging on Twitter, you will see people on the left and people on the far right both saying similar things, like OK, is it possible that the CIA has been involved in the resistance in Cuba? Have yall not been following Patria y Vida? Have yall been following Afro-Cuban artists? Have yall not been following what theyve been doing? No, they havent. Advertisement So this is what Im saying. Were silenced and were erased on both fronts, in Cuba and the United States, across racial lines, across political lines. And this is a quandary for the Afro-Cuban, for the Black Cuban, but were hoping that African Americans and Black people who understand issues of institutional racism, even though they dont know communism, they know capitalism. We do know that these systems have hierarchies. Cuba doesnt have corporations that are powerful, like the United States, but they have the military elite thats powerful, and thats predominantly white. Lets be real about this. Advertisement Your research has taken you back to Cuba several times in recent years. What did you witness firsthand about the social and political climate there, and how was it affecting Cubans depending on what your race, or what your perceived race, was? Advertisement When I was in Cuba in 2019, I started a study that engaged with Cubans from my neighborhood about their racial and political ideologies, and what I learned from interviewing Cubans in Havana was fear. Theres lots of fear and lots of secrecy about what they can say. So the fact that I too am CubanI was born in Cuba and I was born in this neighborhoodthey trusted me and they trusted to share their stories. And what I heard was really that in order to enter higher education, you have to be a part of the Communist regime. In order to learn and to progress within the Cuban system, you have to be aligned with the Communist regime. If you write a dissertation or thesis that critiques the Communist regime, it wont get published, and youre going to face repression from the government, your family is going to face repression. There is no academic freedom in Cuban universities, there is no disciplinary peer review, and so you have a society of people who their knowledge systems are limited and cant engage internationally because its a Communist dictatorship. Advertisement Advertisement A lot of the protests there, protests in general, are generally led by young people. Youve also studied uprisings in the United States and the protests that weve had over the years. What are some similar threads between the youth uprising in Cuba and what weve seen in the United States, not just last year, but over the last several years? Whats similar is that these youth, Afro-Cuban youth, have been leading. They live in the most marginal, oppressed, and repressed neighborhoods in Cuba. So where this resistance began was in one of the southern barrios of Havana, which is highly marginal, as far as race and as far as the economic situation. Because in Cuba, even though you have this totalitarian state and supposedly everyones the same across the economic system, you still have neighborhoods, you still have barrios, that are worse as far as their housing, as far as who lives there across the demographics, and you do have predominantly Black and underserved and impoverishedwithin the scale of Cuban povertycommunities. So even in this kind of government, you still have a hierarchy of poverty and those who are highly affected are Black Cubans, and the youth are the ones that are coming out. Advertisement Advertisement So thats why you see with the San Isidro Movement that its Black artists, that its these artists that are coming from this neighborhood, coming from the San Isidro neighborhood, coming from neighborhoods that are impoverished. So the youth are coming out of these neighborhoods, similarly to the work I did in Ferguson. So I began studying activism, I wrote my book on activism, because I was a professor at University of Missouri in the belly of the beast of white supremacy in 2014, and Michael Brown gets killed and Im studying whats happening. And its those that are living in northern St. Louis, its those who have been oppressed within the county and who have been living years from the oppressive housing structure in St. Louis and the segregation in schoolsthose are the people who have been highly impacted by the police state in St. Louis. Advertisement So the Ferguson community, the Ferguson youth, thoseagain, very similar to the Cuban youthare the ones that are out in the streets, and theyre the ones who are saying, look, we have to do something, we have to change. Theyre angry and they have no fear. Thats the other thing, is that this power of everything being taken away from you, and in a sense the power, the state, takes away your fear too. Theyve taken everything. Theyve taken your body, theyve taken your family, and now theyve taken fear. Advertisement Advertisement In the past, youve spoken about howand this is my perception as wellthe political left in America, the Black political left and the white political left, tend to romanticize these ideas of racial equality in Cuba. Can you do a little bit to absolutely destroy that myth? Because its something that anyone who has a lived experience in Cuba has always spoken out against, but for some reason, certain factions of the American left want to keep promoting it. Advertisement Yes, absolutely. So this is a major fact and it aligns with whats happening in the United States with the critical race theory supposed debate, how the Republicans are trying to get rid of critical race theory in the classroom. Listen to this: Afro-Cuban people, Black people in Cuba, have not been able to engage in their own history since 1959. Since 1959, the Cuban government, the Communist government, has wiped out, off the face of the Cuban planet, all Black political associations, all Black organizations. Cuba before 1959 had 200 Black societies. These Black societies survived colonialism. You hear me? Colonialism. They were completely disbanded in the early 1960s because the Communist government said that it had eradicated racism. Advertisement Advertisement So you cant even engage in Black history in Cuba. The Cuban curriculum cannot engage in these conversations because its not part of the revolution. Its counterrevolutionary to talk about Black history in Cuba, to engage Black history. Black Cubans dont know their history. They dont know about Black resistance. They dont know about how Black Cubans and Afro-Cubans during the Republic, between 1901 and 1959, were a part of changing the Cuban society, the young Cuban society. Yes, there was racism in Cuba between 1901 and 1959. There was racism all over the United States. There was institutional racism everywhere. But it was a young nation, and Black Cubans and Afro-Cubans were part of creating the most progressive constitution in 1940. It was the most progressive constitution in Latin America. So Cubans, across racial lines, were making strides, but yes, of course we can critique it because we were looking at it from the U.S. lens. Of course we can critique it, but it was a new nation. Advertisement Your family was part of the Mariel boatlift in the early 1980s, something that a lot of Americans are only familiar with either through Scarface or Miami Vice or that sort of thing. Can you just tell me a little bit about what compelled your family to leave, and then also, how are Cuban Americans who came over on the boatlift perceived differently? How did they have a different political experience in America than those who came over after the revolution in the 50s? Advertisement The Mariel Cubans, like my fathermy father was a political prisoner, one. The Mariel Cubans, they were called the darker exodus because the ones who came in the 80s, 125,000 Cubans that came in the 1980s, were different from the exodus Cubans in the 1960s and 70s because this was not the elite. This was not those who owned businesses, for example, in the 1960s and 70s. These were the Cubans that some had possibly believed that there was going to be change on the island in 1960s and 70s, and believed in the revolution to a certain extent. They lived it 20 years. So they lived it 20 years, many of which, like my father, were political prisoners because they were against it. So as soon as the revolution comes in, they start noticing that its not what Fidel [Castro] said it was going to be. So in total, one can argue that about a quarter of the Cuban migration was Black. So I see that as a form of resistance. I see that as a form of resistance to the government who was both institutionally racist and socially repressive. So these Cubans come to the United States, like my family and so many other families, face racism on the island, face racism in the United States. Yet their main focusand this is what Ive learned in the interviews I just did in Miami a couple of weeks ago, of Mariel and Balsero Cubanstheyre so focused on their families in Cuba, theyre so focused on liberation and freeing these people that they engage in the political structures of the United States in order to basically take down the system. So you dont see them engaging vocally against issues of race. Primarily, their focus is political. So Black Cubans, at times, feel like they have to choose between being Black in America and being a Black Cuban, and again battling both frontsbattling racism here, but feeling as if, primarily, their concern is whats happening to their families in Cuba. With two months to go before the special election to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom, gubernatorial candidate Caitlyn Jenner has flown off to Australia. Jenners team has confirmed the candidate was abroad after Australian publications reported she flew into Sydney to appear on Celebrity Big Brother. Jenner vehemently denied her campaign was stopping just because she was more than 7,000 miles away. In a tweet Friday after the news broke, Jenner said she was honoring a work commitment she had made prior to even deciding to run for governor. She added: My campaign team is in full operation as am I. I am in this race to win for California, because it is worth fighting for. Advertisement The election to recall Newsom is scheduled for Sept. 14, and ballots will start going out to voters next month. The ballots will contain two questions, first whether the Democratic governor should be recalled and then who should replace him. Its unclear how long Jenner will be gone but Australia requires everyone arriving from overseas to go through 14 days of quarantine. Jenners spokesperson said she would be back in time for a bus tour across California before the election. TMZ hears word from sources close to production that Jenner will be in Australia for three weeks, including the two weeks of quarantine. Advertisement Advertisement The former Olympians arrival in Australia has sparked some controversy amid stringent COVID-19 restrictions that have kept even some citizens out of the country. One group representing Australians stranded abroad called Jenners arrival a slap in the face. Jenner has turned her opposition to COVID-19 restrictions in California into one of her main campaign platforms. Draconian lockdowns didnt work before and wont now! When will the politicians get it?! she tweeted on June 29. Jenner is one of several Republicans trying to take over for Newsom, including former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, former Rep. Doug Ose, and radio host Larry Elder. Democrats are largely backing Newsom and there are no big names running. Friday was the deadline for candidates to file their paperwork and the official list of candidates will be known next week. Jenner filed her paperwork Thursday. A federal judge in Texas has put the brakes on the initiative launched under former President Barack Obamas administration that has protected hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants who were brought into the United States as children from potential deportation. U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen sided with Texas and other states by ruling that Obama exceeded his executive authority when he launched the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which he characterized as an illegally implemented program. But Hanen also said the approximately 650,000 people already in the program, known as Dreamers, can keep their protected status for now and that the federal government should not take any immigration, deportation or criminal action against them unless it would have done so anyway. Although the Department of Homeland Security can continue to accept new applications, it cant approve any new ones for now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hanen said that with the program the president decided something that was under the purview of Congress. The executive branch cannot just enact its own legislative policy when it disagrees with Congresss choice to reject proposed legislation, the judge wrote. Congress has not given D.H.S. the power to enact DACA. With his ruling, Hanen sided with Texas who led the effort to end DACA and was joined by Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, South Carolina, and West Virginia. The states claimed the program was unlawful and left them on the hook to pay for education and healthcare, among other benefits, for immigrants. In order to qualify for the program, immigrants must have been under 31 as of June 15, 2012, arrived in the United States before turning 16, and finished high school or enlisted in the military. They also have to pass a criminal-background check. Advertisement The ruling immediately became a rallying cry as immigrants and their advocates called on the White House and Democrats in Congress to push through legislation that would protect Dreamers. United We Dream Executive Director Greisa Martinez Rosas said the Friday ruling amounted to a blaring siren for Democrats to act. Key Democrats vowed to do just that. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called on Republicans to join us in respecting the will of the American people and the law, to ensure that Dreamers have a permanent path to citizenship. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard J. Durbin, one of the key proponents of legislation to give dreamers a path to citizenship, said it was time to put an end to years of delay. Congress will now act quickly with or without the party of Donald Trump to allow these Americans to finally become citizens, Durbin said. President Joe Biden on Saturday vowed the Justice Department will appeal the deeply disappointing ruling but called on lawmakers to act. Only Congress can ensure a permanent solution by granting a path to citizenship for Dreamers that will provide the certainty and stability that these young people need and deserve, Biden said. Grand River Raceways Ontario Sires Stakes season got off to a quick start on Friday, July 16 as Fuzzy Angel rocketed around the Elora oval to a 1:56.3 victory in the first $22,150 three-year-old trotting filly Grassroots division. Starting from Post 4, driver Jody Jamieson fired Fuzzy Angel away from the start and reached the quarter-pole in :28.1. The filly opened up a six length margin on the field by the :57.3 half and had extended her lead to 10 lengths by the 1:26.3 three-quarters. From there Jamieson shifted Fuzzy Angel into cruise and the fan favourites sailed home seven length winners over A Blue Blood and Stonebridge Strong. She was awesome today, boy. I dont know what the track record is there, but she was trotting around there so good maybe she could have done something about it today, said Jamieson, who drives the filly for trainer Blake MacIntosh of St. George, ON and Hutt Racing Stable of Malvern, PA. Shes such a half-mile specialist. Too bad theyre not all on the half-mile tracks for her, because she can trot the turns so well. Guelph, ON resident Jamieson piloted Fuzzy Angel to a track record effort in the Grassroots season opener, circling Clinton Raceway in 1:58.4 on July 4. The Archangel daughter was four-fifths of a second shy of the Grand River Raceway speed mark. Jamieson was back in the winners circle after the second division, taking another front-end tour with Pixies Lady. From Post 1 the duo clocked fractions of :27.4, :57.3 and 1:26.4 on their way to a 1:57.1 victory. Top Of The Bar finished four and one-half lengths behind the favourite in second and All Muscle N Sass was two more lengths back in third. She got a little tired tonight, but I let her trot the third quarter pretty hard to make sure there was nobody chasing us down to get the win, said Jamieson. Thats a big mile tonight too, 1:57.1. Susanne Kerwood trains Pixies Lady for M And L Of Delaware LLC of Wilmington, DE and the Acton, ON resident spent a significant amount of time working with the Muscle Mass daughter after her July 1 start in the Gold Series. The filly dragged Jamieson to a :55.1 half before running out of steam and fading to ninth. She won two starts ago in a maiden in 1:55.4 (June 24) and was controllable, and then she wasnt controllable her last start (July 1). Susies done a heck of a job to get her back where I can drive her and make her do what I want to do, said Jamieson. You can steer her and things like that, but when she sees the starting gate she kind of loses her mind. Edgewater was behind Pixies Lady in that high speed half on July 1 and did not enjoy the experience, leading her to Post 6 in the third Grassroots division on Friday night. Like the other two winners, Edgewater went straight to the front, rang up fractions of :29.2, :59.3 and 1:28 and sprinted home a three and one-quarter length winner in 1:56.4. Lifeintheslammer finished second and Fortune Tellers K was well back in third. Favourite Radical J J made an early break that took her out of the action. Rick Zeron of Oakville trains and drives Edgewater for his co-owner Jim Walker of Port Perry, ON and said the Kadabra daughter is finally delivering the results he always expected from her. When she was two she was my best trotting filly in Florida and she got sick on her way back from Florida. She lost a ton of weight and I could never get her to put the weight and muscle tone back on, which in turn ruined her two-year-old year, said Zeron. What she is now is what she would have been at two. Everything I wanted her to do tonight she did. She leaves the gate like a pacer, she gets you out of trouble, makes the driver more comfortable, I cant say enough about the filly, she just did everything beyond what I thought she would do tonight. I was very, very happy with her, and I am more happy for Jim Walker to get one to have a little bit of fun with. The final Grassroots division went to Muscle Mass daughter Tipsy In Dixie, who controlled the pace from Post 1 for driver Mario Baillargeon and trotted under the wire in 1:57.3 off fractions of :29.1, :58 and 1:28. Doing It All finished one and three-quarter lengths back in second and Exclusive Rosette was third. I could see right away that I could control the race so went to the front, and got pushed a little bit in the second quarter, but then after that it was a breeze, said Baillargeon of the fan favourite. Shes such an easy filly, shes like an old trotting mare really. You could drive her with two shoelaces. Anybody would have looked good driving that filly tonight. Baillargeon tipped his hat to trainer Harry Poulton and the whole team involved with Tipsy In Dixie, who is owned by the 15 members of TheStable.ca Tipsy In Dixie of Guelph, ON and Hutchison Harness LLC of North Ridgeville, OH. The $7,000 three-year-old trotting filly Prospect Series division went to Iona Dream, who went gate-to-wire from Post 2 in a personal best 2:00.4 for driver Paul Mackenzie, trainer Terry Gallant and owner Triple S Equine of Newton, ON. E L Miss Ellie was second and The Last Dance finished third. The three-year-old trotting fillies make their third Grassroots start at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Aug. 12 while the Prospect Series head for Clinton Raceway on Aug. 8. Next up on Grand River Raceways Ontario Sires Stakes schedule are the two-year-old pacing colts, who will battle in their second Grassroots Leg on Monday, July 19. (OSS) To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results Grand River Raceway. Winding Hill had won three straight top class trots at Plainridge Park before faltering from post seven last week. But the drought was short as the venerable 10-year-old gelding got back to his winning ways in the $15,000 Winners-Over Handicap trot at The Ridge on Friday afternoon. Winding Hill (Drew Monti) was snatched off the gate and settled in fifth while stablemate Only Passing Through (Nick Graffam) took over as master of fractions. Under his direction, the single-file six-pack sauntered to the half in :57.3. Chav Hanover (Bruce Ranger) was first to pull and Winding Hill was obliged to follow as the group made their way up the backstretch. The top four horses broke away from the rest and were two-in and two-out around the far turn. With Only Passing Through still on the point, Monti tipped Winding Hill three-deep at the head of the lane and he was full of trot. Chav Hanover overtook Only Passing Through mid-stretch, but Winding Hill went by him at the line with a stiff brush to win by 1/4 length in 1:55. Along with his 38th career victory, Winding Hill ($10.80) took a new seasonal mark for himself and the winners share of the purse for his owner Diane Whittemore. Marissa Chadbourne trains the winner. A pair of $12,500 conditioned trots was featured on the undercard. The first went to Swipe Right (Shawn Gray) who followed Dazzling Lindy (Bruce Ranger) for the better part of the mile before overtaking the leader in the stretch, where he opened up a three-length gap and registered a lifetime best win timed in 1:55.4. Swipe Right ($8.40) is owned by Kelly Hastings and is trained by Jaymes McAssey. The second was won by Blue Knight (Ivan Davies) who took control of the race at the three-eighths from Mr. Muscle (Matty Athearn) and then cruised the rest of the way. After laying down identical snappy middle quarters of :28.4, Blue Knight turned for home and trotted away to a 3-3/4 length win in 1:55.3. Blue Knight ($4.80) is owned by Richard Mason and trained by his driver, Ivan Davies. Bruce Ranger was the top driver Friday, winning three races during the day. Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (July 19) with post time at 4 p.m. (Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts) A summer-long battle appears to be brewing in the Atlantic Sires Stakes glamour boy division. Last year, Woodmere Stealdeal had 13 wins in 13 starts in his two-year-old campaign and made more than $68,000. He had his first start of 2021 this past Saturday at Red Shores Summerside in the first ATSS event of the year. Woodmere Stealdeal was the clear favourite of the contest, but the race ended up playing out differently. Another Steelhead Hanover sired colt, Dustylanegoliath, was the one to cross the finish line first. It was not a complete upset as Dustylanegoliath was sent off as the 7/5 second choice after starting 2021 with a string of success. As a sophomore, he has four wins and a second in his five starts of the year for owner Daniel Ross of Belfast, P.E.I. with more than $11,000 in earnings. Trainer-driver Gilles Barrieau is very pleased with his colt and their current success. Hes a different colt this year, he grew up and filled out. He looks more like an athlete this year. One race does not a season make, so Barrieau wisely acknowledged that its a long season when asked if his Goliath should now be considered the new divisional kingpin. I beat him last week, but it might have been a fluke. It was Woodmere Stealdeals first start, so Ill have to take things into perspective. They both are nice colts. Hes going to beat me and Im going to beat him. Its going to be a battle all summer. That battle continues this Saturday (July 17) as the Atlantic Sires Stakes rolls into Truro Raceway, with both colts drawing into the same division again. The two colts faced each other eight times last year and Dustylanegoliath performed well in the head-to-head matchups while finishing in the top three five times just behind Woodmere Stealdeal. Barrieau acknowledges that Woodmere Stealdeal had their number last year but feels good about their chances this summer. I came close to beating him (Woodmere Stealdeal) once last year, I got to his neck. And just after that, we couldnt beat him. He was just that much better. But my horse developed quite a bit through the winter. He filled out and is a lot stronger. And after a solid winter of training, Dustylanegoliath is more complete racehorse at age three. I noticed he was stronger and matured a lot. Hes a type of colt that just loves his job. The delayed start to stakes season gave Barrieau and Dustylanegoliath more time to prepare. I was ready for the first day but unfortunately the stakes werent going until last week, so I had four overnight starts and used that to build his confidence. He raced the back-to-back and you could just tell he was that much sharper. This week, the two colts square off at Truro with Woodmere Stealdeal possibly having the edge over Dustylanegoliath thanks to an inside post and home track advantage. Barrieau is not concerned. He has travelled all over the Maritimes and he doesnt need to take his track with him, Barrieau responded. Hes pretty versatile. He can leave and he can cut it out. He can certainly tough it out like last week. Hes having a good week. Stealdeal drew the inside of me this week. Im in the middle of five this week. It will all depend on how the race unfolds. You never know how its going to unfold. My colt is sharp and loves to race. He always drives right until the end. They will be duking it out all summer. On Saturday in Truros 10th race, one of two $8,320 ATSS A divisions, Woodmere Stealdeal and driver Marc Campbell leave from post two while Dustylanegoliath and Barrieau have the four hole in the compact field of five. First post time is set for 4:00 p.m. (Atlantic Time). To view the entries for Truros card of harness racing to conclude Atlantic Grand Circuit Week, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Truro Raceway. (A Trot Insider Exclusive by Trey Colbeck) He has always been involved in politics as an informed voter, he said, and he remembers, growing up, weve always had debates in the family home, about politics, where we believed and where we stood and how we believed. As a professional in the IT field who has worked for the U.S. Department of Defense and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, he believes the governorship will be a good fit for him. The governorship is more my style, more of that, business logistics management, boots on the ground kind of thing, he said. Leadership is what I excel at. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} ...But, why I really wanted to run is because I havent seen the candidates ... that I believe represent me and many Nebraskans that I know. And those are candidates that are willing to stand up, with a strong backbone, for what is true, what is right and honest. He said he is tired of the old adage that politicians cant be trusted. He describes himself as a middle class, working man who can relate to Nebraskans more than the other candidates in the race. He describes them all as good guys, but theyre not the right guys. I believe Im the right choice for Nebraska. A western Nebraska rancher and his wife are grateful for community support after a fireworks accident at a public show damaged both of his eyes. Luke Norman, 35, was badly injured during a July Fourth show following the Old West Trail PRCA Rodeo in Crawford. His wife, Erin Norman, said her husband was flown to a hospital near Denver for treatment of his injuries. Norman, who has been with the Crawford Volunteer Fire Department for about 10 years, was wearing protective gear during the event, his wife said. Some fireworks tipped over and then struck Normans face shield, breaking it into pieces. He still has debris in the right eye, but hes now able to see enough out of it to get around the house, Erin Norman said. He cant see out of his left eye, but he will have surgery again in a couple of weeks. Hes got a bit of a long road ahead of him. Crawford is a town of about 1,000 in Dawes County in the northwestern part of the state. Its about 25 miles southwest of Chadron. The Normans and their five young children live on a ranch north of Crawford. Luke Norman, his wife said, is independent and is used to being busy. CASPER, Wyo. (AP) U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming had a second consecutive record fundraising quarter, bringing in $1.88 million from April through June, according to financial reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. Her campaign has over $2.8 million in the bank after raising $1.54 million in the first three months of 2021, reports show. Cheney, a Republican, faces several primary challengers after voting in favor of impeaching former President Donald Trump following the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. The Wyoming Republican Party voted to censure her in February. Cheney was also removed as the House Republican Conference chair, the third-highest Republican post in that chamber. Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently named Cheney to the House Select Committee to investigate the riot. Cheney has held the only Wyoming seat in the U.S. House since 2017. She is the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney. Trump has said he will endorse a Republican opponent of hers. Cheney's top two challengers raised over $200,000 each over the past three months. The agreement under which Nebraska sent its state troopers to the Texas-Mexico border includes no provision for Texas to pay the estimated cost of $334,000, according to documents obtained by The World-Herald. A statement from Gov. Pete Ricketts and the Nebraska State Patrol said that it's still possible that the state could be reimbursed. But it's unclear how that would happen. Ricketts is among several GOP governors who have sent law enforcement in response to requests from the governors of Arizona and Texas, who are also Republicans. The border-state governors sent a letter June 10 requesting other governors send all available law enforcement in defense of our sovereignty and territorial integrity, citing a crisis at the border. An agreement related to the deployment states that Nebraska will not seek reimbursement from Texas. A Patrol spokesperson previously has said the funding was not finalized and said the cost of previous deployments like this one, made through the interstate Emergency Management Assistance Compact, had been reimbursed. The compact is a mutual aid agreement that allows states to share resources in emergencies. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency released some public records related to the mission to The World-Herald on Friday afternoon. In a joint statement, Ricketts' office and the Patrol said a funding source had not been finalized, and reimbursement was still possible. The language in the agreement was included to expedite the deployment," the statement reads. "The State of Nebraska continues to work with Texas, and a funding source has not been finalized. Given the opportunity, the state will seek reimbursement. The state has the resources to pay for the deployment if reimbursement is not ultimately available. However, the documents show there was no apparent expectation that Texas and Arizona would foot other states' costs. The two states sought assistance from states across the country "to provide the resources necessary to assist in fulfilling the federal governments responsibility to secure the southern border" and asked assisting states to cover associated costs. The Texas Department of Public Safety requested 500 state troopers to support its border operations, according to the documents. Cost estimates for the Nebraska troopers are not final, Patrol spokesperson Cody Thomas wrote in an email. "Final costs will be determined once the deployment is complete," he wrote. "As with any operation, real-time costs are paid for through the NSP budget." Nebraska's costs are likely to be higher than the $334,000 estimate. Estimated personnel costs in the agreement cover 16 days for 26 personnel, and the original 16-day deployment was extended for some of the troopers. Nebraska agreed to deploy 25 troopers, including leadership and logistics support, according to the documents. The team would include "marked or unmarked transportation as required to transport, patrol and command the element," and officers would be "equipped with standard police equipment in tactical uniforms appropriate for environmental conditions." Though the agreement at one point says that an estimated 26 patrol personnel would be assigned to the mission, Thomas confirmed Friday the team included 25 troopers and no civilian personnel. The documents show the mission was scheduled to last from June 18 to July 25. Thomas said in an email that the agreement set out a "rough timeline for potential deployment" and further discussion with officials in Texas specified dates. Ricketts announced the deployment on June 19. A few troopers went June 24 to organize logistics, according to Thomas. The rest traveled on June 27 and began work on June 28, he said. Their voluntary deployment was initially slated to last up to 16 days. Last week, though, the governor announced 15 troopers would stay two additional weeks while the rest returned home. Total estimated costs for the mission, according to the agreement, include $83,912 related to travel, $234,554 for personnel and $15,546 for such things as water, fuel, snacks and clothing. Travel costs included an estimated $29,760 for lodging, $26,352 for meals and tips (per diem) and $19,500 for air travel. The estimated cost for salary, fringe benefits and overtime, per person per day, ranged from $444 to $815. In all capital letters and bookended by asterisks, the agreement reads: "NEBRASKA WILL NOT SEEK COST REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS COST ESTIMATES ARE ONLY INCLUDED FOR FUTURE AUDITING PURPOSES" The agreement provided to The World-Herald does not have a state official's signature. However, Earl Imler, preparedness and operations section manager at Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, confirmed it was the same as the final agreement. That agency serves as a point of contact to facilitate agreements related to the interstate compact. The documents reveal little about Nebraska troopers specific activities while theyre deployed. The agreement includes that the state of Texas will afford responding law enforcement "the same arrest and law enforcement powers, rights and privileges while operating within the state limits of Texas as are ordinarily afforded law enforcement forces of the State of Texas." Texas Public Safety declined last month to offer specific insight into what Nebraska troopers would be doing and declined a World-Herald reporter's request for a ride-along. Nebraska State Patrol also has provided few details a description of the mission was redacted from the documents obtained by The World-Herald, which Imler said was due to safety concerns. In his initial announcement of the deployment, Ricketts cited the disastrous policies of the Biden-Harris Administration for creating an immigration crisis on the border. The federal government had fallen short, he said, but Nebraska was happy to step up to help. Critics such as state Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb and Rose Godinez, legal and policy counsel to ACLU of Nebraska, have said the deployment is political and have called for more transparency. The State Patrol on Friday estimated it would cost $22,300 and take about six months to fulfill The World-Heralds public records request for officials' correspondence related to the deployment; employee correspondence related to activities troopers will undertake; and records related to the cost of and payment for the deployment. After the release of documents to The Associated Press, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said that Iowa will cover the cost of its troopers deployment. She said Iowa sent 29 troopers for 16 days, according to AP reporting. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem deployed National Guard troops using a private donation from a Republican donor, according to the Washington Post. Earlier this month, Taylor Gage, press secretary for Ricketts, said in an email that Nebraska had not been offered a similar opportunity. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Magician Mikayla Oz was set to perform her first show in Wyoming on Wednesday. She booked six shows for kids and teens at the Campbell County Public Library in Gillette about a year ago, she said, and was excited to bring her family-friendly show about the magic of reading to the state. Then, last week, the library began receiving calls and emails and noticing social media posts protesting Ozs shows after community members found out she is transgender. Library leaders didnt know Oz is transgender when they booked her and, Youth Services Director Darcy Acord said, it wouldnt have mattered. On Saturday, the Iowa-based magician told the library she still wanted to go through with the show. But by Tuesday, after both Oz and the library received multiple threats from community members, Oz decided it wouldnt be safe for her or the kids to go through with the performance. They said, You better not f-ing come to our town, Oz said of a phone call she received Monday night, if you do, theres going to be issues. She also got an email with a similar message: You aint f-ing welcome in Gillette. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said these individuals were arrested from April through June 2021, as part of the continuing efforts of the sheriffs office to prevent the sale of illegal drugs in Iredell County. These individuals sold directly to or facilitated the sale of illegal drugs to undercover narcotics investigators, Campbell said. As you can see many of these suspects have considerable criminal histories. For several years now, it has been the stance of the Iredell County Sheriffs Office to aggressively target, and arrest repeat criminals who choose to continue to commit crimes or by their actions contribute to criminal activity here in Iredell County, Campbell said. The following people were arrested on various charges between April and June. Kareen Obrien Daye, 48, of Weathers Creek Road, Troutman, was charged with two counts of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II and felony conspire to sell or deliver Schedule II. Bond is set at $7,500. Virginia Hertz of Castle Rock has been inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi honor society at Saint Martins University in Baton Rouge, La. She is among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year, according to a press release submitted to The Daily News. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction. WPS honors employees Staff and community members are invited each year by Woodland Public Schools to nominate school employees whose efforts have exceeded expectations for the annual Employee of Excellence awards, according to a press release from WPS. The employees are recognized for creating a positive, caring and productive school environment through exceptional effort, dedication or performance in their areas of responsibility, notes the release. Jared Cox, owner of Willie Dicks First Street Tap House in Kalama, said after watching the town change in the last few years, he believes the cruise dock project will help the town grow better not just bigger. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} I think this is a great thing for what we want to have this town grow into, he said. A handful of people opposed the new dock because of its location and effects on recreation. Port Project Manager Darin Sampson said the port did its due diligence in selecting a location, which is in part dictated by federal guidelines. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requires the dock to be 150 feet from pile dikes, he said. Much of the beach will be available for recreation, and the dock will be open to the public when the cruise vessels arent parked there, Sampson said. Tabitha Reeder, port environmental manager, said parking the cruise ships at the dock will be better for fish habitats than parking in shallower water. Council members all spoke in favor of the project and unanimously approved the permit. Poco is set to launch its first-ever F-series smartphone in India. The companys upcoming smartphone dubbed as the Poco F3 GT has been in the news for quite some time now. Reports have already detailed key features that will be coming to the Poco F3 GT smartphone. Poco India too has been actively sharing details about its upcoming smartphone via its social media handles. And now, the company has finally revealed the launch date for its upcoming Poco F3 GT smartphone. POCO.... F3... GT.. Nuff Said 1 Week to go. #SwitchItUp pic.twitter.com/1MWCMcqF6p POCO India - The God Of Madness (@IndiaPOCO) July 16, 2021 Poco F3 GT specs: As mentioned before, Poco India has already confirmed a number of key features that will be available in its upcoming Poco F3 GT smartphone. The company has revealed that the Poco F3 GT will come with a triple mic system, one of which will be dedicated to gaming. The phone will also come with three Wi-Fi antennas, one of which will be dedicated to gaming. It will also feature Maglev triggers that will enable users to play games optimally using four fingers. The shoulder buttons & tactile keys are the perfect pair for an immersive gaming experience, Poco wrote in an older tweet. Also read: Looking for a smartphone? Check Mobile Finder here. Additionally, the Poco F3 GT will come with Dolby Atmos and dual stereo speakers for advanced audio quality. On the display front, it will come with a 120Hz Super Smooth AMOLED display with support for HDR 10+. The company, however, hasnt revealed the screen size of its upcoming smartphone yet. It will be available in Gunmetal Silver and Predator Black colour variants with slipstream design for an anti-fingerprint matte finish. Separately, reports say that the phone will be a rebranded version of the Redmi K40 smartphone and that it is tipped to come with a 6.67-inch Full HD+ display, MediaTek Dimensity 1200 processor, 5G connectivity, 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage space, and a 5,000mAh battery with support for 67W fast charging technology. Once a week Ghulam Ahmed, 38, takes time out from his cryptocurrency consulting business to log into a WhatsApp group with hundreds of members eager to learn how to mine and trade cryptocurrency in Pakistan. From housewives looking to earn a side income to wealthy investors wanting to buy cryptomining hardware, many barely understand traditional stock markets but all are eager to cash in. "When I open the session for questions, there's a flood of messages, and I spend hours answering them, teaching them basic things about cryptocurrency," said Ahmed, 38, who quit his job in 2014, believing it was more profitable to mine Bitcoin. Pakistan has seen a boom in trading and mining cryptocurrency, with interest proliferating in thousands of views of related videos on social media and transactions on online exchanges. While cryptocurrency is not illegal in Pakistan, the global money-laundering watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), has called on the government to better regulate the industry. Pakistan is on the FATF's grey list of countries it monitors for failing to check terror financing and money laundering. In response, the federal government has set up a committee to study cryptocurrency regulation, which includes observers from the FATF, federal ministers, and heads of the country's intelligence agencies. "Half the members had no clue what it was and didn't even want to understand it," said committee member Ali Farid Khwaja, a partner at Oxford Frontier Capital and chairman of KASB Securities, a stock brokerage in Karachi. "But the good thing is someone set up this committee. The relevant bodies in the government who need to get things done are supporting it, and the promising thing is nobody wants to stand in the way of technical innovation." And the head of the country's central bank, Reza Baqir, said in April the authority was looking into another digital asset, a central bank digital currency, and its potential for bringing transactions happening off the books into a regulatory framework. "We hope to be able to make some announcement on that in the coming months," he told CNN. Baqir declined to comment to Reuters on the topic. Even the education sector has caught on. In February, one of the country's leading universities, the Lahore University of Management Sciences, received a grant worth $4.1 million to study the technology from Stacks, a blockchain network that connects Bitcoin to apps and smart contracts. Legalisation and investment These moves can't come soon enough for cryptocurrency advocates. Institutions have at times treated those involved in the trade of cryptocurrency with suspicion, worried about possible associations with money laundering. Ahmed said he has been arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and charged with money laundering and electronic fraud twice, though the charges have not held up in court. On one occasion, he said, the FIA seized a cryptocurrency mining farm he had set up in Shangla, in Pakistan's northern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, which ran on its own hydroelectric power. The FIA did not respond to Reuters' request for comment. Waqar Zaka, a former TV host with more than a million followers on Youtube, has been lobbying officials for years to not only legalise the industry, but have the government invest in it. Zaka, like Ahmed, had set up a cryptocurrency mining farm running on hydroelectric power. Earlier this year, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's provincial government tapped Zaka and Ahmed to be on a committee studying how it can profit from such ventures. In March, the group announced it was looking into setting up new mining farms using Zaka's facility as a template. The committee was dissolved in June, with the provincial government saying federal authorities should handle any new policies on cryptocurrencies. Despite the challenges, Pakistan's crypto boom shows no signs of stopping. Pakistan-based social media groups explaining how to trade and mine cryptocurrency abound, some with tens of thousands of followers on Facebook. On YouTube, cryptocurrency videos in Urdu have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times. Online cryptocurrency exchanges, most based outside Pakistan, like Localbitcoins.com, have hundreds of Pakistani traders listed, some with thousands of transactions. Apps like Binance and Binomo, which track and trade cryptocurrency, have more downloads than some of the country's largest banks' apps, according to web analytics company SimilarWeb. "You cannot stop crypto, so the sooner Pakistan regulates things and joins the rest of the world, the better," Ahmed said. Zero-day bug attack: Google and Microsoft have released a patch to two critical vulnerabilities in their operating systems that were exploited by a spyware that has reportedly been sold to governments by Israeli developer Candiru. In its report that was released earlier this week, Citizen Labs has said that Candirus spyware (called DevilsTongue by Microsoft) can infect and monitor iPhones, Android smartphones, Macs, PCs and even cloud accounts. Microsoft is calling Candiru Sourgum. Microsoft in a blog post said that the spyware was being used in precision attacks targeting more than 100 victims including politicians, human rights activists, journalists, academics, embassy workers and political dissidents in countries around the world including around the world including Palestine, Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, Spain, United Kingdom, Turkey, Armenia, and Singapore. Also read: Looking for a smartphone? Check Mobile Finder here. What is DevilsTongue and what does it do? DevilsTongue is a spyware tool developed by a Tel Aviv, Israel-based company called Candiru. As Citizen Labs explains it, Candiru is a mercenary spyware firm that markets untraceable spyware to government customers. Their product offering includes solutions for spying on computers, mobile devices, and cloud accounts. The 16 million project proposal allows for an unlimited number of spyware infection attempts, but the monitoring of only 10 devices simultaneously. For an additional 1.5M, the customer can purchase the ability to monitor 15 additional devices simultaneously, and to infect devices in a single additional country. For an additional 5.5M, the customer can monitor 25 additional devices simultaneously, and conduct espionage in five more countries, Citizen Labs wrote in its report. Once the spyware has infected a Windows PC, it exfiltrates files, exporting all messages saved in the Windows version of the popular encrypted messaging app Signal, and stealing cookies and passwords from Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Opera browsers. Microsofts analysis has also shown that the spyware can also send messages from logged-in email and social media accounts directly on the victims computer. This could allow malicious links or other messages to be sent directly from a compromised users computer. What is Microsoft doing? To tackle this spyware, Microsoft has released a security patch for two zero-day bug vulnerabilities -- CVE-2021-31979 and CVE-2021-33771. These vulnerabilities were patched in a security update released on July 13, 2021. To limit these attacks, we focused on two actions. First, we built protections into our products against the unique malware Sourgum created, and we shared those protections with the security community. Second, we issued a software update that will protect Windows customers from exploits Sourgum was using to help deliver its malware, Microsoft said in a post. Weve built protections against DevilsTongue into our security products, and weve shared these protections with others in the security community so they can protect their customers, the company added. What is Google saying? Google in a separate report by its Threat Analysis Group or TAG discovered a bunch of zero-day bug vulnerabilities in Chrome and Internet Explorer that were being used by the same company. The company found vulnerabilities CVE-2021-21166 and CVE-2021-30551 in Chrome, CVE-2021-33742 in Internet Explorer and CVE-2021-1879 in Safari WebKit. Thankfully, all the three companies -- Apple, Google and Microsoft -- have released security updates to patch these bugs. What should I do now? If you havent updated your devices -- laptops, PCs, tablets and smartphones -- now would be a good time to do so. Download the latest version of the security updates available on your devices and you are good to go. When my eldest son started high school, our whole family looked forward to the new experiences he had ahead of him. Imagine our disappointment and concern when he told us that his first three weeks of high school had been marked by numerous invitations to vape with some of his new classmates. Unfortunately, this experience is not uncommon across our country. E-cigarettes, or vapes as they are known, are the most commonly used tobacco products among young people. Currently, nearly 4 million of them are vaping, including 1 out of every 5 U.S. high school students. When the tobacco industry targeted young people to build a future stable of adult smokers, one of the most effective responses was to raise the price of their product. The Institute of Medicine, the U.S. surgeon general and the World Health Organization all have determined that increasing the price of tobacco products is the single-most effective way to reduce tobacco use. Studies show that a 10% cigarette price increase results in a 3% to 5% reduction in consumption. Its even more impactful on young people, who generally have less disposable income to spend on cigarettes. Richwood, TX (77531) Today Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 89F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 73F. Winds light and variable. YORK -- The regular meeting of the American Legion Auxiliary was held at the Post Home on July 6 at 7 p.m. President, Marcia Witmer opened the meeting with six members present. The opening prayer was given by Claudia Braden, after which we stood in silence in memory of our deceased. We recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang one verse of the Star Spangled Banner. The ladies then recited the Preamble. Nine officers answered roll call. Minutes from the May meeting were read and approved. Treasurer, Connie Hubbard, gave the treasurer's report. It was approved and put on file. There were no bills. Claudia did a good job with poppy sales this year. $747.93 was raised by members who went to Walmart, the Post Office and Grand Central plus the cans that were placed in various businesses. Thank you all. Claudia will be in charge of the poppy sales in the future. YORK A traffic stop in York County led to the discovery of cocaine by sheriffs deputies and an Illinois man has pleaded not guilty to eight felony charges (one being a Class 1C felony carrying a possible maximum sentence of 50 years in prison) and one misdemeanor in York County District Court. Jacob R. McNulty, 23, has been formally charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, both Class 2A felonies; one count of possession of more than one pound of marijuana, a Class 4 felony; two counts of possession of a controlled substance, both Class 4 felonies; two counts of having no drug tax stamp, both Class 4 felonies; obstructing a peace officer, a Class 1 misdemeanor; and possession of 28-139 grams of cocaine, a Class 1 C felony. According to court documents, a deputy with the York County Sheriffs Department was on regular patrol on Interstate 870 when he saw McNulty drive onto the shoulder while exiting into York. A traffic stop was initiated. In the affidavit filed with the court, the deputy says he could smell burned marijuana coming from the vehicle when he spoke with McNulty, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle. On Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and fellow Democratic Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Ron Wyden of Oregon stepped into the breach. They released a discussion draft of their Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act that would remove marijuana from the federal list of controlled substances and allow states to set their own laws. States effectively have forced this moment with 18 states having legalized recreational use of pot and 36 states having legalized medical use. The lack of clarity does not encourage compliance. It gives pro-pot people grounds to flout the law and law-and-order types cover to throw offenders behind bars. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recently observed that one can certainly understand why an ordinary person might think that the Federal Government has retreated from its once-absolute ban on marijuana and why business owners may think that its legal for them to sell marijuana in states like Colorado, where it is legal under state law. I spoke with one such person today. I wrote about him years ago after he opened up a medical marijuana dispensary in California, where medical marijuana was legal, after then-President Barack Obama pledged to direct federal authorities not to waste tax dollars on marijuana prosecutions. A hearty Saturday Salute goes this week to Alicia Wicht of Grand Island Veterans Affairs Medical Center, who is coordinating the Veterans Arts Competition locally, encouraging veterans to pursue creative outlets. Entries in the contest will be displayed in the Nebraska Building at the Nebraska State Fair from Aug. 27 to Sept. 6. Veterans interested in participating must be enrolled to receive care at a central/western Nebraska VA location prior to entering the competition. Veterans are welcome to submit entries in up to three separate categories: applied art, creative writing and kit (wood building, fabric art, etc.). Wicht said there are many known therapeutic benefits to pursuing creative outlets for the veterans. Theres a lot of relaxation that goes with creating something new. Hobbies, in general, provide a way for mindfulness and meditation in practice, she said. Just working through trauma and things like that through art has been beneficial for a lot of our veterans. The works of art can be personal, and reflect a veterans experience in combat. Its been a very good outlet for them, rather than keeping it all bottled up inside, Wicht said. The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. To pretend that they didnt take actions that they had no authority to take isnt standing on truth, she told reporters Friday. It's easy to see why the 49-year-old governor, who is known as a scorched-earth campaigner in her home state, is elbowing out anyone trying to claim a more hands-off approach to the pandemic. She doesnt have the experience of working alongside Trump, like Mike Pence, Nikki Haley or Mike Pompeo all of whom have visited the presidential-proving ground of Iowa in recent days. Other potential rivals like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott have the advantage of governing states that figure prominently in national politics. The pandemic was rocket fuel for Noem's political rise. While she had been laying the groundwork to build a national profile and looking for ways to make South Dakota a testing ground for conservative policies, she jumped on decrying coronavirus restrictions early. Republican House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, who lived in the same Gonzales neighborhood as Edwards, personally managed the memorial events, arranged the display and stood in Memorial Hall between the Louisiana House and Senate chambers as visitors arrived. Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat who is not related to Edwin Edwards, was among the first to pay his respects to the former governor's family before the public and media were allowed inside the vast, ornate hall where the casket rested on the Louisiana state seal. Edwin Edwards' wife, Trina, more than 50 years his junior, and their 7-year-old son Eli the ex-governor's fifth child returned to the visitation area once it was opened to the public, and Edwards' other children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren mingled with mourners as well. Large bouquets of flowers, a row of Louisiana and American flags and photos documenting Edwards with prominent politicians, on the campaign trail and with his family, lined the path around the casket. Visitors received a commemorative card with Edwards' photo and bearing one of his quotes: I tried to help as many people as I could and I hope I did that, and I hope, if I did, that they will help others too. I love Louisiana, and I always will. Bias in the black lung claims process is just one more way, Cohen and Friedman said, that mining companies make it harder for miners to do their work in the safest and healthiest way possible, in an industry that even under the best circumstances can be unhealthy and dangerous. Fundamentally our judicial system and democracy is based on the premise that every defendant has the right to a vigorous defense, Friedman said. The defendants in these cases the companies have a disproportionate amount of resources compared to the miners. Theres an inherent imbalance. Cohen notes that there are various measures mines can take to reduce levels of coal dust that cause black lung. But since these measures cost money and can slow production, companies may be reluctant to do so. Cohen and other experts and labor union officials have also long complained about the federal inspection process for coal dust. Mines are notified as to when an inspection will occur and can reduce production during inspections to 80% of normal levels. Before reforms were instituted, they could cut their production to half of normal during dust inspections. Thats always going to give you a lower sample than whats really happening, Friedman said. After an outcry from miners and health advocates about the black lung crisis, in 2016 the Department of Labor reduced the amount of coal dust allowed in underground mines from 2.0 to 1.5 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Over the past five years, the Mine Safety and Health Administration found dust concentrations above the legal limit 100 times in MC-1, or Sugar Camp, Illinoiss largest mine. One reading in 2012 was 22 micrograms per cubic meter, 15 times the legal limit, and nine readings were more than double the legal limit. Meanwhile, the increasing presence of silica dust in coal mines may also be contributing to black lung disease, experts say. Silica dust comes from hard rock that is mined along with coal, and the increasing ability of mine processing equipment to efficiently separate coal from rock means that more rock is being hacked out of mines and more dust potentially created, Cohen explained. Silica dust is regulated as a percentage of total allowable dust levels, so it is not regulated as specifically as coal dust, even as it poses an increasing risk to coal miners. During the Obama administration, a new rule on silica limits for mines was proposed and a docket was underway, but the process stalled under the Trump administration. The Biden administration is working on writing and instituting a new rule, according to an expert familiar with the process. During testimony before Congress in 2019, Cohen said his research showed that silica exposure was an important factor in the resurgence of black lung disease, including among younger miners. He advised the government to require that miners wear personal monitors specifically tracking exposure to silica dust. Silica is a particular risk in Appalachia because of the geology there, Cohen said, but he believes it is also a factor in Illinois. Those of us who care for these young miners in our black lung clinics see them fighting for breath, Cohen told the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. They suffer from loss of ability to do simple daily tasks, like walking to the mailbox, playing with their children and grandchildren; not to mention a loss of their careers, hobbies, and ability to support their families. They suffer from early mortality in spite of our heroic attempts to treat them, including referrals for lung transplantation. Let me remind you, there is no cure for this disease, it confers an early death sentence. Healing sick mines, supporting survivors Health advocates and experts would like to see both coal dust and silica dust in mines regulated more stringently. And Cohen and Friedman have proposed reforms that could reduce bias in the black lung benefits process, helping miners access benefits more easily if they have black lung disease and potentially creating more incentive for companies to operate the healthiest possible mines. During the black lung claims process, doctors evaluations are presented to a judge, who ultimately decides whether a miner or retired miner gets benefits. The Department of Labor has instituted reforms limiting the number of doctors opinions a company can submit, but researchers have also found that companies are likely to seek multiple opinions and submit only those favorable to their position. Federal reforms have also tried to curb this phenomenon, but Cohen and Friedman would like to see safeguards go further. They propose that all doctors being hired to evaluate claimants be contacted through the Department of Labor, so that they dont know who is ultimately paying them. That would eliminate that coordination between the employers legal team and the doctor, Friedman said. They also recommended expanding and diversifying the pool of experts regularly called upon to evaluate black lung claims, making evaluators annually report any payments related to black lung claims, standardizing the rate that can be paid for evaluations (so companies dont pay exorbitant amounts to gain favor with an evaluator), and making sure the best technology is available for evaluations, including tapping artificial intelligence to aid in the evaluations. Improved standardization and use of the best technology could go far in reducing bias in the black lung claims system, since diagnosing black lung is an inherently subjective pursuit. Youre looking at shadows in a dark room, its not like a blood test where you inject a sample into a machine and it spits out an objective measurement, Cohen said. Ideally, a more fair and transparent black lung claims process, along with more stringent dust-related regulations and testing, would help motivate companies to do everything possible to avoid exposing miners to dangerous dust. Meanwhile, Cohen and Friedman are studying correlations between coal dust exposure and injuries in coal mines, with preliminary work indicating the two are correlated. The hypothesis being that a sick mine is a sick mine, with higher dust exposure and higher injury rates, Friedman said. Those mines tend to have management that isnt emphasizing safety. For more than six months, the six-term congressman has been engaged in what he believes to be a battle for the soul of the Republican Party. It's pitting him against loyalists to former President Donald Trump. Its a battle for truth that Kinzinger, in a sit-down interview with Lee Enterprises last week, concedes he is not winning at least not at the moment. No, we're not winning, Kinzinger said. Do I see signs of progress? Yes. There's a sense that though Trump goes out and speaks, he's not getting the attention he (used to receive), people are ready to move on. What I worry about is that as Trump fades, Trumpism still stays. Kinzinger, whose district wraps from Indiana to Wisconsin and includes swaths Chicago's exurbs and the Illinois Valley, has become one of the former presidents most vociferous Republican critics and was one of 10 GOP House members who voted to impeach him in January, citing his role in inciting the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Since that fateful day, Kinzinger along with U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming has not missed an opportunity to harangue Trump and his followers in Congress, becoming one of most easily-recognizable faces on cable television and Sunday morning talk shows, where he recites a message promoting truth and "Country First," which also happens to be the name of the political action committee hes formed. But as certain as Kinzinger is in ultimately winning the argument, his future in politics is unclear, with his path back to Congress potentially blocked by Springfield Democrats who control the redistricting process or by a primary challenge from a pro-Trump candidate. And though he continues to keep the door open on a possible run for governor or Senate, Kinzinger's conservative politics dont necessarily play well in a statewide race. Not that any of this weighs on him. So do I want to win? Yes. If I don't win, is it gonna hurt? Maybe a little bit, but I'm not going to have an ounce of regret, Kinzinger said. And at no point in my last seven months, particularly since the insurrection, have I ever had an ounce of regret for anything ... Maybe a few tweets, he quipped. Hes not going to lie Kinzinger, 43, was born in Kankakee and raised in Bloomington. His mother, Jodi, was an elementary school teacher and his father, Rus, ran faith-based homeless shelters in Bloomington and Peoria. His interest in service started early. In 1998, while just a 20-year-old sophomore at Illinois State University, Kinzinger successfully ran for McLean County Board, defeating a three-term incumbent. This made him the youngest person elected to the board at the time. I had initially started going door-to-door, but I looked like I was 14, so I just started calling people on the phone because I sounded older, Kinzinger said. And so they elected me and, all of a sudden, they're like, 'Oh we just elected a kid and didn't know it.' But the kid took some advice from the county board chairman: Dont say anything in a meeting for a year basically learn the ropes before speaking. That was a lesson I kind of brought back into Congress early, Kinzinger said. But yeah, I wish some of the freshmen would just quit trying to be famous and try to actually work. Look at Marjorie Taylor Greene, he said, referencing his controversial House colleague from Georgia. Nobody knew who she was. Now everybody knows and that's all she wanted. She doesn't need to be a serious legislator, she doesn't care if she has committees. She's famous, and that's unfortunately why people are coming to Congress now. Kinzinger in February joined all Democrats and a handful of Republicans in voting to strip Greene of her committee assignments over past racist and anti-Semitic remarks as well as her well-documented promotion of conspiracy theories like QAnon. Those who know Kinzinger say his fight against these preeminent elements of the Republican Party is entirely in line with his background. It's not surprising to me that amidst all kinds of really crazy conspiracies ... that Adam Kinzinger is the one who says, 'No, I'm the grown up in the room,'' said Tari Renner, the former two-term Democratic mayor of Bloomington and a political science professor at Illinois Wesleyan University. Renner was elected to the county board the same year as Kinzinger. Though from different political parties and generations, the two became close pals within about a year, he said. We could trust each other, I guess it's safe to say, Renner said. You could certainly trust Adam. He's not going to lie, he's not going to stab you in the back or be wishy-washy. Or if he's on the fence, he's legitimately conflicted. Renner described former colleague as well-intentioned, diligent, and hard-working. Kinzinger would answer a higher call to service in 2003, resigning his county board seat to join the U.S. Air Force, where he was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant and would later earn his pilot wings. He flew missions in Iraq and Afghanistan and continues to serve as a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard. In 2010, it was back to politics. Riding the Tea Party wave, Kinzinger defeated Democratic incumbent Rep. Debbie Halvorson by a 14-point margin in a district based in rural and exurban areas southwest of Chicago. Following redistricting, he was drawn into a district with fellow incumbent GOP Rep. Don Manzullo, whom he subsequently defeated in a primary election. No one has come close to beating him since. Nobody wants to be kicked out of their tribe Kinzingers voting record in Congress is standard for a Republican. Hes a fiscal conservative with a hawkish streak on foreign policy, but typically votes the party line. This included taking Trumps position more than 90% of the time, according to FiveThirtyEight. Though a reliable conservative vote on matters of policy, Kinzinger has displayed independence at times during his congressional career. Before his vote to impeach, the most clear example was his decision not to vote for Trump in 2016. He reversed himself and voted for the former president in 2020, a vote he now regrets. The hawkish Kinzinger also has never been shy about taking on certain elements of Trumps "America First" foreign policy. He harshly criticized Trumps decision to remove U.S. troops from Syria in 2019, for instance. And in 2020, Kinzinger started posting a series of videos to social media denouncing conspiracy theories like QAnon. But it wasnt until post-election 2020 that Kinzinger started to really feel the wrath from Trump and his supporters, first by not spreading the Big Lie that the election was stolen from the former president. Then, following the Capitol insurrection, Kinzinger called for Trump to be removed from office via the 25th Amendment. A week later, he voted for impeachment. Several Illinois county Republican organizations voted to censure Kinzinger for his vote. Hes now attracted at least a half-dozen primary challengers should he decide to run for reelection in 2022. Some members of his own extended family have disowned him for his stance. And hes facing the squeeze within the House GOP Conference. He hasnt spoken with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-California, in months. And when asked by reporters earlier this month about McCarthys threat to strip any GOP member of their committee assignments if they participated on a Democrat-created panel investigating the events of January 6, Kinzinger replied, Who gives a (expletive)? From a personal perspective, it's more isolating. Right? You feel like you've been kicked out of the tribe, Kinzinger said. Nobody wants to be kicked out of their tribe. But there's also a significant number of Republicans that are reaching out saying thanks for being a voice because at least 30% of Republicans believe in what I'm saying, he said. Kinzinger said theres a gigantic level of dissonance between what his colleagues say in public versus what they believe in private about Trump and the current state of the GOP. No constituents mad over his position on Trump have confronted him thus far. But, Kinzinger isnt naive to think that he hasnt made some Republican voters in his district angry. He just thinks theres more people who agree with him than the conventional wisdom might suggest. Theres just not much evidence to prove that yet. Its the opposite, in many cases. Perhaps most stinging, a candidate backed by Kinzingers Country First PAC came in fifth place in a special congressional election in Texas a few months ago. We have too many leaders manipulating people for their own sake and they don't know what the end state is, which is destruction, frankly, of the country, Kinzinger said. So I'm going to continue to fight, and I do believe ultimately we prevail because the alternative is not only does my faction not prevail, the party falters and fails, and I think the country can't sustain that. The future One of Kinzingers next fights will be his own. But his future in Congress is as unclear as ever. Even before having to face Republican voters in a primary, Kinzinger is at the mercy of Springfield Democrats, who control the once-a-decade congressional redistricting process. State legislative Democrats are under pressure from the national party to draw a favorable map that helps shore up the partys fragile majority in the House. With the state losing a seat due to population loss, this at a minimum means protecting all 13 Democratic incumbents while eliminating a downstate GOP district. Besides the remap, the primary election threat is the other elephant in the room. At least a half-dozen Republicans, most explicitly pro-Trump, have announced challenges to Kinzinger. But if Kinzingers worried, he isnt showing it. I would remind everybody who's talking about this primary coming up, every primary I've had, I have absolutely crushed the face of my opponent, Kinzinger said. And those were even times when people would make up stuff like, 'I'm not a true conservative.' These same factions I have beaten repeatedly and I fully expect to crush them again. And Kinzinger starts with some key advantages, namely universal name recognition and money. Hey just had the two best fundraising quarters of his career, raising more than $1.1 million in the first three months of the year and more than $800,000 since April. He now has more than $3 million cash on hand. His next-closest opponent, Catalina Lauf, a former Trump appointee to the U.S. Department of Commerce, had just over $141,000 in the bank. No other candidates have raised more than $12,000. Renner said this would set up well for Kinzinger, whose best chance of surviving would be in a divided primary field, he said. But others believe Kinzingers stand on principle will ultimately help him with voters. I view Adam Kinzinger as a John McCain-type Republican, said Pat Brady, the former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party. And John McCain said time-and-time again 'the only time I didn't do well politically is when I made decisions based on politics.' The point being, I think, ultimately, voters reward principled politicians that are doing what is in the best interests of the country ahead of their own political party and ahead of their own political ambitions. Kinzinger said, once again, that he would prefer to return to Congress. But, a potential run for governor of Illinois? He is not ruling that out either. If I ran for governor, for instance, it would not be your typical campaign, Kinzinger said. It wouldn't be a campaign based on 'this guy's so terrible' or all this bad stuff. It would actually be inspirational, aspirational, and there would be a plan to fix Illinois. Kinzinger said its really tough for a Republican in a statewide race, but the right candidate can win. Hes not yet sure thats him, but he is certain that candidate isnt in the race yet. Declared candidates include state Sen. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia; former state Sen. Paul Schmipf, R-Waterloo; and suburban Chicago businessman Gary Rabine. I have a hard time seeing any of the announced candidates right now for our party statewide having a shot at it because if you're right now playing to as far right as you can, you're not gonna win the suburbs, he said. If I would do anything statewide, it wouldn't be as a fallback option, Kinzinger said. But it's not my intention right now. But, I also don't want to be dishonest and say I have no interest and no intention. But for now, Kinzinger says, he is focused on getting the truth out to a large enough audience. Beyond Kinzingers hits on cable television, that means building up his Country First PAC, which will endorse candidates in 2022. It also has a sign-up form and links to videos and a podcast hosted by Kinzinger. The goal, he said, is to build a movement dedicated to the truth, even if success isnt guaranteed. If I had the formula, I'd be implementing it, but maybe that'll become evident, he said. Here's what is evident: I can't do it by myself. And I need people that agree to join up and to speak up. It is so much easier to be silent. Trust me, I would love to be silent, but you just can't. And if all this the impeachment vote and everything else thats come up since leads to the end of Kinzingers political career, hes just fine with that. There's a lot of people that say they're willing to put it all on the line, but when the chips are down, they don't, Kinzinger said. Why am I at peace? Because I know I've been tested. And I know that whether I win or not is actually really secondary to what I've been called to do, which is to tell people the truth. Its a battle hes willing to wage. Do I think it's David vs. Goliath, and I am David right now? I certainly do, Kinzinger said. But at the end of the day, we know who won that battle. Contact Brenden Moore at 217-421-7984. Follow him on Twitter: @brendenmoore13. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CHICAGO (AP) Two people, an 18-year-old and a 17-year-old, were charged Friday with first-degree murder in the death of a 73-year-old Chicago man during an attempted carjacking. The older suspect, Frank Harris, was ordered held without bond Friday in the death of 73-year-old Keith Cooper. Harris also is charged with vehicular hijacking. The younger suspect, whose name was not released because hes a juvenile, also is charged with attempted aggravated battery of a victim 60 or older. No hearing has been held for the 17-year-old as prosecutors consider charging him as an adult. The victim was a veteran who survived wars but didnt survive his encounter with this defendant and his co-defendant, Assistant Cook County States Attorney James Murphy said at Harris bond hearing. During his ruling to withhold bond, Judge Charles S. Beach II noted Harris was on probation for another carjacking when he allegedly attacked Cooper. Harris, a juvenile at the time, used a replica handgun in that incident, Murphy said. This means no postcards sent out to remind kids to get their shots, no nudges on social media, no flyers or advertisements, no events at schools, no outreach whatsoever. And not just for COVID, mind you, but for everything measles, mumps, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis, polio. In a pandemic. In a state with a less-than-stellar COVID vaccination rate. At a time when experts are tracking the rise of a deadlier new COVID variant. It is hard to imagine behavior dumber, more dangerous, more short-sighted and more downright bass-ackward than that exhibited by Tennessee and its lawmakers. Which is, unfortunately, right on brand for this country in this era. It was in the 2000s that Stephen Colbert coined the term truthiness to describe the right wings secession from objective fact, and some of us began to speak of them as living in an alternate reality. How, we wondered in newspaper columns and speeches, can we have meaningful discourse if we cannot agree on basic facts? A 29-year-old Bowman man, accused of shooting at people in an Orangeburg club and a Bowman residence on Jan. 5, 2019, admitted his guilt in a recent term of Orangeburg County court. Dajour Maurice Hall of 860 Rail St. pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm into a dwelling and four counts of first-degree assault and battery. Circuit Judge Daniel Hall, no relation, sentenced him to seven years in prison. He credited Dajour Hall for having already served 863 days at the Orangeburg County Detention Center. Dajour Hall originally faced 10 counts of attempted murder in the cases. As part of his plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree assault and battery and discharging a firearm into a dwelling instead. Also as part of his plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed the following charges: four counts of attempted murder, three counts of possession of a weapon by a person convicted of violent felony and two counts each of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and malicious injury to personal property. This subscription will allow existing subscribers of The World to access all of our online content, including the E-Editions area. NOTE: To claim your access to the site, you will need to enter the Last Name and First Name that is tied to your subscription in this format: SMITH, JOHN If you need help with exactly how your specific name needs be entered, please email us at admin@countrymedia.net or call us at 1-541 266 6047. National AP Biden grappling with 'pandemic of the unvaccinated' SUSAN WALSH, ASSOCIATED PRESS President Joe Biden briefly talks with reporters as he heads to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Friday to spend the weekend at Camp David. WASHINGTON Two weeks after celebrating Americas near independence from the coronavirus, President Joe Biden is confronting the worrying reality of rising cases and deaths and the limitations of his ability to combat the persistent vaccine hesitance responsible for the summer backslide. Cases of COVID-19 have tripled over the past three weeks, and hospitalizations and deaths are rising among unvaccinated people. While the rates are still sharply down from their January highs, officials are concerned by the reversing trendlines and what they consider needless illness and death. And cases are expected to continue to rise in coming weeks. While the national emergency may have faded, officials say the outbreak is now a more localized crisis in communities where not enough people have rolled up their sleeves. Look, the only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated, Biden said Friday, echoing comments made earlier in the day by Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rising numbers are being driven by large pockets of infection among the more than 90 million eligible Americans who have yet to get shots. Just four states with low vaccination rates made up 40% of new cases last week, and nearly half of them came from Florida alone. However, there is little appetite in the White House for a return to broad mandates for masks or other measures, as 161 million Americans are already fully vaccinated. Reflecting that mindset, Walensky said Friday that in low-vaccination areas with rising cases, local policymakers might consider whether masking at that point would be something that would be helpful for their community. Some communities are acting. Los Angeles County on Thursday reinstituted its requirement that masks be worn in most indoor settings regardless of vaccination status, and health officials in Las Vegas recommended on Friday that workers and patrons in the tourism hotspot wear face coverings while inside. With three highly effective vaccines authorized for use in the U.S., the Biden administration believes the most effective way to attack the virus is not trying to slow the spread with mass masking and such something the U.S. showed it was not very good at last year but to continue to press the importance of vaccinations. Its no easy fix. Many Americans remain resistant or unmotivated to get shots, despite months of often-creative efforts by federal and state officials and the private sector to spread information about vaccine safety and accessibility. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy added that while government can play an important role, this has got to be an all of the above strategy with everybody in, including schools, employers, technology companies and individuals. In recent days, the administration has turned its focus to younger Americans. It enlisted pop star Olivia Rodrigo for a day-long White House visit Wednesday with Biden and top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci that was heavily documented for social media. Younger people are at lowest risk of adverse outcomes from the virus and have proven to be among the least likely to get vaccinated. But another huge group has proven to be an even more vexing challenge: Republicans. The White House has long acknowledged that, given rampant disinformation about the vaccines and the nations partisan divides, it would have little success convincing the GOP to get on board. Instead, administration officials have amped up criticism in recent days of public officials and social media companies for spreading or not condemning vaccine misinformation spreading among the GOP. Theyre killing people, Biden said Friday of social media companies, speaking a day after Murthy, the surgeon general, warned that false information about vaccines spreading on platforms like Facebook posed a public health risk to the nation. Efforts for comment from major platforms were not immediately successful. The new government expression of frustration comes amid near disbelief that tens of millions of Americans continue to refuse to get vaccinated, needlessly extending the pandemic and costing lives, as health officials emphasize that nearly all serious cases and deaths are now preventable. More than 99% of COVID-19 deaths and 97% of hospitalizations are among people who have not been vaccinated, according to the CDC. The pandemic is now one that predominantly threatens unvaccinated people, White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said Friday. He said the Biden administration expects cases to increase in the weeks ahead because of spreading in communities with low vaccination rates But Zients added that there is a sign that the increased cases are driving more people in those communities to seek vaccination, reporting that states with the highest case rates are seeing their vaccination rates go up faster than the national average. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} I hear people old and young talk all the time about how kids leave the state as soon as they can, and dont usually come back. We talk about the states suicide rate the highest in the nation and how we can curb it. But then we have people sending death threats to a childrens magician, for no other reason than finding out shes transgender. Theres no good reason to send someone a death threat believe me, Ive gotten a few for my work here and even some as a student journalist. But talking to Mikayla, it was clear these people didnt know her, and didnt bother to learn. Her show isnt about being transgender, and the library didnt even know she was when they booked her. And because of the threats and protests, her show was canceled. Thankfully, theres a bright side to all of this, even though that doesnt make those sentiments any less hurtful. The library, according its Facebook page, received cards, cookies and flowers in a show of support after the news came out. And Oz, talking with me on Wednesday, said shes gotten hundreds of positive comments and encouraging notes from people in Gillette and around Wyoming, a state shes never even performed in. Richardson was a signatory to the treaty, but she had never agreed to end the demonstrations. It was only the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that began to resolve issues at the local level. She was one of the nation's leading female civil rights' activists and inspired younger activists who went on to protest racial inequality in the late 1960s and into the 1970s. Richardson was on the stage at the pivotal March on Washington in 1963 as one of six women listed as "fighters for freedom on the program. However, she was only allowed to say hello before the microphone was taken. The male-centric Black Power movement and the fact that Richardson's leadership in Cambridge lasted about three years may have obscured how influential she was, but Fitzgerald said she was well-known in Black America. She was only active for approximately three years, but during that time she was literally front and center in a high-stakes Black liberation campaign, and shes being threatened," Fitzgerald said. "Shes got white supremacist terrorists threatening her, calling her house, threatening her with her life. PHOENIX (AP) An Arizona man who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 while wearing a Roman gladiator costume and narrated the melee in videos for his mother has been arrested, authorities said. Nathan Wayne Entrekin, 48, told the FBI that former President Donald Trump inspired him to drive more than 2,000 miles to Washington for the rally on Jan. 6, according to court documents filed this week. Entrekin documented his movements in and outside the building in cellphone videos in which he addressed his mother, who wasnt at the Capitol, authorities said. Entrekin said in the videos that he was dressed in the gladiator costume to portray Captain Moroni, a figure from the Book of Mormon who sought to defend his people from another group that wanted to overthrow democracy and install a king, court records say. "I made it Mom. I made it to the top. Mom, look, I made it to the top, to the top here. Look at all the patriots here," he said in one video. "Im here for Trump. Four more years, Donald Trump! Our rightful president!" I dont think you want to be here, Mom, Entrekin said in another video from inside the ransacked Senate Parliamentarians office. I mean you do want to be here, but in spirit. Anyone can build a box on their own, and registration with the Little Free Library nonprofit is not required. That is the route Kukal chose. But Julian, who did register his box, said the organization sends you a plaque to affix to your library box, and has a nationwide network of boxes and maps accessible online and through an app. In New Mexico, there were one or two nearby our house that happened to be registered, and they had a plaque that showed the website and the app. I saw that there were several others nearby, and it became something we wanted to do once we had our own house, he said. The first registered Little Free Library book-sharing box was built in 2009 in Wisconsin, according to the nonprofit, and today there are 100,000 registered Little Free Libraries in all 50 states and 108 countries. But as Kukal herself exemplifies, there are likely many others that are not registered, offering just as much to their communities. I live by a school and I just wanted to have a place for kids to get books, Kukal said. The library is clear across town, and I thought it might be nice to have a place for children to just come by and take a book for free, or exchange books. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The Gillette News Record wrote: Every time the Gillette City Council discusses spending money to improve the Energy Capital Sports Complex or any number of other projects, it gets an earful from angry residents about wasteful and wanton spending. Yet, when were gluttonous with our water consumption, where are those same people demanding we all be more responsible? The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) says it has met with its student body to discuss the increase in registration fees and 90 per cent of the students in attendance supported a proposal for a three year incremental increase. Do you have a news tip? Want to share good news story, or do you have information that should see the light of day? Then we want to hear from you. More here In April of this year, a 17-year-old girl named Aicha got into a boat with 58 men, women and children in the west African country of Mauritania, and set off for Europe. Within two days, their food and water were done. On the fourth day, the fuel for the engines had run out. The boat began drifting in the unforgiving Atlantic Ocean, with no land or ship in sight. People began screaming out for water. A human can only survive without it for three days. Fimbres and the winners of each of the two contested Democratic primaries will go on to the general election scheduled for Nov. 2. In Tucson, primary election participation for city council is limited by ward, meaning for example, that only voters who live in Ward 6 get to vote for Ward 6 candidates. In the general election, though, candidates are elected by voters citywide. Who can vote? Registered voters in the three wards will vote for candidates in their wards in the primary. Those registered voters have had to live within the Tucson city limits since July 4, 2021. All voters must be at least 18 years old on the day of the election, Aug. 3. How to vote by mail or in person All registered voters, regardless of their party affiliation, who live in Wards 3, 5 or 6 should have automatically received a primary ballot in the mail. If you have not yet received yours, call the City Clerks office at 884-8683. This fall, voters who live outside of those wards will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for Novembers general election, in which they will be able to vote for city council members and any ballot initiatives. Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino sits on a horse overlooking South Kino Parkway at East 15th Street in Tucson. The sculpture of the 17th-century Jesuit priests travels by horseback is fitting of Kinos life and legacy as a Jesuit missionary, explorer, cartographer, rancher and farmer. He founded 21 missions in the Pimeria Alta what is now Northern Sonora and Southern Arizona. A second equestrian bronze statue is shared with Segno, Italy, where the padre was born in 1645. The plaza in Segno was renamed after the padre in 1991 when the sculpture a gift from the city of Tucson, Pima County and private donors to Segno was installed in the plaza. The street that leads to the town square is Via Sonora and another street that goes from the square to the church of Torra where Kino was baptized is Via Arizona. On Aug. 8, the Kino Heritage Society, which is dedicated to promote Kinos cause for sainthood and to educate the public about him, is holding a celebration in front of the Kino statue on 15th Street and Kino Parkway in Ward 5. Councilman Richard Fimbres will lead the commemoration activities of Three Statues for Three Nations. This will be a historic event and in a couple of years, we are hoping Father Kino will be beatified as a saint for all to love and cherish, said Fimbres. Around 200 family and friends gathered at the Ascension Lutheran Church July 17, 2021, to remember John "Moose" Creighton, a Marine Corps veteran who was wounded in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in 1950. Creighton passed away last month. If you are driving around and notice the American or Arizona flags flying at half-staff, you may wonder why. Sure, you know when a former president has died, but sometimes these are done in memory of a tragic event. For all of 2021, we are going to tell you when and why the flags for the United States of America, Arizona or any other state or territory of the U.S. are flown at half-staff. The source for much of this information is FlagSteward.org According to USFlag.org, which links to a copy of the United States Code, when the flag is flown at half-staff, it should first be hoisted to the peak and then lowered to half-staff. At sunset the flag should be raised back to full-staff and then lowered slowly all the way down. The U.S. flag must be flown at half-staff for the following office holders or former holders: President of the United States or former president: 30 days from the date of death. Vice President, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, retired Chief Justice or Speaker of the House of Representatives: 10 days from the date of death. Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a member of the Cabinet, a former Vice President, President pro tempore of the Senate, Majority Leader of the House of Representatives and Minority Leader of the House: From the day of death until the date of interment. Unites States Senator, Representative, Delegate or the Resident Commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico: In the District of Columbia the flag will fly at half-staff on the day of death and the following day, in the state, congressional district, territory or commonwealth of the deceased, the flag will fly at half-staff from the day of death until interment. Governor: Within the state, the flag will fly at half-staff from the day of death until interment. The Old Farmers' Almanac was also used as a source. Saturday's ride was supposed to mark the 40th Death Ride, which attracts thousands of cyclists to the region each year to ride through three mountain passes in the so-called California Alps. It was canceled last year during the coronavirus outbreak. Paul Burgess, who drove from Los Angeles to participate in the ride, said most of the cyclists he met were thankful to steer clear of the fire danger. They just said this is just how it goes, Burgess said. "Its part of climate change to a certain extent, its part of just a lot of fuels that are not burnt, the humidity is low, the fuel moisture levels are low, and ... around the state, many parts of it are much like a tinderbox. Afternoon winds blowing at 20 to 30 mph (32 to 48 kph) fanned the flames as they chewed through bone-dry timber and brush. Meteorologists predicted critically dangerous fire weather through at least Monday in both California and southern Oregon, where the largest wildfire in the U.S. continued to race through bone-dry forests. Logan countered with photos of what he said were not just images of bleed through but that the front and back sides of ballots had not been properly aligned, allowing for possible confusion when the tallying machine reads the votes. But Moseley said that ignores an important fact: Arizona law requires an actual hand count of a random sample of ballots, with the precincts and the individual races within them by chosen representatives of both political parties, and then compare the total with what the machine recorded. If the hand count comes in within a certain margin, then everything is fine. But if one or more races are outside that margin, then the process is repeated with ever-larger batches. And at a certain point if discrepancies persist, there even are provisions for a judge to order the source code for the computer software to be reviewed by a special master. In the case of Maricopa County, the hand count matched the machine count, regardless of any claim of ink bleeding through. There actually was a lawsuit on a related issue of whether the machines were properly recording votes when ballots which had been damaged or ballots with extra marks had to be redone by hand so they could be fed through counting machines. OPINION: Letter writers are sharing who they think should be voted onto the City Council for Ward 3 and 6. Who do you think is the best candidate? Write a letter to the editor at tucson.com/opinion. OPINION: "To answer the question about Tucsons water, especially in my Ward and the South side: It is safe and we get our water from the CAP facility in Avra Valley," writes Richard Fimbres, who represents Ward 5 on the Tucson City Council. Damon said he will not be working this fall so he can get his family settled in New York and get his kids ready for new schools. He talked with Doane about shooting Stillwater, what the COVID-19 pandemic taught him, his past films, how his children view his work and why he wants to make sure his children are grounded. Look theyre growing up with a lot more stuff than their mom or I ever had and so thats so we keep an eye on that, Damon tells Doane, admitting that he worries about it. Yeah, I worry but, you know I think when I got to Harvard I met a lot of kids who are very wealthy, and some of them were in a lot of pain there. Their parents werent there for them, you know, like at all. And I remember thinking Oh, I get it, like, thats money doesnt solve anything. The release of Stillwater was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The film is arriving at a time when the industry hopes to rebound. Hopefully people will get back in the habit of coming out together and going so that we can all still have jobs, Damon says. You say hopefully. Do you worry about that? Doane asks. We are all talking around an issue Critical Race Theory, which is not taught in K-12 education we are solving for an issue that is not present. Even the state Department (of Education) shared there have been zero complaints about CRT, or race or topics that were uncomfortable surfacing to require this legislation or these rules. Q: Your fellow board members have now engaged in behind-the-scenes work with lawmakers on a couple of high-profile, controversial issues, this being the latest example and the previous one, to increase charter school funding, sparked lawsuits and new legislation. What is your opinion of the practice and do you ever participate? A: No, because I think its in the best interest of all of us to operate with transparency, with open communication and engaging the public for their views, opinions and even pushback. What I shared at the public meeting on record was I did not even receive the proposed rules until 20 minutes before the meeting started. That lack of transparency for me even as a board member is amplified when we think about teachers and parents and students who did not have access to that information. If COVID-19 is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated, then Oklahoma finds itself in a precarious and unenviable position as the next wave of the disease hits the country. The state ranks among the 10 worst in the U.S. for vaccinated population percentage and rates of new cases, test positivity and hospitalizations as the delta variant takes over. The delta variant first identified in India comprises 72% of the samples sequenced so far in July by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. This is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC director, said Friday. We are seeing outbreaks of cases in parts of the country that have low vaccination coverage because unvaccinated people are at risk. And communities that are fully vaccinated are generally faring well. INTEGRIS Health on Wednesday announced its hospitals in Grove and Miami have more COVID-19 inpatients now than during the pandemics peak. Delaware and Ottawa counties have only 37.4% and 34.7% of their respective eligible populations with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to state data. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden is nominating former New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall to serve as his ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa. Udall, a Democrat, retired in 2021 after two terms in the Senate representing New Mexico. He spent five terms in the House and served as New Mexico's attorney general. He comes from a family well known for public service: his father Stewart Udall served as interior secretary, his uncle Mo Udall was a congressman from Colorado and his cousin Mark Udall was a senator from Colorado Having dedicated my life to public service and having served as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee focusing on policies that promote democracy, international development, and conservation, I am honored to be nominated by President Biden to this next role serving our great country," Udall said in a statement. Udall is the third former Senate colleague that Biden has tapped for an ambassadorial position. He's also nominated Ken Salazar, a Democrat who represented Colorado and served as Interior secretary in the Obama administration, to serve as ambassador to Mexico, and Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican who endorsed Biden's 2020 run, to serve as ambassador to Turkey. The agency also received $1.6 million in federal grant funds and plans to seek additional grants to reduce the backlog, she said. Fielding said the agency has also enlisted the services of an outside laboratory for processing and is looking for a second laboratory to help. While we have a staggering backlog, we want to assure you that we are doing everything we can and we have got good plans in place to address this as quickly as we can but still ensuring that the quality of work we do is at the highest standard, she said. The analyses are going to identify rapists and murders, Adams said. Our goal is to find them (victims) justice and to find answers to this, Adams said. A recent law requires law enforcement to submit the kits within 20 days to a forensic laboratory for testing, unless the victim chooses not to have the kit tested, Fielding said. While the new law was necessary, it created some significant increases in the number of cases the OSBI receives in its lab, Fielding said. Before the law took effect, the agency was receiving anywhere from 25 to 30 sexual assault cases a month, but after the law took effect, the number jumped to 95 to 100 cases a month, she said. It seems the Republican legislators continue to drag their feet on Epic Charter Schools. State Auditor Cindy Byrd's audit revealed millions of dollars unaccounted for. To hamper her work, Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, introduced a bill that would have allowed Epic to select its own auditor. The day after Byrd's audit was released, Epic co-founder Ben Harris and his wife each donated maximum campaign contributions to Rosino. A spokesperson for Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said if any laws are found to have been broken, his office will address it. Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, told the Tulsa World last fall that members would likely introduce bills on this topic in upcoming session. Later, he acknowledged putting off those bills. McBride said, "My approach has been: Let's take a breath I just want to make sure we don't get egg on our face." I took that breath, and it smelled like rotten eggs! I have been a Republican for over 65 years and don't recognize it representing the values it did when I joined the GOP. As the saying goes, we need the clear the swamp in Oklahoma Capitol. More than 340 companies in Bac Giang are seeking as many as 45,000 workers to fill up vacancies upon their operation resumption as the northern Vietnamese province has put the COVID-19 outbreak under control. Bac Giang is no longer the locality hardest hit by the coronavirus in Vietnam, with only four infections recorded over the past seven days. As production activities have resumed after a two-month suspension for COVID-19 prevention, 343 companies, which employed a total of about 150,000 workers previously, have sought to hire at least 45,000 substitutes for those who left. Currently, employers do not require much qualifications and experience from new workers, said Hoang Van Thang, head of labor and employment at the provincial Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. Many companies only require employees to complete the education program of sixth or ninth grade [in Vietnams K-12 system], Thang added. Most of the applicants will be accepted immediately and will receive short-term training to meet the job requirements. Companies have also offered many incentives such as housing, travel and meal allowances, according to Thang. In addition, they have arranged convenient recruitment process for applicants, with every step being performed online and via phone calls. Successful candidates will be tested for COVID-19, using the real-time PCR method, before starting their job. Nguyen Van Hue, an officer from Bac Giang Employment Service Center, affirmed that the supplies of qualified workers are abundant, citing the large numbers of dwellers from neighboring provinces that previously had working experience in Bac Giang. Those experienced workers were asked to stay home to help curb the coronavirus spread. They hope to return to work as soon as possible, according to Hue. The Ministry of Health confirmed 2,105 local coronavirus infections, including 1,769 in the current virus hotbed Ho Chi Minh City, taking the national tally to 46,292 patients on Saturday morning. Recoveries have risen to 10,020 while the death toll has reached 225. Up to 42,633 cases have been recorded in the ongoing infection round that erupted in the country on April 27. Bac Giang Province, with 5,729 confirmed COVID-19 cases, had been the hardest-hit Vietnamese locale before Ho Chi Minh Citys caseload surpassed 6,000 on July 4. The southern city is leading the table with 25,682 infections so far. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Many hotels across Ho Chi Minh City with previous near-zero occupancy rates are getting filled up with workers trapped due to movement restrictions put in place for COVID-19 prevention. The hotel and accommodation industry has been struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic, but since Ho Chi Minh City enacted social distancing rules under the prime ministers Directive No. 16, some hotels are getting a new lease on life. Many companies have rented hotel rooms to provide temporary accommodation for their workers to ensure that they are following appropriate routes to the workplace in order to comply with the governments ban on unnecessary travel. The manager of a 4-star hotel in District 1 said that 60 out of 65 rooms in its facility are currently occupied by employees at a manufacturing enterprise for at least the next two weeks. Similarly, all rooms at the Mong Thuy hotel chain in the city have been filled by workers of Sheico Vietnam Co., Ltd since Wednesday. Hotels near Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone in District 7 and the Saigon Hi-Tech Park in Thu Duc City have also had their rooms fully booked by companies located inside the two special business areas. According to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspapers research, hotel rooms at 3-star or 4-star standards cost between VND800,000 (US$35) and VND1.2 million ($52) per night, while 5-star hotel rooms fetch from VND1.8 million ($78) to over VND2 million ($87) per night. The prices are negotiable, depending on the policy of the hotel and the budget of the companies. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism has asked hotels that are currently accommodating workers to track their customers and report any irregularities to the department. The Ministry of Health reported 2,106 local coronavirus infections, including 1,769 in Ho Chi Minh City, raising the national tally to 46,292 patients on Saturday morning. The new infections increased the southern citys caseload to 25,682 during this ongoing infection wave. Recoveries stand at 10,020 while the death toll remains at 225. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The U.S. government has decided to offer Vietnam an additional three million doses of Moderna vaccine against COVID-19, a week after its first donation of two million doses, a diplomatic source has said. The donated vaccine will be delivered to Vietnam at the soonest possible time through the COVAX, a global initiative aiming to accelerate the COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing and guarantee equitable access for every country in the world, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday. With the first donation of two million Moderna vaccine doses that arrived in Hanoi on July 10, Vietnam has so far received a total of five million free vaccine doses from the U.S. government. Such donations are part of the 80 million doses of vaccine that the U.S. administration has committed to gift 92 countries and territories, including Vietnam, to help curb the COVID-19 spread. According to research by American scientists, Moderna vaccine, also known as Spikevax, is highly effective against the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus. The vaccine, developed by U.S.-based Moderna Inc., was approved by the World Health Organization on April 30. These vaccine doses, along with those from many other countries, including Japan, Russia, and China, have come when the pandemic is widely spreading in Vietnam, especially in its southern region, in which Ho Chi Minh City is the most critical with thousands of new infections every day. After negotiating with many vaccine suppliers, the health ministry has obtained from them the commitments to provide a total of around 110 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Vietnam in 2021, including 38.9 million from the COVAX, 30 million from AstraZeneca, 31 million from Pfizer/BioNTech, and 10 million that Vietnam registered to purchase from COVAX under a cost-sharing mechanism. Through diplomatic efforts to seek vaccine supplies, Vietnam has so far received nearly 10 million doses of vaccines from different sources and are negotiating to receive more jabs from its partners, the foreign ministry said. By the end of Friday, around 4,234,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been administered nationwide, and the number of people receiving two full doses had reached over 298,000, the health ministry reported on Saturday morning. The ministry also confirmed 2,106 new COVID-19 cases, including 2,105 domestic and one imported cases, which taken the countrys total patient number to 46,292, including 10,020 recoveries, since early 2020. Among the latest cases, 1,769 were detected in Ho Chi Minh City, which have recently registered new daily infections at four-digit level and led the country in daily new COVID-19 patients. Since April 27, when the pandemics fourth erupted in Vietnam, the country has documented 42,714 domestic cases. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Two young fashion entrepreneurs in Hanoi are borrowing inspiration from Vietnamese folk art as they transform ordinary burlap into one-of-a-kind fashion statements. Dao Thu Trang, 31, and Tran Quynh Anh, 29, founded local fashion brand La La La in 2020 with a commitment to promote eco-friendly clothing with a strong connection to Vietnamese culture. Born in Thai Binh Province, a land known for its widespread production of jute trees and burlap fabric, Quynh Anh has been familiar with the material all her life. Still, it never occurred to her that the same material used to store crops in warehouses could be transformed into iconic fashion. Quynh Anhs preconceived notions of burlap quickly changed after she met Trang, a like-minded peer who inspired her to return to her roots and understand the unadulterated beauty of unprocessed burlap. Together, Quynh Anh and Trang set out on a journey to transform unassuming burlap into chic, affordable clothing. During the Lunar New Year season in 2020, Quynh Anh took notice the ubiquity of Dong Ho - a traditional method of Vietnamese painting that focuses on bright, festive color in Hanoian households. Believing that Dong Ho fit well with the fashion brand she envisioned, she began to incorporate folk painting- inspired embroidery into her products, an eccentricity unique to the 'La La La' brand that has been attracting major attention in the local market. For each piece of clothing she designs, Quynh Anh relies on new-school embroidery techniques, given that traditional embroidery does not work well on burlap. In particular, she focuses on curves, soft features of long chain stitches, and vividly-colored threads which provide juxtaposition the muted burlap textile. Such unconventional designs make 'La La La' a particularly niche brand given that it can be difficult to match the brands clothing with typical styles. The brand is mostly sought after by a small demographic of young, stylish urban woman who leads sustainable lifestyles, Quynh Anh explained. Fashion inexorably shifts over time, which can make an item du jour outdated by tomorrow. Using burlap can lessen the negative environmental effects of discarded clothing given that burlap is biodegradable. Embroidered products by La La La. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre Each bag a story A graduate of Hanoi University of Architecture, Trang spent her first few years after university pursuing a career in sustainable development in France, Italy, Belgium, and Brazil. While living in Europe, she noticed that eco-friendly products were becoming a major draw for consumers. The green product marketing is maturing in Europe, but the retail ecosystem for these items in Vietnam is still in its infancy. Green consumption will increase here, one way or another. Its the future, Trang said. Despite the numerous challenges in store, I think there are needs for young people to step up and pioneer the movement. In La La Las early days, Quynh Anh and Trang found themselves up against countless obstacles, particularly the weight of burlap and its difficulty to work with. This challenge was overcome by softening the fabric and removing dust before beginning the tailoring process. This step is just the beginning. To create a bag, each piece of burlap goes through a rigorous process. First is the design phase, which requires the team to sample and test fabrics, design the embroidery, and plan out the colors. Only once a design has been settled on can the needlework begin. With each design, Trang and Quynh Anh strive to tell a distinct story, be it a tale of a whale on the verge of extinction or scenes from Vietnamese folklore. We aspire to have each bag tell a story from areas where jute production is high, of Vietnamese cultural values, or tales from our childhoods. "Our customers can easily spot patterns inspired by Dong Ho paintings, stories of Chi Pheo from writer Nam Caos writing, familiar folklore tales, and illustrations of various farm animals, Trang said. La La Las bags sell for VND200,000-300,000 ($9-13) for pieces with small, simple embroidery, and range up to VND1-2 million ($44-87) for larger, more intricate designs. The brand also has plans to diversify its catalogue by offering linen fabric sourced from Ha Giang, unlocking the potential for more idiosyncratic designs. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Read what is in the news today: Politics -- Speaking at a virtual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) on Friday night, Vietnams State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc urged to speed up regional cooperation in technology transfer and research the possibility of a temporary agreement within APEC on the abolition of intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines. COVID-19 Updates -- The Vietnamese Ministry of Health on Saturday morning confirmed 2,105 local COVID-19 infections, including 1,769 cases in Ho Chi Minh City, raising the national tally to 46,292, with 10,020 recoveries and 225 deaths. -- The U.S. will continue to donate three more million doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam through the COVAX international vaccine mechanism, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. -- Authorities in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang have decided to implement extensive social distancing measures under the prime ministers Directive No. 15 from 0:00 on Sunday. -- Two makeshift hospitals with a total of 5,880 beds are under construction in Ho Chi Minh City for COVID-19 treatment following a surge in the number of cases. -- Authorities in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho have set up a 100-bed makeshift COVID-19 treatment hospital that focuses on treating patients with mild symptoms. -- Authorities in the central coastal city of Da Nang are expecting to carry out the inoculation of 20,000 people in the city at 100 vaccination sites per day, according to the municipal Peoples Committee. Society -- The south-central province of Khanh Hoa has decided to help its 800 native students in Ho Chi Minh City return to their hometown next week. -- Authorities in the northern province of Hai Duong on Friday have initiated legal proceedings against a 40-year-old man for allegedly murdering his creditor and burning the victims body. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The youth union in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City has been operating an online charitable market to help residents in areas locked down due to COVID-19. The project is part of an initiative jointly implemented by the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union, FUNiX Organization, and the municipal Department of Industry and Trade. After the online market model successfully launched in several districts, it was opened in Phu Nhuan District on Wednesday. As of Thursday evening, the market had attracted more than 20,000 orders from residents across the district. The project is aimed to provide assistance for people living in locked down areas, especially those in difficult circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ward-level authorities had conducted a survey to make a list of residents in need of support. Each customer is allowed to order 25 essential items including dried food, spices, water, vegetables, tubers, fruits, meat, and eggs at the price of zero dong on a daily basis. The products are then packed and delivered by a team of young volunteers. This is a practical and meaningful program amid the serious pandemic, said Tran Thanh Ven, an official from the Phu Nhuan District youth union. Many people have lost their jobs and do not have access to sufficient necessities, thus we have tried all we can to provide the necessary support for them. The online charitable market can be accessed at phunhuan.chonghiatinh.vn. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A court in northern Vietnam has given an 18-month jail term to a man who caused a spread of coronavirus around two months ago. The Hai Duong City Peoples Court on Friday handed down the sentence to Dao Duy Tung, a local 32-year-old man who was charged with spreading dangerous infectious diseases in human, according to Vietnams Penal Code. In late March, Tung, via Zalo application, contacted his cousin Dao Anh Tuan who was a freelance worker in Laos and asked Tuan to seek a job for him, the indictment said. Following Tuans instructions, Tung came to Quang Tri Province on April 4 and was then taken to Laos by a person assigned by Tuan. After staying in Lao for days but failing to find a job, Tung returned to Vietnam by making an illegal entry on April 20. Ten days later, Tuan informed Tung on the phone that several persons who previously contacted Tung in Laos had tested positive for COVID-19. At that time, Tung was receiving care from health workers after having fever and throat pain. On May 6, Tung tested positive for coronavirus and was taken to the Hai Duong Province Hospital for Tropical Diseases for treatment. On the same day, Tungs girlfriend, N.T.T., who shared the same residence with Tung, also received a positive test result. Two days later, a direct contact with T. got the same infection. Local police later interrogated Tung but he gave roundabout statements, causing many difficulties to investigators. After considering the collected evidence, the court handed down the 18-month sentence to Tung as he had committed dangerous acts that seriously influenced life and health safety of the public. Before Tung was brought to court, police had imposed an administrative penalty on him for illegally entering Vietnam. More than three months ago, the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Court tried another offender of the same crime. Duong Tan Hau, a 29-year-old flight attendant of national carrier Vietnam Airlines, received a suspended sentence of two years imprisonment on March 30 as he broke the epidemic prevention rules during his home quarantine period, causing serious consequences. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Despite having her own difficulties navigating the pandemic, Pham Gia Vy, a Saigonese mother of two infants, has been spending her days and her money feeding the citys poor. For the past week, Vy, a resident of Ho Chi Minh Citys District 7, has been delivering rice and other basic essentials to homeless people and residents living in lockdown throughout the district. I am a nail technician, but Ive had to close my salon because of the pandemic and the social distancing mandate, said Vy. Im not the only one going through difficult times right now, so I decided to buy rice, instant noodles, and water to donate to others. Vy had purchased 200 meals for her delivery outing, but after sharing her story on social media, she soon found dozens of donors willing to contribute money, food, and time in order to support her mission of aiding the citys vulnerable. Pham Gia Vy to prepares to deliver free meals to Saigon residents affected by COVID-19 in this supplied photo. Since July 10, Ho Chi Minh City has been under Directive 16 - a COVID-19 prevention measure that requires people to remain home except when purchasing necessities, such as medicine and food. I may stop doing this because I worry about leaving my toddlers at home, Vy explained, adding that spending the past weekdays delivering meals around the city by motorbike has kept her quite busy. My husband has been taking care of our 3-year-old and 1-year-old. Its so nice of him to do that, but I worry its too much for him. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnams Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Saturday afternoon requested the implementation of social distancing rules under Directive No. 16 all over 19 cities and provinces in the countrys southern region from July 19 to curb the spread of COVID-19. Before the order, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Dong Nai Provinces have been subject to social distancing rules according to the directive, while the remaining 16 localities in the region, including Can Tho, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Tien Giang, Long An, Vinh Long, Dong Thap, Ben Tre, Hau Giang, An Giang, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ca Mau, and Kien Giang, will follow suit from 0:00 am July 19 during a period of 14 days. When their own social distancing periods expire, authorities of Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai and Binh Duong will decide on an extension in line with the premier's latest order. The decisions must be reported to the government before implementation. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called on the people and business community to promote the spirit of great national unity, support and seriously follow the regulations under Directive No. 16, which requires residents to stay home and only go out for basic necessities such as buying food or medicines or to work at factories or businesses that are allowed to open. No more than two people can gather in public apart from workplaces, schools or hospitals, with the majority of public transport shut down. The Prime Minister assigned Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, who is leading the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, to directly give instructions to ministers and leaders of localities to organize the social distancing implementation on behalf of the PM and deal with unexpected and urgent issues. Other Deputy Prime Ministers, government members, and local leaders are requested to strictly follow the Prime Ministers direction and assignment in pandemic prevention and control. Vietnam has been battling a new wave of coronavirus infections, recording an accumulation of 42,633 cases since April 27. Ho Chi Minh City has reported a spike of local infections since late May, followed by Binh Duong and Dong Thap from late June. The new infections sent the caseloads documented during the ongoing round in these three locales to 25,628, 2,299, and 1,080, respectively. Other localities in the southern region have also detected dozens to hundreds of cases ever since. As of Saturday morning, Vietnam has logged a total of 46,292 COVID-19 patients since the pandemic first hit the country early in 2020. Recoveries have risen to 10,020 while the death toll has reached 225. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Center for Disease Control (CDC) of Binh Thuan has sought directions from the provincial Department of Health for the reception of three sailors sickened with COVID-19 from a collier docked off the south-central Vietnamese province. The three crew members in question on FAREAST HONESTY, a bulk carrier registered in Hong Kong, have exhibited symptoms of cough, fever and fatigue, according to the CDC. The ship departed from Indonesia on July 8 to carry 55,000 metric tons of coal to the Vinh Tan 4 thermal power plant in Binh Thuan. It arrived at the Vietnamese provinces Vinh Tan Port in Tuy Phong District on July 12. Three of its sailors were first diagnosed with the coronavirus on July 13 after performing COVID-19 tests required for all arrivals. The CDC then forced the owner of the 21-member collier to return the ship to its departure location and replace new sailors as per the regulations. But the owner asked for another solution as traveling back and forth would cause many difficulties. The center has thus requested for the provincial health departments permission to bring the crew members infected with COVID-19 ashore for treatment at the Medical Center of Tuy Phong District. Functional forces will also spray disinfectant on the ship and implement other pandemic prevention measures according to regulations. The Ministry of Health confirmed 2,105 local coronavirus infections, including 1,769 in Ho Chi Minh City, taking the national tally to 46,292 patients on Saturday morning. The new infections raised the southern citys caseload to 25,682 -- the highest number compared to all other localities in the ongoing infection wave that erupted in Vietnam on April 27, while Binh Thuan has documented 45 patients. Recoveries have risen to 10,020 while the death toll has reached 225. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Seven network has come under fire for the apparent casting of controversial UK personality Katie Hopkins in Big Brother VIP, after she took to social media admitting to flouting quarantine rules. Advertisers are now being targeted ahead of the Olympic Games while politicians have openly called for her to be deported and a petition is in circulation at Change.org. Officially, Seven has not confirmed her inclusion in the upcoming series from Endemol Shine Australia, but that hasnt stopped shocked reactions to her participation. Laughing in a now-deleted video she said: Ive been told when they bring three meals a day to the door, I have to wait 30 seconds before opening the door. And then I can open the door but only with a face mask. Describing her actions, she explained that she had tried to answer the door as soon as she heard somebody outside to: Frighten the shit out of them and do it naked with no face mask. What I want is the sergeant in the foyer to come up and tell me off so that I can stand there naked while he tells me off. Hopkins was permanently suspended from Twitter in June 2020 for violations of our hateful conduct policy having previously been suspended for one week in January 2020. In 2018 she was detained in South Africa for allegedly spreading racial hatred. Questions have now been raised around how she was granted a Visa to enter Australia on grounds of character. A petition at Change.org already has over 11,000 signatures. The incident has sparked headlines at the Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph, The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian, news.com.au, Daily Mail, Yahoo, The Advertiser and in UK media The Mirror, Daily Express, OK! Magazine, Metro, Scottish Herald and more. My media release on the appalling decisions of the Morrison government to let right-wing troll Katie Hopkins into the country. This should never have happened, and now her behaviour is putting people at risk. Mr Morrison must take responsibility and fix this now. pic.twitter.com/jp6Um2NviE Andrew Giles MP (@andrewjgiles) July 17, 2021 .@Channel7 and @BigBrotherAU should immediately cancel the arrangement to have Katie Hopkins appear on TV in front of Australian families. And @ScottMorrisonMP @karenandrewsmp should cancel her visa and send her on the next plane out of Australia #auspol Josh Burns (@joshburnsmp) July 17, 2021 Katie Hopkins boasted on Twitter how she was flouting our quarantine laws. Putting peoples lives at risk. For that alone, she should be deported immediately. Derryn Hinch (@HumanHeadline) July 17, 2021 What on earth was #HomeAffairs thinking in granting a prized entry visa to a foreign racist? And surely a TV network is not so craven in its search for publicity at any cost to grovel quite so low.. Hugh Riminton (@hughriminton) July 17, 2021 Hey ScoMo, no time like the present for good PR! Time to send Katie Hopkins on her way and allow an Australian to come home @ScottMorrisonMP Alicia Loxley (@alicialoxley) July 17, 2021 For those back home wondering, Katie Hopkins no longer appears on British TV, due to her long history of bigoted remarks. She is (rightly) considered toxic here. If an Australian channel has really arranged for her to appear on their show, that is genuinely shocking. Ben Lewis (@benlewismedia) July 17, 2021 How did Katie Hopkins get a visa AT ALL to come to Australia? Let along poor Australians trapped overseas who can't get back the woman and her views are not welcome here. It's not being woke or about being cancelled. She is dangerous. Serious questions need to be asked. Luke Dennehy (@LukeDennehy) July 17, 2021 Trouble is, Ch7 and the producers of this Big Brother shit show will be thrilled to bits by the Katie Hopkins uproar. Its priceless free publicity. We need to get Hopkins deported. Mike Carlton (@MikeCarlton01) July 17, 2021 This week Seven CEO James Warburton described a racist news headline as inexcusable, embarrassing and clearly does not meet the expectations of our company and the values that weve all worked so hard on over the past 12 months. But some Seven staff are understood to be struggling to equate that position with the invitation to Katie Hopkins, particularly as Seven News and Sunrise have been highlighting the seriousness of the Delta variant and the difficulties of Australians to return home. Social media also lit up over Caitlyn Jenner travelling to Australia as another expected starter for the show. Seven declined to comment on its BB VIP cast. Should Seven cut Katie Hopkins from Big Brother VIP? Yes No Not sure Who's Katie Hopkins? View Results Tonight a 7NEWS Spotlight special Delta On Board examines how the Delta variant found its way here, and the toll it is taking on our communities and economy. Executive Producer, Mark Llewellyn, said: This is not another story on COVID, this is the inside story on how the Delta variant breached Fortress Australia. From the time Flight FX 77 landed to that fateful limo ride we expose the astonishing weaknesses that have left all of us at risk. The arrival of the COVID-19 Delta variant has thrown Australias two biggest cities back into lockdown, prompted State borders to slam shut again, and raised even more questions about the glacial pace of the nations vaccine rollout. Told through the eyes of the people on the frontline the real Australians who are fighting COVID-19 and fighting to survive it this special report includes startling revelations about the failure of the vaccine rollout and first-hand accounts of battling the virus including from NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall. 7NEWS Spotlight: Delta On Board is essential viewing for all Australians, as we confront one of the biggest public health scares in our nations history. 8.30pm Sunday on Seven. Local centerpiece Community service options available at Tyler Public Library as court fine alternative RAQUEL TORRES/ Tyler Morning Telegraph Through an approval process with the Tyler Municipal Court, reading to children, participating in educational programming, or studying to obtain a GED, can all be counted toward completing community service hours. Courtesy The Tyler Public Library and Tyler Municipal Court have partnered together to create an alternative option for people to complete their community service requirements. RAQUEL TORRES/ Tyler Morning Telegraph Parents will also be able to participate in activities with their children, such as playing with toys and doing activities together that build toward their education. RAQUEL TORRES/ Tyler Morning Telegraph Tyler Public Library staff will be monitoring those participating in community service program as an alternative to court fines by documenting their time spent and activities completed. RAQUEL TORRES/ Tyler Morning Telegraph Through an approval process with the Tyler Municipal Court, reading to children, participating in educational programming, or studying to obtain a GED, can all be counted toward completing community service hours. RAQUEL TORRES/ Tyler Morning Telegraph Through a Tyler Municipal Court partnership with the Tyler Public Library, reading to children could now be a part of that community service. A partnership with the Tyler Public Library and the Tyler Municipal Court all started when Judge James Huggler noticed a little girl attending a court hearing with her mom. The young girl, who was going to be attending kindergarten in the fall, was reading a book while her mother met with Huggler. As he sat at the front of the room, Huggler watched the little girl and thought, It would be amazing if we could do something with our library. This moment led to the Tyler Municipal Court and the Tyler Public Library working together to provide another option for people needing to complete community service. After getting the required approval from the courts first, reading to children, participating in educational programming, or studying to obtain a GED, can all be counted toward completing community service hours. With alternative community service options as a way for her municipal court fines to be resolved, the mother and her child were able to become the first people to participate in the program. She had some citations, and these were just basically traffic offenses. Shes a working mom, and like many of the folks that weve seen, money is tight. This gives her an opportunity to do something which will impact her daughter, get her daughter ready for school better perhaps, and hopefully develop just a lifelong love of reading and education, as well as take care of her business with the court, Huggler said. Hugglers court sees 47,000 cases a year, many of which are traffic offenses. The amount of those fines range from $200 to $2,000. Each case is examined individually, the person goes to court and the judge discusses alternatives and community service is one of the big ones. With court costs set by the legislature and fines, the burden could weigh heavy. To participate, a person must enter a plea of guilty or no contest and request a payment alternative. Priority will be given to people with financial hardships or in need, people with young children or lacking childcare, people with multiple jobs and people without a GED. All they have to do is talk with us, Huggler said. The worst thing thatll happen is theyll be scheduled for a court date, and over the last year, weve been doing most of these virtually. They talk about their situation and we come up with a plan to complete their obligations to the court and hopefully benefit the community. One of the court programs Huggler recommended is a four-hour financial health workshop, which is offered one Saturday a month. It teaches people how to do things that really havent been taught in schools; how to budget, how to balance your checkbook, how to set up a budget for your house, what expenses are necessary, what expenses maybe that person can cut, Huggler said. The library partnership gives us as the judges one more tool to use, for appropriate cases, to help people satisfy their obligations. In the first two quarters of the fiscal year, people of Tyler have completed about 5,000 hours of community service. This resulted in $60,000 in fines and court costs that were taken care of thanks to community service at the different partnerships. Huggler said some individuals choose to continue to volunteer, and when they do, its a win. Its the same thing with the library. If they start bringing their children here early, then their children will continue to come here and education is just so important and if we can help one child in one family, were doing a good thing, he said. Amy Skipper, the youth services librarian, said the partnership is focused on parents in the community who have been approved through the municipal court. I thought it was a really great opportunity for parents in our community to be able to do something that is educational and productive and really enriching, not only for themselves as parents, but for their children, Skipper said. She said sometimes with work and stress, its also hard to find moments to bond with children. Its really great that theyre able to attend storytimes if they have been approved to do so, for community service to come to do this with their child and at the same time be able to earn that credit back that they need over at municipal court, she said. Library staff will be monitoring those participating in the program by documenting their time spent and activities completed. I think it would be empowering for them, especially them as parents, to be able to know that this ticket doesnt necessarily have to set them back, but that there are good things that can come from this. They can be able to pay off those credit hours in a way thats beneficial toward their child, toward them, toward their family, Skipper said. Huggler added community service encourages people to continue that mindset. If theres one thing the last year and a half has taught us is we really have to look out for each other. If this helps someone really develop that, thats a good thing, he said. Huggler said his favorite thing to sign are those community service awards. The Tyler Municipal Court is always looking for partnerships with nonprofits in the Tyler community. There are 18 partnerships with municipal courts and the city and nonprofits, including the city of Tyler Parks and Recreation, food banks, PATH and the Salvation Army. Tyler, TX (75702) Today A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear. Low 72F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. The Caspian Sea region consists of countries with complex economic and political relations. The region is replete with natural resources which mainly determine the economic health of the countries located near the Caspian Sea. The sea is bounded by five countries, while the broad Caspian Sea region encompasses more than just five of them. The littoral states are Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Russia, and Iran. Among the five countries, Kazakhstan has the longest coastline, while Iran has the shortest coastline. The 2018 Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea has granted 15 miles of territorial waters and 10 miles of exclusive fishing rights to each littoral state, solving a decade-long dispute over the status of the Sea. In addition to those countries, Tajikistan, Georgia, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan are generally considered to parts of the broad Caspian region. Due to its strategically important location, the region serves as a connection between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. As a consequence, many other states, such as China and the US, try to influence it and maintain good economic and political relations with the region, Eurasia Review writes. Economy The economies of the Caspian region countries differ widely concerning their material wealth, economic health levels, and diversification levels. As most countries in the region owe their economic successes to their natural resources, they are not sufficiently diversified and face severe risks from fluctuations in commodity prices. This is probably the main weakness of the Caspian region economies. The infamous 2014 oil price crash has led to diminishing economic growth rates in many of them. Since then, the states have been employing various diversification policies to mitigate the risks of overreliance on resources. The ongoing shift to green energy may have even greater negative impacts on those economies unless they truly diversify. The contribution of oil and gas to the GDPs of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan has been higher than 10%, and oil and gas exports accounted for more than 40% of their total exports. As a result of their strategic importance, two of these countries, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, have been able to attract the largest share of FDI in the Caspian Sea region. Despite several instances of slow growth rates which were mainly caused by external factors, both economies have shown steady economic growth since independence. The average economic growth rate of the Caspian region is nearly 4%. Apparently, the growth rate is not very satisfying for such a region. As of now, the highest GDP growth rate in the region belongs to Tajikistan at 7.5%, while the lowest one is the growth rate of Kyrgyzstan. It should be noted that the pandemic had a negative effect on the growth rates, and the economies are expected to recover soon. However, many fundamental issues may remain for a long while. Apart from the insufficient diversification problem, common problems include corruption, overreliance on remittances from foreign countries, mainly from Russia, and underutilization of capital. Russia, the largest economy of the region, is also the main import and export partner of most of the countries in the region. This explains why the 2014-2015 financial crisis in Russia had such a significant impact on the economies of surrounding countries. Additionally, landlocked countries in the region, such as Armenia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, do not get the benefits of being next to the sea, and this reflects on their economies to a certain degree. However, the Soviet legacy still persists in some of the Caspian states. The lack of economic freedom is still a problem in many of the Caspian countries. According to Caspian Policy, Azerbaijan has had the greatest change (35.4) in its economic freedom score over the last 25 years. The country has achieved the result mainly by becoming an important transit road, joining the WTO, and improving diversification. Meanwhile, the economic freedom score of Russia changed by 7.5 only, which was the lowest in the region. Currently, Georgia has the highest economic freedom score, followed by Armenia. Reforms made in both countries have proven effective. The development of the Armenian economy has been especially hampered by the blockade created as a result of its long-standing conflict with Azerbaijan. Kazakhstan is assumed to have a significant potential for a better economy, though the actions taken by the government and the lack of diversification have prevented the economy from realizing its potential. The remaining countries, namely Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, are suffering from the lack of a strong legal framework, and it is thought to be among the main factors that hinder development. Georgia seems to be better than the rest of the Caspian countries in terms of Rule of Law and Control of Corruption, according to Worldwide Governance Indicators. Except for Georgia and Armenia, all Caspian countries are members of The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). The organization is aimed to form a single liberalized market for the member states and enables the states to sign favorable bilateral free trade agreements with each other. Additionally, except Iran, all countries in the region are members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Natural Resources Natural resources are the main source of income for many countries in the Caspian region. The Caspian region economies are considered resource-based economies as most of them depend heavily on mineral wealth. According to British Petroleum, the five major countries of the region, Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan hold nearly 8.4%, 32.3%, and 17.8% of the worlds total oil, gas, and coal reserves, respectively. Additionally, the same countries, are responsible for over 5% of the worlds total electricity production. The Caspian Sea itself contains around 48 billion barrels of oil and trillion cubic meters of gas reserves. Natural resources of the Caspian Sea play an especially crucial role in the economies of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. For example, the Caspian Sea is responsible for nearly 100% of Azerbaijans total oil and gas production. However, its hydrocarbon resources do not contribute significantly to the economies of other surrounding countries, such as Iran and Russia. It has been estimated that oil and gas produced from the Caspian Sea comprise nearly 0% of Irans total oil and gas production and almost 1% and 2% of Russias total oil and gas production, respectively. Apparently, the region does not fully depend on the Caspian Sea. Despite such a low share of the Sea in Irans economy, Iran has 16% of the total gas reserves of the world. It is the third largest gas producer in the world. Similarly, Russia is the third largest oil producing country in the world. Apart from its fuel resources, the Caspian countries are rich with non-fuel resources too. The region is known to have a considerable amount of hydroelectricity resources. Valuable metals are also among the vast resources of the region. Gold, silver, iron ore, zinc, copper, uranium, bauxite, cotton, and caviar are among the most valuable and common resources in the region. Nearly 90% of the worlds total caviar production comes from the Caspian Sea. According to the World Gold Council, three of the worlds top twenty gold producing countries are from the Caspian region. Transportation Networks There are around a dozen oil and gas pipelines carrying the Caspian oil and gas to different parts of the world, mainly Europe, East Asia, and South Asia. Exports to Europe are done through Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Caspian Pipeline Consortium, Uzen-Atyrau-Samara, Baku-Novorossiysk, Central Asia Center gas pipeline system, Kazakhstan Caspian Transportation System, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum (as known as the South Caucasus Pipeline), Trans Adriatic Pipeline, and Trans-Anatolian Pipeline. The last three pipelines are parts of the Southern Gas Corridor. Exports to East Asia are carried through Kazakhstan-China Pipeline and Central Asia-China Gas Pipeline. Another major pipeline, Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Pipeline (TAPI), is going to be used for exports to South Asia. The pipeline would carry Turkmen oil to Pakistan and India and gain Afghanistan transit revenues. Its completion is expected in 2022. Another important and controversial project, Trans-Caspian Pipeline (TCP)has been proposed, although Russia and Iran have heavily criticized it citing its potential dangers as some of the reasons. The project is planned to transport natural gas from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan to European countries, making the country less dependent on the current transit countries, namely Russia and Iran. Trans-Caspian International Route (TITR) and Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA) are considered to be the main transport programs that involve the region. TITR (as known as the Middle Corridor), created by Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan, connects Southeast Asia, China, the Caspian Sea, Georgia, and Europe. The TITR reduces shipping time by three times and decreases the likelihood of the risks that are caused by long delays. The TRACECA program consists of 12 ports and 22 land-based routes. Another transportation route, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway connects Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey. BTK, the shortest rail link between Europe and Asia, does not have a passenger service for now, but it is used by several countries, including, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and China, for freight transportation. BTK is expected to transport 1 million passengers and 6.5 million tons of freight annually. A new project, Caspian Digital Hub, is planned to commence at the end of 2021. The project will enable data transfer from Europe to Asia through data centers in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, create an open information society in Eurasia, and improve Internet services in the region. The fiber optic links that will transfer data are going to be built along the bottom of the Caspian Sea. The length of the cable is expected to be almost 400 km. Arms Trade Russia remains the main military equipment provider in the region. The country is the second largest military hardware exporter in the world and has imported only a limited of amount equipment from others including Israel, and France. Between 2016 and 2020, Russia accounted for 89% and 17% of total arms imports of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, respectively. Meanwhile, arms imports from Russia represented 94% of Armenias total arms imports. According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Armenia and Azerbaijan were responsible for 0.3% and 0.7% of global arms transfers. Among other major providers of military equipment to the region are Turkey, China, and Israel. Turkey is among the top arms exporters of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, while China exports to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. In a bid to take over the United States and China's Arctic dominance, Russia is racing to build giant ice-breakers. As World is One News writes, Russia has scrambled to become a leading power in the region, where receding ice cover has allowed Moscow to develop a new shipping route. President Vladimir Putin has made the warming region a priority, heavily investing in the so-called Northern Sea Route that allows ships to reach Asian ports up to 15 days faster than via the traditional Suez Canal route. Transit in the eastern Arctic usually ends in November but Moscow is hoping the ice-breakers will help it make use of the route, becoming more accessible due to climate change, year-round. The vessels begin their journey at the imperial-era Baltic Shipyard, the birthplace of all Soviet nuclear-powered ice-breakers apart from one -- the Lenin, now transformed into a museum and docked in the Arctic port of Murmansk. That is where the four new ships named "Sibir", "Ural", "Yakutia" and "Chukhotka", will eventually be based. The ships are designed to resist extreme weather conditions in the Far North, towering 52 metres (170-feet) high with a length of 173 metres (568 feet) and able to smash through ice up to 2.8 metres (9.2 feet) thick. Russia has not skimped to reap Arctic benefits. Each ship commissioned by state atomic energy corporation Rosatom costs more than 340 million euros ($400 million). Construction requires more than 1,000 people and lasts five to seven years. The ice-breakers will be a game changer for Russia's use of the Arctic, according to Leonid Grigoriyev of the world economy department at Moscow's Higher School of Economics. While Russia is already "intensively" using the Northern Sea Route, Grigoriyev said the eastern Arctic still "freezes completely and would be impossible to use year-round without the ice-breakers." The development of the Northern Sea Route should in particular simplify the delivery of oil and gas to southeast Asia by connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans via the Arctic in record time. Global competition for the Arctic's navigation routes has ballooned, exacerbating tensions, particularly between the US, Russia and China. At the inauguration of the Arktika last year, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said the ice-breaker fleet will "ensure Russian superiority in the Arctic." In Azerbaijan, the Azerkhalcha company announced a Zfr competition for the best carpet in honor of the victory in the Patriotic War. The press service of the company informed that young artists and designers are invited to participate in the contest. They will take part in the creation of the Zfr collection. "For the selected participants, a professional course will be organized under the guidance of an international team of mentors, the statement reads. Then the masters will have to create their own collection of carpets "dedicated to Victory Day on November 10". Britains special forces will take on a new covert mission against China and Russia as they shift their focus to countering big state adversaries, a senior military chief has revealed, The Times reports. Brigadier Mark Totten said that the SAS and SBS would have more time and assets for higher risk counterstate tasks requiring more detail, planning and specialist expertise. According to The Times, army sources said special forces might be given politically treacherous tasks such as training the navies of countries near the South China Sea to better defend against Chinese hostility. According to Totten, special forces will also focus on complex missions against Russia and China. Thus, they need "the knowledge and experience. He further noted that the special forces can work together with the British intelligence service MI6 - they will monitor the military and intelligence units of the Russian and Chinese sides, RIA Novosti reports. The Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Armenia, Arman Dilanyan announced the decision of the Constitutional Court on recognising the results of the early parliamentary elections in the republic as valid. "The Constitutional Court ruled to uphold the decision of the Central Election Commission of Armenia on the results of the early parliamentary elections on June 20, 2021," he said. At the same time, the Constitutional Court rejected the claims of four political forces demanding to annul the results of the parliamentary elections on June 20. Earlier, the "Armenia" and "I Have the Honor" blocs, as well as the "Armenian Motherland" and "Zartonk" (Awakening) parties addressed the Constitutional Court. Early parliamentary elections were held in Armenia on June 20, 21 parties and four blocs participated in them. According to the Central Election Commission of Armenia, the party of acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, "Civil Contract, won the elections (53.91% of the votes). It is followed by the "Armenia" bloc (21.9% of the votes). The new parliament also includes the "I Have the Honor" bloc with 5.22% of votes. The police officers detained a suspect accused of a scuffle with a shooting that took place on the outskirts of the Georgian capital - Varketili. According to the press service of the Georgian Interior Ministry, the accused, being drunk, shot his opponent in the leg during a quarrel, and then left the place of emergency. Doctors rescued the victim, Sputnik Georgia notes. It is clarified that the detainee faces up to 7 years in prison. A man has been killed during a second night of protests over severe water shortages in south-west Iran, BBC reported citing state media. An official in Khuzestan province said the protester was accidentally hit by people who were firing in the air, according to state news agency IRNA. Opposition sources accused the security forces of causing the death. Iran is facing a severe drought, and there is growing public anger over water and power shortages. The death happened in the town of Shadegan, and pictures of the man have been shared widely across social media. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed condolences to German Chancellor Angela Merkel in connection with the death of people as a result of downpours and floods caused by the Cyclone Bernd. "Sharing your grief at this difficult moment, on behalf of all Kazakhstanis and on my own behalf, I express deep condolences to you and the families who lost beloved ones and entire people of Germany. I wish a speedy recovery to the victims of the natural disaster and return of the missing to the families, the message of the head of the state reads. The press secretary of the President of Kazakhstan, Berik Uali, announced that on July 19, the head of state, Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev, will hold a working meeting with the Prime Minister, heads of departments, akims of cities and regions on the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the country. He will be reported by the government on measures to counter the spread of the disease. In addition, it is planned to approve new coordinated actions aimed at improving the general situation in the regions and ensuring the health of citizens of the republic, Sputnik Kazakhstan reports. Former Ukrainian ambassador to the United States and France, Oleg Shamshur, commenting on the results of the meeting between US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Nord Stream 2, said that Kyiv should prepare for a worst-case scenario. According to him, the discussion of this issue at the Merkel-Biden summit demonstrated that Ukraine has no influence on the fate of the gas pipeline. Shamshur added that the Ukrainian side has a chance to interrupt the completion of the gas pipeline with the help of US sanction pressure, but the American side is not inclined to help. Three people were injured in a car accident involving a shuttle bus and a car on the Simferopol-Alushta-Yalta highway, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Crimea informs According to preliminary data, the driver of the shuttle bus, following the Partenit-Simferopol route, violated speed limit and collided with a Volkswagen passenger car and a Mercedes minibus. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been sworn in for a fourth seven-year term in the war-torn country, after winning more than 95.1 percent of the votes cast in government-held areas, Al Jazeera reports. Saturdays swearing-in ceremony was held at the presidential palace in Damascus and attended by more than 600 people, including clergymen, members of parliament, political figures and army officers. The elections have proven the strength of popular legitimacy that the people have conferred to the state, al-Assad, 55, said in his inauguration speech. They have discredited the declarations of Western officials on the legitimacy of the state, the constitution and the homeland, he added. The head of the Stavropol Territory, Vladimir Vladimirov, reported on the progress of the program to support local medical institutions. Today, he posted on Instagram pictures of the Dubovskaya medical outpatient clinic, where a major overhaul was recently completed. Currently, the process of installation and commissioning of equipment is underway there. "The vaccination, procedural, laboratory and emergency rooms will be put into operation, he said, adding that the renovation was carried out thanks to the primary health care modernization program. The head of the Russian government, Mikhail Mishustin, instructed the Ministry of Labor and Rospotrebnadzor to send clarifications on the organization of vaccination. "To send clarifications to employers on the organization of vaccination in work collectives and the procedure for recording the percentage of vaccinated," follows from the instruction published on Saturday on the government website. In addition, the departments will have to report to the Cabinet of Ministers on the results of their work by July 20. In Yessentuki, a meeting of the profile commission took place, during which the readiness of the city for the All-Russian population census was discussed. Earlier it was reported that the census will be held on October 1-31 in digital format. A total of 33 census stations will be opened in the city. More than 200 people will be involved in data collection. The meeting participants also discussed the address management of the resort - out of 14,000 private houses, 8,000 do not have identification plates. This problem will be resolved shortly. The COVID-19 health crisis and the resulting economic downturn has thrown a spanner in the works of already tardy public spending, hindering Vietnams efforts to revive its post-pandemic economy and speed up slowing GDP growth. A section of road running through Tan An City (Long An Province) of Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong Expressway, part of the North-South Expressway. VNA/VNS Photo Public investment plays a central role in stimulating the private sector for socio-economic development, especially infrastructure development. It is also significant in the promotion of Vietnam's economic growth in the period of 2021-2025, Economist Nguyen Bich Lam, former Director of the General Statistics Office, said. The increase of every Vietnamese dong in public investment capital will lead to the rise of another 1.61 Vietnamese dong from non-State investment capital. Thus, the slower in public investment disbursement, the tardier in economic growth, he said. Falling short Total disbursement of public investment in Vietnam, in the first six months of this year reached VND133.9 trillion (US$5.8 billion). This is just 29.02 per cent of the planned spending assigned by the Prime Minister. Its also down 34 per cent from last year during which, foreign-funded capital disbursements sat at just 7.37 per cent. Only nine ministries and 20 localities had a disbursement rate over 30 per cent of what they planned. There were 37 out of 50 ministries and 16 out of 63 localities that recorded disbursement rates below 20 per cent. The North-South Expressway, Nhon-Hanoi Railway Station metro route, Long Thanh International Airport, the second branch of the Cho Ray Hospital Project in HCM City, and the Yen Xa Wastewater Treatment Plant in Hanoi are among the projects running behind schedule, that are stirring up public controversy. A number of causes of the delayed disbursement have been identified. Disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, meant that in the first quarter, ministries, central agencies, and localities were still disbursing capital from 2020 which had been transferred to 2021, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI). The MPI is in charge of conducting state management over Vietnams public investment plans. In addition, a number of big projects have seen their capital investment adjusted. For example, the North-South Expressway received an additional VND1.64 trillion supplement from the Ministry of Transport to meet growing expenses. Investors have also been making preparations for administrative and legal procedures related to bidding on construction for projects. This has further exacerbated the time official construction projects take and subsequently for money to be disbursed. Snail-paced approval for site clearance from the local planning authorities, has also negatively impacted on the speed of disbursement. Approval for excavation of the foundations of a construction project can range from three to four days up to three weeks. The MPI attributed the stagnation in disbursement to the irresponsible and loose management of some leaders in some localities, agencies and ministries. To cope with scattered and inefficient public investment, in mid-May this year, the Prime Minister issued Directive No 13/CT-TTg clarifying the major guidelines for the development of medium-term public investment plans for the 2021-2025 period. The move comes amid huge economic uncertainty caused by COVID-19. In the document, the PM requested that concerned ministries, central agencies and localities receive appraisals from the MPI to review all State-funded projects expected to be part of medium-term public investment in the 2021-2025 period. The aim is to address thinned-out and inefficient investment and promptly remove barriers, particularly those related to institutions, administrative procedures, and site clearance. Delayed transport projects The Ministry of Transport said that by late June, the ministry had disbursed about VND17.3 trillion, equivalent to 40 per cent of the total capital earmarked for 2021. This is higher than the average disbursement rate of the ministries and central agencies during the first six months of the year. A number of construction firms have also complained about the skyrocketing prices of construction materials. In addition to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, one of the main causes behind this precarious situation is that in 2021, the price of steel and other construction materials increase dramatically, hampering the mobilisation of resources and impeding progress of many contractors, said Ngo Tri Long, former director of the Ministry of Finance's Price and Market Research Institute. Without urgent and drastic policies and solutions, it is difficult to realise the economic growth targets set by the National Assembly, Long said. There were times that the prices of construction steel soared by more than 40 per cent, along with that of other materials also increased. When there is yet any decision to balance the prices, contractors tend to delay projects or even stop construction to avoid losses, said a representative of Deo Ca Traffic Infrastructure Investment JSC. In the face of a fluctuating market, localities should promptly announce construction material prices and monthly construction price indexes, in line with the actual market prices as a basis for investors and contractors to adjust the contract prices under specific conditions, he said. The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has just submitted to the Prime Minister the draft decision of the PM to establish a special working group headed by the MPI to review and remove difficulties for State-funded investment projects at ministries and localities. The special working group is expected to build competitive investment attraction policies, including incentives on tariffs, access to land, as well as solutions to prevent further disruptions to the supply chain and a lack of human resources. In addition, as a key priority for investors is stability and legal consistency, the special working group will complete the relevant legal framework, MPI said. Source: Vietnam News Having money but not spending is unacceptable: PM The disbursement of public investment from the state budget has reached 60 percent, the highest ever level. The disbursement of ODA has also improved, but is still low. Once electronic courts are used, all steps of hearing can be transparent. Every judge and chief judge will have a virtual assistant to support their work, while peoples confidence in justice will increase. The Ministry of Information and Communications and the Supreme People's Court signed a cooperation programme on digital transformation Nguyen Van Du, Deputy Chief Judge of the Supreme Peoples Court, said that building an electronic court is an inevitable trend in modern times that satisfies the requirements of international integration and catches up with the world's civilized justice system. Du said many countries in the world, including South Korea, China, India, Singapore and Australia, have completed the period of building electronic courts, while they are building digital courts before setting up smart courts. Meanwhile, Vietnam strives to complete the building of electronic court by 2025 in order to adapt to the 4.0 industry revolution. The application of IT in court operations is still at a very early stage, but this has helped change the face of the sector. This includes online teleconferencing system which covers over 800 points; the publication of court judgments and case law on the Supreme People's Courts information portal; and software on managing applications for sentence review and online public services register. However, IT application in the sector is facing some difficulties because of the limited facilities and IT infrastructure and the weak workforce in charge of IT at local peoples courts. Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung said users, rather than technology creators, determine the development of technologies. Therefore, if courts pioneer in using new technologies and new digital platforms, they will be smarter. Technologies will be perfected at courts instead of the countries of the original technologies. According to Hung, Vietnams digital transformation is special as many things in the first and second phases still have not been completed. However, he stressed that it is not necessary to implement these things sequentially, one after another, but under the 3-in-1 mode. Thanks to this, latest digital technologies can be applied which help carry out digital transformation more quickly and cheaply. Not many things have been done by courts in the first and second phases, and therefore, they have opportunities to utilize the most modern digital platforms to accelerate digital transformation, Hung said. He suggested that digital transformation at courts could begin with publicizing judgments and case precedents so that people can access them online. A virtual assistant that can answer questions about legal issues is the next step. A virtual consultant can tell people about the probability rate of winning cases. This would be digital transformation at a high level, Hung said. Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court Nguyen Hoa Binh thinks that in building electronic court, there are four most important factors - political determination, technology infrastructure, legal infrastructure and human resources. Duy Vu Five years of PCA's ruling: no such thing as power creating justice The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)'s ruling has been an irrevocable part of history. It will act as a guide for countries involved in the struggle for an order based on rules and not on force creating justice. When it's safe to travel again, you could do worse than a trip to Mount Cao Xiem in Binh Lieu District, Quang Ninh Province, to indulge in the wild beauty of the mountains. Mt Cao Xiem peak has an altitude of 1,429m above sea level. Photo baoquangninh.com.vn Located in Luc Hon Commune, Mt Cao Xiem is not a hugely popular tourist destination due to the tricky terrain on the mountain considered the roof of the province. With an altitude of 1,429m above sea level, in any village of Binh Lieu you can see the imposing mountain peak. On harvest days, local people look up at Mt Cao Xiem to see when rain is on the way so they know when to rapidly collect their rice and maize. Few people have reached the top of this mountain, giving Cao Xiem a strange and mysterious allure. To discover Mt Cao Xiem peak, we had to walk about 7km, mainly on trails along the slopes with lots of rocky mountains covered with clouds year-round and through immense grass hills. There are three ways to reach the peak. The first is from Cao Thang Village in Luc Hon Commune. The second is from Luc Ngu Village in Huc Dong Commune, and the third is from Ngan Meo Village in Luc Hon Commune. We chose the first method and parked our car at a local house and walked for about 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach the top. View from the top of Cao Xiem mountain. Photo quangninh.gov.vn During the journey to the top of Mt Cao Xiem, we had a chance to see the villages of the Dao and San Chi ethnic minority people in Binh Lieu District, where the houses have fascinating architecture. Following the path, going through the vast forests, we saw beautiful wildflowers and ate wild fruit, giving us an energy boost. After passing through immense pine forests, steep slopes and streams, a green steppe with very fresh air appeared. On this grassland, we stopped to enjoy the harmony with mountains and forests, with our journey to conquer the mountain at the halfway point. Continuing the journey, we traversed a pine forest for about 2km, steep mountain slopes and winding trails dotted with big rocks. Large twin rocks on the top of Mt Cao Xiem. Photo quangninh.gov.vn On foggy days, this road is the biggest challenge in the journey to conquer Mt Cao Xiem. You will see clouds entwined with each step. Because of dense fog, it's hard to see more than 10m apart, so everyone needs to stick to each other to not get lost. On beautiful days, everything becomes easier. While walking you can stop at each stage to rest and admire the scenery and enjoy the cool breeze and fresh air of the northeastern mountains. The journey was arduous and we were thrilled to reach the top. Standing on the highest peak of the Cao Xiem mountain range, we could see a large area. From the east of the mountain top, we could look beyond Hai Ha and Dam Ha districts to the Gulf of Tonkin. From the west, we could see over the high mountains between the Vietnam-China border. From the south, we saw Binh Lieu valley and beyond to the low hills in Tien Yen District. From the north, we could see the imposing Cao Ly and Quang Nam Chau mountains. On the top of Cao Xiem, there are still trenches and roads opened up over the mountain. Here, in the past, a flag was planted showing the sovereignty of Vietnam. For this reason, the San Chi ethnic people call Cao Xiem mountain "Keo Kam Khay" (mountain of raising flag), while the Tay people call it "Khau Cam Co". In 2017, Binh Lieu District built a shiny triangular landmark on the top of Mt Cao Xiem. When standing on the peak, we also admired the natural stone walls lasting kilometres, which have been called a "miniature Great Wall" of Binh Lieu. The road to the top of Cao Xiem mountain. Photo quangninh.gov.vn According to local people, these stone walls were created by the people of Luc Hon and Huc Dong communes to divide their territory and prevent their livestock from wandering off. There is another story that, in the past, in Luc Hon and Huc Dong communes, there were a couple in love that they often sneaked up the mountain to date. Their parents and villagers found out about them and forbade them from seeing each other. To avoid the same thing happening again, the people of the two communes built the stone fence. Leaving the peak, we saw the intersection between heaven and earth of the northeastern border area of the country and wished that land would forever be fresh and peaceful. Source: Vietnam News Getting lost in Binh Lieu A miniature Sapa in Quang Ninh A miniature Sapa is the most common nickname of Binh Lieu distruct in Quang Ninh province, which has risen to become a favourite tourist attraction for holiday makers over the recent years. Among the culinary delights in Hanoi, snail noodle soup is fascinating to many northerners. The dish, which can be said to have a unique countryside flavor, is pervasive in the capital, from street food stalls to luxury restaurants. Having a majority of the population unvaccinated when a fast-moving strain is afoot makes McLennan County vulnerable to a new surge, officials from the health district and Waco Family Medicine said. The undervaccinated are another concern. The health district reported 13,149 people in the county have had one dose of the vaccine but are not fully vaccinated, about the same number as the week prior. Wilson said Waco Family Medicine, the dominant provider of primary care for low-income residents in McLennan County, has seen many no-shows for the second dose, though not as many as for the first-dose appointments. We know there is a deficit of people receiving a second dose, Wilson said. We know this is a problem, and it will probably worsen or improve in direct proportion to what the COVID curve is doing. As COVID counts increase, people will become more aware of the need to be vaccinated. Wilson said Pfizer estimates its vaccine is 88% effective against the new delta variant for people who are fully vaccinated but only 33% effective for those who have had one dose. It appears from the data we have that the second dose is more important in protecting against the delta variant than it was with prior variants, he said. ASHLAND Travel + Leisure magazine announced its list of top 10 small towns in the Midwest, and Ashland made the cut. On July 7, the publication rounded up the 10 best towns in the region with populations of less than 15,000 residents. While Ashland has well under 15,000 residents with 2,523 per the 2019 census, the list includes towns that range from populations barely above 100 to over 10,000. The list also includes Petoskey, Mich. (population 5,724), Hill City, S.D. (1,002), Kohler, Wis. (2,146), Pella, Iowa (10,231), Medora, N.D. (134), Fish Creek, Wis. (997), Lanesboro, Minn. (673), Winona Lake, Ind. (4,910) and Weston, Mo. (1,728). The publication noted Ashlands location halfway between Omaha and Lincoln, and the historic downtown area, which it called charming and walkable and a bustling destination. The magazine also listed several local downtown businesses, the art galleries and nearby amenities among Ashlands attributes. Bradley Pfeiffer, president of the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce, said he was pleased to see Ashland listed. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} I think its awesome! he said on Monday. It took a lot of hard work by a lot of good people to get to that point. JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) A Utah man who was sentenced to 30 years in prison last month in the beating death of his wife on an Alaska cruise has died, the Alaska Department of Corrections said. Kenneth Manzanares was in the department's custody, at a facility in Juneau, when he was found unresponsive in his cell Wednesday morning, the department said in a statement. Life-saving measures were attempted but he was later pronounced dead, the department said. Manzanares is the seventh person to die in the department's custody this year, according to the department, which said all deaths are reviewed by the Alaska State Troopers and state medical examiner's office. According to the Department of Corrections, he was 43. Betsy Holley, a department spokesperson, by email Friday said information related to an inmate's medical condition is confidential, but said no foul play was suspected in Manzanares' death. She said Manzanares was alone in his cell when he was found by officers. An email seeking comment also was sent to Manzanares' attorney Friday. Thats why we are working to make sure there are vaccination and testing locations located on places like the Las Vegas Strip. That is open any individual, workers ... visitors, White said. We have all three vaccines offered, including the one shot. If someone is coming from out of state, that can be more convenient and we certainly encourage everyone to do so. The Department of Health and Human Services said test positivity, a key marker of the percentage of people found to be infected among those tested for the virus, had tripled from 3.4% five weeks ago to 10.9% on Thursday. The positivity figure reported by the state Department of Health and Human Services was 12.3% in the Las Vegas area. The number of new cases reported Friday in Nevada was 866, and six new deaths. That brought to 5,758 the number of lives lost in the state to COVID-19 since March 2020. Most cases and deaths in Nevada during the pandemic have been in the Las Vegas area, home to 2.3 million people and host to tens of millions of visitors per year. On Friday, health officials in Washoe County said they had no plans to implement mask requirements or recommendations because the virus hasn't surged in the Reno-Sparks area to the extent it has in Las Vegas. DES MOINES (AP) The number of abortions performed in Iowa rose significantly in 2020, continuing a big jump that began in 2019 after a long downward trend, according to data released Monday. Data released to legislative staff by the Iowa Department of Public Health shows Iowa had a 14% increase in abortions in 2020 following a 25% rise in 2019. State Sen. Janet Petersen sent the information to the Des Moines Register and argued the increasing number of abortions was due to state efforts to limit birth control options. Petersen, a Democrat and abortion-rights supporter, said the increasing number of abortions reflect moves supported by Republican lawmakers to withdraw from a federally funded family planning program that helped thousands of people to get birth control and information on pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Planned Parenthood was barred from participation and the state implemented a new program that served fewer people. I once again think that when they take family planning services away from Iowans and expect abortion numbers to drop, theyre just kidding themselves, she said. During his trial, Bahena Rivera claimed publicly for the first time that two masked men kidnapped him from his trailer and forced him to drive before they came upon Tibbetts on a rural road and one of them stabbed her. He said the men loaded her body into his trunk and instructed him to dispose of it in the cornfield. The hearing Thursday was to determine whether prosecutors should be ordered to turn over to Bahena Riveras lawyers information on sex trafficking investigations in the region where Tibbetts was killed. Brown resisted the defenses request for that information, calling it a fishing expedition. Judge Joel Yates said he would issue a written ruling this week and hold a daylong hearing on July 27 on the defenses request for a new trial. Bahena Rivera had been scheduled to be sentenced Thursday to life in prison until his lawyers said they needed more time to investigate the claims of the two new witnesses, who say the 21-year-old told them he helped kill Tibbetts. Brown said Bahena-Rivera's testimony didn't match those alleged confessions because he made no mention of Tibbetts being held at a secondary location, her body being wrapped in plastic or other details. Illustration by by Nick Matej Thirty-three Matthew FIVE IN THE afternoon, already dark. He was at the middle till, handing a girl a one-pound coin and two twenty-pence pieces, her change for a carton of orange juice and a loaf of bread, when a loud bang brought him, and everyone else, to a standstill. The air was filled with the sharp sounds of broken glass, the long ghastly scrape of metal on tarmac, a cry, another bang. A car had hit somethinga lamppost? Another car? Matthew dropped the girls change, closed the cash drawer, and ran out into the street. The remains of the scooter were lying against the curb a hundred yards from the shop. Running toward it, searching for the rider, he saw only the wrecked machine, the back tire, severed, a few yards from the rest. It was as if the rider had vanished, catapulted into some other street, some other town, by the force of the collision. Then he spotted him lying, facedown, close to the gutter. People were already bending over him. Matthew recognized a familiar silver helmet. As he knelt, a woman standing at Ants feet kept saying Dont touch him. Dont touch him. From the helmet came a faint sound. Ant? Its Matthew. Can you hear me? Are you okay? Behind him, he heard the manager of the Co-op saying that an ambulance was on the way; he had called the police. Matthew repeated this to Ant. Youre going to be all right, he said. What did he know? But he tried to make his voice strong and confident. Cautiously he rested his hand on Ants gloved hand. Around him people were asking, Had anyone seen the car? The woman who had been saying Dont touch him asked Matthew if he knew the driver of the scooter. Anthony Martin. He lives on Mulberry Lane. She hurried away; he kept his hand on Ants. If Zoe hadnt broken up with him, she might have been lying here too. He remembered, from books and films, that it was important to talk to an injured person, to keep them conscious. Once a person left consciousness, it was hard for them to find their way back. I was on the till at the Co-op, he said, when I heard the car hit you. The managers been giving me extra hours since we finished exams. Zoes got a job at the butchers. Weird for a vegetarian, but she likes it. Ant said something. Bending lower, Matthew heard Help, and Up. I cant, Ant. We have to wait for the ambulance. If you move, you might make things worse. Did you see the car? Above their heads, the woman said, Your mother is on her way. Shell be here soon. Yes, whispered Ant. Yes, you saw the car? No answer. Before he could ask again, he heard sirens far away and then much closer. Just as with Karel, there were men and a stretcher and a lighted ambulance, filled with hopeful machines. He let go of Ants hand, and at once Ant was surrounded. As the paramedics bent over him, he cried out. The hairs on Matthews arms rose. For a moment no one spoke. Then one of the men said, Lets get him on the stretcher while hes out. As they carried him to the ambulance, Matthew saw the helmet, sitting alone on the pavement like some small, forgotten UFO. He was carrying it back to the shop when a spotlight lit up the street. This is the police, a loudspeaker announced. Can everyone stay where they are for a few minutes? We want to get names of witnesses. Turning away from the beam, he spotted Tomas on the other side of the street. Before he could pretend not to have seen him, Tomas waved. He waved back, a small, breezy gesture. A couple of police officers, a man and a woman with clipboards, were making their way from person to person, noting names and phone numbers. People began to relax, setting down bags, asking each other what theyd seen, talking about the slippery roads and how people drove too fast. Matthew gave his name and number to the policewoman and explained that hed been working at the Co-op when he heard the crash. Hed run out and seen the scooter lying in the street and knew it belonged to his friend. No, he hadnt seen the car. She took this down, thanked him, and suddenly broke off. Arent you the boy who found the young man in the field? He recognized the policewoman who had accompanied Hugh Price on his first visit. He admitted that he was. Nice to see you again. She raised her swooping eyebrows. I hope your friends okay. As soon as she moved on, Tomas was beside him, standing much too close, breathing hard. Beneath his watchmans cap, his eyes glittered. Surreptitiously Matthew took a step back. Did Tomas know he had spoken to Karel? But Tomas was whispering, I saw him. I saw the car. What car? Despite himself, he too was whispering. The car that hit the scooter. It was baby blue. There was a dent in the rear bumper. Around them people were scattering, heading for cars, shops, homes, as the police released them. You mean it was the same car? He felt a rush of vindication: their searching had not been pointless. Did you tell the police? I did, but they didnt understand. We should call the detective. I have his number. He made me feel guilty, Tomas said sullenly. Thats because you didnt tell him you were playing with trains the morning Karel was attacked. Come on. Inside the Co-op the manager was working Matthews till, ringing up groceries with surprising efficiency. When Matthew asked if they could use the phoneit was an emergencyhe held out the office key. Be sure to lock up when you finish, he said. In the office Matthew retrieved Hugh Prices card and dialed the number. Beneath the bright lights, Tomass excitement was even more apparent, his cheeks flushed, his breathing audible. A man answered the phone, and Matthew asked for Hugh Price. He handed Tomas the phone and stepped away to the large window overlooking the shop. From this vantage point all four aisles were visible; only the meat and cheese counters, directly beneath, were hidden. Tomas repeated his story. In the pauses, Matthew guessed the detectives questions. The car had been going fast, yes, faster than thirty. No, the brake lights hadnt come on when it hit the scooter. In aisle two Matthew saw their neighbor, Mrs. Lacey, pick up a box of cereal, study the list of ingredients, and set it back on the shelf. She moved on to the pasta. Hes coming to take my statement, Tomas said when he hung up. Maybe theyll finally catch the bastard, and Sylvie will talk to me again. Mrs. Lacey, now in aisle three, lifted a small jar off the shelf and, without looking at it, slipped it into her jacket pocket. Ive got to get back to work, Matthew said. Keys in hand, he headed for the door, but Tomas, instead of following, settled himself in the managers chair. Did he think he could sprawl there until the police came? No wonder Sylvie had left him. Come on, Matthew said. I have to lock the door. It was a relief to be back at the till, ringing up groceries, making small talk, even while the shock of what had happened kept happening, over and over. As he rang up a tin of baked beans, a six-pack of beer, he thought of Ant, one minute driving home, the next flying through the air. That the driver might be the man who had hurt Karel was confounding. *** AT HOME HIS MOTHER AND Zoe were sitting on the sofa, watching television. Still holding the helmet, he stepped in front of the screen and told them about Ants accident. Christ! Zoe was on her feet. Is he all right? We have to phone the hospital. They wont give information to non-family members, said his mother. We can call and leave a message for his parents. But what if It took him a few seconds to understand what Zoe was asking. His mother said no, even if things were very serious the hospital couldnt tell them, but from what Matthew said, it sounded like the prognosis was good. Ant was conscious; he could talk. Ill ask his parents to phone as soon as they can, she said, and left the room. Zoe, I really think hell be okay. He was wearing his helmet. He held it out, proof. She was sobbing too hard to hear. He had seen Zoe with Ant a few times: once leaning toward each other at the cinema; another time standing by his scooter, arguing. Bewildered by this storm of emotion, he patted her shoulder, uselessly. When his mother returned, he told them, talking over Zoes trailing hiccups, the other part of the story: that Tomas had recognized the car. But he cant have seen it for more than a few seconds, said his mother, and it was already dark. In the shock of the moment, he had believed Tomas unquestioningly. Now he felt stupid for not considering that Tomas, like one of his mothers witnesses, had seen what he wanted to see, conjuring the blue car out of desperation. He was very definite, he said doubtfully. You sound like you know him. Between hiccups, Zoe was eyeing him curiously. He was collecting for Oxfam. Trying to change the subject, he said hed seen Mrs. Lacey shoplifting. Only a small jar of pesto, but still. Oh dear, said his mother. I didnt realize shed started again. You mean shes done this before? The Laceys lived a few streets away and had always seemed like law-abiding people. For years, on and off. Mr. Lacey goes in and pays for the items. Its usually a sign that shes sliding toward depression. The shopkeepers here all understand, but thereve been a couple of nasty scenes in Oxford. Ive never heard that shoplifting was a symptom of depression, Zoe said. Thinking about Ant and the scooter, he asked if Dad was back. Maybe hed be able to weld the pieces back together. It turned out Hal had come home early, complaining of a sore throat, and was already in bed. None of them knew what to do next. Watching television, unless it was the news, seemed heartless. His mother retreated to her study. Zoe went to take a bath. He went to his room and tried to focus on homework. He was studying a map of the Austro-Hungarian Empire when he smelled onions frying. Downstairs his mother was at the stove, wearing an apron. Mum, what are you doing? Its nearly ten oclock. Making mushroom soup. Its been a trying day. While he washed the mushrooms, she described her phone calls to people with the same surname as Duncans mother. Each time I feel like Im lifting this huge weight. The truth is, I dont want to find her. If shes an addict, or an awful person, I dont want her having anything to do with Duncan. What if she says, Ill kill myself if you dont come and live with me? Here. He handed her the mushrooms. Shes much more likely to say she wants nothing to do with him. Which would be upsetting too. I cant imagine any scenario that is going to make Duncan happy. She was sixteen when she had him, younger than you. He passed on Hugh Prices suggestion of a private detective, and she said that was on her list. I want Duncan to feel weve done our best. Would you like some wine? Theres a bottle of red open. He poured two glasses; they sat down at the table. Then she got up again to fetch some biscuits and cheese, and they were both eating ravenously. Are you okay about Rachel? she said, slicing into the cheddar. I miss her, buthe hadnt dared say this aloud beforeI can tell I wont soon. What upsets me is that she wasnt the person I thought she was. The others were nearby, but it was as if he and his mother were alone in the house, talking as equals. She raised her glass. Youre like me. You like clarity. Thats why I wanted to study law. They each cut another slice of cheese. I dont mean to put you on the spot, she went on, but Im worried about Zoe. Do you know whats going on with her? He had been braced to say he knew nothing, less than nothing, about his fathers comings and goings. That Zoe was the subject of her concern brought him to an unrehearsed standstill. In the grip of his own double lifesearching for Karels assailantit hadnt occurred to him that his sister might have one too. I thought she was upset about Ant, he said. His mother inclined her head; Zoe was fond of Ant, but not in that way. Shes been going to Oxford every chance she gets, and she agreed to babysit for the Dunns next Wednesday, even though Moiras having a party. Maybe she just wants to make some money. No, shes scheming, and the only reason I can think of why Zoe would scheme is a boyfriend. There must be something about this one that she knows will worry us. Like what? She ticked off reasons. Hes older, hes disreputable in some way, hes married, hes Married? Why would someone whos married want to go out with Zoe? His mother smiled. Suddenly they were no longer equals. I dont want you to spy on your sister, but can you keep an eye on her? Let her know youre there if shes in trouble, though, please godshe knocked the tablenot that kind of trouble. Again, he was slow to catch her meaning, then His mother poured the last of the wine into their glasses. I hope a year from now well be sitting here and youll have had a good first term at university and Duncan will be painting happily and Zoe will be working hard on her A-levels, and seeing a nice boy your age. And Dad, he improvised, will have a second apprentice. And you He faltered. What would you like, Mum? She faltered too. Maybe your father and I could take a holiday? Go to Greece? Ill be able to read the inscriptions on the temples. As she went to turn the heat off under the soup, he found himself talking about Karel. We didnt tell you, he said, but he said one word: coward. Coward. My sister used to call me that all the time, for not jumping into the pool or climbing a tree. As an adult, its not a word you often hear. Youre being a coward about phoning Duncans possible relatives. At once he was dismayed, but she was smiling ruefully. Youre right. I promised Duncan Id do it, so I should get on with it. Well, time for bed. Alone in his room, Matthew registered the chillthe heating had gone off for the nightand the pleasing fragrance of soup. His ears buzzed from the wine. As he brushed his teeth, he thought again about Zoe. She had been acting differently since she broke up with Ant, but he had attributed any changes to her worries about first their father, then Duncan. For half his life, he had been constantly in her company: going to the same school, playing in the park, turning the sofa into a fort. Now he realized how many hours there were each day when he had no idea what she was saying, or doing, or feeling. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Detectives are investigating the death of a person Friday afternoon in a Northeast Albuquerque neighborhood. Daren DeAguero, a police spokesman, said Albuquerque Fire Rescue was dispatched to a rescue call in the 1600 block of Hiawatha NE, near Indian School and Juan Tabo. He said AFR found a lifeless individual and homicide detectives responded to investigate the incident. DeAguero gave no other details. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Neighbors said a father and son live at the home and that they saw the pair working on the roof early Friday morning. Crime scene tape blocked the street and two mobile crime labs idled at the scene. Adria Malcolm contributed to this report. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal Detectives have arrested three teenagers in the robbery turned homicide of a 19-year-old in Nambe in February. Santa Fe County Sheriffs spokesman Juan Rios said Abram Martinez, Jacob Vigil and Christian Sherwood, all 17, have been charged in the Feb. 4 death of Isaiah Herrera. Martinez, the alleged shooter, is charged with an open count of murder, armed robbery, tampering with evidence and conspiracy charges. Sherwood and Vigil are charged with tampering with evidence and conspiracy. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ It is unclear if any of the boys have an attorney. Sheriffs detectives have been persistent and dedicated following leads and details that resulted in the arrests of these three suspects, Sheriff Adan Mendoza said in a release. I want to extend my thanks and congratulations to sheriffs investigators for their dedication and hard work, which will bring justice to Isaiah and his family. According to an arrest warrant affidavit filed in Childrens Court: Santa Fe County deputies responded around 8 p.m. to reports of gunfire and a body lying in the road near Vista Herrera and County Road 119 S. They found Herrera shot to death next to the road with several 9 mm bullet casings around his body. Relatives of Herrera told deputies he would often go out to the intersection to sell marijuana, but they did not believe he was involved in gang activity. Surveillance footage from nearby homes showed Herrera walking out to the street to meet someone in a car. Herrera and the car move out of view of the cameras before the car is seen leaving the neighborhood from where Herreras body was found. A search of Herreras Snapchat account revealed that Herrera had planned to meet Martinez to sell him marijuana and let him hit the vape pen. An FBI laboratory found the DNA from a vape pen found on Herrera was unlike Herreras but included a mixture of individuals. The DNA results are still pending. During a search of Martinezs Snapchat account and phone, deputies discovered he tried to sell a 9 mm which turned out to be stolen six days after the homicide and wrote multiple rap lyrics about killing someone in the months following the homicide. Deputies watched Martinezs home in Espanola and saw he drove a car matching the one seen meeting Herrera in surveillance footage. A search of a tracking device on the car showed it traveled to Nambe the day of Herreras death and then to Vigils house in Espanola. Earlier this month, detectives searched the home of Vigil and the hotel where Sherwood was staying with his grandmother. Vigil requested a lawyer but later spoke with deputies, telling them Martinez had killed Herrera while he and Sherwood were in the car. He said Martinez and Herrera were outside the car when Martinez opened fire on him. Vigil told deputies Martinez had him grab marijuana products and a cellphone from Herrera before the three left. He said Sherwood used the gun to shoot Herreras cellphone before throwing it from the side of the road. Sherwood told deputies he saw Martinez cock the gun and shoot Herrera. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... SANTA FE The states new Citizen Redistricting Committee has launched a web portal that allows people to draw their own maps and submit written testimony. The new site nmredistricting.org includes links to video training on how to use the map-making feature, but people can also jump right in and draw their own maps. The program allows users to click on precincts or entire counties in New Mexico to paint the territory of proposed districts. It keeps track of the population in each district as you draw and also notes the ideal population, demonstrating how difficult it can be to keep the districts roughly equal. The map has settings for New Mexicos three-district congressional delegation, the 70-member state House and 42-person state Senate. Users can also submit written comments on communities of interest and other topics. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The broader redistricting website also outlines the redistricting committees schedule of meetings the next of which is online at 9 a.m. Friday next week. The first in-person meeting is set for 3 p.m. Aug. 2 at the Capitol in Santa Fe. A host of community advocacy groups, meanwhile, have launched their own campaign to educate people about the importance of redistricting. In a news conference, some members of the Peoples Power, Peoples Maps campaign said they believe the work is especially vital given that no one from a Native American community was appointed to the redistricting committee. All were asking for is a fair process and fair maps, said Ahtza Dawn Chavez, a member of the Navajo Nation and executive director of the NAVA Education Project, which focuses on Native American voters. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal Meet Kelly, a woman showing signs of mental health issues whose rap sheet includes low-level crimes. She becomes addicted to drugs and gets arrested for breaking into a home and stealing a car. She subsequently is involved in a drug buy and ends up killing an innocent bystander. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The city will be using this hypothetical case study as it convenes a series of meetings with law enforcement and community partners to address what authorities call a broken criminal justice system. I think all of us partners in the criminal justice system are tired and frustrated, said Chief Administrative Officer Sarita Nair in a meeting with Journal editors and reporters on Thursday. At the same time, weve all been tired and frustrated long enough that were ready to do things a little differently. The thing specifically that I think were ready to do differently is that them versus us piece of it. By that what I mean is when something goes wrong, all of us are very likely to point to some other part of the criminal justice system. Chief Policy Adviser Damon Martinez said the Albuquerque Metro Crime Initiatives five sessions will follow a hypothetical case study of a woman they call Kelly and her interactions with the criminal justice system. The sessions which will be broadcast live on the citys One Albuquerque YouTube channel will address opportunities for early intervention, detention, diversion and hearings, resources for victims advocates and offender re-entry, and career pipelines. For each session, we will have panelists and experts, and then the sessions will be guided by a facilitator who will prompt the experts to provide commentary on the case study, Martinez said. The floor will then be opened up to the panelists for question and answer. Participants and co-sponsors include Mayor Tim Keller, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Attorney General Hector Balderas, Bernalillo County District Attorney Raul Torrez, Chief Public Defender Bennett Baur, members of the New Mexico Senate and House of Representatives, Albuquerque City Council members, the Albuquerque Police Department, the New Mexico State Police, the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance, the New Mexico Crime Victims Reparations Commission, the Albuquerque Community Safety Department, representatives from the Metro and District Courts, representatives from Central New Mexico Community College and New Mexico Highlands University, the Serenity Mesa and Endorphin Power substance abuse centers. The city says the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office was invited to participate. BCSO spokespeople did not respond to questions about whether representatives plan to attend. APD Chief Harold Medina acknowledged that the department has a history of botched criminal investigations and said its working to improve training. Im saying I want to know how we can be better, Medina said. I want people to point out and say these are the processes you need to fix for us to have a successful criminal justice program. And I want to be able to come back and say this is what we will be working on fixing thats one of the key aspects everybody being honest and listening to the feedback they get and making the changes they need to make. Camille Baca, the Metropolitan Court spokeswoman, said the court welcomes the opportunity to work alongside longstanding justice partners to evaluate and improve systems in place and actively engage with the community. For his part,Baur said he is hopeful the effort will help address the deep-seated social issues that surface in the criminal justice system and that he believes the Law Offices of the Public Defender can bring a unique and important perspective to this conversation. The sessions started Friday and will wrap up in September, at which time the city hopes the group will have developed a list of things that they need to do, whos going to work on them and when theyre going to be done. Keller said the plan is to take the list to lawmakers so they can all support each other in asking for additional funding. Our goal is not a lengthy report, Keller said. Our goal is not a study. Our goal is to say OK, heres a couple of things in each department that were going to do that is going to move the needle on fighting crime in our criminal justice system.' Several years ago, following the murder of Rio Rancho Police Department officer Gregg Nigel Benner, Balderas office compiled a report that he said laid out a holistic approach to address how systemic gaps in intervention and prevention led Benners killer to be out of jail. The recommendations went nowhere , Balderas said. But I think what Im going to convey and I appreciate the mayors leadership on this is that in addition to that transformational conversation, there should be specific recommendations. Where we have failed in the past, is not independent recommendations, we do not have an interdependent strategy for accountability as it relates to prevention, and harm reduction. Over the past couple of years, the Keller administration has unveiled other initiatives meant to combat crime that involve early intervention and partnership with other agencies. The Violence Intervention Program, which was introduced in late 2019, involves a team visiting people impacted by gun violence in order to connect them with resources or warn them that they could face serious legal consequences or get hurt or killed if they continue to engage in violence. The program also includes a list of Metro 15 offenders compiled by APD, the 2nd Judicial District Attorney and the Office of Superintendent of Insurance. Nair said those previous initiatives worked and because of that, the administration has some optimism that taking those strategies to the larger system will be productive. Those were all sort of baby steps towards what were hoping is taking that inter-agency approach into the larger systemic problems. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal The New Mexico Supreme Court upheld a district court judges decision to suppress the confession of an Albuquerque murder suspect who did not expressly waive his Miranda rights and was acting bizarre and erratic during the interview where police said he confessed. Victor Ortiz, now 50, was arrested in July 2017 and charged in the stabbing death of taxi driver Khalil Jabbour. The case is pending. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Police say Jabbour, who drove for Yellow-Checker Cab Co., had picked up Ortiz in a neighborhood near the University of New Mexico. Jabbour was stabbed in the chest with a sword and a good Samaritan drove him to Presbyterian Hospital, where he died. Ortiz was found near the scene and the Albuquerque Police Department quickly identified him as a suspect. According to the Supreme Court decision filed Thursday, Ortiz was picked up late at night on July 20 and homicide detective Leah Acata interviewed him while psychiatrist Dr. Nils Rosenbaum attended. Acata then advised Defendant of his Miranda rights, asking Defendant after each advisement if he understood the relevant right. Defendant replied yes to each while appearing to keep his eyes closed, the Supreme Court order written by Justice Shannon Bacon states. Acata twice checked that Defendant was awake. When asked to explain each right, Defendant restated them but, as the district court found and the State does not contest, never made an express waiver of his rights. Over the next five hours, Ortiz exhibited erratic behavior and focused on topics that were not obviously relevant to Acatas questions about the homicide including about how: [T]he [Mexicans] at Burger King . . . killed two of my dogs; [A]pps on my phone are tracking me . . .; [Taxi drivers on walkie-talkies] said Greyhound has already left . . . too much of a coincidence; How can the [finger]nail from the girl from Metro PC be in my driveway? At the conclusion of the interview, conducted entirely without counsel, Defendant was arrested, the order states. Over the next five hours, Ortiz exhibited erratic behavior and focused on topics that were not obviously relevant to Acatas questions about the homicide including about how: [T]he [Mexicans] at Burger King . . . killed two of my dogs; [A]pps on my phone are tracking me . . .; [Taxi drivers on walkie-talkies] said Greyhound has already left . . . too much of a coincidence; How can the [finger]nail from the girl from Metro PC be in my driveway? In November 2018, Ortizs defense attorney asked for all statements made in the interview to be suppressed. Prosecutors argued that Ortiz had the capacity to consent to waive his Miranda rights and his statements were given knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently. A 2nd Judicial District Court judge agreed with the defense attorney and excluded the interview. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... If you are among the roughly 30% of eligible New Mexicans who for whatever reason have chosen not to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus that has claimed the lives of more than 4,360 New Mexicans and led to thousands of hospitalizations, you are playing a potentially dangerous game. And the odds are stacked against you. Admittedly, the vaccines arent perfect. They dont block every single infection. In a statistically insignificant number of cases there have been potentially serious side effects. But as data are accumulated every week its become increasingly clear the vaccines are incredibly effective at preventing serious illness and death. State Human Services Secretary Dr. David Scrase on Wednesday said over the past five months 98% of confirmed virus cases in New Mexico have been among unvaccinated people. Nationally, The Associated Press reported as of June 29 nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. were unvaccinated people a staggering demonstration of how effective the vaccines have been. Even those who get breakthrough infections dont tend to be as sick. The AP analysis found only 1.1% of people hospitalized nationally had been fully vaccinated. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Yes, some deaths have been reported among people who got the vaccine, along with a small number of confirmed cases of cardiac issues and blood clots. But more than 334 million doses have been administered in the United States. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said in Santa Fe on Wednesday many unvaccinated people believe myths the vaccine can lead to infertility, cause mutations in DNA and even infect people with the virus. Were seeing the scale and speed of misinformation spread really increase, he said. As of Friday, 63.9%, or 1.038 million, had completed their vaccination series two shots of Pfizer or Moderna or one J&J. More than 44% of New Mexicans ages 12 to 17, roughly 73,780 teens, have received at least one dose. The vaccine has not yet been approved for children under 12. Good numbers overall, but the state administered only 14,789 doses in the last seven days. The state has worked to incentivize vaccination along with sharing factual information. The Vax 2 the Max sweepstakes is making $10 million in prize money available to New Mexicans who get vaccinated throughout the summer. There is still time to sign up at cv.nmhealth.org/covid-vaccine/. The University of New Mexico, which considered and rejected mandatory vaccines for students returning to campus 38 days from now, unveiled a smart incentive program Thursday. The university is offering students $100 to be transferred into their bursar account. All they have to do is upload proof of their vaccine whether you get your shot today or received it months ago. Vaccinated faculty and staff will be entered in a drawing for 50 $1,000 prizes. In announcing the campaign, President Garnett Stokes said the university is returning to in-person classes and group activities that are a vital part of a vibrant campus experience. Getting vaccinated is the best thing you can do to ensure our campus and our community remain safe and remain open, she wrote. And isnt getting back to normal and doing the things we love with a high degree of safety from this virus a goal all should share? The virus isnt gone. The more infectious Delta variant is here. There are still people in the hospital and people dying. But the good news is there is protection. This weekend is a chance for New Mexicans who havent scheduled their free and readily available vaccination (barring some medical condition) to reflect on the odds, consider the facts and do something for themselves, their loved ones and the community. And maybe even hit the jackpot. Get the shot. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... New Mexico State University graduate student Bryson Stemock is joining approximately 2,000 young scholars across the nation to be offered a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, the countrys oldest fellowship that directly supports graduate students in various STEM fields. The five-year fellowship will fund Stemocks research as he pursues his Ph.D. in astronomy for three years with an annual stipend of $34,000 per year and an additional $12,000 per year for university tuition and fees, with two reserve years. Knowing my funding is taken care of now will let me focus on what Im actually here to do, which is to perform exciting research and begin my career as an astronomer. Stemocks research focuses on combining innovative technology to learn more about the evolution of the universe using distant galaxies with very active central black holes, called quasars. By studying the light from a quasar, we can learn about gas clouds in between us and the quasar that we normally cant see because theyre too dim, Stemock said. The problem he faces is that analyzing the temperature or elements in just one or two gas clouds, or systems, can take up to a week for a trained professional. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ There are currently about 3,500 systems to study, which could take nearly 70 years to analyze completely and, as newer, larger telescopes are built, keeping up with the data is nearly impossible. With these issues in mind, Im using machine learning, which is a branch of artificial intelligence, to design neural networks that can analyze tens of thousands of systems in under an hour. Stemock said. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal BELEN Judy Chicagos tumbleweed of purple curls crowns her head above purple lipstick, purple nail polish and neon turquoise glasses as she relaxes in her Belen Hotel home. Tuxedo, the black and white cat, wanders through the restored space as Chicago discusses decades of struggling through multiple projects with little to no support from the established art world. Forty-two years after The Dinner Party opened to eviscerating reviews, the Belen resident is finally receiving the credit her fans have longed for her. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Chicago will turn 82 on Tuesday, in time to release her autobiography The Flowering (Thames and Hudson) in a PBS livestreamed conversation in bookstores across the country. San Franciscos De Young Museum is giving her a career retrospective, as is Santa Fes Turner Carroll Gallery. The book opens with a foreword by Gloria Steinem. On Saturday and Sunday Chicago will create a smoke sculpture in the Belen Arts District on Becker Street, accompanied by art exhibitions, gallery tours and wine tastings. This is a woman accustomed to hearing no and doing it anyway. The Dinner Party features three 48-foot-long tables assembled into a triangle with 39 intricate place settings, each dedicated to a notable woman, including Georgia OKeeffe, Virginia Woolf and Emily Dickinson. Her intention was to rededicate the history of Western civilization to the women left out of it. Today the piece stands in the Elizabeth Sackler Center for Feminist Art at the Brooklyn Art Museum. In the Birth Project (1980-85), Chicago portrayed maternity dresses, birth traditions and issues enveloping motherhood and the birth experience. She watched a live birth, returning home in tears. Using birth as a metaphor for creation, her tapestries flowed with emotion and spirituality. Screams rent some of the womens mouths. The Holocaust Project (1985-1993) consists of a tapestry of 12 images combining painting, stained glass and photographic techniques with her husband, the photographer Donald Woodman. Once again, predictably, the critics hated it. Then something changed. When The Dinner Party was finally installed at the Brooklyn Museum in 2002, New York Times art critic Roberta Smith wrote, Its almost as much a part of American culture as Norman Rockwell, Walt Disney, W.P.A. murals and the AIDS quilt. In 2019, the Birth Project traveled throughout the country. Donald and I often say its like a miracle, Chicago said of her newfound acceptance. She remembers a Tuesday while she was working on The Holocaust Project in Santa Fe. She realized her bank account would be empty by Friday. Then something finally sold, creating an unexpected windfall. It was a pattern that repeated itself throughout her career. She had never owned a home until she turned 60. Given the recent impact of the #MeToo movement, its easy to wonder if Chicagos work was prophetic. Born Judy Cohen in lower-middle class Chicago, she changed her name in 1969 to assert my independence. She trained at UCLA in the 60s, moving from minimalist sculpture toward the images of female genitalia and radical feminism that made her famous or infamous, depending on your point of view. I never wanted children. I never wanted a family, she said. I find it very foreign that the purpose of life is to be happy. What I learned from my father was to make a difference. Her father was a Marxist and a union organizer who led vibrant political discussions in their home. He treated everybody the same, Chicago said. He said, Everybody looks the same on the toilet with their pants down. Chicago spent the pandemic writing her autobiography and, as always, creating art. She was used to the solitude. I felt guilty because everybody was having such a hard time, she said. I would never have been able to write the book (without the quarantine); everything stopped. She also created a new series of prints, Life On Pause, during the shutdown. Colorful images of her smoke sculptures hang on the walls of her Through the Flower art space, down the street from her home. The prints reveal neon-colored smoke billowing around trees and snaking around trellises like ghosts, dependent upon the will of the wind. Chicago works with someone licensed in pyrotechnics. Its a way that I can make art that has nothing to do with the market, she explained. When the Times glowing Dinner Party review was published, Chicago called her friend Henry Hopkins, the former director of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, who premiered the piece in 1979. I called up Henry and said, Am I a different artist today? Is the Dinner Party a different piece?' Thats what art is like, she said. Its a discovery. If you go WHAT: Diamonds in the Sky on Becker Avenue, a smoke sculpture by Judy Chicago WHERE: The Belen Arts District, Becker Avenue, Belen WHEN: Noon-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 17-18 CONTACT: Throughtheflower.org; 505-503-1955 .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams pandemic spending of $17,546 on food, alcohol, kitchen equipment and Christmas ornaments from a discretionary fund during a roughly eight-month period did not violate state law, a new report by State Auditor Brian Colons office found. However, the report said lawmakers should clarify spending guidelines pertaining to the contingency fund, which has been the source of scrutiny during several recent gubernatorial administrations. Specifically, the seven-page report said existing law may not provide adequate guardrails regarding what type of expenditures from the discretionary fund are allowable, as it currently permits any spending deemed directly connected to the governors job obligations. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Republicans had blasted Lujan Grishams spending from the fund as inappropriate after a KOB-TV report earlier this year, saying expensive alcohol and steaks do not meet the states legal definition. But Lujan Grisham spokesman Tripp Stelnicki said Friday the auditors report findings did not come as a surprise, adding the Governors Office would continue to be transparent about spending from the fund. In a rational political or media environment, I would hope this puts the issue to rest, but Im not going to hold my breath, Stelnicki said. He also said the governor spent only slightly more than $20,000 of the $96,000 appropriated by the Legislature for the fund during the fiscal year that ended in June, with the rest of the money returned to the states general fund. Lujan Grishams predecessor, Republican Gov. Susana Martinez, spent an average of about $68,000 per year out of the discretionary fund from 2011 through 2017. And Democratic ex-Gov. Bill Richardson, who held office before Martinez, reported spending nearly $139,000 from the contingency fund in 2008, including more than $60,600 on food and drinks, according to the Associated Press. Senate Minority Whip Craig Brandt, R-Rio Rancho, said he had recently talked to Colon about possible changes to the law that governs the contingency fund. But he suggested it might be time for lawmakers to stop appropriating money into it, saying most governors would oppose the enactment of more stringent spending guidelines. If its just going to be misused by governors, lets quit providing that resource, Brandt told the Journal. He also said the auditors report represented two sets of rules for Democrats and Republicans in New Mexico. Democrats currently hold decisive majorities in both legislative chambers and control all statewide offices, with a new election cycle on tap next year. State lawmakers already passed a 2018 bill aimed at providing more transparency for how discretionary funds are spent after Martinez used the fund to throw a holiday party at a Santa Fe hotel that involved the police. The party prompted several complaints about noise and Martinez faced criticism after being recorded telling police dispatchers to call off responding officers. Martinez signed the 2018 bill, but it did not take effect until Lujan Grishams term began in 2019. Colons office announced in March it would look into the governors use of the taxpayer-funded expense account to pay for such items as dry-cleaning, tuna steaks, liquor and Wagyu beef. Stelnicki has said previously that some of the spending more than $6,500 was used for groceries to feed the governors Cabinet and staff at long meetings during the second half of last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As for the alcohol, one receipt showed the purchase of at least five bottles of tequila, two bottles of vodka, two bottles of merlot, a bottle of whiskey and a bottle of gin, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported. The liquor was bought by a staffer for a holiday party that did not happen and the alcohol remains unopened, Stelnicki has said. While spending from the fund has been restricted in recent months, he said Friday its likely to tick up again in coming weeks and months with more in-person events taking place at the governors official residence in Santa Fe. Events are likely to return as we go forward, given public health conditions, Stelnicki said. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... MEXICO CITY A woman who joined with other activists to seek relatives who have disappeared in Mexicos wave of violence has been murdered in the northern border state of Sonora. The state prosecutors office vowed that justice will be done in the case of Gladys Aranza Ramos Gurrola, a member of the Mothers and Searching Warriors of Sonora. She was shot to death by people who came to her house near midnight Thursday in the municipality of Guaymas. The 28-year-old woman has been searching for her husband, who disappeared in December 2020. The activist group said in a statement that Ramos Gurrola was taken from her home and killed following a day of searching that turned up several clandestine crematoria, some still with embers and smoke at the moment of discovery. It describe the site as a place of active extermination. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ We are indignant and in pain that we who are searching are at risk of being killed, the group said. The prosecutors office described Ramos Gurrola as always brave, active, enthusiastic and showing solidarity in the groups searches. It said it is investigating whether her activities could have played a role in the shooting. The federal government said on Monday that 68 human rights or environmental activists have been killed since President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took office in December 2018. She would be the 69th. Mexico has reported more than 87,800 missing people since 2006, when then-President Felipe Calderon expanded the countrys battle against drug cartels. For years, groups of relatives of the disappeared have joined together to make their own searches for the missing, sometimes finding mass graves that authorities then have excavated. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... WASHINGTON It took only two months for U.S. invaders to topple the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001, a seemingly tidy success against a government that had given refuge to 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden. Twenty years later, the United States is withdrawing visions of victory long vanished and an ascendant Taliban arguably within reach of restoring their rule. Afghanistan proved to be a lesson in the limits of Americas military power. It demonstrated the seeming paradox that it is possible to win the battles and still lose the war. Or at least that a technologically superior force can kill more efficiently than its enemy yet fail to achieve a final result resembling victory. It showed that in the 21st century, it takes more than a conquering army, even one as well armed as Americas, to convert the overthrow of a government, even one as tenuous as the Talibans, into a lasting success. It showed that it takes, at a minimum, an understanding of local politics, history and culture that the Americans were slow to acquire. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The United States underestimated how much its presence as an occupier fueled Taliban motivation to fight and limited the Kabul governments ability to unite. Although bin Laden eventually was killed and his al-Qaida network blunted as an international threat, Afghans are still caught in a cycle of violence and misrule with no end in sight. In his book, The American War in Afghanistan, A History, Carter Malkasian, a former adviser to senior U.S. military leaders in Afghanistan and Washington, says one reason for the futility of the American effort was the influence of Islam and resistance to foreign occupation. Those were factors, he says, that were not well understood by the Americans. The very presence of Americans in Afghanistan trod on what it meant to be Afghan, he wrote. It prodded men and women to defend their honor, their religion, and their home. It dared young men to fight. It animated the Taliban. It sapped the will of Afghan soldiers and police. The U.S. military may have missed opportunities to stabilize Afghanistan in the early years after ousting the Taliban, which had run the country as an international pariah since 1996. But the bigger question is whether the military, after its initial success, was miscast in the lead role of transporting Afghanistan from chaos to stability. The U.S. military does not fight wars entirely on its own terms. It operates through civilian direction. Although civilian leaders may be accused of having overreached with visions of building Afghanistan into a democracy capable of defending itself, the military eventually embraced that goal. Claims by senior military officers of having turned a corner toward success in Afghanistan were repeated so regularly that critics wondered whether the military was going in circles. Karl Eikenberry, a retired Army lieutenant general with a rare combination of high-level military and diplomatic experience in Afghanistan, said the U.S. military initially balked at an open-ended mission of nation-building in an impoverished country traumatized by decades of civil war. But it warmed to the task, he said, and the United States became further entangled as it pursued a military strategy not informed by realistic policy debates in Washington about what outcome was achievable and at what cost. By numbers alone, the costs were enormous. Tens of thousands of Afghan government forces and civilians were killed. The United States lost more than 2,440 troops, and the allies lost more than 1,100. The U.S. spent hundreds of billions, and even after the withdrawal, the Biden administration plans to ask Congress to spend billions more in support of Afghan soldiers even to continue paying their salaries. The war, conceived in the traumatic aftermath of the hijacked plane attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people on 9/11, devolved from the triumphant moment of ousting the Taliban from Kabul to nearly a decade of revived insurgency, starting in 2005. The killing of bin Laden in 2011 seemed like an opportunity to wind down the war, but it dragged on. Experts disagree on the central reason the U.S. failed to stop a Taliban resurgence after its initial losses, but a contributing factor was a decision by President George W. Bush to invade Iraq in 2003. Within a few years that war became so all-consuming that Afghanistan was officially relegated to a secondary priority. Making it a sideshow was a fatal choice, Eikenberry said. A full decade after bin Ladens demise, President Joe Biden decided that continuing the war was senseless. He announced in April that he was ending it, arguing that waiting for an ideal moment to leave was a formula for never leaving, and citing the pullout commitment the Trump administration had made to the Taliban in 2020. The last troops are to depart by Aug. 31. Biden argued that the central purpose of starting the war to crush al-Qaida and to prevent Afghanistan from again being a breeding ground for another attack on the United States had been achieved, leaving no reason to further risk U.S. troops. The risk that remains is a collapse of the Afghan government and a return of extremist threats, although Biden has promised to keep a U.S. diplomatic presence in Kabul and to push for a peace settlement. On the day American forces began the war, Oct. 7, 2001, then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld suggested it would be open-ended, but no one anticipated it turning into the longest war in U.S. history. While our raids today focus on the Taliban and the foreign terrorists in Afghanistan, our aim remains much broader, he told reporters. Our objective is to defeat those who use terrorism and those who house or support them. He made clear that this was a global war on terrorism, not just a fight in Afghanistan. Yet even as talk of a war on terrorism faded, the war in Afghanistan persisted, long after victory fell out of reach. In the end, we prosecuted the war in Afghanistan because we could, Eikenberry said. With no peer competitor, a volunteer force, and deficit spending, we had the luxury strategically and politically of fighting a forever war. ___ EDITORS NOTE AP National Security Writer Robert Burns has covered the war from Washington and Afghanistan since it began in 2001. HBO Movie The Silvio Dante depicter reveals he is apparently involved in upcoming 'The Sopranos' prequel movie 'The Many Saints of Newark' as a consultant along with his wife. Jul 17, 2021 AceShowbiz - Rocker-turned-actor Steven Van Zandt revisited his days on "The Sopranos" to serve as a consultant on the new prequel film, "The Many Saints of Newark". The E Street Band star portrayed Silvio Dante in the classic mob drama, and series creator David Chase, who wrote the upcoming movie adaptation, decided to call on Van Zandt to share his thoughts on early edits as he worked to perfect the project. "I saw several of the early cuts," the musician said in a recent SiriusXM interview. "He's been tinkering now with it for a couple of years. So it may be a whole different movie by the time I see it again." "He wanted me and (wife and fellow Sopranos actress) Maureen to see it and give him some input. Silvio is in it, just 30 years earlier." The younger version of his character is played by John Magaro while the prequel's Tony Soprano is portrayed by Michael Gandolfini, the real life son of late "The Sopranos" star James Gandolfini. Although Chase wanted feedback from the Van Zandts regarding the plot points, he didn't seek out any advice about the film's score because it's one of the writer/producer's favourite parts of working in Hollywood. "That's the love of his life, doing the music, so he didn't need me for that," smiled the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. "The Many Saints of Newark", which also stars Ray Liotta, Vera Farmiga, Alessandro Nivola, Leslie Odom Jr., and Jon Bernthal, is set for simultaneous release in U.S. theatres and on streaming platform HBO Max on 1 October (21). Instagram TV The 'Iron Man' actor is back on TV with the upcoming adaptation of Pulitzer Prize-winning espionage thriller which will have Park Chan-wook serving behind the lens. Jul 17, 2021 AceShowbiz - Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the small screen to star in a TV adaptation of Pulitzer Prize-winning espionage thriller "The Sympathizer". The "Iron Man" star will take on a variety of supporting roles in the Vietnam War-set drama series, which will be based on the 2015 release by Vietnamese-American professor Viet Thanh Nguyen. A global search is currently underway for the Vietnamese lead, as well as other key castmembers, reports Deadline. "Oldboy" filmmaker Park Chan-wook will direct the project for U.S. network HBO, and also serve as co-showrunner with Don McKellar. Park will also take on an executive producer role, alongside Downey, Jr. and his wife, Susan Downey, for their Team Downey production company. In a statement, the actor shared, "Adapting Mr. Nguyen's important and masterful work requires a visionary team. With Director Park at the helm, I expect this to be a creative producing adventure for Susan, me and Team Downey, and a stimulating process for myself in playing these complex supporting roles..." "It's exactly the type of challenge I've been craving, and I believe we will deliver an exceptional viewing experience to our audience." "The Sympathizer" marks Downey, Jr.'s first starring role on TV - he previously featured on legal drama series "Ally McBeal" for two years until 2002. Meanwhile, the actor was last seen on the big screen last year in "Dolittle". He will next star in Jamie Foxx's upcoming star-studded movie "All-Star Weekend" along with Jeremy Piven, Jessica Szohr, Eva Longoria, Ken Jeong, Gerard Butler, and Benicio del Toro. Instagram Music The 'Tap In' hitmaker says her Chinese-Filipino mother is not impressed by the foul-mouthed lyrics written in Tagalog on her upcoming debut studio album. Jul 17, 2021 AceShowbiz - Hip-hop star Saweetie has left her Chinese-Filipino mother a little disappointed by spitting insults in Tagalog on her debut album. The "Tap In" hitmaker shows off her linguistic skills on the upcoming "Pretty B**ch Music", but the sassy lyrics she rhymes in her mum's native language on the project came as a shock to her conservative parent. "I do talk some s**t in Tagalog," Saweetie told Billboard. "My mum was really against it. My Asian side, they're very traditional - they were immigrants. So it's like, their culture's a little bit more reserved. So, she was just like, 'Girl, I can't believe you just said that!' " Saweetie will also be experimenting with Latin music on the forthcoming album after teasing a track with two top artists. "It's just one of those records where the beat introduces the song before the lyrics even come on," she shared. "I'm just really excited 'cause it's just a lot of fun!" "They've worked hard to get to where they're at, so the fact that I have them on there is just amazing," she added of her mystery collaborators - one male and one female." Fans have yet to receive a definitive release date for "Pretty B**ch Music", which Saweetie delayed from its June (21) launch to ensure the project was perfect, but she assures devotees, "It's coming soon!" While Saweetie worked with Dr. Luke on hit songs "Tap In" and "Best Friend", she insisted she had no further plan to work with the producer as he continued to be embroiled in a legal feud with Ke$ha. Instagram Celebrity In an inspiring message about self-acceptance that has gained over 4 million views, the 'Never Be the Same' songstress says that being at war with her body is 'so last season.' Jul 17, 2021 AceShowbiz - Camila Cabello makes it clear that she is no fan of body-shaming. Slamming body shamers in a candid new video, the "Havana" hitmaker stressed that she is "grateful" for her "stretch marks and fat." "I was just running in the park minding my own business trying to be fit, trying to keep it healthy," the 24-year-old musician began telling the viewers in a TikTok post she shared on Friday, July 16. "And I am wearing a top that shows my belly," she said, while pointing the camera down to show her black crop top and light workout pants. "And I wasn't tucking it in, because I was running and existing like a normal person that doesn't tuck it in all the time," she continued with a sarcastic look on her face. Camila went on to say, "And I was like, 'Damn.' But then I reminded myself [that] being at war with your body is so last season." The former Fifth Harmony member began to embrace her body, "I am grateful for this body that lets me do what I need to do. We are real women with curves and cellulite and stretch marks and fat. And we gotta own that, baby." Camila then ended her video by singing some of En Vogue's empowering lyrics, "Giving him something he can feel," as she moved her red-polished hand up and down her stomach and chest. The girlfriend of Shawn Mendes captioned the makeup-free clip that has since garnered more than 4 million views, "I luv my body." Many of her fans and followers praised her inspiring message about self-acceptance in the comment section of the post. A TikTok user wrote, "Yesss Camila! Periodt," while another fan chimed in, "A true role model [love] I love you Camilaaaaa." "YES MAAM the day people realize we are all human and that there is no such thing as perfect is the day the world changes for good," a follower added. In the meantime, a fan noted, "And the fact that normal bodies like ours attract boys like Shawn Mendes...winning." Instagram Celebrity The 20-year-old rising rapper is released on $100,000 cash bail after being busted for allegedly firing four shots at his victim on Seventh Avenue and West 41st Street. Jul 17, 2021 AceShowbiz - New York-based rapper Eli Fross was arrested after he was identified as the suspect responsible for a road rage shooting in Times Square. The musician, whose real name is Elijah Quamina, was busted for attempted murder and weapons charges. The 20-year-old rapper was arrested by the police on Thursday, July 15. The musician and his driver were reportedly involved in an argument with a motorcyclist early Wednesday morning. According to the New York Police Department, the rapper's white Mercedes knocked over the 32-year-old motorcyclist in the bus lane on Seventh Avenue, injuring his knee and elbow. When the motorcyclist's 22-year-old friend confronted a group of men standing by the luxury car, Eli, who is a rising rapper who has appeared on songs with King Von, Sheff G, Jay Critch and Sleepy Hallow, pulled a gun and started firing, cops said. He allegedly fired four shots. The shooting occurred on Seventh Avenue and West 41st Street. According to the police, no one was injured and no property was damaged. The cops also explained that the bullets did not cause any damage on the Great White Way. Eli has been charged with attempted murder, attempted assault and criminal possession of a loaded weapon. Hours after bragging that his record label Sony would get him out of jail, the rapper was released on $100,000 cash bail. The case could land him up to five years in prison. Times Square has seen its share of shootings in recent months with a marine catching a stray bullet in June, as a dispute between two groups erupted in the area. The marine was with his wife, sister and brother-in-law outside the Marriott Hotel on West 45th Street and Broadway. Additionally, a 4-year-old girl and two female tourists were struck by a stray bullet in May. The girl was toy shopping with her family outside of 1515 Broadway, along West 44th Street. Instagram Celebrity Setting the record straight, the former 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' star declares that she has not 'paused' her campaign at all and she is preparing to launch 'a multi-week bus tour' across California. Jul 17, 2021 AceShowbiz - Caitlyn Jenner is assuring that she is not pausing her campaign. After finding herself being reported to have traveled out of the state to film "Celebrity Big Brother", the former "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star insisted that she and her campaign team are in "full operation." "My campaign team is in full operation as am I," the 71-year-old tweeted on Friday, July 16 after Australian outlets reported that she had touched down in Sydney this week with just two months before California's gubernatorial recall election. The former "I Am Cait" star continued, "I am in this race to win for California, because it is worth fighting for." In another tweet, Caitlyn penned, "I have not paused my campaign at all. I am preparing to launch a multi-week bus tour across CA." The retired Olympic gold medalist also wrote, "I am honoring a work commitment that I had made prior to even deciding to run for governor. There is no pause at all on this race to save CA!" On the same day, Adelaide tabloid The Advertiser reported that Caitlyn will be quarantining for two weeks in Sydney before beginning filming on the new season of "Celebrity Big Brother". While the show has yet to confirm the Republican candidate's casting on the program, according to the outlet she is expected to be paid roughly $372,500 for the appearance. Caitlyn first announced her bid for California governor back in April, revealing that she was running on a Republican platform that includes lowering taxes and loosening regulation to make California more pro-business. "I have been a compassionate disrupter throughout my life, from representing the United States and winning a gold medal at the Olympics to helping advance the movement for equality," she said. "As Californians, we face a now-or-never opportunity to fundamentally fix our state before it's too late." Later in May, the reality star released her first campaign video. In the 3-minute clip, she spoke about her goal to restore the Californian dream and taking a jab at "career politicians" Gavin Newsom and Nancy Pelosi for breaking COVID-19 health protocols. WENN/Instagram/Apega Celebrity The actor portraying Jughead on 'Riverdale' takes to his social media account to let out several pictures of his 22-year-old model girlfriend posing in a floral-printed shirt. Jul 17, 2021 AceShowbiz - Cole Sprouse has revealed that some of his teenage fans do not support his relationship with Ari Fournier. To "piss off" those teenagers, the actor portraying Jughead on "Riverdale" took to social media to post a number of pictures of his girlfriend. On Friday, July 16, the 28-year-old hunk first shared a note on his Instagram Story that read, "Time to piss off the 14yos again." He then followed it up with two snaps of Ari posing in a floral-printed button-down shirt, a bucket hat and sunglasses. Cole Sprouse wanted to 'piss off' his teenage fans who do not support his relationship with Ari Fournier. Cole Sprouse shared pictures of girlfriend Ari Fournier. The Disney alum also shared another photo of the 22-year-old model on his Instagram feed. In the accompaniment of the post, he simply wrote, "Tippi and the burds." Many of Cole's followers have since reacted just as the actor predicted. "My heart broke with this photo," one person replied, while another individual responded, "I'm not OK," adding a broken heart emoji. A third added, "You can do better than that Cole." Cole and Ari were first linked romantically in February this year. At that time, they were caught on camera walking hand-in-hand while out for brunch in Vancouver, Canada. Before being an item with Ari, Cole was in a romantic relationship with his "Riverdale" co-star, Lili Reinhart. The former couple, however, parted ways in March 2020 after three years of dating. It took around seven months for Cole to confirm their breakup. Sharing a picture of his ex-girlfriend, he announced, "Lili and I initially separated in January of this year, deciding to more permanently split in March." "What an incredible experience I had, I'll always feel lucky and cherish that I had the chance to fall in love," the twin brother of Dylan Sprouse continued. "I wish her nothing but the utmost love and happiness moving forward. All I'll say about it, anything else you hear doesn't matter." SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a State of Emergency in Siskiyou, Lassen and Plumas Counties due to the fires in those counties. The emergency comes after the Lava Fire and Beckwourth Complex Fire destroyed homes and caused evacuations and damaged infrastructure. The entire proclamation can be found here. Ambitious and driven, Rajat Thakur has demonstrated a host of efficient skill sets that enable him to develop and execute innovative ideas, lead teams, coordinate projects, and deliver results. Thakur was one of the first people to join The Rabbit Hole, video solutions agency in 2017 under the Zoo Media network as the Creative Director. Since then, he has been an integral part in building the creative abilities for the agency. Thakur has over 8 years of experience in the digital media landscape spanning through art, servicing, strategy, creative, and video production. He has spearheaded the conceptualisation and production of some of the biggest product and title marketing campaigns for Netflix India like Stream Fest, Ludo, AK versus AK among others. He believes in keeping the internet interesting and thus his hard work for AK versus AK saw fruition when the campaign won 2 Elephants at the Kyoorius Awards 2021. Thakur is passionate about music, and is especially fond of the sub-genres of metal. Prior to joining Zoo Media, he was working as an Assistant Manager for Content and Creative at Times Studio. He has also been on the frontline for the execution of DVCs for brands like SanDisk, Dabur, Western Digital. Find out from Rajat Thakur about key plannings and learnings to gain knowledge in the industry and to primarily focus on Being a generalist with a specialisation. What particular skill sets do you think you bring to the table? While my role is of a Creative Director, I believe that being a generalist with a specialisation is key. You can be the most sought after person for your expertise, but you also should possess the knowledge and skills that compliment your core function. I may have started out as a graphic designer but soon, I moved into social media management, content strategy, and designing IPs. Currently, my primary focus is video content creation. Throughout my journey, I have always strived to learn the best skills from the people that I have worked with. My experience with various functions of the industry has been instrumental in bringing ideas to life! How did you join your current organisation? Technically, this is my second stint at Zoo Media. I was working in the strategy team at FoxyMoron back in 2015 and then moved to the branded content and IP creation at Times Content Studio. In 2017, I came to know that The Rabbit Hole was hiring for key positions in their creative team. Having already worked with the agency and its senior management in the past, I was confident of their abilities and vision to change the narrative of video-solutions in India. That is how I took the leap. Since then, not only have I been spearheading video content for my clients and projects, but have also been a key part in building the overall creative abilities for the agency. Icons in this field you look up to and how they have influenced you and your work? There are so many people doing such great work in this field. Personally, I feel inspired a lot by the people that work or interact with on a regular basis. At The Rabbit Hole, Rishabh Khatter (our Business Head) inspires me to expand my vision to seamlessly integrate creativity and business. It has helped me come up with some of the most infallible solutions for our clients. Our production head, Dipro Ghosals passion for the art of film-making is something to marvel at! He has opened up my eyes to a hitherto unknown world. It has transformed my approach towards ideation and writing scripts. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with some of the best Indian and global brands at The Rabbit Hole. For instance, whenever I am working on an assignment for Netflix India, there is always something to take away from my interactions with Kanika Unnikrishnan. Akash Iyer acts as a constant reminder on how to break creative boundaries. Ive had a chance to work with Devaiah Bopanna, who inspired me to think fresh and push to be original. Some other people that truly inspire me are Vishal Dayama, Parikshit Vivekanand, Punit Sheth, Sanya Sood, Rahil Mohammad and many more people that I have worked with in the past. What are the five most productive things that you do in your everyday routine? Most of the things I do in life seem counterproductive, but they eventually lead me to the best ideas. Its best for everyone to do what works for them. Do you think a career in this field is a viable one in the long term? Considering the changing content consumption patterns, the need to create good content will only keep on increasing. It is an art that will continue to evolve. As long as one adapts to these changes, it is surely a viable career opportunity. What does it take to succeed in a career? We all know of a host of things that we must know to remain at the top of our game! Some of them are self-taught like experience. On the other hand, you can acquire skills and knowledge. To answer this, allow me to share an interesting anecdote that has stayed with me for a long time. Once, a previous boss of mine and I were hanging out, post work hours, and I happened to ask him, What is your biggest fear? To which he answered, Being irrelevant. And I think thats the key to succeed in any career - being relevant. What would be your advice to youngsters planning to enter this industry? Be a generalist with a specialisation. Try to learn from as many different functions as you can. While you are young, try to do a lot of hands-on work, while you build your core competency on the side. Dont go after labels and designations in the beginning of your career, since I assure you, people only focus on what you actually bring to the table. Where do you see yourself in five years time? Five years ago, I wanted to break into the pop-culture conversations, which I am grateful to have been able to. In the next 5 years, Im hoping to create something that eventually becomes a cult classic in the years to come. Is there any organisation that you would like to work with in the future? I never thought I would be in a position to say this, but No comments, would be my best answer. I think people work with people. I would enjoy working at any place that empowers and allows people to push boundaries and explore their creative ambitions. Every region has their own unique food and dining habits which are ingrained in their culture. For example, eating alone is quite a popular thing in Japan as it is not just socially accepted, but also increasingly considered the norm. Rohan Joshi, one of Indias finest comedians shares an experience of eating at a Japanese restaurant and recalls this tradition of eating alone in the country. While attempting to make sushi on the first episode of Gobbles You Got Chefd, he recollects the culture shock experience when he had to sit in front of a wall and eat his ramen alone like most people in Japan. He was totally amused by this and while sharing this memory, Rohan mastered the art of the perfect sushi with help from Chef Ranveer Brar who also rated his sushi roll to be absolutely perfect. Rohan adds, I just started cooking during the lockdown. So if youd told me Id be making such a complex dish on a show like You Got Chefd in under a year, I wouldnt have believed it. You hear so much about how chefs can be really tough, but Chef Ranveer Brar was a total sweetie and I had a ton of fun cooking with him. And right now Im wondering and hoping he did too! Rohan Joshi is one of Indias finest comedians, who has entertained people not just on his stand up shows but also through the lockdown since last year by uploading relatable content on his social media platforms. Apart from entertaining during the lockdown, Rohan says that he picked up the skill of cooking while being quarantined at home. Rohan Joshi shares this unique experience and many other anecdotes in the third episode of Gobbles You Got Chefd season 3 presented by Dewars only on the Gobble Channel. Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy airs Sunday 18th July at 4.30pm IST on CNN International. Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy, the critically-acclaimed six-part CNN Original Series that follows Academy Award nominee Stanley Tucci as he travels across Italy to discover the secrets and delights of the countrys regional cuisines, continues on CNN International this weekend. In the fifth episode, airing on Sunday 18th July, Tucci visits his former home: Tuscany. Tuscany is the birthplace of the Renaissance and world-class art, architecture and culture. Its also produced some of the finest wines and dishes in the history of Italian cuisine. Episode Synopsis: Tuscany is the birthplace of the Renaissance and world-class art, architecture and culture. Its also produced some of the finest wines and dishes in the history of Italian cuisine, like the magnificent T-bone steak, bistecca alla fiorentina. But Tuscany is also home to the cuisine of the poor Tuscan peasantry, known as cucina povera. Stanley Tucci starts his exploration of Tuscany with his parents, Stan and Joan. He then meets chef and restaurateur Fabio Picchi, who shows him Tuscanys signature dish, the magnificent bistecca alla fiorentina. He meets Renaissance scholar Elisabetta Di Giugno, who takes Stanley on a wine bar crawl starting at Bar Babae, Florences first bar to re-open its wine window. Out in the countryside, Stanley attends a Threshing Festival in the village of Ponte Buriano to celebrate the importance and tradition of the lowly loaf. Back in Florence Stanley samples three dishes which use stale bread as the key ingredient: ribollita, pappa al pomodoro and panzanella. Attending an Arts Festival, he comes across a fancy appetizer of foamed panzanella. Inspired by this recreation of a poor Tuscan classic into an aristocratic dish, he visits Nugolo, the restaurant of Nerina Martinelli, the creator of the foam, who shows him how its made. Finally, Stanley meets back with Fabio in the port city of Livorno where he makes cacciucco, a traditional fish stew made from the leftovers the fisherman hadnt sold at market, cooked in tomatoes. It seems to Stanley that cacciucco is the perfect embodiment of Tuscan cooking making the best of limited ingredients rooted in a poor fishing community and Livornos immigrant past. Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy will air at the following times on CNN International starting July 18th: Sundays at 4.30pm and 8.30pm IST Mondays at 6.30am IST Wednesdays at 4.30pm IST Thursdays at 6.30am IST Quint Digital Media Limited (QUINT, BSE 539515), India's leading digital media company and only new-age digital-first news operator listed on an Indian stock exchange, published its results for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 (Q1) today. GAMEXX Awards 2021 Early Bird Discount Extended Last Date - Wednesday, June 30, 2021 - ENTER NOW Highlights of financial performance: THE QUINT completed one full year of operations as a listed entity and recorded revenues of INR 24+ Cr. In addition, during the same period, it recorded an EBITDA of INR 7+ Cr. The Company saw a strong Q1 FY22 (June 21) performance with the revenues shooting up by 106 % as compared with corresponding first quarter - Q1 FY21 (June 20). The quarter also saw the Company continue its earnings with an EBITDA level of INR 2.36 Cr. It is a complete upturn in performance compared with the corresponding first quarter - Q1 FY21 (June 20) which saw an EBITDA level of INR (3.16) Cr. Post the approval of the shareholders at the 36th Annual General Meeting, the Company appointed M/s. Walker Chandiok & Co LLP, Chartered Accountants, as the Statutory Auditors till the conclusion of the 41st Annual General Meeting. Refer Annexure A for the quarterly financial performance Highlights of audience engagement: Reuters Institute (independent, global Think Tank) in its Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2021, India, recognized THE QUINT as one of the top digital news brands in the online category. The audience footprint across the websites and digital platforms - including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Snapchat etc. - continued its strong momentum in the quarter despite the pandemic. Some of the key data points, aggregated across the websites and digital platforms, are given below: Description/ Period Quarter 1 FY 2021-22 12 months ending June 30, 2021 Page Views 93.4 Mn 392.2 Mn Video Views 261.1 Mn 806 Mn Unique Viewers 291.5 Mn 684 Mn Impressions 3.52 Bn 10.1 Bn Source: based on data provided by platforms/ other agencies The digital properties had nearly 15.67 Mn subscribers/followers across various platforms at the end of Q1. As another step towards growth & expansion, the Company will undertake a detailed evaluation of the proposal to acquire the direct and indirect stakes in certain media operations founded and owned by Mr. Raghav Bahl and Ms. Ritu Kapur viz. Quintillion Media Private Limited, Quintillion Business Media Private Limited, Quintype Technologies India Private Limited, Owlet Films Private Limited, YKA Media Private Limited and Spunklane Media Private Limited. The management is confident that as economic activity opens up fully and with the increased digital adoption, the Companys digital properties will become the leading players in the new-age digital media sector. Annexure A INR in 000 Ethics bill on Pritzker's desk is one step forward, two steps back, watchdog says By Anne Dachel Back in 2007 I wrote a piece called,Autism: An Epidemic of Fairly Recent Origin It was all about the explosion in autism from a relatively rare condition to one affecting one in every 150 (2007). One of my sources for that story was a 2007 piece from the Boston Globe, With Rise in Autism, Programs Strained. Globe reporter Carey Goldberg wrote about parents having to wait nine months for an autism diagnosis and as long as five years to get their child into a special school. Goldberg wrote, Statewide, the number of schoolchildren diagnosed with autism has nearly doubled over the last five years, from 4,080 to 7,521, according to soon-to-be-published data from the Department of Education. Clearly the autism phenomenon was putting huge pressures on the education system and services. When she wrote the story in 2007, Goldberg did not explain why these numbers were jumping off the page. This seemed odd since anyone reading her autism statistics would logically want to know why this was happening. Fourteen years ago I used to politely write to reporters when I saw stories like this and ask those logical questions. Im sure I wrote to Goldberg and most likely she didnt respond, since reporters covering autism rarely show any real interest. Now a recent Boston Gobe story on autism has my attention. On July 16, 2021, Kara Baskin wrote the Globe piece, What happens to autistic children once they become adults? In the story she interviewed autism parent Cammie McGovern about her soon-to-be-released book Hard Landings: Looking into the Future for a Child With Autism. The states main crop and livestock organizations rely on farmer-leaders to advocate for policy with legislators, lead meetings and speak for the group. We asked theses leaders: Tell us where you live and a bit about your farm. How did you get involved with this organization? What are your main responsibilities as a leader? Randy DeSutter, Illinois Corn Growers Association President My hometown is Woodhull, Illinois, which is about 15 miles north of Galesburg or 30 miles south of the Quad Cities. Our farm is now in the fourth generation. I farm with our son Matthew, brother Jim, nephew Drew, and my dad Maurice still lives on the home farm. We grow corn and soybeans and have enough storage for all of our crops. We have been 100% no-till for about 30 years. I got involved with Illinois Corn Growers when there was an opening for my district nine years ago, and I am serving as president this year. The best part is meeting and working with other corn farmers around the state and nation on issues that affect corn. We meet personally with our senators and all the members of Congress in Illinois at least twice a year and also contact them on important issues throughout the year. My main responsibilities are serving as a spokesman for Illinois Corn and leading meetings and activities during the year. Getting new locks and dams on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers is something we have been working on, and I am optimistic that they will start building one in the next few years. In addition, we are working with Congresswoman Cheri Bustos on the Next Generation Fuels Act that will get higher blends of ethanol in our gasoline and more efficient engines in our cars. PONTIAC, Ill. The last day of Dairy Month was a typical, busy June day for Don Mackinson. A new calf was born by 8 a.m. as the family dealt with the aftermath of heavy rains, issues with the water well, getting a motor fixed and silage moved as well as daily dairy chores. Thrown into the mix is this interview for his role as Illinois Milk Producers Association president. All the other things get done, as well as milking 140 cows for farmer-owned Prairie Farms, milk that will be processed in Carlinville, in Macoupin County in southwestern Illinois. About once a month some of this farms milk goes to Decatur to become ice cream, he said. Mackinson farms with his son, Matt, and his brother, Roy. His grandchildren are already showing interest in being the sixth generation of Mackinsons at the farm established in 1865. Juggling duties on the family farm in Livingston County with being in IMPA leadership is nothing new to Mackinson. He has been IMPA president for 15 years. The organization is a federation of independent dairy producers, the four largest dairy cooperatives in Illinois, allied industry and universities providing legislative, educational and informational support to Illinois dairy producers. The association, which is an advocate and a resource for dairy producers in Illinois, started in 1933 and represents more than three-quarters of the milk marketed in the state. The primary objective of IMPA is to speak as a unified voice for the Illinois dairy industry, according to its website. Now that weve gained at least some space from the COVID-19 pandemic, summer travel is heating up. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Board members of a southwest Oklahoma City school district have defied the state Board of Education and hired an interim superintendent. The Western Heights school board voted 3-1 Thursday to name assistant Superintendent Kim Race interim superintendent, replacing Mannix Barnes. Barnes' superintendent certification was suspended by the state board last month after the district was placed on probation by the state board in April for concerns including financial management, heavy staff losses and poor academic performance. The state board took over the district Monday and on Tuesday deputy state Superintendent Monty Guthrie was named to head the district for the next year. "I am definitely worried that what just happened is illegal," said Briana Flatley, who cast the lone vote against naming Race interim superintendent. The three board members who voted for the move did not speak as they left the meeting. In a letter to the board, state Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said state officials have no confidence in the district's leaders and that their actions could be illegal. Western Heights attorney Jerry Colclazier said the board has the right to appoint an interim superintendent and dismissed Hofmeister's warning as a scare tactic. Kenneth Doughty, president of Xstream services, a phone, television and internet provider for Hinton and surrounding towns, was a key member of the Hinton Economic Development Authority formed in 1987. He said the GEO Great Plains Correctional Facility has seen fluctuations in its populations before and expects it will be used again, it's only a matter of when. HINTON-When the price of crude oil nosedived in the mid-1980s, this rural community halfway between El Reno and Weatherford was in trouble. Oil rig workers, once flush with cash and eager to spend it at downtown shops and cafes, started leaving in droves. Hinton's population dropped 14% from 1980 to 1990, U.S. Census data shows. "We had more business than we could take care of, with people ordering telephone lines out to these well sites," said Kenneth Doughty, a lifelong Hinton resident and president of Xtreme Services, the town's telecommunications provider. "Then all of a sudden it went away." Unnerved by the oil industry collapse, city leaders in 1987 formed the Hinton Economic Development Authority, a public trust tasked with attracting new businesses and diversifying the local economy. After learning that Mustang's town council rejected a construction proposal from a private prison company, the trust did some research and grew convinced that a correctional facility could help bring both jobs and tax revenue back to Hinton. Kenneth Doughty, president of Xstream services, a phone, television and internet provider for Hinton and surrounding towns, was a key member of the Hinton Economic Development Authority formed in 1987. He said the GEO Great Plains Correctional Facility has seen fluctuations in its populations before and expects it will be used again, it's only a matter of when. (Lionel Ramos/ Oklahoma Watch) "We started talking to people at the coffee shops and different places and got a lot of people thinking, yeah, that might be a pretty good idea," said Doughty, now 81 years old. In 1989 the trust issued public bonds to fund construction of a 500-bed prison two miles south of downtown. Three years later, the Great Plains Correctional Facility was open and filled with federal minimum-security prisoners. The prison has since housed tens of thousands of state and federal prisoners and generated tens of millions of dollars in revenue for the town of Hinton. The G.E.O. Group, a private corrections company that leases the prison from the town and manages its operations, added 1,400 beds to the facility in 2008, which in turn created more jobs and higher utility bills. As the prison has expanded, so has Hinton. The town's population, bolstered by prisoners who are counted as residents of the city where they are incarcerated, nearly tripled from 1,233 in 1990 to 3,219 in 2019. On the north side of Hinton along Interstate 40, construction of a Love's truck stop, two casinos and a Chevy dealership were made possible after the city used money generated from the prison to expand water line access. Closer to downtown, the town used prison revenue to invest in a new fire station and historical museum. But with the stroke of a pen this year, Hinton's prospects for growth took a significant hit. On Jan. 26 President Joe Biden signed an executive order directing the federal government to not renew private prison contracts. The Great Plains prison, which was vacated in late May as a result of the order, most recently housed non-U.S. citizens serving out the last year or two of their federal prison sentences. At the time of the executive order there were about 14,000 federal prisoners, or 9% of the total federal prison population, housed in 11 private prisons. The order applies only to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, meaning that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement can continue to use private immigration detention facilities. "This is the first step to stop corporations from profiting off of incarceration that is less humane and safe, studies show," Biden said in a news conference announcing the executive order. "It is just the beginning in my administration's plan to address systemic problems in our criminal justice system." Sens. James Lankford and Jim Inhofe, as well as Rep. Frank Lucas, sent a letter to Biden on April 15 asking him to reconsider his order phasing out all federal private prisons because it would significantly affect Hinton's economy. Their request fell on deaf ears. Shanon Pack, Hinton's town administrator, said he and other city leaders started preparing for the worst immediately after Biden issued the executive order. Over the past six and a half years, the G.E.O. Group has paid Hinton about $60,000 per month in utility fees and $1.25 per day per prisoner housed at the facility. The city received its final payments last month. Shanon Pack came to Hinton as a police officer at 23-years-old and moved up to the dual role of Town Administrator and Police Chief. Lack of funds from the prison closing means fewer police officers in Hinton and Pack having to resign as chief. (Lionel Ramos/Oklahoma Watch) "I remember when we first learned of that executive order, just realizing how Hinton was going to be greatly affected by it, not just the prison but the whole town," Pack said, adding that Hinton will lose about $1.5 million in annual revenue with the prison empty. To make up for the lost revenue, Pack said the town won't fill two vacant positions in its police department. Local businesses will likely have to start making cuts as many of the prison's 230 former employees move away, dine and shop elsewhere, Pack said. "There's nobody I've talked to that's excited about the prison closing," he said. "Everyone's concerned about it." Private Prisons Face Heightened Scrutiny As new mandatory minimum sentencing laws took effect and drove up demand for prison beds in the 1980s, startup private corrections companies such as CoreCivic and the G.E.O. Group offered to take some of the burden off the federal and state governments. Their business strategy proved effective. By the late 1990s one in 10 rural counties was home to a correctional facility. A new prison, hundreds of them privately owned and operated, was opening every 15 days. While the prison boom brought jobs to economically depressed areas and padded city budgets, it also sparked widespread criticism among justice reform advocates and researchers. Critics of private prisons argue that creating a financial incentive to lock more people up is unethical and that private facilities are more likely to cut corners on staffing, prisoner programs and medical care as they seek to profit. The G.E.O. Group, a publicly traded company, generated $2.47 billion in revenue and $166 million in net income in 2019. Critics' suspicions were confirmed in a 2016 U.S. Department of Justice report that found federal contract prisons were more dangerous and less secure than comparable government-owned and operated facilities. The report prompted former President Barack Obama to issue an executive order in August 2016 phasing out some private prison use, which the Trump administration rescinded six months later. Public condemnation of the private prison industry has also ramped up in recent years. At least 12 2020 Democratic presidential candidates publicly declared they would abolish federal private prisons if elected and incentivize states to do the same. In the second half of 2019, several major U.S. banks including Bank of America and Wells Fargo announced they would stop financing private prison companies. The blanket criticism of private prisons doesn't add up for Hinton city leaders and residents, who argue the Great Plains facility was run just as well as, if not better than, any public facility. To work at the prison, corrections officers had to pass an extensive background examination that included a credit check. No federal prisoners escaped from the facility from the time it was repopulated in 2014 to when it closed. "I don't think we've ever had any issues with the prison as far as a negative impact on the town and the community," said Jason Garner, head of the Hinton Economic Development Authority. "Before COVID they would hold a town meeting every quarter and tell us how they were training the inmates out there and educating them. It was a real positive vibe out there." Biden's executive order drew mixed responses from criminal justice policy experts, many of whom said the move was a step in the right direction but mostly symbolic. The federal prison population has dropped 27% over the past seven years, making such a decision easier from a logistical perspective. In addition, the experts noted that public prisons typically outsource their food and telecommunications services to private companies that make billions from incarceration. "The standard distinction people try to draw between public and private prisons is that there is something fundamentally wrong about profiting from putting people in cages," wrote John Pfaff, a law professor at Fordham University who specializes in prisons and criminal law, in a February Washington Post editorial. "The catch? Public prisons are 'profiting,' too, and offer benefits to the people responsible for running them and the communities where they are located in ways that may not be as immediately obvious but are often even more significant." Fewer Prisoners, Dwindling Demand This isn't the first time the Great Plains Correctional Facility has sat empty. In 2010 the Arizona Department of Corrections moved 1,700 of its prisoners out of the prison after expanding its in-state bed space. The prison remained vacant for more than four years until The G.E.O. Group and the Federal Bureau of Prisons agreed to a contract in late 2014. Pack and Garner said that the idle period has given the city some idea of what to expect as it starts to lose revenue from the prison. In the meantime, they said the G.E.O. Group will continue to maintain the facility and pitch it to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and other government agencies. Unlike the federal government, states remain free to enter into private prison contracts. As of 2019, 30 states housed some of their prisoners at private prisons, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. About 20% of Oklahoma's state prison population is housed at two medium-to-maximum security private prisons. However, demand for prison bed space has dropped significantly over the past five years as the federal government and states enact justice reforms. California, which once relied on out-of-state facilities in places such as Sayre to relieve its prison overcrowding, has vowed to end its reliance on private prisons by 2028. In Connecticut, where the prison population has dropped by more than half since 2008, former correctional facilities are now home to movie studios and homeless shelters. In Oklahoma, the state prison population has dropped 17.5% over the past two years as justice reforms take effect and the COVID-19 pandemic continues in many court cases. The state prison system was operating at 86% capacity on June 28, down from 105% in June 2019. Last month the state corrections department announced plans to close the dilapidated William S. Key Correctional Center in Fort Supply, a decision officials say they made in part because demand for minimum-security prison beds has dropped significantly. A declining state prison population doesn't mean the Great Plains facility won't be repopulated. The corrections department could opt to close some of its older facilities, many of which weren't originally built as prisons, and move those prisoners and staff to Hinton. If the state went that route, it could elect to lease and operate the facility itself, as it does with the CoreCivic-owned North Fork Correctional Facility in Sayre. Finding a new government partner could take just a couple of weeks or never happen at all, case studies from two other rural Oklahoma private prisons show. Cushing city leaders feared economic disaster after the state announced plans to vacate the Cimarron Correctional Facility, a 1,400-bed medium-security prison owned and operated by CoreCivic. Weeks after state prisoners were transferred out, CoreCivic announced it had agreed to a three-year contract with the U.S. Marshals Service to house federal prisoners awaiting sentencing or transfer to another correctional facility. Thirty miles north of Hinton in Watonga, the CoreCivic-owned and operated Diamondback Correctional Facility lost its Arizona prisoners in 2010 and has never reopened. As a result, the city's population dropped 44% from 2010 to 2019. 'I Don't Know That We'll Thrive' The prison's closure hasn't stopped life in Hinton. The town's two casinos bring in motorists and truck drivers traveling cross country on Interstate 40. Across the street from the prison, the Red Rock Canyon Adventure Park is a draw for hikers, campers and bicyclists from across the state. But if Hinton's largest employer and revenue generator doesn't return, Doughty envisions a reality similar to what the town faced 35 years ago. "I think we'll survive, but I don't know that we'll thrive," he said. "The community has always promoted any kind of business and any kind of development. We did that before the prison and will do it after the prison. We just won't have as much money to help increase those possibilities of development in the future." Misty Berg, who owns a thrift store along Main Street, has lived in Hinton for 25 years. She said two of her friends who worked at the prison have already moved away in search of new employment. Berg worries that most of the town's residents will soon be forced to accept either a long commute or a move to a more urban area. "The reality is, this sucks," Berg said. "A lot of people out here are out of jobs and it's horrible. To me it's something that Hinton really needed and should have stayed open." Lionel Ramos, Oklahoma Watch The Great Plains Correctional Facility was built in 1989 with the use of public bonds issued by the Hinton Economic Development Authority. Primarily an agriculture- and oil-based town, the addition of the prison on Sugar Creek Road meant over 300 new jobs and tens of millions of dollars in revenue for the town over the past 32 years. Oklahoma Watch is a nonprofit organization that produces in-depth and investigative journalism on important public-policy issues facing the state. The organization's website is at http://www.oklahomawatch.org. Lake Charles, Louisiana (70615) Today Cloudy skies this morning followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 84F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.. Tonight Isolated thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 72F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. That it is the duty of all persons in the service of the United States, as well as all other inhabitants thereof, to give the earliest information to Congress or any other proper authority of any misconduct, frauds or misdemeanors committed by any person in the service of these states, which may come to their knowledge. Resolution of the U.S. Continental Congress Unanimously passed July 30, 1778 Labels are often used to dismiss rather than define those with alternative explanations of events to the general mainstream narrative. One example is the label of conspiracy theorists. As Jim Rankin notes in his doctoral dissertation The Conspiracy Theory Meme as a Tool for Cultural Hegemony, the conspiracy theory concept functions as an impediment to legitimate discursive examination of conspiracy suspicions. As Rankin observes, the label appears to constrain even the most respected thinkers. In effect, the conspiracy theorist label operates as a powerful tool of cultural control. A similar dismissive label might also apply to those labeled whistleblowers who also offer alternative explanations to a general narrative. But whistleblowers go beyond simply offering alternative narratives. Rather, they report things they have seen first-hand from their positions inside organizations. As defined by the National Whistleblowing Center (NWC) a whistleblower is someone who reports waste, fraud, abuse, corruption, or dangers to public health and safety to someone who is in the position to rectify the wrongdoing. A whistleblower typically works inside of the organization where the wrongdoing is taking place. However, the NWC notes that being an insider is not essential to serving as a whistleblower. What matters is that the individual discloses information about wrongdoing that otherwise would not be known. Despite the derogatory and dismissive labels given to whistleblowers by the organizations they are reporting on, they have often been portrayed as heroes in popular culture and particularly films. The list of award-winning Hollywood films about whistleblowers is long and contains some of Hollywoods greatest films such as On the Waterfront (1954), Serpico (1973), All the Presidents Men (1976), The China Syndrome (1979), Silkwood (1983), The Firm (1993), Erin Brockovich (2000), Michael Clayton (2007) and Spotlight (2015) among others. All of these involve the exposure of some form of corruption by a whistleblower coming forward. * * * The NWC is the leading nonprofit in the U.S. dedicated to protecting and rewarding whistleblowers. They provide legal assistance to whistleblowers, advocate for stronger whistleblower protection laws, and educate the public about whistleblowers critical role in protecting democracy and the rule of law. Their mission is to support whistleblowers in their efforts to expose and help prosecute corruption and other wrongdoing. Founded in 1988 by three attorneys, the NWCs immediate goal was to obtain public support for whistleblowers at the Comanche Peak nuclear power plant. The NWCs first case challenged an industry-wide practice of coercing employees to sign non-disclosure agreements prohibiting them from raising safety concerns to federal regulators. The whistleblower group overcame well-financed opposition in the nuclear industry and the precedents set were groundbreaking such as voiding all hush money agreements. Years later, these precedents were relied on by attorneys with NWC to obtain a historic ruling by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) banning restrictive non-disclosure agreements in corporate America. Since then, with the help of our hundreds of thousands of grassroots supporters, NWC has succeeded in establishing National Whistleblower Day and adding key whistleblower protections into the Dodd-Frank qui tam law, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, and numerous other federal laws. NWC has also set major legal precedents not only in banning restrictive non-disclosure agreements in all publicly traded companies, but also in establishing First Amendment rights for federal workers, expanding the scope of protected activities, and protecting qui tam laws. Through NWCs Legal Assistance Program, the organization continues its efforts to defend whistleblowers by educating whistleblowers about their rights under the law, assisting in finding them premiere legal assistance, and providing support during high-impact whistleblower litigation. To further provide services and legal assistance to whistleblowers around the world, NWC has partnered with the National Whistleblower Legal Defense and Education Fund (NWLDEF), a public interest law firm. * * * Beginning in 2007, whistleblowers and advocates have convened an annual conference on Capitol Hill. It was originally known as Washington Whistleblowers Week to draw attention to advocacy and build a sense of community and solidarity. The week-long event features plenary sessions, workshops and panel discussions, whistleblower book signings, film screenings, National Whistleblower Day Senate Luncheon, Awards Reception, Pillar Awards Presentations, and Whistleblower Solidarity Dinner. From this, an unlikely community has been established between whistleblowers and activists. In 2013, the Senate, led by Sen. Charles Grassley, unanimously passed a resolution honoring National Whistleblower Appreciation Day on July 30th to commemorate the enactment of the law. The first Congressional celebration of National Whistleblower Day took place in the U.S. Senate Kennedy Caucus Room on July 30th, 2015. For the first time, the 2021 National Whistleblower Day events will be an interactive virtual conference. There will be panels and discussion forums as well as a virtual film festival titled Celluloid Justice: The Greatest Whistleblower Films Ever Conceived. This will feature five Hollywood films. But in addition, there will be many films by small, independent filmmakers. As the organizer of the film festival - Cesareo Manansala observes, For nearly a decade, the Whistleblower Summit has spearheaded our movement via films, by big or small screen storytelling. It is our intention to shine light on the tales of courage as seen through the eyes of these whistleblowers. Through the Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival (WSFF), we promote original pictures that depict the real stories behind the whistleblowers, and the efforts they took to expose their groups mis-directions. Our events also provide a forum for the whistleblowers themselves and the filmmakers behind the pictures, to share their experiences with both audiences and members of the press for even further widespread awareness. John Fraim is the founder of the website Midnight Oil Studios at https://midnightoilstudios.org. He will be on one of the panels at the Whistleblower Summit this year. The Whistleblower Summit and Film Festival is July 23 August 1. Visit their site for more information at https://www.whistleblowersummit.com. For information on the National Whistleblowers Center see https://www.whistleblowers.org. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. I feel no shame in admitting that, before today, I'd never heard of Davidson College in North Carolina. It's a private liberal arts college, and if you've ever driven through the Southeast, you know that the region is dotted with these 19th-century institutions, all of which imagined raising up a generation of Americans imbued with the great ideas. Davidson's latest great idea is to teach White churches how to be less racist. Campus Reform reports that the college got a $1-million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to embark on this great project. Here's how Davidson itself describes its plan: White Christians are having a moment as America again reckons with racial injustice, facing questions of how their faith should be lived and coming to terms with how Christianity itself has been intertwined with racist systems. But a newly funded project titled "Churches That THRIVE for Racial Justice" will seek to address these issues. Thanks to a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to Davidson College, the five-year project will work to shed light on the challenges of racism among white dominant congregations in North America and help churches, like Myers Park Baptist, to build on their commitment to racial equity and expand their capacity for confronting racial justice. Funding for the project comes from Lilly Endowment's national Thriving Congregations Initiative, which aims to strengthen Christian congregations so they can help people deepen their relationships with God, build strong relationships with each other, and contribute to the flourishing of local communities and the world. Gerardo Marti, L. Richardson King Professor of Sociology at Davidson College, will lead the project in partnership with Paula Clayton Dempsey, director of partnership relations for the Alliance of Baptists (a denominational partner of Myers Park Baptist). The project's core team also includes sociologists Mark Mulder, of Calvin University and Kevin Dougherty, of Baylor University, who've spent their careers examining racial and ethnic dynamics in American churches. Here's a little information about all the people involved on the ground: Image: Davidson College Image: Alliance of Baptists Image: Calvin University Image: Baylor University. Meanwhile, here are the lead people at Lilly Endowment Inc. The Board of Directors consists of: N. Clay Robbins, chairman, president & chief executive officer - White Daniel P. Carmichael - White Clarence Crain - Black Craig Dykstra - White William G. Enright - White Charles E. Golden Probably White Jennett M. Hill Probably Black John C. Lechleiter White Eli Lilly II - White Mary K. Lisher - Unknown David N. Shane - White The Officers are: N. Clay Robbins, chairman, president & chief executive officer - White Robert L. Smith, senior vice president for collaborative strategies - White Ben W. Blanton, vice president, secretary & general counsel - White Peter A. Buck, vice president for investments - White Christopher L. Coble, vice president for religion - White Jaclyn P. Dowd, vice president for evaluation & special initiatives - Unknown Ronni N. Kloth, vice president for community development - Black Ted Maple, vice president for education - White Julie A. Siegler, vice president for administration - White Diane M. Stenson, vice president & treasurer Unknown So, of 24 people in leadership positions involved in this project, 15 are definitely White, and another three are probably White. They are all extremely well paid. According to ProPublica's non-profit explorer, back in 2018, Lilly's key employees were paid between $375,000 and $870,000 annually. That's the kind of money that, for an organization situated in Indianapolis, can place you in a very nice home, in a crime-free neighborhood. Salaries at Davidson aren't quite so generous, but it appears that the average salary is upwards of $100,700. Calvin University faculty members seem to draw between $55,000 and $79,000. And Baylor professors bring in something in the realm of $120,000 or more. The people working on the Davidson project aren't as wealthy as Lilly's people, but they're all doing all right. Here's my point with this obsessive focus on race and salaries: the Davidson project is intended to remedy "racial injustice" and is part of a "strategic moment in the history of the Alliance [of Baptists]." In 2018, the Alliance stated, "Systemic racism has been a part of the history of the United States of America and continues to exist. We, the Alliance Board of Directors and Staff, recognize that our organization was born out of white privilege and white supremacy." As an aside, the Alliance of Baptists, although it has a Black president on its Board of Directors, also seems pretty darn White. Likewise, Davidson College, although it has some Black faculty members, also seems remarkably White. In June 2020, though, it gave the rote academic statement about its deep hatred for systemic racism. In other words, every White person involved in this project claims to believe in the precepts of Critical Race Theory namely, that all White people are racists who have gained an unfair advantage to the detriment of Blacks because systemic racism gave them toxic White privilege. Again, if the 20 or so White people involved in this million-dollar project believed what they're saying, they would have quit their high-status, remunerative jobs and ensured that those jobs went to Black people or other minorities injured by White systemic racism. The fact that all these people clearly revel in their jobs and have no intention of abandoning them is proof positive that they are bloviating hypocrites who don't believe a word of the anti-White and anti-Black racial garbage they're spouting. (In case you're wondering, it's also anti-Black because it demeans Blacks and other minorities by painting them as helpless victims of demonic Whites and posits that their salvation can come only from Whites.) Some might say they don't have the courage of their convictions. Given that not a single person has acted on his, her, or its stated beliefs, I don't think these are convictions at all. They're just posturing although at great cost to America and the ideas that bind us together as a nation. As such, these people should be named, shamed, and canceled which I hope this post has done. Image: Davidson College. Public domain. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. From what? you may ask. From "misinformation," which means only information they don't want you to access, information that might be the actual truth and conflict with the administration's fear-mongering agenda. Psaki bragged in her press conference on Thursday that the administration is "working with" social media Facebook to censor such misinformation. Twitter video screen grab. PSAKI: If you're banned on one social media platform, you should be banned on other social media platforms. pic.twitter.com/81eOCiRc68 Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 16, 2021 Misinformation is the Newspeak expression for anything that deviates from their party line, much of it legitimate and factual information from epidemiologists, virologists, biologists, and doctors who actually see patients, unlike Fauci, who has not seen a patient in thirty years and could not care less about the damage he has done to millions of Americans with his wild and unfounded predictions. As others have observed, Orwell's 1984 was intended as not a blueprint for how a government should rule, but a frightening cautionary tale. This administration is using it as a how-to manual. We should all be very afraid, for they are coming for us. Indeed, they are. As Psaki inadvertently revealed, they have a list, and it is likely that all those who love this nation and fear this administration's rapid shift to communism are on it. They've made it clear they mean to compile a database of the unvaccinated. They would be the people who accessed the information they want to censor and resisted an untested vaccine that was authorized only on an emergency basis when there was no emergency. COVID has a 99% survival rate. Most of those who died had multiple co-morbidities obesity, diabetes, asthma, existing heart failures. Never before has a vaccine been developed and so aggressively promoted for a disease that is so rarely fatal. Why might this be? Good question. Is there an answer? Well, there are certainly many theories. Former Pfizer scientist Michael Yeadon has suggested that the vaccines are a depopulation ploy. He does not endorse the vaccines or the threat of variants. The CDC reports nearly 11K vaccine deaths and has added a new warning about the J&J shot. Dr. Peter McCullough says that CDC whistleblowers say the vaccine death toll is at least 50K. Senator Ron Johnson has released a video of people who "want to be seen, heard and believed." All of them have been catastrophically damaged by the vaccines. As for the mask mandates, they are part of the left's campaign to terrorize the gullible, those who are easily led by our malevolent and unrepentant media. They are ineffective and dangerous, especially for kids. Here are a few links to good info on that topic: Mask Mouth extended mask-wearing leads to gum disease, tooth decay (August 5, 2020) Experimental Assessment of Carbon Dioxide Content in Inhaled Air With or Without Face Masks in Healthy Children Masks for Children, Muzzles for Covid-19 News Parents need to rise up and fight mask mandates as they are fighting CRT. Both are detrimental to their children's health and future. True to California's reputation as moonbat central, they are re-instituting the mask mandate, justifying it with a surge that is minuscule. California is a failed state thanks to decades of Democrat rule. The Biden administration, along with Big Tech, has been and is still suppressing every dissenting voice it can, but the truth is still out there for all to see and read. Check out Truth Comes to Light for volumes of expert info Biden/Psaki would like to censor. Check out Del Bigtree at Highwire for some valuable challenges to the pro-vax diktat. Whether one accepts the dissenting views on vaccines is a matter of individual choice and research. Are all the objections to the vaccines rooted in medical science? Who knows? They are worthy of consideration, especially because the Democrats are so frenetically anxious for us all to be vaxxed unnecessarily, and since there is virtually no reason for everyone in America to be vaccinated; herd immunity is here, and the variants are not serious. Hyping the variants is just more fear-mongering, blasted to us all via our corrupt media in service of the left's Marxist agenda: Capitalism inexorably demanded the concentration of capital in ever fewer hands and the reduction of everyone else to wage slavery, which meant being paid only 'that quantum of the means of subsistence which is absolutely requisite to keep the laborer in bare existence as a laborer. This is how the Pelosis have gotten a nine-figure net worth. So have the heads of Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J. But does the money angle explain the Biden/Psaki desperation to jab every man, woman, and child, from infancy to old age? Maybe. Maybe not. Whatever the reason for the ruling elite's hysteria, it's most certainly not their concern for the health of the American people. People are dying from the vaccines, thousands of them. If any previous vaccine had killed a fraction of the number of people the COVID vaccines have, it would have been pulled from the market. The swine flu vaccine was pulled after three people died. Doesn't that fact make it clear that there is another scheme afoot? As Steve Bannon would say, Psaki said the quiet part out loud when she admitted and then defended the administration's monitoring and censoring of Facebook, Twitter, probably Instagram, and the rest of social media. She piled on when she said persons banned on one site should be banned on all sites! God forbid people might hear a dissenting word. This administration does not believe in the First Amendment even a little bit. They are officially communist/Marxist totalitarians, a menace to and a blight upon this nation. These are the people condemning people to death, one way or another, with their tyrannical, socialist policies. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Here are the biased numbers for the recent Economist-YouGov poll that gives Joe Biden a 49% approval rating. A first-year reporter could retrieve this information with ease unless he were incompetent, lazy, or most likely biased. I guess most Dems are accustomed to living in such willful ignorance. They will swallow and pass along any talking point from the media elites if they are slanted against conservatives. The EconomistYouGov poll July 1013, 2021 1,500 U.S. Adult Citizens Registered 2020 Vote Party ID Dem (324) Republican (235) Independent (260) Ninety-nine more Democrats sampled vs. Republicans were included in the results. It is not hard to get the results you want if the polls are assembled in this way, and this is always the method with these polls. A total of 819 from 1,500 participants. Does that mean the rest were dumped because they are not registered to vote or affiliated with a party? Were their answers included in the reported percentages? Were the others thrown out for having the politically wrong answer? I guess they just disappeared overnight. Where have I heard that before? As with all these polls affiliated with left-leaning organizations, there's plain oversampling of those who have had 16-plus years of indoctrination and social engineering from the radicals who infest our local school systems and our state and private universities. Generally, these numbers are on the very last pages of pollsters' methodology details. They tell the real story and highlight the bias of the media and affiliated academia members who assemble these polls. Just a little investigation by a real journalist would uncover grants above and beyond the norm for the university that participates. Attaching a university name to these findings is somehow supposed to give these untruthful polls street cred. Unfortunately, most of academia does not need much prodding to gin up these findings. So if you are of the "Left Media Type" or an esteemed member of "Academia," try not to act so omniscient when you knowingly report lies to the public. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Franklin and Marshall is a private college in Lancaster, Pennsylvania whose annual tuition exceeds $63,000 a year. If the recent "Franklin & Marshall Faculty Statement in Solidarity with Palestine," as signed by two dozen F&M professors, is in any indicator of the school's quality, students should look into public universities whose tuition is one-third of this or even less. More to the point is the fact that Godwin's Law ceases to apply when somebody really does talk like a Nazi. The letter's first paragraph refers to "refugees expelled and driven from their homes during the Nakba (194749) that accompanied the creation of the state of Israel." "Nakba" (catastrophe) does not refer to Israel's well-justified seizure of land in the 1967 war the third war that its neighbors started or provoked in less than twenty years followed by the one in 1973 that could have started the Third World War. The Anti-Defamation League explains that pro-Palestinian sources use "Nakba" to depict the creation of Israel as a catastrophe and deny Israel's right to exist. That, as opposed to arguments over the subsequently occupied territories, is anti-Semitic. The truth is that while some Arabs were driven from their homes by Israelis, most fled at the behest of the countries that invaded Israel in 1948 with the openly expressed intention of driving all the Jews into the sea. "Israel maintains that it is not responsible for the Palestinian refugee problem since it is the result of a war forced on Israel by invading Arab armies." The ADL adds accurately that the countries that started the war and were therefore responsible for most of the displacement refused, with the exception of Jordan, to accept their fellow Arabs. The signatories also leave out the inconvenient fact that roughly 800,000 Jews had to flee nearby countries still in possession of the property they stole from the Jews in question. The letter continues, "The story of children killed in the most recent Gaza attacks alone reveals the absurd inaccuracy of the 'evenhandedness' narrative." The story of the children killed in Gaza is the story of Hamas's use of its own civilians as human shields with the intention of getting them killed so Hamas's dupes and useful idiots can bleat about how the Israelis murder children. Some were even killed by Hamas rockets that fell short of Israel. The Germans (not Nazis, however) behaved far better during the Second World War. General Frido von Senger took particular care to avoid looking out the windows of the Abbey at Monte Cassino lest he see Allied troops, which would technically turn the Abbey into an "observation post" and therefore a legitimate military target. He also kept his soldiers and weapons off the premises, entirely in contrast to Hamas. The letter continues, "The brutal system that controls Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories is ideologically founded upon Jewish supremacy," which is where it really talks like a Nazi. "The phrase 'Jewish supremacy' can be traced back to Nazi Germany and has been retreaded for use in today's conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, writes Gil Troy in Newsweek." Nobody needs to pay $63,000 a year to learn about Jewish supremacy at Franklin & Marshall when he can get it for free from the Stormfront White Nationalist Community where a Google search brings up more than a thousand links for this topic. One of the Stormfront pages cites David Duke's "My Struggle Awakening" (Ku Klux Klansmen can get "woke," too!), which covers Jewish supremacy in extensive detail, according to the table of contents. I did not buy a copy because there is no longer a shortage of toilet paper. Here, meanwhile, is a free online lecture on Jewish supremacy that makes just as much sense. The letter's signatories then published a follow-up "Clarifying the 'Franklin & Marshall Faculty Statement in Solidarity with Palestine,'" which explains, "Effectively, we are co-signing and cross-posting a letter written by many scholars across the academy with the expectation that this shared language increases the power and solidarity of the message." Does this mean that if somebody else publishes a letter with racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, misogynist, or similar content, then it is OK for others to sign it because they did not write it themselves? The N-word also is shared language, at least among white supremacists; does that make it acceptable for others to use it? The follow-up adds, "Some have expressed concern about the phrase in our statement 'Jewish supremacy' to characterize Israel's founding and governance. The phrase is taken from an Israeli human rights organization, B'tselem, run by Israelis." B'tselem is yet another stooge and useful idiot for Hamas, as shown here. The article begins, "It's Like George Floyd. We Have Our Knee on the Palestinians' Necks," which is interesting because George Floyd, unlike Hamas, was not firing rockets or throwing bombs at other people when Derek Chauvin put his knee on his neck. The article continues, "El-Ad, 50 ... he established a strong position some would say a more radical one that encouraged international pressure on Israel and a halt to cooperation with Israeli agencies such as the Israel Defense Forces and the military police's investigative unit." He is upset that people call him a traitor, which is a false accusation because, at least as defined in the United States, treason consists solely of levying war against one's own country or aiding the enemy during a time of war. B'tselem's actions fall far short of either even though they undermine Israel and promote the agenda of its enemies. The boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement does not similarly violate U.S. laws against material support for terrorists because it gives them none, but it nonetheless aids the terrorists by harming Israel. B'tselem cannot, by the way, bring itself to condemn BDS: "We have no position regarding the BDS movement, and nor will we have one." This is the organization the F&M professors cite to justify their use of the phrase "Jewish supremacy." The one thing to their credit is that their follow-up letter does condemn anti-Semitism. There is no call here for the professors to be fired or for F&M to take "action" against them. They made it clear when they signed the material in question that they were representing themselves and not their employer. I wrote here previously that "cancelers" who bring social media and blogging disputes into their own workplaces or those of others are organizational risks who should perhaps not be hired themselves. We cannot have one set of rules for the left and another for the right, so the proper course of action is to simply denounce and ridicule with facts material such as the "Franklin & Marshall Faculty Statement in Solidarity with Palestine," and leave it at that. Civis Americanus is the pen name of a contributor who remembers the lessons of history and wants to ensure that our country never needs to learn those lessons again the hard way. The author is remaining anonymous due to the likely prospect of being subjected to "cancel culture" for exposing the Big Lie behind Black Lives Matter. Image via Libreshot. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. New York Times columnist David Brooks is a devout NeverTrumper. He predicted during the 2016 presidential race that Donald Trump could not win. See here for an example. Perhaps President Trump's 2016 victory agitated the existing anti-populist fury within Brooks. Since the 2016 presidential campaign, he has proven to be bitten with the rabid political bite of Trump Derangement Syndrome. As with all New York Times columnists yes, all, including the nominal "conservatives there is no gibe against Mr. Trump too extreme to be expressed. And thus, in his column of July 16, on the need for the left to fight reactionary foreign regimes as well as "Trumpian authoritarianism at home," Brooks resorted to an oxymoron. As American Thinker deputy editor Andrea Widburg noted in her brilliant dissection of the woke Gen. Milley: President Trump, wise in the ways of the world, was "utterly naive about Washington." It seems more likely than not that whoever suggested that Mr. Trump name Milley chairman of the Joint Chiefs was a deep state agent, or, at the very least, a "useful idiot" of the deep state. Think how, in "The Godfather," Don Corleone advised Michael, his successor, that the capo who advised a meet with the Don's rival was the traitor. So it happened that Tessio was unmasked and paid the ultimate price for treachery.) An authoritarian president would not be a political naif. Would his enemies have dared call an authoritarian president a "Russian Poodle," as New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof did? Would a House speaker dare lie about an authoritarian leader tolerating Russian bounties on killed U.S. troops, as Pelosi did? Would Hillary Clinton have dared accuse President Trump of being an illegitimate president if she feared his power? Would a psychologist from Yale and her colleagues in the profession have dared question Mr. Trump's mental stability if they feared him? Would an authoritarian as president have tolerated one impeachment, let alone two? And would Brooks have written one intemperate column after another viciously insulting President Trump if he truly feared that Mr. Trump was an authoritarian president? Where are the Republican members of House and Senate to raise these questions whenever they appear on the Sunday-morning television interview programs that use Republicans to help tear down the "authoritarian Trump"? Where are the Republicans to respond quickly and effectively to the false claims from a Madeleine Albright, scrivened by Robin Wright in the wokist New Yorker, that Donald Trump is a fascist? Looking back, it seems clear that honest conservative populists in Congress should have counseled Mr. Trump in the ways of Washington, to go along with his expertise in the ways of the world. (Was such counsel forthcoming and resisted by Mr. Trump?) David Plouffe, functionary of Barack Obama, tweeted in June of 2016 that Trump and his followers must be destroyed. His execrable tweet was mentioned in this Times story by Amy Chozick. The media, serving their deep state dons and having succeeded in traducing 2020 election procedures to "defeat" Mr. Trump, are now busy with the second part of their political mission: the destruction of conservative populism (which is truly the heart and soul of "Trumpism"). Republican leaders in Congress must know, given a modicum of political astuteness, that if the Trump Revolution is crushed, the GOP will also be crushed, and the American people will learn what vicious authoritarianism is all about. Republican officeholders must jump into the polemical trenches, to join the already embattled people, if the fight against true authoritarianism, from the anti-Americans here at home, is to be won. In this fight, as Churchill said after the Second Battle of El Alamein in 1942, "this ... is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." God willing. Image: Adam Jones via Flickr (cropped). To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. England, America's political ancestor, occasionally had a usurper problem. At the end of the 14th century, Henry Bolingbroke had reason to be angry with King Richard II of England, who had exiled him and seized his lands. In 1399, while King Richard was away in Ireland dealing with a rebellion, Bolingbroke returned to England with friends enough to force King Richard to surrender and then abdicate his throne. This was not to be the only time someone stole a crown from a sitting British king. Since August 22, 1485, people in England and elsewhere have argued about the legitimacy of Henry Tudor, better known as King Henry VII. Even though Henry VII reigned for 24 years, he was never able to shake the label of usurper that the many who questioned his legitimacy gave him. At his death, the crown went to his son, who became Henry VIII. This peaceful transfer of power did much to quiet the usurper complaints about Henry VII, although Henry's reign was bedeviled by "pretenders" challenging his legitimacy. Henry VII became king of England when he defeated Richard III's forces in a battle on Bosworth Field and Richard himself was killed. I have no desire to rehash fifteenth-century politics. However, Richard III was a sitting king and Henry Tudor forcefully took his crown. In the comparatively short history of the United States, we were mercifully free from "crown-stealing" or usurpations. Indeed, until very recently, we have had a proud history of peaceful transitions of power. In 2016, the Democrats nominated Hillary Clinton to be their presidential candidate. Odds favored her. Her opponent, Donald Trump, was a former Democrat billionaire turned Republican who promised to stem runaway illegal immigration on our southern border and to keep "America first" in all his dealings as president. Trump's slogans and style caught on in much of America. He held large exuberant rallies across America, where he preached this "America first" message. His message gained more resonance as November 2016 approached. Hillary's arrogance and sense of entitlement blinded her to the fact that Trump was giving her a run for her money. Hillary's blindness was cured late on November 8, 2016, when the Electoral College made Donald Trump the president-elect. Hell hath no fury like a Hillary scorned. When Hillary sobered up the day after the election and remembered she had lost to Trump, she began to assemble her dogs of war to make Trump pay for his victory. She had many potential allies to choose from. She had her own party, including the powerful Obama faction, and there were also many RINOs willing to join her efforts. Overseas, she had Communist China as another ally. Trump's "America First" campaign did not square with Chinese plans to expand. During the first three years of Trump's presidency, the forces arrayed against Trump threw everything they could at him to hobble his presidency. Trump was caught off guard by the viciousness aimed his way, but he did well as president under the circumstances. When the anti-Trump factions couldn't find a sink in America to throw at Donald, they found one in Wuhan, China to throw at him. That sink, AKA the Wuhan Flu, threw the whole planet into a state of anxiety and chaos. In the United States, where we vote for our president, Biden's Democrat party and many Republicans anxious to be rid of Donald Trump claim that Joe Biden won the 2020 election fairly. Donald Trump and many conservatives argue that the 2020 election was a rigged election during a global pandemic and that a vast left-wing conspiracy made the loser (Joe Biden) a winner. As of this writing, the truth about the 2020 election remains elusive. The presidential elections of 2016 and 2020 were not peaceful. Hillary Clinton still believes she won the 2016 election. Joe Biden claims he won the election of 2020, and I cannot dispute that he and his corrupt family live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Unlike Henry Bolingbroke and Henry Tudor, Joe Biden did not defeat Donald Trump on the field of battle. Still, many see Biden as a usurper. Some looked at Henry Tudor and saw King Henry VII. Others looked at him and saw a regicidal usurper. Some look at Joe Biden and see a president. Others look at him and see a traitor and a usurper. Jesus said the truth will make us free. When we consider the Election of 2020, one party is trying its best to hide the truth of that election from us and urging us to "move on." Another group is trying to get at the truth, but it's dealing with legion after legion hell-bent on keeping the truth buried. As Cher once sang, "the beat goes on." Or as another wag commented recently, with a nod to Cher, "the beatings will continue until morale improves." Image: Henry IV, Henry VII, Biden the First. Public domain images. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. (Image source from: Hindustantimes.com) India reports 38,079 new Covid cases and 560 deaths:- A total number of 38,079 new cases of coronavirus are reported in India in the last 24 hours in the states. The cases continue to fluctuate around 40,000 mark. 560 people passed away in the country in the last 24 hours in India. The active cases in the country are at 4,24,025 and the recovery rate climbed to 97.31 percent. Kerala continues to be the top contributor with 13,750 new cases reported yesterday. The total number of cases reported in the country are said to be 31,064,908 and a total number of 30,227,792 Indians recovered completely from coronavirus. The total death tally in India reached 413,123. The government of Andhra Pradesh requested the Centre to allocate the doses of coronavirus vaccines which are not used by the private hospitals in the state. The vaccination drive in the country crossed 40 crore mark recently and it is happening at a fast pace. France announced that it will allow the visitors from India who took both the doses of Covishield. The borders are tightened to control the spread of the delta variant in France. As per the reports coming from the Indian Council of Medical Research, the total samples of coronavirus tested in India on July 16th are said to be 19,98,715 and the samples that are tested in India in total are 44,20,21,954. Anniston, AL (36206) Today Isolated thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. High 81F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. Purchase an online subscription to our website for $7.99 a month with automatic renewal. Each online subscription gives you full access to all of our newspaper websites and mobile applications. To cancel you may contact Customer Service @ 256-235-9253 or email JPAYNE@ANNISTONSTAR.COM For a limited time, for NEW SUBSCRIBERS ONLY a NEW ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION is just $59.99 for the first year. Existing customers do not qualify for the specials! After the first year, well automatically renew your subscription to continue your access at the regular price of $69.99 per year. Please note *Your Subscription will Automatically Renew unless you contact Customer Service To Cancel* Coronavirus restrictions are being further eased in Wales, with up to six people allowed to meet inside homes. Ice rinks can reopen and organised indoor events for up to 1,000 people seated and 200 standing can now take place. Limits on the numbers of people who can meet in public places or at outdoor events will be removed and groups of up to 30 children will be able to visit residential activity centres. Further restrictions are being eased as Wales moves to alert Level 1 (Ben Birchall/PA) Employers will also be required to provide comprehensive information on the risks and mitigations identified in their Covid-19 risk assessment to their employees. The changes have been made as Wales moves to alert Level 1, ahead of plans to lift most coronavirus restrictions on August 7 when alert Level 0 comes into force. Face masks will still be required in most indoor public places, except in pubs and restaurants and schools. Vaccination certificates will also be available to people in Wales who need them, such as for foreign travel or to visit venues, but would not be compulsory. Speaking in the Senedd earlier this week, First Minister Mark Drakeford said: Life will have returned very substantially to how it was before the coronavirus pandemic began. But here in Wales, we will not abandon all those measures which have done so much to keep us all safe. Face masks will remain mandatory in Wales on public transport and in many indoor venues (Ben Birchall/PA) Mr Drakeford said he was reasonably confident the vaccination programme has weakened the link between infections and serious illness. But there is still a risk that this third wave of the pandemic could cause real harm either direct harm from the virus or indirect harm from, for example, people having to isolate, he said. The countrys incidence rate is currently 145 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people the lowest in the UK and it also has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world with 75% of adults having received both doses. The latest figures show that 1,892,082 people have had both vaccines and completed the course and 2,279,139 people or 90.3% of the country have had their first dose. Boris Johnson may be forced to reimpose lockdown restrictions if Covid cases continue rising into the autumn, former health secretary Jeremy Hunt has warned. With most statutory controls in England due to end on Monday, Mr Hunt said the situation facing the NHS is very serious with rapidly increasing numbers of hospital admissions. The warning light on the NHS dashboard is not flashing amber, it is flashing red, he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. Jeremy Hunt has said social-distancing rules may need to be reimposed (Aaron Chown/PA) His warning came as one scientist advising the Government said the country could be facing a protracted period of rising cases running into the autumn. Professor John Edmunds, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said new infections could reach 100,000 a day within weeks. Mr Johnson has repeatedly said he wants the lifting of lockdown on so-called freedom day to be irreversible, but in recent days ministers have begun to sound more cautious. While social-distancing rules in England will come to an end, Government guidelines advise face masks should still be worn in enclosed spaces such as in shops and on public transport, while pubs and bars should be table service only. Mr Hunt, chairman of the Commons Health and Social Care Committee, said the way people behave as controls end will be crucial in determining the path of the pandemic over the coming months. He pointed to the examples of Israel and the Netherlands, which have been forced to reintroduce controls despite high levels of vaccination like the UK. Covid hospital patients are doubling every two weeks. That means we are heading for 10,000 Covid hospital patients by the end of August, which is about 20 times higher than this time last year, he said. I think coming into September we are almost certainly going to see infections reach a new daily peak going above the 68,000 daily level which was the previous daily record in January. If they are still going up as the schools are coming back I think we are going to have to reconsider some very difficult decisions. How we behave over the next few weeks will have a material difference. Prof Edmunds said that without the social-distancing measures which brought the first two waves of the pandemic under control the virus would continue to spread. (PA Graphics) I think this wave of the epidemic will be quite long and drawn out, he told the Today programme. My hunch is that we are looking at a high level of incidence for a protracted period right through the summer and probably through much of the autumn. We started easing restrictions before everybody was vaccinated. That is going to lead to infections in the unvaccinated people primarily, in this instance, the younger individuals. We are at about 50,000 (infections) a day now. The epidemic has been doubling roughly every two weeks, and so if we allow things as they are for another couple of weeks you could expect it to get to 100,000 cases a day. Mark Woolhouse, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at Edinburgh University, who advises the UK and Scottish governments, said there could be a very large wave of new infections. He said England should have followed the example of Scotland and kept some infection control measure in place. What I have been concerned about for many months is that if the unlocking really is a big release then theres potential for a very large wave indeed, he told Times Radio. This idea that it would be a final freedom day was, I have to say, somewhat naive. The public health expectation was that we would need additional measures to keep the rate of increase of cases under control. Mr Hunt said the Government needs to make urgent changes to the NHS Covid app amid evidence people are deleting it due to the high numbers being pinged and told to self-isolate. The risk with that app is that it is beginning to lose social consent and so we should either make it less sensitive or move to a system where you have to get a test when you are pinged, he said. The risk is that if people are deleting the app then you cant even ping them to ask them to have a test. Young cathedral choristers in Truro, Cornwall, have raised funds for 10,000 Covid-19 vaccines in poorer countries with a singing project. The singers were able to raise 8,434 for Unicef with the Sing2G7 project, which saw children and young people around the world send a musical message to G7 leaders ahead of the summit in June. The project inspired more than 27,000 children in 31 countries to take part, with the Sing2G7 organisers and choristers deciding to give all of the royalties from their single to VaccinAid. Head chorister Jacob, 13, said: I cant quite believe that by singing a song we have enabled 10,000 people to be vaccinated. Its amazing. Thank you so much to everyone who made a donation. The project attracted support from former prime minister Gordon Brown, who sent a video message to 1,400 children who joined a mega Zoom at the time of the G7 summit. Chorister Trystan, 10, said: Its really exciting to think people thousands of miles away, who couldnt get vaccines before, will get them now. I feel so proud to have been part of Sing2G7 and to have helped to make this happen. The project raised funds for 10,000 Covid-19 vaccines in poorer countries (Chris Yacoubian/PA) The song Gee Seven began with 35 choristers aged eight to 18, with more than 27,000 people signing up to post recordings online and organising their own performances. The Very Reverend Roger Bush, Dean of Truro, said: Im very proud of our choristers. Its a significant sum theyve raised for VaccinAid, that really will make a concrete difference in some of the poorest countries in the world. This is a very practical way of loving our neighbour and Id like to thank everyone who supported the choristers in doing just that. Accepting it. Cole Sprouse made light of the fact that some fans do not support his relationship with girlfriend Ari Fournier after his split from Riverdale costar Lili Reinhart. Read article Time to piss off the 14yos again, the Disney Channel alum, 28, wrote via his Instagram Story on Friday, July 16. He subsequently shared two photos of the model, 22, posing in a floral-printed button-down, a bucket hat and sunglasses. Cole Sprouse Jokes Posting Pics GF Ari Fournier Will Piss Off Fans Sprouse posted another still from the photo shoot on his Instagram account on Friday. Tippi and the burds, he captioned the pic. While some commenters came to the couples defense, others reacted just as the actor predicted. My heart broke with this photo, one person replied, while another responded, Im not OK, with a broken heart emoji. Read article Sprouse and Fournier sparked dating rumors in February after they were spotted holding hands while out for brunch in Vancouver, Canada. The Friends alum notably dated Reinhart, 24, on and off from 2017 to March 2020. He confirmed their split in August of last year after months of speculation about their relationship status. Read article Lili and I initially separated in January of this year, deciding to more permanently split in March, he wrote via Instagram at the time. What an incredible experience I had, Ill always feel lucky and cherish that I had the chance to fall in love. I wish her nothing but the utmost love and happiness moving forward. All Ill say about it, anything else you hear doesnt matter. Reinhart, for her part, opened up earlier that month about the breakup, recalling that she felt like she was dying amid the aftermath. It was fking rough, and theres no other way through it than just through it, she told Refinery29. Ive seen a lot of people when it comes to heartache and grief and breakups, and they try to get that void filled with sex, with coke, with food, with drinking, [but] the void is still there. I took the road less traveled and just dealt with my st. I had to face my own pain head-on. Sprouse, who was linked to models Kaia Gerber and Reina Silva after the split, clapped back at speculation about his love life in April 2020. I tolerate a lot of rumors and slander from people online claiming to be my fans. Fans who feel entitled to my privacy precisely because I never indulge them, he explained via his Instagram Story. But attacking my friends, baseless accusations, leaking my address and sending death threats are all qualities of insanity and fanaticism. Choose humanity, stop being [clowns]. Something sweet to celebrate! Nick Cannon and Abby De La Rosa honored their twin sons first month of life with an adorable family photo shoot. Read article ONE MONTH OLD ZION AND ZILLION CANNON, the DJ, 29, captioned Friday, July 16, Instagram slideshows of the infants wearing matching black onesies and headphones. In a separate post, she and the Masked Singer host, 40, cuddled up to the sleeping brothers. Nick Cannon and Abby De La Rosa Celebrate Twin Sons 1st Month With Family Photos The Los Angeles native announced in April that she and the actor had twin boys on the way. I know the Lord has destined me and prepared me for the gift of not one but two little angels, the then-pregnant star wrote via Instagram at the time. I pray that God give you both the strength to walk brave and boldly in your individual truth just like your Daddy. That God bless you and your brother and guide you into living out your full purpose. Your Dad and I will always be here for you both; in complete unison and support. You both are already so loved, and we cant wait to meet you both. Read article De La Rosa added that she and Cannon had reconnected the previous year, witting, Never would I have ever envisioned where we are at now. This isnt a bs love story, its a REAL story. His openness and honesty won my heart but above anything, he is my dearest friend and my partner [in] this world of mine. He changed my life in all the most unconventional ways, inspiring me to open my mind to the unknown when it came to loving outside of labels and ownership.' The new mom welcomed her babies two months later. That same month, Wild n Out model Alyssa Scott gave birth to her and Cannons son, Zen. I will love you for eternity, Scott wrote via Instagram in June. 6.23.21. Cannon, who is also the father of twins Moroccan and Monroe, 10, with Mariah Carey and Golden, 4, and Powerful, 7 months, with Brittany Bell, clarified the following month that he conceived all of his children intentionally. Im having these kids on purpose, the California native explained on an episode of his Power 106 radio show on July 7. I didnt have no accident. [There were] a lot of people that I couldve gotten pregnant that I didnt. You only live once. Read article City Girls rapper JT joked at the time: [You should] wrap it up and protect yourself. LOS ANGELES (AP) For crimes he called vicious and frightening, a judge on Friday gave a death sentence to a man prosecutors called The Boy Next Door Killer for the home-invasion murders of two women and the attempted murder of a third. Victims' family members wept as Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry P. Fidler handed down the sentence to 45-year-old Michael Thomas Gargiulo. Everywhere that Mr. Gargiulo went, death and destruction followed him, Fidler said at the all-day hearing. Gargiulo's case received added attention because one of his victims was about to go on a date with actor Ashton Kutcher, who testified at the trial. The sentencing, delayed by procedural issues and the pandemic, came nearly two years after a jury convicted Gargiulo and recommended his execution. Gargiulo was found guilty of the 2001 murder of Ashley Ellerin, a 22-year-old fashion design student, in her Hollywood home as she prepared to go out with Kutcher. At the trial, Kutcher said that he was late to pick up Ellerin, who did not answer her door. He looked inside to see blood stains that he thought were spilled wine. Prosecutors used him in their closing arguments, suggesting Ellerin was killed by another man who was jealous of Kutcher. Ellerin was found with 47 stab wounds. Her father, Michael Ellerin, who had been visiting his daughter from Northern California hours before she was killed, was one of several victims relatives who spoke at the hearing of their suffering as they waited years for justice. He said he was tempted to imitate his wife Cynthias mournful scream and primal wailing after finding out that Ashley had been murdered. It marked the beginning of an altered, diminished, heartbreaking life, he said. Gargiulo was also convicted of the murder of 32-year-old Maria Bruno, a mother of four, in her home in El Monte, east of Los Angeles, in 2005. Bruno's breasts were cut off and her implants were removed. And he was found guilty of the attempted murder in 2008 of Michelle Murphy, who fought him off in her Santa Monica apartment, forcing him to flee and leave a trail of blood that also led to his eventual arrests for the other two killings. Murphy was the key witness at the trial. To this day, spending the night alone creates a world of fear in me, Murphy said in court before the sentencing. She cried as she talked about meeting the families of the two women who didn't survive their attacks. How is it fair that one persons actions can destroy the lives of so many? she said. Gargiulo is a former air conditioner and heater repairman, bouncer and aspiring actor whose nicknames from media outlets included The Chiller Killer and The Hollywood Ripper but was called The Boy Next Door Killer by prosecutors because he lived near the victims he stalked then attacked in their homes. He spoke before his sentencing, angrily complaining that his lawyers prevented him from taking the stand in his defense. Im going to death row wrongfully and unjustfully, said Gargiulo, who sat in court in orange jail attire and face mask and showed no visible reaction to his sentencing. I did want to testify and my fundamental choice was blocked. He is unlikely to be put to death anytime soon. California has not executed anyone since 2006 and Gov. Gavin Newsom has halted executions for as long as he is in office. But courts have been proceeding on the assumption that executions may one day resume. Gargiulo is now expected to be extradited to Illinois for the 1993 killing of Tricia Pacaccio in his Illinois hometown. Prosecutors in his California trial were allowed to present extensive evidence from that case as they sought to establish a pattern and present Gargiulo as a serial killer. Stay in the area. Move away. Volunteer around the community. Find a cause to dedicate your time to. Travel the world. Take a breath and relax. Yell at the kids to "stay off my lawn!" Other. Vote View Results Owosso, MI (48867) Today Sunny to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 85F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 58F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. ONTARIO Ontario Police Chief Steven Romero says there are still no leads that ha Betsy Z. Russell is the Boise bureau chief and state capitol reporter for the Idaho Press and Adams Publishing Group. Follow her on Twitter at @BetsyZRussell. The price of each dose of Covishield amounts to Rs 215.25 and Covaxin Rs 225.75, including taxes Domestic vaccine manufacturers are given the option to provide 25 per cent of their monthly production of vaccines to private hospitals. (Representational Photo: AFP) New Delhi: The Centre has placed an order to procure 66 crore more doses of Covishield and Covaxin to be supplied between August and December this year, at a revised price of Rs 205 and Rs 215 per dose, respectively, excluding taxes, official sources said. They said 37.5 crore of Covishield doses from the Serum Institute of India and 28.5 crore Covaxin doses from Bharat Biotech will be procured by December. "An order to procure 66 crore more doses of COVID-19 vaccines--Covishield and Covaxin--to be supplied between August and December, at a revised price of Rs 205 and Rs 215 per dose, respectively, excluding taxes, has been placed," the source said. The price of each dose of Covishield amounts to Rs 215.25 and Covaxin Rs 225.75, including taxes, it said. The Union health ministry which was procuring both the vaccines at Rs 150 per dose, had indicated that the prices would be revised after the new COVID-19 vaccine procurement policy came into effect from June 21. Under the new policy, the ministry will procure 75 per cent of the vaccines being produced by the drug manufacturers in the country. While the Centre has asked both the vaccine manufacturing firms to scale up their production, the manufacturers had indicated that getting Rs 150 for each dose while making investments to ramp up the production was not viable for them, sources said. The Union government had earlier allowed states and private hospitals to procure 50 per cent of the vaccines following demands for decentralisation of the process. However, after several states complained of problems including of funding, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the revision of the vaccine guidelines on June 8. Domestic vaccine manufacturers are given the option to provide 25 per cent of their monthly production of vaccines to private hospitals. According to the revised guidelines which came into effect from June 21, vaccine doses provided free of cost by the Centre will be allocated to states/UTs based on criteria such as population, disease burden and the progress of vaccination, and all above the age of 18 will be eligible for the free jabs. Any wastage of vaccine will affect the allocation negatively. The states and UTs would aggregate the demand of private hospitals keeping in view equitable distribution between large and small private hospitals and regional balance. "Based on this aggregated demand, the Government of India will facilitate the supply of these vaccines to the private hospitals and their payment through the National Health Authority's electronic platform. This would enable the smaller and remoter private hospitals to obtain a timely supply of vaccines, and further equitable access and regional balance," the ministry had said. The price of vaccine doses for private hospitals would be declared by each vaccine manufacturer, and any subsequent changes would be notified in advance, it said. More than 41.69 crore vaccine doses have been provided to states and UTs so far, through all sources, the health ministry said on Saturday. A pickup truck turns into the Sinclair gas station on East 1st Street in Parachute in this photo from August 2020. Referencing a tech grant that will aid economic recovery efforts throughout the state, City Manager Sara Ott said Tuesday, From the city of Aspen to Parachute, we have been working cooperatively through our jurisdictions and nonprofit partners to work on a regional strategy to address common issues. You are the owner of this article. Athens, TX (75751) Today Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 85F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear skies. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable. I honestly think there isn't a single human being on the planet that hasn't broken a traffic rule at least once. Like doing 35 mph (56 kph) in a 25 mph (40 kph) area. Or not coming to a full stop where you're required to. And there's a long list of rules that people tend to break when they're driving. Of course, we should all be responsible for our actions, and we should always obey the law. And most importantly, we should never channel our inner-hoonigan outside of the racetrack But we tend to forget these things when we're behind the wheel. We get caught up in the moment, and if you're a petrolhead it's even worse. Because if you're driving a piece of American muscle or anything else with RWD , you might be tempted to go sideways at least for a bit. And this was exactly what happened to a young, 18-years old Jamal Edwards, from LaPlace, Louisiana.As he's driving along in his 1999 Chevrolet Camaro, he arrives at an intersection and puts on his hazard lights. After the coast is clear, and no other cars can get in the way, he starts throwing the car around in a controlled manner, at a very low speed. Moments later, as another vehicle approaches, he decided to move on and clear the intersection. But someone made a phone call to the police department, and shortly after he was arrested and charged with reckless operation of a vehicle.According to the St John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office website, the fine was under $1,000. But still, there has been a huge response from the local community, with people noting that there other, more pressing issues than someone doing donuts on the street. A Maine resident noted that: "Arresting kids for doing donuts in the street when he had control of the car and waited for the road to be clear, but legalizing hard-core drugs..."Others jokingly mentioned that the driver's actions weren't so reckless, as his hazard lights were on. Of course, some were upset about the poor quality of the roads, pointing out that these problems go unnoticed by the authorities. More and more people chimed in to defend the young driver, even though some had an ironical approach, mentioning that it was probably a V6 Camaro , and it needed the wet pavement to be able to go sideways.This is the kind of situation where you'd better get some popcorn and read through all of the comments. While some users were happy that surveillance cameras weren't a thing back in the '80s, when they were doing the same kind of stunts, others were shocked at the idea that the police officers aren't fans of donuts . Either way, we hope the driver will take it to the track next time, and that in the future, people will be more lenient towards situations like this. EV kWh After all, the latter are the masters and creators of spectacular replicas and continuation series of the legendary Shelby Daytona Coupe , Chevy Corvette Grand Sport, or the Ford GT40, just to name a few. On the other hand, the folks over at Everrati are decidedly focused on the European side of the market, with previous models already in the portfolio including the remasteredversions of the Type 964 Porsche 911, Land Rover Series IIA, and Mercedes-Benz SL Pagoda.Now the two companies, Superformance and Everrati, have decided to bridge the ocean-wide gap and work on something that appeals to classic car lovers on both sides of the Atlantic. Naturally, their first new model stemming from this recently minted partnership will be the high-performance electrified variant of the iconic GT40 racer. The GT40 EV will be future-proofed for classic car enthusiasts, and it wont be long until the development concludes.For now, Superformance and Everrati only have a prototype chassis thats being adapted from the traditional ICE powertrain to electric propulsion at the latters development center in Upper Heyford, UK which is a former U.S. Air Force base located in the English Cotswolds. Unfortunately, no specific technical details have been advanced so far, except for the mention that meticulous attention to detail is being applied to key factors such as battery location and weight distribution to maintain and enhance the character and soul of the original.If the recent widebody Porsche 911 (964) Signature is any hint, were looking at no less than 500 horsepower and a 53-battery pack. The Porsche also has 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of instant torque at its disposal, so the classic 911 with a modern twist is capable of sprinting to 60 mph (96 kph) in under 4 seconds. DOHC July is autoevolutions Italian Month , and were celebrating with the finest the country has had to offer in terms of automotive design and performance, two-wheelers of all shapes and sizes, superyachts, you name it. The Cizeta is up there in Italys Hall of Fame (*not a real thing), the most unique, insane and beautiful dream ever dreamed by independent parties, who funneled their own money into the project.Ironically, the first ever Cizeta prototype and the only car to wear the original Cizeta-Moroder badge emerged briefly on the market earlier this week. RM Sothebys listed it as for sale by the original owner (that would be none other than famed music producer and co-founder Giorgio Moroder, aka the Father of Disco), as part of the RM Sothebys 2021 Pebble Beach lot. The listing is no longer live, but a cached version of it is available here As you can see, no pricing is offered for the prototype, which is now fully functional and road-legal after undergoing extensive restoration in 2018 at Canepa Design. But one can only imagine it would not have been for the faint of heart, either way.To this day, Cizeta remains one of the rarest, most elusive and impressive supercars ever built. With its Lamborghini-inspired sharp edges (typical of those times), its true V16 engine, impressive specs, and the fact that only 10 of these cars were made on Italian soil, including the prototype mentioned above, they surface on the collector market only very rarely. When they do , they usually change hands for incredible amounts.If only for this, the Cizeta was a success for Zampollini. He and Moroder started the company with help from designer Marcello Gandini, whose previous credits include the Lamborghini Countach, the Lancia Stratos and several Maserati. The engine was also Lamborghini-inspired: the layout was from the Miura , while actual parts were sourced from the Urraco 90flat-plane V8.The resulting V16, mounted transversely (hence the T in the name of the car) in the central rear position, produced 540 hp and took the Cizeta from 0 to 60 mph (97 kph) in under 4 seconds, and to a top speed of 204 mph (328 kph). The prototype was introduced in 1989 at the Los Angeles and Geneva Motor Shows, with the first production cars being produced between 1991 and 1995. Well, technically, you can still order a Cizeta through the Cizeta USA website, but reports online note that not a single unit has been made since 2003.As promised, the interior was just as outstanding as the exterior and the performance. It was all decked in real leather, with standard AC and high-end audio. The prototype, for instance, came in pearl white exterior over a cherry red interior a most striking combination that hasnt gone out of style, or become less striking, even after all these years. The Cizeta rolled on the widest Pirelli available at the time (245/40 front and 334/35 rear) and had Brembo brakes and was, in short, striking to look at and impressive when driven.Shortly after the prototype was unveiled, Zampollini and Moroder had a falling out, which ended their joint venture. Zampollini got to keep the company (Cizeta is named after his initials, C-Ci and Z-Zeta), and Moroder got to keep the prototype that bore his name. Zampollinis initial goal was a bold one, that of producing one car per month, at a starting price of $650,000 per unit. In the end, only 10 vehicles were assembled in Modena, Italy, including Moroders example, and two more units in the U.S., after Zampollini relocated to Los Angeles. Purists tend to disregard those two in the final tally of Cizetas.A total of 10 vehicles seems unimpressive, but for Zampollini, it represented his dream come true: he wanted to build his own supercar and he wanted it to stand out. The Cizeta V16T is all these things: it represents the car Zampollini wanted to build and, thanks to its unique, dramatic style, it definitely stands out.If Italian automotive quality means a very unique blend of style, performance and a definite dose of outrageousness , the Cizeta is definitely it. As it turns out, even for the most passionate and richest collectors, the Cizeta or, at the very least, the Cizeta-Moroder prototype remains an elusive unicorn. Burkina Faso, Djibouti and Ethiopia are set to receive around 1 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine in the coming days as part of the United States' global donation of roughly 80 million vaccines, the Gavi vaccine alliance said on Friday. Why it matters: 49 African countries in total will have access to approximately 25 million doses donated by the U.S., which should help the African Union achieve its goal of vaccinating at least 60% of the African population. The doses will be delivered through COVAX, the WHO-backed vaccine distribution initiative. Yes, but: More than 1 billion people live in African countries, so the U.S.-donated doses are a tiny portion of the total shots needed to vaccinate a large portion of the continent. Go deeper: White House sends vaccines to Laos, Fiji and Costa Rica Microsoft this week unveiled a new goal: powering all its global data centers and offices with zero-carbon energy around the clock by 2030. Why it matters: Data centers suck up lots of power, and the company, in a new blog post, acknowledges the limits of its current efforts. How it works: Top officials note that they're already a major corporate supporter of renewable power. The company says it has purchased enough renewables to match the consumption of its operations since 2014. But that's not the same as running off of clean power on a 24/7 basis, because the company operates on grids supplied by coal and gas. What's new: The target for 2030 is that "we will match our purchasing of zero carbon energy with our consumption on an hourly basis," write chief environmental officer Lucas Joppa and Noelle Walsh, the corporate VP for cloud operations and innovation. "And we will do so on the same grid systems into which we are already connected," they write in the post. Catch up fast: It's similar to an effort underway at Google in recent years to run its data centers on clean power 24/7. Go deeper: Microsoft is changing the way it buys renewable energy (The Verge) In written comments to VOAs Armenian Service, the State Department reaffirmed U.S. support for the Minsk Group Co-Chairs process. It said Washington remains committed to helping Armenia and Azerbaijan achieve a lasting settlement to the conflict based on the principles of territorial integrity of states, peoples right to self-determination, and non-use of force. The three principles have been at the heart of peace proposals jointly made by the U.S., Russian and French mediators since 2007. The Karabakh conflict was on the agenda of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinkens talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian held in Washington on Tuesday. Le Drian said they discussed our joint action as co-chairs of the Minsk Group to help achieve lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Blinken also discussed the conflict with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian in a phone call on Tuesday. The Secretary highlighted U.S. support for the Minsk Group Co-Chairs process aimed at a lasting political settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said a State Department spokesman. He encouraged Armenia to engage constructively at the OSCE. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev again insisted on Wednesday that Baku unilaterally resolved the Karabakh dispute with its victory in the six-week war stopped by a Russian-brokered ceasefire last November. He said claims to the contrary are wrong and risky. Pashinian dismissed Aliyevs claims on Thursday, pointing to a joint statement issued in April by the U.S., Russian and French diplomats co-heading the Minsk Group. The statement urged Baku and Yerevan to resume high-level negotiations on a comprehensive and sustainable settlement. It said the mediators reiterate their proposal to organize direct bilateral consultations under their auspices. Armenia is prepared for the resumption of negotiations but there has been no reaction from Azerbaijan, Pashinian said after talks with visiting European Council President Charles Michel. And according to information obtained from unofficial sources, Azerbaijan is intent on provoking new military clashes in Karabakh and along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. We are now seeing manifestations of that at a Nakhichevan section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, he told a joint news conference with Michel. Pashinian referred to recent days shootouts between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces deployed near an Armenian village bordering Azerbaijans Nakhichevan exclave. One Armenian soldier was killed there on Wednesday. The Armenian military said Azerbaijani troops again opened fire on Friday at its border posts in the area about 70 kilometers south of Yerevan. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has blamed the Armenian side for the skirmishes which have also left at least one Azerbaijani soldier wounded. The skirmishes came amid a continuing military standoff along other sections of the frontier where Azerbaijani troops reportedly advanced several kilometers into Armenian territory in May. The situation in the conflict zone was a major theme of Pashinians talks with Michel, the European Unions top official who arrived in Yerevan on the first leg of his tour of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Michel, who is scheduled to meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Sunday, called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to pull back their troops from contested sections of their border and embark on its demarcation. He also urged the two warring nations to avoid inflammatory rhetoric, explore possible cooperation projects and restart talks on resolving the Karabakh conflict. Aliyev again claimed on Wednesday that Baku unilaterally ended the dispute with its victory in the six-week war stopped by a Russian-brokered ceasefire last November. Pashinian dismissed the claim. The Armenian premier on Saturday reaffirmed his support for the idea of troop disengagement also backed by the United States. Visiting Yerevan, Michel said the unprecedented financial package is designed to help the Armenian government continue democratic reforms and improve the socioeconomic situation in the country. The hefty sum is part of an economic and investment plan drafted by the European Commission for six ex-Soviet republics covered by the EUs Eastern Partnership program. The EUs executive body said earlier this month that it has asked the blocs 27 member states to approve the plan, potentially worth 17 billion euros in public and private investments, at an Eastern Partnership summit slated for December. The commission is specifically seeking 1.6 billion euros ($1.9 billion) in EU grants, loans and loan guarantees for five flagship initiatives drawn up by it for Armenia. That includes up to 500 million euros in funding for some 30,000 small and medium-sized enterprises and 600 million euros worth of capital investments in the countrys transport infrastructure. EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi announced in Yerevan on July 9 that the EU will also raise an additional 1 billion euros for Armenia together with our international partners. Michel, who heads the EUs top decision-making body, said the projects to be financed by the grants and loans reflect the Armenian governments socioeconomic priorities. I do not underestimate the huge work that will be needed in order to implement and make this huge financial package very concrete and very visible for the [small and medium-sized enterprises] and for the people, he told reporters after holding talks with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian. Pashinian again hailed the promised EU funding, saying that it will give a very serious impetus to Armenias economic development. Michel arrived in Yerevan on Friday evening on the first leg of his tour of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. He said he is visiting the three ex-Soviet states to underscore the EUs commitment to this region. We want to reinforce links between the countries of this region and the European Union, added the former Belgian prime minister. The court upheld the vote results in response to separate appeals lodged by opposition alliances led by former Presidents Robert Kocharian and Serzh Sarkisian and two smaller groups that failed to win any seats in the Armenian parliament. The four opposition forces alleged serious irregularities which seriously affected the election outcome. In particular, they accused Pashinian of abusing his government levers, bullying opposition activists and resorting to hate speech during the election campaign and forcing military and security personnel to vote for his ruling Civil Contract party. Opposition representatives presented what they called evidence of the alleged violations during court hearings on the appeals that began on July 9 and lasted for six days. The Constitutional Court also questioned representatives of the Central Election Commission, the Armenian government and Pashinians Civil Contract party. They all dismissed the opposition allegations as baseless. Pashinian and his political allies maintain that the snap elections were free and fair, pointing to their largely positive assessment by European election observers. The latter concluded in a preliminary report that the vote was competitive and generally very well-managed. The courts refusal to cancel the vote results was announced by its chairman, Arman Dilanian. He said the ruling will be fully publicized in due course. It was not immediately clear whether all of the courts nine judges agreed with the decision. Five of them, including Dilanian, took the bench after the 2018 velvet revolution that brought Pashinian to power. Representatives of Kocharians Hayastan alliance and Sarkisians Pativ Unem bloc said they expected such a ruling. They claimed that it was handed down under strong government pressure. According to the CEC, Pashinians party won 53.9 percent of the vote, followed by Hayastan that got just over 21 percent. Pativ Unem came in a distant third with 5.2 percent. None of the 22 other parties and blocs that participated in the polls did well enough to be represented in the new National Assembly. Citing a complex legal formula, the CEC has given 71 parliament seats to Civil Contract, compared with 29 and 7 seats to be held by Hayastan and Pativ Unem respectively. The two opposition forces challenged not only the official results but also the distribution of the 107 parliament seats, saying that it unfairly benefits the ruling party. PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -- Arizona's Department of Health Services reported 1,251 new COVID cases Friday, with 17 new deaths. It was the third day in a row of more than 1,000 cases across the state, and that's stirring up debate about whether Arizona should follow Los Angeles County, which is bringing back mandatory indoor facemasks, whether someone has been vaccinated or not. Arizona sees over 1,000 new COVID-19 cases for third day in a row The number of hospitalizations because of the virus have also been inching upward for the past week. As of Thursday, 719 people were hospitalized statewide. Of those, 185 were in ICUs. Dr. Joe Gerald is an associate professor of Public Health Policy with the University of Arizona. He said that with so many Arizonans still unvaccinated and the Delta variant speeding up the spread, masks need to be mandatory again. "The evidence is clear that face masks slow transmission," said Gerald. "Not only should we consider it, we should do it. I think the signal is clear right now, we are looking towards another outbreak, and action today is warranted." But the chances of masks being mandatory in Arizona again appear slim. Governor Doug Ducey has an Executive Order in place that prohibits all cities, towns, and municipalities from issuing a mask mandate. "We are not going to require people to wear a mask," said Ducey spokesperson CJ Karamargin. "We want people to exercise personal responsibility, and we want people to get vaccinated." Will Humble with the Arizona Public Health Association said the priority now is getting more Arizonans vaccinated, so they don't need masks. He doesn't believe a mask mandate in Arizona would do much good. "The same people that wanted to get vaccinated were the same people that were wearing masks in public when there were mask mandates," said Humble. "The people that have chosen not to get vaccinated are, by and large, the same people that would say, I'm not complying with that mask mandate anyway." 37 inmates have been executed in Arizona and they have all been offered a final meal. The last execution in Arizona happened in 2014 and there are currently over 100 inmates on death row. Click here to learn more about the inmates who have been executed. Close Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today Plentiful sunshine. High near 105F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A clear sky. Low near 75F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Bluefield, WV (24701) Today Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High near 80F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Bluefield, WV (24701) Today Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High around 80F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. NOTE: This is an excerpt from "I Alone Can Fix It: Donald J. Trump's Catastrophic Final Year." - - - Finally, Election Day had arrived. The morning of Nov. 3, 2020, President Trump was upbeat. The mood in the West Wing was good. Some aides talked giddily of a landslide. Several women who worked in the White House arrived wearing red sweaters in a show of optimism, while some Secret Service agents on the president's detail sported red ties for the occasion. Trump's voice was hoarse from his mad dash of rallies, but he thought his exhausting final sprint had sealed the deal. He considered Joe Biden to be a lot of things, but a winner most definitely was not one of them. "I can't lose to this f------ guy," Trump told aides. Around noon, his detail whisked Trump across the Potomac River to visit his campaign headquarters in Arlington, where campaign manager Bill Stepien and the senior leadership briefed Trump in the conference room. Stepien outlined what to expect that night - when polls closed in each battleground state, how quickly votes should be tallied and which states would probably have the first projected winners. He explained that because of the huge number of mail-in ballots in many states, it might take long into the night for votes to be counted. Patience was in order. Stepien explained to Trump that in many battleground states, the first votes to be recorded were expected to be in-person Election Day votes, which could lean Trump, while mail-in votes, which were likely to heavily favor Biden, would be added to the tally later as those ballots were processed. This meant that the early vote totals could well show Trump ahead by solid margins. "It's going to be good early," Stepien told the boss. But, as he cautioned the president, those numbers would be incomplete and the margins probably would tighten later in the evening. Courtesy of Penguin Press Trump then stepped out of the conference room and into the big open floor of cubicles to give a brief pep talk to scores of assembled staffers, who greeted him with raucous applause. A pool of journalists stood nearby to cover his remarks, and a reporter asked whether he had prepared an acceptance speech or a concession speech to deliver that evening. "No, I'm not thinking about concession speech or acceptance speech yet," Trump said. "Hopefully, we'll be only doing one of those two. And, you know, winning is easy. Losing is never easy. Not for me it's not." As Trump thought about winning or losing, the Pentagon brass was focused on keeping the peace. That morning, Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper; Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and other defense officials were briefed about security concerns around the nation. If Trump won, officials expected large crowds of protesters to assemble in Washington, perhaps as many as 10,000 or 15,000 people. Law enforcement officials were monitoring cities, including Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, Norfolk, Philadelphia and San Diego, for likely protests. Meanwhile, White House cooks and ushers were busy preparing to receive hundreds of guests for an election night viewing party. Trump's original plan had been to stage his "victory" party at the Trump International Hotel a few blocks away on Pennsylvania Avenue. But that plan had been scotched a few days earlier, as the president's wishes for a celebration at his luxury hotel ran headlong into the District's public health regulations for the coronavirus. No more than 50 people could gather at an indoor venue in the city. Trump's campaign and his White House political team had nearly 400 people they wanted to invite for election night, so they moved the party to the White House, which is on federal property and therefore not subject to local ordinances. The choice of location broke with a solemn tradition of never using the White House for overt political purposes, a norm Trump had already tossed aside in August by delivering his Republican National Convention acceptance speech from the South Lawn. Trump also used the White House to house his political operation, setting up two "war rooms" with computers, large-screen televisions and other equipment where campaign staffers would monitor election returns. The larger of the two war rooms was in government office space in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which is next to the West Wing and part of the White House campus, where roughly 60 staffers would have work stations from which to receive up-to-the-minute information from battleground states and track precinct data. The smaller war room was in the Map Room, on the ground level of the White House residence. Steeped in history, the Map Room took its name from World War II, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt turned it into a situation room with maps to track troop movements and to receive classified information on the war's progress. Trump's most senior aides planned to work through the night in the Map Room, now transformed into the campaign's command center, where Stepien and his top deputies could analyze data and stay close to the president to brief him in person as needed. This and other episodes recounted in this book are based on hundreds of hours of interviews with more than 140 people, including the most senior Trump administration officials, friends and outside advisers to the 45th president. Most of the people interviewed agreed to speak candidly only on the condition of anonymity. Scenes were reconstructed based on firsthand accounts and, whenever possible, corroborated by multiple sources and buttressed by a review of calendars, diary entries, internal memos and other correspondence among principals. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had been working toward this night for four years. For her, election night in 2016 had been a nightmare, and she was determined not to allow a repeat in 2020. "That night was like getting kicked in the back by a mule over and over again," she said in an interview. The California Democrat recalled thinking that night about Trump's surprise victory: "It can't be true. It can't be happening to our country." Pelosi added: "You understand that this is not a person of sound mind. You understand that. You know that. He's not of sound mind . . . When he first got elected, I was devastated because I thought Hillary Clinton was one of the best prepared people to be president - better than her husband, better than [Barack] Obama, better than George W. Bush. Maybe not better than George Herbert Walker Bush, because he had been a vice president. I don't think any of the people I just mentioned would deny that she was better qualified, experienced, all the rest of it. So, the idea that he would get elected was shocking. It was shocking." Mitt Romney had been less shocked by Trump's election - he had watched firsthand as the Republican Party was radicalized by the far right - but was just as determined to prevent a second Trump term. The senator from Utah said in an interview that he watched the election returns in California with his wife, Ann, son Craig and other family members, and felt a pit in his stomach. The early numbers looked surprisingly good for Trump. Biden was struggling in the quadrennial bellwether of Florida, even in Democrat-rich Miami-Dade County. "I think he's going to win," Romney recalled telling his family. "Those polls were way off. I think he's going to pull it out." At the White House, people liked what they were seeing. There was a party atmosphere. Staff hung out in West Wing offices chatting at least until 9 p.m. National Security Council officials celebrated in the Roosevelt Room. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows served beer and food in his corner office. Another group of aides lingered outside White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany's office, known as Upper Press. In the residence, scores of guests - Cabinet secretaries, members of Congress, television stars and other dignitaries - were drinking and milling around, mostly without masks save for Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, who kept his on. After a few too many swigs of wine and beer, some guests became rather animated as the night progressed. Upstairs in the first family's private quarters, Trump was glued to the television. He alternated between watching from his bedroom alone and from a family room with Melania, other family members and some of his most trusted aides, including Hope Hicks. Senior advisers including Stepien, Meadows, McEnany, Jason Miller, Stephen Miller and Ronna McDaniel were in the Map Room. Members of the president's family - Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Eric Trump and his wife, Lara, who worked on the campaign - came in and out much of the night, as did a pair of special party guests, Fox News stars Laura Ingraham and Jeanine Pirro. They all turned to Matt Oczkowski for updates, sometimes as often as every few minutes. As the campaign's top data cruncher, Oczkowski sat in front of a computer and performed real-time analysis of precinct data to stay ahead of state calls and to spot any trouble on the horizon. He liked what he saw early on. Florida offered the first good indicators. Trump was overperforming with Blacks and Latinos, especially among Cuban Americans in South Florida. Miami-Dade was going gangbusters for Trump. And turnout among the president's base of rural Whites was high. Meadows, meanwhile, paid close attention to precinct returns out of North Carolina, which he had represented in Congress, and he felt confident about Trump's chances there. And early returns out of Pennsylvania were encouraging. At this point in the evening, Stepien tried to temper Trump's optimism and keep the president's mind from racing too far ahead of reality. "Stay calm," the campaign manager told him. "We won't know for some period of time." One Trump confidant who mostly stayed out of the Map Room was Rudolph W. Giuliani. That's because the president's personal attorney had set up his own command center upstairs on the party floor. Giuliani sat at a table in the Red Room with his son, Andrew, who worked at the White House in the Office of Public Liaison, staring intensely at a laptop watching vote tallies. The Giulianis made for an odd scene, as partygoers swirled around them. After a while, Rudy Giuliani started to cause a commotion. He was telling other guests that he had come up with a strategy for Trump and was trying to get into the president's private quarters to tell him about it. Some people thought Giuliani may have been drinking too much and suggested to Stepien that he go talk to the former New York mayor. Stepien, Meadows and Jason Miller took Giuliani down to a room just off the Map Room to hear him out. Giuliani went state by state asking Stepien, Meadows and Miller what they were seeing and what their plan was. "What's happening in Michigan?" he asked. They said it was too early to tell, votes were still being counted and they couldn't say. "Just say we won," Giuliani told them. Same thing in Pennsylvania. "Just say we won Pennsylvania," Giuliani said. Giuliani's grand plan was to just say Trump won, state after state, based on nothing. Stepien, Miller and Meadows thought his argument was both incoherent and irresponsible. "We can't do that," Meadows said, raising his voice. "We can't." Some competitive races were falling into place for Republicans. In South Carolina, Sen. Lindsey O. Graham faced a tough challenge from Democrat Jaime Harrison, an impressive candidate who had garnered national attention and raised a record-shattering $109 million. But South Carolina, long a bastion of Republicanism, stayed true to form. The race was called early, with Graham winning 54% to Harrison's 44%. Trump was watching TV as news networks projected Graham's victory, and within minutes he called his friend. "You got yours," Trump told Graham. "I've got a fight on my hands." "Well, Mr. President, hang in there," Graham said. "It's looking pretty good for you." As the night wore on, some of Trump's advisers began to worry. Public polls, as well as the Trump campaign's internal surveys, had long projected that the race was Biden's to lose, and that prediction was bearing out as more precincts reported votes from battleground states. Alyssa Farah, the White House communications director, stepped away from the party in the East Room and saw McDaniel pacing in the hallway. "Ronna, good to see you!" Farah said to the Republican National Committee chairwoman. "Hey, good to see you," McDaniel said. Then, as she turned away, McDaniel said, "Things are not looking good." William P. Barr had the same feeling. The attorney general had shown up for Trump's election night party, even though he had thought for months that Trump was destined to become a one-term president. Trump didn't seem able to get out of his own way and deliver a disciplined message. Barr hung around the party for a bit, but a little after 10 p.m. decided to call it a night. He went home to get some sleep. The Pentagon's top two leaders stayed away from Trump's party, still hypervigilant about avoiding any suggestion that they were politicizing the military. Esper and Milley had learned that lesson back on June 1 in Lafayette Square. Milley watched the returns on TV from his home at Fort Myer in Arlington. A history buff, Milley memorialized the night by keeping his own scorecard of states in his journal. Around 10:30 p.m., with results from most key states still far too close to call, Milley received an interesting call from a retired military buddy who reminded him of his apolitical role as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "You are an island unto yourself right now," the friend said, according to the account Milley shared with aides. "You are not tethered. Your loyalty is to the Constitution. You represent the stability of this republic." Milley's friend added: "There's fourth-rate people at the Pentagon. And you have fifth-rate people at the White House. You're surrounded by total incompetence. Hang in there. Hang tough." Esper was at home in Northern Virginia feeling at peace that he had survived this long without getting fired and without having acquiesced to Trump's wishes to order troops to break up domestic protests. The defense secretary had had a target on his back all fall, but Trump had not axed him. Esper had a scare the night before, Nov. 2, when NBC's Courtney Kube planned to report that he was preparing to be fired the day after the election, had updated his resignation letter and was quietly advising members of Congress about renaming Army bases named for Confederate generals as a sort of mic drop to fortify his legacy. Esper believed that if NBC published the story, it would signal that he was on the verge of resigning and prompt his premature firing - so he raced to stop it. He directed his aides to try to convince Kube that her information could be overhyped. It was true that Esper had been consulting with Congressional committees about renaming the bases. It also was true that he had prepared a resignation letter, as many Trump appointees had, but he had no imminent plans to submit it. In truth, Esper expected that Trump would fire him after the election, but was hoping to hold on if he could, at least for a few days after the election. He was worried about what Trump might try to do with the military if he were not at the helm. Esper warned Kube that publishing her story could result in a more compliant acting secretary of defense, which could have worrisome repercussions. The story was held as they tussled back and forth. Esper was a lifelong Republican and had worked at the conservative Heritage Foundation as well as for Republican senators Bill Frist and Chuck Hagel. But he told his closest colleagues that as he watched TV news anchors cover the election results, he found himself rooting for the Democrat. Esper had worked with Biden and his secretary of state in waiting, Antony Blinken, when he was a senior staffer on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He had confidence that they were serious, stable people who cared deeply about shoring up national security. Esper couldn't say the same about Trump. In fact, Trump had privately indicated that he would seek to withdraw from NATO and to blow up the U.S. alliance with South Korea, should he win reelection. When those alliances had come up in meetings with Esper and other top aides, some advisers warned Trump that shredding them before the election would be politically dangerous. "Yeah, the second term," Trump had said. "We'll do it in the second term." Esper had known that Trump had wanted to fire him ever since their June 3 argument over the Insurrection Act, but had heard that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, campaign officials and other advisers had talked the president out of doing so before the election. They had argued that he couldn't afford to rupture his relationship with a second defense secretary, not after Jim Mattis's rocky departure and the sharp public criticism he later leveled at Trump. Esper had lived through the strain of the 2000 recounts and the Bush v. Gore case. He had repeatedly told his deputies that he wanted this election to be "clean and clear," as in free of any suggestion of corruption and indisputably clear who had won. He had feared that anything less might give Trump some shred of a reason to call out troops. Later in the evening, as returns posted in Biden's favor, Esper told a friend, "It looks good." The defense secretary went to bed comforted by signs that the country would get a divided and stable government - a Democratic president and, he hoped, a Republican Senate. At 11:20 p.m. on Fox News, Bill Hemmer was standing before his giant touch screen in the network's Studio F in New York, guiding viewers through electoral college scenarios when Arizona turned blue on his map. The sudden change in color caught Hemmer off guard. "What is this happening here? Why is Arizona blue? Did we just call it? Did we just make a call in Arizona? Let's see," he said. Co-anchor Martha MacCallum said that indeed Fox had called Arizona, a hotly contested battleground state with 11 electoral college votes. Co-anchor Bret Baier chimed in. "Time out," he said. "This is a big development. Fox News's decision desk is calling Arizona for Joe Biden." Baier added, "Biden picking up Arizona changes the math." Trump, who had been watching Fox, was livid. He could not fathom that the conservative news network he had long considered an extension of his campaign was the first news organization to call Arizona for Biden. This was a betrayal. His top advisers, who had been in the Map Room at the time, rushed upstairs to see the president. Giuliani followed them. "They're calling it way too early," Oczkowski told Trump. "This thing is close. We still think we'll win narrowly - and not just us. Doug Ducey's modeling people show us winning." Ducey, Arizona's Republican governor, and his political team had kept in close contact with Trump's aides. That hardly reassured the president. "What the f--- is Fox doing?" Trump screamed. Then he barked orders to Kushner: "Call Rupert! Call James and Lachlan!" And to Jason Miller: "Get Sammon. Get Hemmer. They've got to reverse this." The president was referring to Fox owner Rupert Murdoch and his sons, James and Lachlan, as well as Bill Sammon, a top news executive at Fox. Trump's tirade continued. "What the f---?" he bellowed. "What the f--- are these guys doing? How could they call this this early?" Oczkowski again tried to soothe the president. "They're calling this way too early," he said. "This is unbelievable." Giuliani pushed the president to forget about the Arizona call and just say he won - to step into the East Room and deliver a victory speech. Never mind that Meadows had earlier snapped at Giuliani and said the president couldn't just declare himself the winner. "Just go declare victory right now," Giuliani told Trump. "You've got to go declare victory now." Giuliani's interjection of his "just-say-you-won" strategy infuriated Trump's campaign advisers. "It's hard to be the responsible parent when there's a cool uncle around taking the kid to the movies and driving him around in a Corvette," one of these advisers recalled. "When we say the president can't say that, being responsible is not the easiest place to be when you've got people telling the president what he wants to hear. It's hard to tell the president no. It's not an enviable place to be." Once they got away from the president, Kushner called Rupert Murdoch. Jason Miller tried Sammon but couldn't reach him. Other Trump aides pitched in, too. Counselor Kellyanne Conway reached out to Baier and MacCallum, who were on the air. Hicks, who had worked under Lachlan Murdoch at the Fox Corp. between her White House stints, reached out to Fox Corp. Senior Vice President Raj Shah, a former Trump spokesman, to track down a number for Jay Wallace, the president of Fox News. Conway talked to Brian Seitchik, a longtime Trump adviser based in Arizona, who assured her: "This is irresponsible. Here in Arizona, we just have way too many votes left to count." Ducey called the Trump team and was put on speakerphone. The governor told them that the Fox call was premature and that, according to his analysis, Trump still had a chance to win because so many votes remained to be counted. Typically, most news organizations call states around the same time because they tend to have similar standards for when it is safe to project winners and losers. But with Arizona, other major news organizations held back on joining Fox's call. In fact, Jason Miller received text messages from contacts at other networks. "I can't believe Fox is doing you guys dirty," one of them wrote. Trump and his family became apoplectic as the night ticked on and his early leads over Biden in Pennsylvania and other states kept shrinking. As additional votes were being counted, Biden inched closer to Trump. Pennsylvania was too close to call, as was Georgia. Trump decided to deliver remarks to his viewing party and came down into the Map Room, where he yelled at Justin Clark, the deputy campaign manager. "Why are they still counting votes?" Trump asked. "The election's closed. Are they counting ballots that came in afterward? What the hell is going on?" Trump, through a spokesman, denied saying this. The president told Conway that he thought something nefarious was at play. "They're stealing this from us," Trump said. "We have this thing won. I won in a landslide and they're taking it back." Of course, nobody was taking anything. Election officials were simply doing their duty, counting ballots. But Trump didn't see it that way. He seemed to truly believe he had been winning. As one Trump adviser later explained, "The psychological impact of, he's going to win, people were calling him saying he's going to win, and then somehow these votes just keep showing up." Eric Trump, who the night before had predicted to friends that his father would win with 322 electoral college votes, flipped out in the Map Room. "The election is being stolen," the president's 36-year-old son said. "Where are these votes coming from? How is this legit?" He yelled at the campaign's data analysts, as if it were their fault that his father's early leads over Biden were shrinking. ""We pay you to do this," he said. "How can this be happening? Eric Trump, through a spokesperson, insisted that he did not berate campaign staff, as described by witnesses. Donald Trump Jr. said, "There's no way we lose to this guy," referring to Biden. Shortly after 2 a.m. on Nov. 4, "Hail to the Chief" played at the East Room party. Out walked Trump, followed by Melania Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Karen Pence. Stephen Miller and the speechwriting team had prepared remarks for Trump to deliver, but the president veered from his teleprompter script to instead deliver stream-of-consciousness thoughts. "We were winning everything and all of a sudden it was just called off," Trump said. He added, "Literally, we were just all set to get outside and just celebrate something that was so beautiful, so good." Trump rattled off states he had won - Florida! Ohio! Texas! - and then claimed that he had already won states that were too close to call, including Georgia and North Carolina. He bragged about his leads in some states - "Think of this: We're up 690,000 votes in Pennsylvania. Six hundred ninety thousand!" - and falsely claimed to be winning Michigan and Wisconsin. Neither Trump nor Biden was declared the overall winner because Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania remained too close to call. Yet Trump insisted that he was the actual winner, and that his sweet victory had been somehow snatched from him. "This is a fraud on the American public," the president said. "This is an embarrassment to our country. We were getting ready to win this election. Frankly, we did win this election. We did win this election. So our goal now is to ensure the integrity for the good of this nation. This is a very big moment. This is a major fraud in our nation. We want the law to be used in a proper manner. So we'll be going to the U.S. Supreme Court. We want all voting to stop. We don't want them to find any ballots at four o'clock in the morning and add them to the list, okay? It's a very sad moment. To me, this is a very sad moment, and we will win this. And as far as I'm concerned, we already have won it." This was an extraordinary accusation for any political candidate to make about any election, much less for a sitting president to make about the country's most consequential election. Trump was telling the 74 million people who voted for him not to trust the results. Watching from California, Romney was heartsick. "We're in a global battle for the survival of liberal democracy in the face of autocracy and autocratic regimes attempting to dominate the world," he recalled in the interview. "So saying something and doing things that would suggest that in the free nation of the United States of America and the model of democracy for the world, that we can't have a free and fair election would have a destructive effect on democracy around the world, not just to mention here." Pelosi watched Trump's speech in horror. "It was just a complete, total manifestation [of] insanity," she recalled in the interview. "It was clear over that four-year period that this was not a person who was on the level - on the level intellectually, on the level mentally, on the level emotionally and certainly not on the level patriotically," she said. "So for him to say what he said, I wouldn't say was [as] surprising as it might have been if we hadn't seen the instability all along." Following his speech, Trump hung around the Green Room next door to the East Room talking to some advisers and VIP guests, asking them what they thought. Ingraham, whose prime-time show was off the air that night because of Fox's election coverage, was overheard giving the president some advice. She expressed general doubt that the outcome would change in the days ahead, given the historical reluctance of federal courts to intervene in elections, a contrast to what she considered unrealistic scenarios being painted by some others around the president. "Give up on Arizona," Ingraham told him, apparently confident in her network's decision to project Biden the winner there. Giving up wasn't in Trump's repertoire. "Fox shouldn't have called it," he told her. Karl Rove, the former George W. Bush strategist and Fox commentator, had just come off the air when he got a call from a Trump adviser. "He's in a meltdown," the adviser told Rove. "Can you call him and tell him that all is not lost?" Rove phoned the president and tried to give him a pep talk. "Hang in there," he told Trump. "There's a lot of ballots to be counted and it's not going to be done for some time. You fought a good fight . . . You're not out yet." Rove and Trump briefly discussed the state of the race in Arizona. "I know premature calls," he said, reminding the president of the fiasco on election night in 2000, when some networks projected Al Gore would win Florida only to have to retract their call a couple of hours later. "Hang in there. You gave it your all. You came down to the end. You upset them in 2016. You can do it again. Just hold on." Trump then retreated to the Map Room to talk to his campaign team. He stayed up until 4 a.m. chewing over the incoming results. The president was fixated on Pennsylvania, where Biden kept cutting into his lead. There were enough votes still to be counted in Philadelphia, which were sure to favor the Democrat, for Biden to overtake Trump. And indeed, Democrats were optimistic that once all the votes were in, Biden would win the state. Conway and Meadows both preached patience. "Mr. President, you're ahead in Pennsylvania by 700,000 votes," Conway told him. "We won Pennsylvania by 44,000 votes last time. Just let them count the votes. Let them get through the votes." Meadows said: "Just count the votes, Mr. President. You probably have enough to keep those leads." Trump wasn't having any of it. He thought Democrats were rigging the vote totals. "If I wake up in the morning and they say Trump is ahead by 100,000, they'll find 100,001 votes in the backyard," the president said. "Mr. President, it stings," Conway said. "It just hurts to have lost Pennsylvania." "Honey, we didn't lose Pennsylvania," Trump replied. "We won Pennsylvania." Conway, who often was quick with a rejoinder to lighten the mood at tense moments, invoked the security cameras that some homeowners install at their front doors to monitor for stolen packages or unwanted visitors. "Then your campaign should've invested in Ring and Nest cameras," she quipped. - - - Copyright 2021 by Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker. Reprinted with permission from Penguin Press. All rights reserved. Johnnie and Bill Grantham finally got the silver lining to the diamond jubilee 75th anniversary they celebrated last July. This year, they were reunited with family. Four generations of the Grantham family gathered on Friday at Calder Woods, after a years absence mid-pandemic, to celebrated the couples 76 years together. It was a fitting fete, given July is national family reunion month. While not all the family were able to attend, son Larry and his wife Susan Grantham, as well as their son Larry, Jr.; his wife Amanda; and their daughters Emma and Morgan, who live in California, attended the party. Its the first time Emma and Morgan have seen their great-grandparents in nearly two years. The family gathered in the cafe, where the usual Friday happy hour takes place, along with new friends that the Granthams have made since moving to Calder Woods two years ago. Champagne corks popped as guests arrived, many stopping to congratulate the couple before taking their seats and reading over a printed story of the couple that ran in the community newsletter last year on their 75th anniversary. It recounted the story of the couples first meeting. It was a double date but not with each other. Bill was with his girlfriend, Johnnie with her boyfriend. The date was marked by Bills old Model A convertible sliding into a ditch on a muddy road. Johnnie remembers refusing to get out into the mud to help push. But two days later, when Bill called Johnnie and asked her out on a date of their own, she said yes. Nearly a year later, they married. Johnnie was just shy of 18, and Bill, 19, had left Lamar University to enlist with the U.S. Army Air Corps near the end of WWII. I graduated high school in May and was married in July, So, I didnt wait long, Johnnie remembers. The wedding took place July 18, 1945, while Bill was home on a 3-day pass from his Biloxi, Mississippi. Shortly after, he was in Okinawa as a member of the 6th Emergency Rescue Squadron helping ships imperiled by typhoons just after the war with Japan ended. Upon his return, the couples life together grew. They got their first apartment through a housing allotment granted by the G.I. Bill, had their first child Larry in 1947, followed by a daughter, Cookie, 3 years later. From them came three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Bill worked at Sanitary Chemical Lavatories, investing in the business through the years. It later became Sanitary Supply -- a successful business, which son Larry now runs. They lived over 40 years in a home in Avenue of the Oaks, a neighborhood trestled with stately oaks spanning the roadway. It isnt far from their home now at Calder Woods, where the Granthams are enjoying the next phase of their life together and celebrating milestones like anniversaries and birthdays - Bill celebrated his 95th Wednesday - with new friends. While the gathering raised their glasses, staffer David Long asked the inevitable question - what is the key to a long marriage? Dont talk too much, joked Johnnie, to which Bill added, get over the little things, and dont let them grow. What will grow is their time together, setting new records as Calder Woods longest married couple. The best is yet to come, says Johnnie, pointing out a message written on a card from the community, adding with a smile, because youve got the best. kbrent@beaumontenterprise.com LEVELLAND, Texas (AP) Authorities captured the suspect late Thursday following an hourslong police standoff where one officer was killed and four others were wounded in a small West Texas city. Omar Soto-Chavira, 22, was injured when he was taken into custody around 11:30 p.m. at a home in Levelland, police Chief Albert Garcia told reporters. The suspect was being transported to a hospital in Lubbock for treatment, Garcia said. The extent of the suspect's injuries was not disclosed. Authorities used robots to enter the home, then deployed gas which drew Soto-Chivara out of the residence, Lubbock County Sheriff Kelly Rowe said at the briefing. The standoff between the suspect and law enforcement had begun at the home around 1 p.m. after someone reported a man as possibly armed along the residential street in Levelland, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) west of Lubbock. The confrontation escalated quickly, gunfire erupted as the suspect barricaded himself inside a house, and a standoff ensued. Three of the wounded officers were taken to a Lubbock hospital. Sgt. Josh Bartlett of the Lubbock County Sheriffs Office was taken to Covenant Health Levelland hospital and died of his wounds, according to a sheriffs office statement. Bartlett was the commander of the sheriffs tactical unit. Levelland police Sgt. Shawn Wilson was in critical but stable condition in University Medical Center in Lubbock after surgery, said Garcia. The other three officers were treated for minor injuries and had been discharged from the hospital, he said. Hockley County Sheriff Ray Scifres had said the suspect had a history of contact with police. He also said Bartlett, leader of the Lubbock County Sheriffs Offices SWAT command, was a nine-year veteran of the department who had served overseas in the U.S. Army. Josh was a true servant, Rowe said. He personified the true professional in law enforcement, especially here in Texas law enforcement. It was not immediately clear what prompted the man to open fire or to barricade himself in the house. However, the standoff capped a string of events that began at 11:17 a.m. Thursday as a state trooper was conducting a traffic stop, Garcia said. During that traffic contact, he had a separate individual that was driving recklessly, and as he reported to us, appeared to be trying to bait him into some type of confrontation, Garcia said. At 1:12 p.m. Thursday, Levelland police received a report that the complainant's neighbor was acting strange and was walking around with what appeared to be a large gun, Garcia said. Arriving officers determined the neighbor's pickup truck matched the description that the trooper provided of the vehicle with the apparently provocative driver at the wheel. Garcia said investigators believed the man was alone in the house. Concerned about the report that the man was armed, a police negotiator tried to open talks with the suspect, who was hostile and did not want a discussion, Garcia said. Moments later, the suspect opened the front door to the house and opened fire on the Levelland officers. We did return fire, but it did not appear that we struck the suspect at that time, the chief said. Backup was called from the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office tactical squad and the Hockley County Sheriff's Office. It wasn't long thereafter that we had additional shots fired, and we had officers that were injured, Garcia said. The hospital where the Lubbock County deputy died, Covenant Health Levelland, is situated less than a mile from the standoff scene and placed itself on lockdown to ensure the safety of our patients, caregivers, and visitors and has deployed additional security officers to the hospital. Media outlets at the scene reported gunfire was ongoing throughout the standoff, and nearby residents were urged to leave their homes. Some who declined to leave were advised to stay at the rear of their houses and stay low, Garcia said. Police, deputies and other emergency crews from throughout the region responded to the incident, along with the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Rangers, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and other federal agencies, Garcia said. The Rangers would lead the investigation after the standoff concluded. Levelland is the Hockley County seat and a local oil, cotton and cattle center that is home to about 13,500 residents. ___ This story has been corrected to attribute a quote to Lubbock County Sheriff Kelly Rowe, not Hockley County Sheriff Ray Scifres. The story was previously corrected to show that the deputy died at a Levelland hospital. A toddler was lifeflighted to a Houston hospital after being struck in a drive-by shooting Friday in Port Arthur. Just after 7:30 p.m., the Port Arthur Police Department received the report of a drive-by shooting in the 2100 block of Evergreen Drive. When officers arrived on scene they found that 1-year-old male toddler baby sustained a gunshot wound, Port Arthur PD stated in a release Friday night. The toddler was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment and later was lifeflighted to a hospital in Houston. Police said an investigation revealed that a four-door silver or gray car possibly is connected to the aggravated assault. Shortly after, around 8 p.m., the department got another call for deadly conduct in the 3100 block of 18th Street only about 3 miles or 10 minutes from the location of the first call. When officers arrived, they observed the residence was struck multiple times by gunfire, Port Arthur PD stated. The residence was occupied at the time of the incident, however; no one was injured. Both incidents are currently under investigation by the police departments Criminal Investigations Division. No further information was provided. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/megzmagpie The above editorial was published July 14 by the Miami Herald. Its views are its own. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Community News Editor / Librarian Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989. Business writer Tony Dobrowolski's main focus is on business reporting. He came to The Eagle in 1992 after previously working for newspapers in Connecticut and Montreal. He can be reached at tdobrowolski@berkshireeagle.com or 413-496-6224. Danny Jin, a Report for America corps member, is The Eagles Statehouse news reporter. He can be reached at djin@berkshireeagle.com, @djinreports on Twitter and 413-496-6221. Ezra Klein: It seems odd that we would just let the world burn PITTSFIELD Education is in the bedrock at the corner of Elm Street and Livingston Avenue. Its where Dawes Elementary School once stood (before it was razed in the early 1980s) and the very locale Jim Bronson chose for his burgeoning business. Since opening Your CBD Store last October, hes made educating consumers his passion especially when it comes to the benefits of cannabidiol products. First lesson of the day? CBD and THC, while derived from the same plant, are entirely different entities. CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in industrial hemp. Its use has been shown to combat a slew of symptoms from pain to inflammation and myriad menaces in between by imparting a feeling of relaxation and calm. Unlike its cousin THC, short for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (the major active ingredient in marijuana), CBD is not psychoactive. In fact, its been proven safe and effective for individuals 18 years of age and older. In a society thats grown increasingly dependent on popping pills for what ails you, CBD presents a refreshing alternative no prescription needed. We are a specialty CBD store, thats all we sell, and we are highly trained in what we are talking to guests and clients about, Bronson explains with an emphasis on sharing his deep knowledge. Namely, CBD products wont get you high. Heres the breakdown: full-spectrum products contain a trace amount of THC (less than 0.3%, minus the psychotropic effects) while broad-spectrum products are THC-free (thanks to an added extraction step). All of these products interact with our endocannabinoid system (which plays a role in regulating sleep, mood, appetite and memory, just to name a few) which can help bring an individual to stasis, explains Bronson. For individuals dealing with anxiety, pain, sleeplessness even depression CBD products can help to alleviate associated symptoms in a variety of ways. The best part? While CBD first gained popularity as a tincture (CBD suspended in medium-chain-triglyceride based coconut oil or other carrier agent), the options have exploded. A variety of delivery methods depending on your lifestyle and intended outcome range from award-winning topical creams to treat arthritis, to water-soluble pills and vegan edibles (no gelatin in sight!) Need help deciding? Bronson will weigh in, noting speed of delivery and desired length of effects being the primary differentiators. While tinctures and edibles take longer to kick in, their effects ultimately last longer than a water-soluble pill or vape pen. Not keen on ingesting anything? Topical creams and roll-ons pack an equally powerful punch. For most customers, curiosity leads the way. After learning hemp plants contain over 100 individual cannabinoids (and Your CBD Stores proprietary extraction method retains as many of these as possible for the most botanical benefits), its on to individualized attention. Bronson meets customers who are somewhat aware of the benefits of using CBD, to very aware or not aware at all. Were happy to help all levels of CBD users, says Bronson, who typically spends 15-20 minutes educating a new client. That said, we will always spend as much time as someone needs to ask questions and understand our products. Your CBD Store carries the full line of Sun Flora products, sourced from organic industrial hemp, grown in the United States, and produced in Florida. The company has a dedicated science department under the leadership of Dr. Anthony Ferrari, chief science officer who is responsible for each formulation (all of which are third party lab verified and labeled with QR codes for complete information at the consumers fingertips). This goes for every single product in the joint. Some are fairly typical, and others are rather extraordinary, says Bronson, pointing to a new product line that demonstrates the company going above and beyond quite literally. The ABOVE line, released in March, offers a cutting-edge new blend combining delta-8-THC with the robust cannabinoid profile of the full-spectrum extract to deliver a gentle body high. The BEYOND line, launched in mid-June, is unique to the CBD industry. These innovative products, the first of their kind on the market, use 400% more minor cannabinoids (plus an inverse extraction process) that allows users to achieve a heightened experience. Bronson also details a pair of smokeable options, CBG and CBD/CBG flower, available as pre-rolls for ease of use and convenience. Which is not to cause confusion: Even when smoking, youre not ingesting the get high stuff, youre ingesting the feel better stuff. Want to continue the learning curve? Your CBD Store has faithful companions covered, too. Think CBD-infused Pet Paw and Nose Balm, bacon-flavored tincture and peanut butter biscuits for pets who whether during a thunderstorm or while spending the dog days of summer home alone could use therapeutic support to combat stress, anxiety, and restlessness. Educated decision-making Yes, its true: CBD products seem to be available everywhere, from convenience store display cases to grocery store shelves. Its a phenomenon Bronson happily equates with gas station sushi: Just because they are selling it, does not mean hes buying it. Its really important when shopping in person and online to know what youre buying. The old adage, of getting what you pay for, is very much true with CBD, Bronson explains. Which is where patronizing a dedicated CBD shop pays off, even if it feels overwhelming. (Bronsons first visit to a dispensary, while in Colorado on a business trip, conjured feelings that his mother was watching, even though he was respectably dressed in a navy blue blazer at the time.) Somewhere along the way CBD got a bad rap, back in the day when it was grouped in with marijuana, Bronson acknowledges. Then comes the refresher course: Its the same plant, but not the same production. Visiting Your CBD Store is an entirely different process than entering a marijuana dispensary, medical or recreational. Say goodbye to long lines, pre-ordering, cash-only sales and needing an ID. At the Elm Street Plaza, just show up and walk in (assuming you are 18 years old). Its that easy. Credit cards are welcome, and one only pays sales tax (6.25% in Massachusetts as opposed to the whopping 20% at marijuana dispensaries). Need another reason to swing by Elm Street (that doesnt hinge on a nostalgic visit to the now defunct playground equipment)? Your CBD Store offers a terrific rewards program including $10 off your first purchase, points that accrue with subsequent purchases, plus some money off on your birthday. We do lots of things to keep our pricing competitive with what youd find online, but you have a much better product and someone to talk to, Bronson says. Plus, he runs continuous discounts for first responders, active and veteran military personnel, and educators. I always have a special discount each and every day for those people. Yes, teachers, including you. Visit cbdinnewengland.com or stop by at 180 Elm St., call 413-344-4022 or email pittsfield@cbdiinewengland.com. A Texas man says he waited over six hours at a polling center in Houston to vote in Super Tuesday last year, all for it to blow up in his face. According to CNN, 62-year-old Hervis Earl Rogers was arrested and charged this week with two counts of illegal voting. A June 24 indictment from the Texas attorney generals office alleges he voted in the 2020 March Democratic primary and 2018 November general and special elections despite being on felony parole for a 25-year sentence for burglary. Rogers could face up to 40 years in prison over the two felony illegal voting charges, which is a felony in Texas. In the southern state, ex-felons are permitted to vote after completing both their sentences and all the terms of their supervised release. The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, who is representing Rogers, told CNN that Rogers didnt know he was voting illegally. RELATED: Sweeping Legislation That Could Strengthen Voter Power Heads To The House "That's why he went and stood in line for almost seven hours and spoke to CNN about it. He felt he was doing the right thing," ACLU Texas legal director Andre Segura told the network. "Where's the evidence he knew or intended to vote illegally?" Additionally, Segura said Rogers believed he was no longer on parole as of a few months ago. "(Attorney General Ken Paxton) wants to create a narrative of widespread voter fraud. We don't think this is a case that should gotten to this point," he said. Rogers was reportedly arrested on Wednesday (July 11) and held at Montgomery County Jail. In a statement, The Bail Project said it had posted his $100,000 bail. In the same statement, Segura said it's "a relief that Mr. Rogers is no longer in jail." "He should not have been arrested and charged in the first place, and certainly should not have been forced to languish in jail on an outrageously high bail amount, he added, according to CNN. Call ahead to confirm events. Due to COVID-19, many events have been canceled but hosting organizations might not have updated their entries. Email Blast Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Daily News Headlines & Events Email Blast Would you like to receive a digest of each day's headlines & events from The Daily News by email? Signup today! The Amplifier Headlines & Events Email Blast Would you like to receive a weekly digest of headlines & events from The Amplifier by email? Signup today! Daily News Hosted Events The Daily News is a proud host of community enrichment events. Join our Daily News Events mailing list to learn about the next event we are planning. Sign up now. Manage your lists Spearfish, SD (57783) Today Some sun this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. High 96F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. Low 71F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Why Did God Create a Sabbath Day? From the very beginning, we see God laying the groundwork for what He would eventually put in place. In Genesis chapter 2, we see a foreshadowing of what was yet to come: Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made (Genesis 2:1-3). It must be made absolutely clear that the fact that God rested does not in any way imply that He was tired. It simply means that He ceased from His labor. You will also note that God blessed and sanctified this day, for that very reason. So when is the Sabbath day? The Sabbath day is Saturday. We read: Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it (Exodus 20:8-11). This fourth commandment was only the beginning of an entire system that the God was about to institute. That which would be called the Mosaic Law, which would number at least 613 laws, was put in place temporarily for the Jews. The intricate sacrificial system was meant to be only a stopgap measure until Christ, the perfect Lamb of God would come. The Jewish feasts in the Old Covenant, all looked forward to some aspect of the yet-to-be-revealed New Covenant. And while nearly every aspect of the Jewish feasts have now been fulfilled, and we are now no longer under Law, but under grace, the Sabbath remains intact because God set it apart. Photo credit: Getty Images/fizkes LEWISTON - Police say 34-year-old Tyrell Sturman, of Lewiston, was driving a Toyota pickup in the 1400 block of 8th Street around 2:20 a.m. Friday when he struck two parked cars on the side of the road, which caused his pickup to flip onto it's driver side, trapping Sturman inside. The Lewiston Fire Department extricated Sturman. He was treated for minor injuries and released at the scene. According to Lewiston Police, it was determined that alcohol was a factor in the collision. After the investigation, Sturman was charged for Excessive DUI. If a DUI offender's blood alcohol concentration is . 20 or higher, they can be charged with an Excessive DUI in Idaho. The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known as the "100 Deadliest Days" in Idaho. Officials say that during this time, fatal and injury crashes nearly double in Idaho compared to the rest of the year. The three most common factors in Idaho motor vehicle crashes are aggressive, distracted, and impaired driving. The Lewiston Police Department is currently conducting extra patrols to apprehend DUI drivers. LAPWAI - The Nez Perce Tribe has joined the State of Oregon and conservation and fishing group plaintiffs in asking the federal court for the District of Oregon to require specific measures at federal dams on the Lower Snake and mainstem Columbia River dams. A Nez Perce Tribe statement says the action is to assist imperiled salmon as they "navigate through the gauntlet of reservoirs on their migration to the ocean." The Tribe says recent analysis shows that many populations of wild Snake River spring-summer Chinook salmon and steelhead populations are facing an extinction crisis. Our salmon are in crisis. Theres simply no other way to describe the current circumstances, said Nez Perce Tribe Chairman, Samuel N. Penney. Bold action to save our salmon and honor our treaties is urgent and overdue. Snake River salmon and steelhead need a river not a series of warm pools. We must make these reservoirs on the Lower Snake and mainstem Columbia less lethal immediately, simply to ensure the future existence of these fish. These stopgap measures are critical actions that our salmon need to survive while we work with the Administration and Congress to ensure salmon do not go extinct on our watch. Dam removal supporters say Snake River spring and summer Chinook salmon are closer to extinction than ever, pointing to an analysis that indicates that 42% of the populations of Snake River spring/summer Chinook are right now at or below the quasi-extinction level of 50 or less spawners on the spawning grounds for four consecutive years. The analysis suggests that by 2025, 77% of these populations are projected to hit this level. The United States has a Treaty obligation to the salmon and to us. The comprehensive approach to restoring the Lower Snake River and investing in a stronger, better Northwest that Congressman Simpson has championed in the Columbia Basin Initiative offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity not just for the salmon but for the energy, transport, and irrigation sectors as well, stated Nez Perce Tribe Vice-Chairman, Shannon Wheeler. Salmon need a river now more than ever. With a warming climate, and with the resources and funding that a comprehensive framework like the Columbia Basin Initiative provides, this transition can occur in a way that salmon and all of the other sectors come out as winners. The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians and the Nez Perce Tribe recently co-hosted a two-day Salmon-Orca Summit. During the Summit Northwest Tribes emphasized their support for Congressman Simpson's plan that includes removal of the four Lower Snake River dams. NAMPA Nampa Police officers shot and killed a woman Friday after she fired at officers during a car chase, according to a department news release. Just after noon Friday, officers responded to a trespassing complaint in progress at the 3800 block of Teakwood Drive in Nampa, the release said. Officers confronted a 51-year-old woman in the driveway of the home and told her to exit her vehicle multiple times, but she did not comply, the release said. An officer attempted to open a door to the vehicle when the woman "sped off and struck a patrol vehicle," the release said. Officers then pursued her to the 500 block of Mulberry Loop, the release said. She then pointed and fired her firearm at officers, who returned fire, the release said. The woman, a Nampa resident who was not named in the release, was transported to a local hospital where she died from her injuries. The Canyon County Critical Incident Task Force is investigating the incident, and Idaho State Police is the lead investigative agency. Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com All over the country people are discussing the deadly disease Ebola. A brand new Fox News poll asked, How concerned are you that Ebola will spread to the U.S.A.? Sixty-eight percent concerned; 31% not so much. But as you may know, the disease is already here in Texas. Here are the facts: Liberian national Thomas Duncan is currently being treated for Ebola at a Dallas hospital, where he is in stable but serious condition. Duncan arrived in the U.S.A. on September 20th. Prior to that, he had helped a 19-year-old woman in Liberia who was ill. That woman died from Ebola. A few days after her death, Duncan -- apparently outwardly healthy -- boarded a plane in Monrovia; flew to Brussels, Belgium; changed planes; and then flew to Dulles airport in Washington, where he again changed planes and went on to Dallas. On September 24th, Duncan begins to have symptoms of Ebola. On September 26th, he goes to the Dallas Presbyterian Hospital where he is examined and sent home with medication. On September 28th, Duncan is taken by ambulance back to Presbyterian Hospital, where he is properly diagnosed with Ebola. But here's the shocking thing: before the ambulance arrived, Reuters is reporting that Duncan was seen vomiting in the parking lot of an apartment building where he was staying. Ebola is spread by bodily fluids. Dallas authorities now estimate that up to 100 people, some of them children, may have had direct or second-hand contact with Duncan. So in Dallas right now, there is grave concern. DALLAS PARENT: When my daughter came home from school, my first thought was, like any concerned parent, are you serious? DALLAS PARENT: I just started crying, I was just like hysterical. DALLAS PARENT: I just wanted to get to my kids so I went and got them. DALLAS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: People won't shake each others hands, they won't talk to each other. They scared to go into the restrooms. DALLAS RESIDENT: It's scary. Real scary. DALLAS PARENT: They need to tell us what child it is. Because, I mean, if it were in their class, I'm going to be ten times more pissed than I already am. So what should the federal government do, since it is Washington's obligation to provide for the common good? First of all, all flights from West Africa should be discontinued to the U.S.A., and Europe should do the same thing. Now I feel sorry for the West African nations, but there is an epidemic of Ebola there, and it will spread because the incubation period lasts for up to 21 days. Also, U.S. immigration should allow no one to enter this country holding a passport from any West African nation. And that policy should last until the Ebola epidemic subsides in Africa. As you may know, many people hold irrational fears and that's contagious as well. Once Ebola starts spreading around, chaos follows. Therefore, West Africans should not be admitted to the U.S.A. until the epidemic is controlled. In cases of life and death, you must err on the side of caution. So the president should order an immigration quarantine ... right now. And that's the memo. Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com Recently two Americans wound up dead after traffic stops. In Texas, 28-year-old Sandra Bland was stopped when she failed to signal while changing lanes. She was taken into custody where she allegedly committed suicide. In Ohio, 43-year-old Samuel DuBose was shot dead by a police officer after being stopped for not having a license plate on the front end of his car. The Ohio cop has been charged with murder. The Texas woman's case is being investigated by state authorities. Talking Points does not know what precisely happened, so further comment will wait until the hard evidence is presented. But the point is that laws -- no matter how trivial -- matter. And we the people, including law enforcement, are expected to obey them all of them. Enter Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, who took an oath to uphold the Constitution, which includes respecting the laws her own House has passed. But Mrs. Pelosi openly defies federal immigration laws. She supports the anarchy of the sanctuary cities and rejects the proposed Kate's Law. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: Mandatory minimum sentences have not been something I have supported. ((EDIT)) I support the sanctuary. Now think about that. If we disobey the law, we are punished. But Nancy Pelosi does not have to obey federal immigration law? And she is a member of Congress? Does that sound like justice to you? And what about Planned Parenthood? They receive a half-billion dollars a year from the taxpayer, and now we know some of their operations are selling the body parts of aborted babies. There are laws against that, federal laws. Is the FBI investigating Planned Parenthood? Has President Obama and Attorney General Lynch ordered such an investigation? Not that we know of. Today, yet another undercover video was released. This one showing Planned Parenthood Dr. Savita Ginde describing the harvesting of body parts taken from babies, sometimes more than halfway through their pregnancies: DR. SAVITA GINDE, VICE PRESIDENT AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR, PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS: I dont know if Ive ever seen a thymus, maybe I have. I know Ive seen livers, Ive seen stomachs, weve seen plenty of neural tissue. Usually you can see the whole brain usually come out. You know when you get to 17 or 18 weeks, cause we do some of those. Thats when youre doing a lot more of a D&D, and you might get larger. BUYER: Hmm. ((EDIT)) DR. GINDE: Well I know putting it under the research gives us a little bit of a, a little sort of overhang over the whole thing. BUYER: It makes it look better. DR. GINDE: Yea. And in public, I think it makes a lot more sense for it to be in the research vein than Id say, business venture. BUYER: Right, its how we talk about it. DR. GINDE: Yea! BUYER: Its how we talk about it. ((EDIT)) DR. GINDE: We dont want to get called on, you know, selling fetal parts across states. If that is not enough to make the Justice Department move and Congress to immediately suspend payments to Planned Parenthood, then we don't have a justice system in this country. The silence from the president and attorney general is insulting and dangerous. Are you people going to respect the law or not? Sanctuary cities, are you serious? They arrogantly disobey the law and get away with it. Trafficking in baby body parts on the taxpayer dime? What kind of country is this? As I said earlier this week, there comes a point when Americans have to decide how much corruption they will tolerate. All of us have to signal while changing lanes. Meantime, some politicians only uphold the laws they like. Disgraceful. And that's the memo. Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com As you may know, The Factor has taken the lead in trying to convince Congress and President Obama to pass Kate's Law after 32-year-old Kate Steinle was shot dead by an illegal alien felon who had been deported five times. Kate's Law would punish illegal alien criminals with aggravated felony convictions who come back to America after being deported. They would receive a minimum mandatory sentence of five years in prison. The law is very simple. If you are an aggravated felon and you defy deportation, you go to prison the moment you're caught here. But passing it is anything but simple. Later this month, Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, will introduce a bill on the Senate floor that contains Kate's Law. But it also contains a provision to take federal money away from sanctuary cities. That dooms the law because Democrats will filibuster in the Senate and a full vote will most likely not take place. Everybody in the Senate knows that. So the American people, including Kate Steinle's family, will not get the justice that Kate's Law demands. Now I have spoken to many senators asking why Kate's Law cannot have a standalone vote. There are a variety of excuses but bottom line: It's more about party politics than protecting the folks. For the record, Senator McConnell would not take my call. Neither would Senator Diane Feinstein, a leading Democrat. Those two Americans could make Kate's Law a reality if they had the will. McConnell and Feinstein are the folks we must persuade. So you may want to contact their offices and tell them that Kate's Law deserves a standalone vote. We have posted their information on BillOReilly.com. Please let them hear from you loud and clear. Now I support de-funding sanctuary cities, but I know the Democrats will not do it and President Obama would not sign it. But Kate's Law is a different story. Any politician opposing strict penalties for foreign felons who defy deportation is unfit to hold office. Unfit to hold office. You cannot defend that vote. Today House Republicans are dealing with chaos, as the new Speaker of the House situation descends into uncertainty. And the American public is fed up with Congress getting little done. If Congress cannot even pass a simple piece of legislation that would protect innocent Americans from harm and give law enforcement a powerful tool to break up foreign gangs on American soil if Congress cannot even do that - the USA is in dire trouble. Let Kate's Law stand on it's own, vote on it and it will pass. And if it doesn't, then the world will know which senators and Congress people are truly villainous. Get the law to President Obama and let history record what happens. And that's the memo. The fight to save Americas wolves is in a critical phase which is why your help is so important. Since the Trump administration stripped federal protection from gray wolves last year, states now control whether wolves are protected or hunted. While California and Colorado recently celebrated the discovery of new wolf residents, some states including Wisconsin, Idaho and Montana have rushed to create ways to kill more wolves, faster. The Center for Biological Diversity and allies are challenging the slaughter on every legal front. But right now wolves need everyone. So weve created a one-stop shop to make it easy to join the battle to save them. Our campaign website, Save Our Wolves, provides actions, toolkits and resources to help you help wolves. Bookmark it, learn more, take action, share it widely and check back often well be updating the site with new ways to make a difference. Wolves future hangs in the balance. We cant let ruthless persecution and backward policies ruin more than 40 years of wolf recovery. Check out the new site and help save wolves by giving to our Predator Defense Fund now. Pieter Boone, Pick n Pay CEO. Source: Supplied Pick n Pay trucks prepare to leave Gauteng to provide relief in KZN. Source: Supplied Operation 'rebuild and restock' underway as unrest wanes The intensity and frequency of riots eased on Thursday, and businesses and residents are in the throes of repairing the damage to property and clearing the debris that has resulted from days of looting... Relief is coming Stock being prepared to load into Pick n Pay and Boxer trucks in Gauteng to provide relief in KZN. Source: Supplied Avoid panic buying South Africa: A nation sitting on a keg of gun powder Keeping people in poverty is expensive, as we have seen spectacularly these past few days. The thin balance holding this country from exploding... "Like everyone across the country, we were shocked and saddened by the violence and destruction which afflicted so many communities, businesses and institutions earlier this week. In common with other retailers, some Pick n Pay and Boxer stores have been affected by the damage and disorder in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng."However, we are greatly heartened to see so many individuals and communities upholding what is right and good, and helping to bring an end to violence," Boone said.He continued, "We also know that many people in many areas particularly in KwaZulu-Natal are suffering from the damage to essential infrastructure, and are finding it difficult to obtain essential food and groceries."The situation remains fragile. But we want to assure customers and communities that our Pick n Pay and Boxer teams are working flat out to bring essential supplies from Gauteng and the Western Cape into the affected areas. Key to this is N3 highway between Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, which has just reopened. This enables us to begin the task of transporting large volumes of essential products to the communities that most need them."Boone mentioned that as the unrest has eased, many Pick n Pay and Boxer stores have reopened in KZN and the affected parts of Gauteng. More stores are set to reopen their doors over the coming days, as long as the safety of employees and customers can be prioritised."Our message to the affected communities is this. The relief effort has begun. The relief is coming."We want to reassure customers in the rest of South Africa that the manufacturing and distribution capacity to supply your needs remains in place. We are in constant dialogue with our valued suppliers of fresh meat and produce, frozen, canned and packaged foods, and groceries. Some have been damaged and disrupted by the violence. But, like us, they are getting back on their feet," said Boone."Together we will do what we do best supply our customers with what you need and want," he added.Boone said the retail group has experienced elevated demand for some products in recent days, however this demand is nowhere near the levels experienced at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic."We thank all our customers for shopping normally at this critical time. This is the best way you can help us to maintain a steady supply of what you need. And it is the best way you can help the communities in greatest need in the affected areas."Pick n Pay and Boxer already has a very active Feed the Nation programme in place to assist communities in need during the Covid-19 crisis. We are expanding this work to assist the humanitarian effort. Please look out for ways that you can help in our stores and through social media," he said."South Africa is bloodied but not bowed. By working together we will get through this," Boone concluded. Samantha Vinograd, the Department of Homeland Security's new acting assistant secretary for counterterrorism and threat prevention in the Office of Strategy, Policy and Plans is a former CNN analyst who said the idea of Americans trying to preserve their heritage makes her "sick." While appearing on CNN in March 2019, Vinograd slammed President Trump for giving a speech at CPAC about the importance of preserving our heritage. "His statement makes me sick, on a personal level," Vinograd said. "Preserving your heritage, reclaiming our heritage, that sounds a lot like a certain leader that killed members of my family and about six million other Jews in the 1940s." "But our national security level, the president talks about preserving our heritage as a catch-all for implementing policies that misallocate resources," Vinograd continued. "He pretends there are massive flows of illegal immigrants coming over our borders and spending billions of dollars on a border wall emergency instead of paying attention to real national security threats. He sounds a lot like despotic leaders who talked about white heritage and white nationalism around the world and putting resources in the wrong place and pretending there are foreign people trying to influence our country in a way that just isn't accurate." WATCH: Vinograd cares deeply about preserving her own heritage as she noted in a 2017 article in Marie Claire where she railed against Trump's travel ban and blamed America for the Nazis killing her family in the Holocaust: As the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, I know far too much about what closing borders to refugees means. And as a four-year veteran of the White House National Security Council, I know about how to make policies that keep us safe from real threats, not imaginary ones. I also know that the amateur policy-making behind the misguided Executive Order that President Trump signed on Fridaywhich was, let's not forget, International Holocaust Remembrance Daywill not make us safer. It will actually make us less secure. [...] I am alive today because my father survived the Holocaust by hiding on a farm and joining the French resistance. His whole familyand about 6 million other Jewsdid not survive. The United States could have helped by offering sanctuary, but chose not to let in as many Jewish refugees as it could. We even turned back a ship of refugees docked right by our coastso close they could see the lights of Floridaand sent them back to Europe and the Nazi killing machine. The Executive Order that President Trump signed on Friday would similarly abandon refugees to persecution, and in some cases death. My father did not survive the Holocaust for this. Vinograd will be working together with DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and DHS's top counterterrorism official, John Cohen, on "counterterrorism" and "threat prevention," aka labeling the American people as "terrorists" in order to strip them of all their rights. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has appointed John Cohen, the departments top counterterrorism official, to also take the helm at DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis https://t.co/T1fNN3R2ee POLITICO (@politico) July 9, 2021 From Politico last week: The Department of Homeland Security's intelligence arm is getting new leadership. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced Friday morning that John Cohen, the department's top counterterrorism official, will take the helm at DHS' Office of Intelligence and Analysis in addition to his current role. POLITICO obtained the announcement Mayorkas sent to the department. [...] Mayorkas brought him back to DHS, where he has focused on the department's efforts to combat domestic terrorism. Earlier this year, DHS stood up a new team in the intelligence office to focus on that specific threat. And late last month, Cohen told members of Congress in a closed-door briefing that the department was concerned about the spread of the conspiracy that Trump will be reinstated as president in August. Mayorkas' letter also announced that Samantha Vinograd, currently the department's senior counselor for national security, will become acting assistant secretary for counterterrorism and threat prevention in the Office of Strategy, Policy and Plans. The announcement said Vinograd previously worked in government for nearly a decade, including as director for Iraq on the Obama administration's National Security Council. More recently, she worked at Goldman Sachs and Stripe. She also provided on-air national security commentary for CNN. In addition to being sickened by our country and our heritage, Vinograd was a top Russiagate conspiracy hoaxer who went so far as to claim the Mueller report was "a gift to the government of Russia" after it failed to back up her baseless conspiracy theories. CNN's Sam Vinograd: The Mueller Report is a gift to the government of Russia. This is a very proud moment for Vladimir Putin for several reasons pic.twitter.com/x9PCxr9HVY Wojciech Pawelczyk (@Woj_Pawelczyk) April 20, 2019 Does this sound like someone interested in "securing our homeland"? Follow InformationLiberation on Twitter, Facebook, Gab, Minds, Parler and Telegram. Jared Kushner's blackmailing father was pardoned by President Trump along with a bunch of other super-criminals on his final days in office and this is how he repays him. From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, "Ivanka's in-laws fundraise for Nikki Haley, push her for 2024 presidential run": Charles Kushner, father of Jared Kushner and father-in-law of Ivanka Trump, hosted a fundraising event for Nikki Haley and speculated about the former South Carolina governor and UN ambassador becoming president. If Haley declares, and Donald Trump, Jared Kushner's father-in-law, says he wants another shot at the White House, things could get interesting at the Kushner family seder. Vanity Fair reported Monday that the day before, as Trump was on Fox hinting that he is likely to run again, Charles Kushner was hosting a brunch for Haley in New Jersey. The elder Kushner predicted Haley would be "the first woman president" and guests donated to her political action committee. Haley has said she will announce her decision about whether to run in 2024 early in 2023. Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump did not attend the event; they were in Aspen, Colorado, Vanity Fair said. But they have lunched with Haley since Donald Trump left office and Trump reportedly blames his loss of the presidency last year in part on Jared Kushner, who effectively managed the reelection campaign. "Last month, [Haley] visited former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Christians United for Israel founder John Hagee," Vanity Fair reported. Time with Prime Minister @netanyahu is always invaluable. His contributions to Israeli security and prosperity are historic. We have not heard the last from him. pic.twitter.com/RX9PVzVl64 Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) June 14, 2021 Since leaving office, Kushner went on to found the Abraham Accords Institute together with Hillary Clinton/Democrat megadonor Haim Saban. Saban famously told the New York Times in past, "I'm a one-issue guy, and my issue is Israel." The much-hyped Abraham Accords were largely just promises of billions of US taxpayer dollars and high-tech weaponry to various Arab kings in exchange for them normalizing relations with Israel (against the will of their own populations). As I reported in December, Jared Kushner and his newly-pardoned criminal father Charles appear to be seeking "at least" $100 million in kickbacks on the over $38 billion in US foreign aid they helped secure for Israel. After Securing Over $38B In U.S. Aid For Israel, Kushner Seeks Potential $100M 'Kickback' For His Family Biz https://t.co/Kww2eKQtZ5 Chris Menahan (@infolibnews) January 4, 2021 On Thursday, the NY Post showcased Javanka's new $24 million Florida estate. Inside Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushners new $24M Florida estate https://t.co/qd6P9y1U9t pic.twitter.com/cKQ00slWbh New York Post (@nypost) July 15, 2021 In June, it was reported that former US secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin and former US ambassador to Israel David Friedman, who were both also heavily involved in securing the Abraham Accords, are working to team up with former Mossad head Yossi Cohen to form an investment fund. Mnuchin touted his own experience overseeing #cybersecurity for the entire financial services industry of the US, and is seeking to #invest in companies in related fields. Report by: @LahavHarkov https://t.co/n2pjFlDsIO The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) June 17, 2021 Cohen stepped down as the head of the Mossad on June 1. Globes reported last week that Cohen has been tapped to join the biggest venture capital firm in the world, Softbank, to head their branch in Israel "even though he does not have a background in investment." Since getting bailed out from his underwater investment in 666 Fifth Avenue under highly suspicious circumstances during Trump's presidency, Charles Kushner has been gobbling up mid-sized suburban homes BlackRock-style and collecting hundreds of millions in loans. How much of that money is being funneled into Nikki Haley's astroturfed 2024 presidential campaign has yet to be determined. Follow InformationLiberation on Twitter, Facebook, Gab, Minds, Parler and Telegram. Are you ready for this weeks absurdity? Heres our Friday roll-up of the most ridiculous stories from around the world that are threats to your liberty, risks to your prosperity and on occasion, inspiring poetic justice. Families Sue Universal Studios Over Character Who Flashed Okay in Photos Two families are suing Universal Studios in Orlando after a character at the theme parked flashed an alleged white power sign in photos with their daughters. The white power signal in question is the OK hand gesture making a circle with the thumb and index finger. Although this has long been understood to mean OK for roughly TWO CENTURIES (because the gesture approximates the letters O and K), the lawsuit claims that it is a universally-known and universally-used hate symbol that indicates white power. One family, which wants $30,000 for mental anguish and loss of dignity, told their daughter that she couldnt show her friends the photo because a man did a bad thing to her because he did not like her because of her race and color. Even more ridiculous, the employee who flashed the OK sign was FIRED for doing so. Click here to read the full story. Revolt Against NYC Principal Who Conspired to Fire White Teachers A New York City school principal has been accused by staff of conspiring to fire white teachers and stoking racial divisions with her policies. According to a lengthy complaint, the principal tried to enlist the help of a black teacher to get rid of all these white teachers at the school. She also openly accused one of the teachers at the school, who represents the local teachers union, of being racist in a public forum when he raised a concern about a new schedule policy. The complaint says the principal has, over and over again, flagrantly but unsuccessfully attempted to divide our school by race and that as a school staff, we have lost confidence, credibility, trust, and most importantly we have lost hope. 83.3% of teachers that work for Lev voted no confidence in her leadership. And that sounds encouraging except that New Yorks Department of Education has done nothing about it, and the principal remains in her job. Click here to read the full story. Several Governments Make Vaccine Passports Mandatory The government of Quebec, Canada announced that it will begin using vaccine passports in September for future Covid-19 surges. That means people without proof of having received a vaccination will be banned from non-essential businesses and services. The government claims this will prevent the need for lockdowns and business closures. France will also start requiring a health pass on July 21 to attend theaters, cinemas, and concerts. Then in August, the vaccine passport will be required for cafes, shops, restaurants, and public transportation. Click here to read about Quebec and here for France. White House Encourages Using Covid Funds for More Cops A White House memo encourages cities and states to use COVID-19 bailout funds to address the astonishing level of crime in the US. This is ironic, because this is the same political party that wanted to #DefundThePolice, and now want to use bailout money to put more police officers on the beat including hiring above pre-pandemic levels. Click here to read the memo. McVax Now Available at Select Locations Four McDonalds locations in Green Bay, Wisconsin will be offering Pfizer vaccines on select dates. People can make an appointment, or just walk in, and receive a free ice cream in exchange for being vaccinated. They will also receive a free sandwich of their choice at a later date, to lure them back. Because nothing demonstrates healthy living like receiving a free Big Mac in exchange for injecting yourself with a brand new vaccine. Click here to read the full story. Hunter Bidens art is all the rage When hes not busy smoking crack and having an affair with his brothers wife, President Bidens son Hunter likes to paint. Im not art critic, but it seems pretty basic. Nevertheless Hunter Bidens artwork is priced up to $500,000. Something tells me its because of his last name. Clearly this raises some ethics concerns about possible bribes being funneled to the White House through the sale of Hunters art. To get ahead of the issue, the White House announced that the price of the paintings, and who buys them, will be kept a secret. So theyre solving the problem of potential ethical violations with a total lack of transparency. Its genius! MANHEIM, Pa. (AP) Dressed in black and yellow to look like the bees in his hive, 7-year-old Kellan Borecky of Penn Township explained how his honeybee friends accept him. Kellan is the legal owner of his own bee apiary and one of the youngest members of the Lancaster County Beekeepers Society. He and his father, Justin Borecky, 33, of Penn Township, recently leveled up Kellans hive to level three, which means adding another 10 frames to the hive for the honeybees to work on. The hive houses about 50,000 honeybees. All of the bees in the hive... are the queens kids, Kellan said. She just lays eggs. For the past three months, Kellan and his father have been learning from beekeeper enthusiast Dale Long, 69, of Warwick Township. Kellan got his first hive as a birthday gift from Long this year. When asked if he wants to be a beekeeper when he grows up, Kellan confidently responded, I am a beekeeper, emphasizing am. I also want to be a chef and work at the Lego store, Kellan added, but he is currently focused on beekeeping. Kellan was 4 years old when he first asked his dad for bees, telling him how neat it was that bees help everything, Justin Borecky recalled. They pollinate (the flowers). They take the nectar from one flower and put it to the other flower to make the other flower be healthier and make more nectar for the next time, Kellan said. Justin Borecky explained why he and his son were initially intrigued by honeybees, saying, (Kellan) has very high anxiety, and for some reason bees calm him down... Hes literally just had them on his hands and they calm him down. He loves it. On a recent summer day, Kellan, donning a white beekeeper suit, helped Long smoke one of Longs hives that they were preparing to open. Beekeepers often expose hives to smoke so that the bees stay calm, enabling the beekeepers to handle the hives. Were looking for eggs. Were looking for the brood. Were looking for the larva and the queen, Justin Borecky said. If we cant find the queen, we look for eggs. If theres one egg at the very bottom... that means she has been there recently. If we cant find her, theyll take one of those eggs she laid and turn it into another queen. In order to make honey, the honeybees begin by getting nectar and pollen from flowers; the nectar is what turns into honey, while the pollen is the protein source that baby honeybees feed on. They sometimes make pollen cake for the babies, Kellan said. It looks like chocolate cake but instead its in little combs. The honeybee produces wax through glands on its body to make a comb to then fill with nectar, Justin Borecky explained. Once the nectar evaporates into honey, they produce a little more wax to cap it off. Kellan explained the importance of using smooth motions so as to not squish the bees. (Kellan) really has a way with bees, Long said. Im more experienced, but Im not quite as smooth. Before Kellan got his own bees, he did a lot of research on bees for a school project. He said his favorite parts of being a beekeeper are eating the honey and looking at the honeybees. It looks like they have tiny eyes, but theyre big eyes, Kellan said. His favorite way to eat honey is straight off the comb. Its bee comb with honey in it and you can eat bee wax with the honey, Kellan said. Neither Kellan nor Justin Borecky have ever been stung by their honeybees. Kellan said that, although bees are known for their stingers, male honeybees, formally called drones, dont have stingers. They are much larger and their eyes are connected on top. Justin Borecky thought it was a phase, but three years later, hes convinced bees have become a passion for his son. They accept me, Kellan said. They fly around me and then say Im OK. Online: https://bit.ly/3B1h8vV What's Included With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 814-368-3173 or email nfinnerty@oleantimesherald.com. PARIS (AP) Over 100,000 people protested across France on Saturday against the governments latest measures to push people to get vaccinated and curb rising infections by the delta variant of the coronavirus. Visitors enjoy the view from the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Friday, July 16, 2021. The Eiffel Tower is reopening Friday for the first time in nine months, just as France faces new virus rules aimed at taming the fast-spreading delta variant. The "Iron Lady" was ordered shut in October as France battled its second surge of the virus. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) PARIS (AP) Over 100,000 people protested across France on Saturday against the governments latest measures to push people to get vaccinated and curb rising infections by the delta variant of the coronavirus. In Paris, separate protest marches by the far-right and the far-left wound through different parts of the city. Demonstrations were also held in Strasbourg in the east, Lille in the north, Montpellier in the south and elsewhere. Thousands of people answered calls to take to the streets by Florian Philippot, a fringe far-right politician and former right hand of Marine Le Pen who announced earlier this month that he would run in the 2022 presidential election. Gathered a stones throw away from the Louvre Museum, protesters chanted "Macron, clear off!", "Freedom," and banged metal spoons on saucepans. While Philippot has organized small but regular protests against the governments handling of the coronavirus crisis, Saturday's demonstration drew a larger and more diverse crowd of people broadly disaffected with politics: yellow vest activists angry over perceived economic injustice, far-right supporters, medical staff and royalists. They denounced the governments decision on Monday to make vaccines compulsory for all health care workers, and to require a "health pass" proving people are fully vaccinated, have recently tested negative or recovered from the virus in order to access restaurants and other public venues. President Emmanuel Macrons government is presenting a draft law Monday to enshrine the measures. "I will never get vaccinated," Bruno Auquier, a 53-year-old town councilor who lives on the outskirts of Paris. "People need to wake up," he said, questioning the safety of the vaccine. While France already requires several vaccinations to enter public school, Auquier pledged to take his two children out of school if the coronavirus vaccine became mandatory. "These new measures are the last straw," Auquier said. Nurses shout during an anti-vaccine protest in Paris, Saturday, July 17, 2021. Tens of thousands of people protested across France on Saturday against the government's latest measures to curb rising COVID-19 infections and drive up vaccinations in the country. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) The government warned of the continued spread of the delta variant, which authorities fear could again put pressure on hospitals if not enough people are vaccinated against the virus. The pandemic has cost France more than 111,000 lives and deeply damaged the economy. During a visit to a pop-up vaccination center in the southwest, Prime Minister Jean Castex exhorted the French to stick together in order to overcome the crisis. "There is only one solution: vaccination," he said, stressing it "protects us, and will make us freer." At the Paris protest, a manual worker in his sixties expressed bitterness about jobs in his sector sent offshore. A 24-year-old royalist said he was there to demand "the return of God and the King." Lucien, a 28-year-old retail shop manager, said he wasnt anti-vaccine, but thought that everyone should be able to do as they please with their own body. "The government is going too far," he said. His 26-year-old friend Elise said, "I am vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, and polio. But the COVID vaccine is just too experimental." While a majority of French health care workers have had at least one vaccine dose, some are resisting the governments decision to make vaccination compulsory for all staff in medical facilities. At Saturday's Paris protest, a 39-year-old green party supporter and hospital laboratory worker said she might resort to buying a fake vaccination certificate to avoid losing her job. A health care worker dressed as the Statue of Liberty called it "act of violence" to force people to get vaccinated. In Montpellier, more than 1,000 people marched to the train station, chanting "Liberty!" and carrying signs reading "Our kids aren't Guinea pigs." Security officials closed the main entrance to travelers and a dozen police officers took posts in front. The Interior Ministry said 114,000 people took part in protests nationwide. Overnight on Friday, vandals ransacked a vaccination center in the southeast. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin asked prefects and police chiefs to reinforce security for elected officials, after several complained they had received threats in recent days over the latest anti-COVID measures. Vaccine hesitancy is considered widespread in France, though appears to have faded somewhat as 36 million French people have gotten coronavirus vaccine doses in recent months. Millions more have gotten injected or signed up for vaccinations since Mondays announcement. French health care workers have until Sept. 15 to get vaccinated. The requirement for COVID passes for all restaurants, bars, hospitals, shopping malls, trains, planes and other venues is being introduced in stages starting Wednesday. Meanwhile, the French government announced tightened border controls starting Sunday, but also said it would allow in travelers from anywhere in the world who have been fully vaccinated. That now includes people who received AstraZenecas Indian-manufactured vaccine. The move came after a global outcry over the fact that the European Unions COVID-19 certificate only recognizes AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured in Europe. Elaine Ganley in Montpellier and Angela Charlton in Paris contributed. Follow APs pandemic coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak Don Mitchell almost got his QR code tattooed to his arm. Advertisement Advertise With Us Don Mitchell almost got his QR code tattooed to his arm. Mitchell is a truck driver. The tattoo was going on his left arm for Canada Border ServicesAgency agents to scan on his way through the U.S. border crossing south of Boissevain. Thank goodness he double-checked. "The vaccine card is useless at the border," he told the Sun. The Canada Border Services Agency doesnt have the scanners necessary to read the cards or the QR codes, he was told by border crossing agents. "When I said I was getting a tattoo of my QR code, they said dont bother. Theyre no good." "The only thing theyll accept is your immunization record." Mitchell is an essential worker and crosses the border twice a week so he has had access to border crossing all along. But, he worries about the people who may think the provincial immunization card or QR code, unique to Manitoba, will allow them unfettered access back into the province once the border between the two countries opens. Without immunization records, those people will have to quarantine for 14 days upon their return to Manitoba, he was told. Manitoba has 12 border crossings. A spokesperson for the province confirmed that anyone with a Manitoba immunization card app is able to scan the card. When scanned, the persons name is displayed to the verifier so their identity can be confirmed. No personal health information or data can be displayed. While the provincial spokesperson did not comment on the Canada Border Services Agencys inability to scan provincial vax cards or the QR codes, the chances of a federal agency accepting a provincial vaccine identifier, are slim to none. However, Manitobans may view their COVID-19 immunization record at sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/test-results or contact their local public health office to receive a copy, the spokesperson said. The Sun reached out to the Canada Border Services Agency for verification that they do not have the capability to accept provincial immunization cards or QR codes. A spokesperson said the Public Health Agency of Canada is responsible for the Quarantine Act, as well as the Orders in Council that outlines travellers obligations when entering Canada, including what proof of vaccination may be accepted at the border. "The development of vaccine passports is outside the CBSAs mandate," the source said, at which point they directed any further inquiries to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. However, the Canada Border Services Agency representative did clarify that those fully vaccinated travellers arriving by land or air who comply with specific criteria will not be required to quarantine or complete an eight-day test. However, they will continue to be required to complete mandator pre- and on-arrival testing. Travellers who do not meet all criteria to be considered fully vaccinated are still be subject to a mandatory three-day stay at a government-authorized accommodation if they arrive by air. All testing requirements stand alongside a 14-day quarantine. A spokesperson from Health Canada reinforced that provinces and territories own and maintain their own health registries. But, having proof of vaccination credentials would be one tool to support the re-opening of societies and economies. "Such credentials could help facilitate cross-border travel while minimizing the risk of importation and spread of COVID-19," the spokesperson said. Until that happens, Health Canadas recommendation to provide proof of vaccination at the border is: Details of your first dose (date, country and vaccine you received) Details of your second dose if one was required (i.e., for Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca vaccines) A photo or .pdf file of the record of each dose of your vaccination, such as receipts, cards, or confirmations If you received two doses and they are both recorded on a single card or .pdf, upload that same image or file for dose 1 and again for dose 2. File formats accepted include .pdf, .png, .jpeg or .jpg, and each image upload has a two-megabyte size limit. "Bring your original proof of vaccination with you while you travel," the spokesperson added. kkielley@brandonsun.com As heat warnings continue to blanket most of southwestern Manitoba, municipal officials representing small agricultural communities are bracing for the worst. Advertisement Advertise With Us As heat warnings continue to blanket most of southwestern Manitoba, municipal officials representing small agricultural communities are bracing for the worst. Municipality of Two Borders Reeve Debbie McMechan told the Sun on Friday the agricultural prospects for their area are "quite bleak," with a lack of recent precipitation resulting in extremely dry conditions. Debbie McMechan "Producers with livestock are worried about water supplies for watering systems," she said. "In terms of the subsurface moisture, like in the dugouts and stuff, its kind of alarming the number of them that dont have water in them or not enough to sustain a herd." Local crop producers arent doing much better, with the provinces most recent provincial crop report revealing crops in the southwest portion of Manitoba are, on average, shorter than normal for this point in the year. Additionally, the crop report highlights the fact that the Two Borders community of Pierson endured maximum temperatures of 32.7 C from July 5 to July 11, with only 2.3 millimetres of rain falling within the same period. According to McMechan, the area that makes up Two Borders which is around 1,400 square kilometres hasnt experienced these kinds of dry conditions since the 1980s, which makes it a once-in-a-lifetime affair for younger producers. "You dont want to see people having to sell off cows to ride out this thing out, so were sure hoping that that doesnt happen," she said. Of course, McMechan added producers from all over the province are dealing with the same drought as they are, with the Rural Municipality of St. Laurent, located in the Interlake region, having declared a state of agricultural disaster on July 5. While McMechan believes Two Borders isnt quite there yet, she admits that the parallels between the two areas agricultural setbacks are striking, including a recent grasshopper infestation. Moving forward, the reeve hopes that the province reacts to this latest agricultural crisis in an appropriate fashion, with the now-defunct Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration providing a pretty good template. "I think, during their time, they were responsible for 70,000 dugouts, something like that," she said. "So their environmental measures and their water sourcing on the Prairies were pretty helpful and we need some of that expertise again." Despite this "bleak" outlook, McMechan is remaining hopeful about the state of the future based on how Westman producers have managed to persevere during trying environmental periods in the past. "I think that farmers and rural people are quite resourceful," she said. "But as far as the municipality is concerned, were going to keep trying to provide what we can and keep getting information to people as governments offer different programs." As of Friday evening, Environment Canada issued another heat warning for large swaths of Westman, with daytime highs expected to climb into the low to mid-30s during the weekend. kdarbyson@brandonsun.com Twitter: @KyleDarbyson HALIFAX - Nova Scotia Premier Iain Rankin has called a provincial election for Aug. 17, saying the campaign will focus on building the economy after the province "crushed" the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nova Scotia Premier Iain Rankin fields a question at Mount Saint Vincent University's Child Study Centre in Halifax on Tuesday, July 13, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan HALIFAX - Nova Scotia Premier Iain Rankin has called a provincial election for Aug. 17, saying the campaign will focus on building the economy after the province "crushed" the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. "This province is at a pivotal moment, and we need to continue to make the right decisions for workers, for seniors, for families and for all Nova Scotians," Rankin said Saturday after visiting Lt.-Gov. Arthur LeBlanc to dissolve the legislature. "This election will be about how we best position the province for a strong economic recovery, one that focuses on investments in infrastructure, in green technology and renewable energy." Rankin, 38, is hoping to secure a third consecutive term for the Liberal party after being sworn in as premier less than five months ago, replacing Stephen McNeil. He took office before Nova Scotia the only province with no fixed election date entered the third wave. In late April, as COVID-19 infections spiked in the Halifax area, Rankin imposed tough lockdown measures and closed the province's borders. As with two previous lockdowns, Nova Scotians followed the rules and case numbers dropped quickly. "Were at the point now where weve crushed the third wave," Rankin said, adding that he's confident it's safe to hold an election and he plans to campaign door-to-door. Asked why he was launching a campaign in the middle of summer when many voters' thoughts are elsewhere, he said simply, "It's time." Also on Saturday, Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Houston launched his party's campaign, saying that "bad judgement and weak leadership" on the part of Rankin's Liberals make them ill-suited for the job of leading the province. Like the Liberals, the Conservatives plan on bolstering the economy in the aftermath of the pandemic and Houston said he's particularly focused on using economic growth to address issues with the province's health-care system that predate the pandemic. Moving into the campaign, Houston said he was working with a platform of solutions, not of "political promises," that will be revealed next week. Premier Iain Rankin and his wife Mary Chisholm walk to Government House to meet with Lt.-Gov. Arthur LeBlanc with intentions to call an election in Halifax on Saturday, July 17, 2021. Voters will go to the polls on Aug. 17. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan "We have the team, we're the only party with all incumbents returning and we have the most diverse slate of candidates that the party has ever had," Houston said. NDP Leader Gary Burrill said during a rally Saturday the party plans on releasing it's full platform on Sunday and a full slate of candidates will shortly follow. Burrill was also asked about his take on an August election and said the party has spent time readying itself for the possibility of a dissolved government. "We have no hand in it, we have no responsibility for it. All we have been able to do is to be ready for it," said Burrill. "We have concentrated all our cognitive calories to being able to respond to their call." The party is planning on focusing on issues affecting "real lives," Burrill said, and remains critical of Rankin's plan to cut $209 million from the budget as it could affect health-care spending. A survey of 1,200 adult voters in May suggested Nova Scotians were impressed with how Rankin handled his first real challenge as Liberal premier, which he stickhandled with the help of Dr. Robert Strang, the province's popular chief medical officer of health. The poll, released June 3 by Narrative Research, placed the Liberals well ahead in voter support. With a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points, the survey found that 52 per cent of decided voters said they would vote for the Liberals. The Progressive Conservatives trailed at 24 per cent, the NDP were at 19 per cent and the Green party had five per cent. Every provincial or territorial government in Canada that has sought re-election since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020 has won. That includes governments in New Brunswick, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador and Yukon. Despite their lead in the polls, the Nova Scotia Liberals are facing some challenges, not the least of which is the fact that many members of the Liberal caucus have chosen not to run for re-election, including seven former cabinet ministers and the former premier, McNeil. As well, Rankin was put on the defensive earlier this month after he revealed that as a young man he had been convicted of drunk driving in 2003, and was charged again in 2005, though he was cleared in the latter case. In the days that followed, the premier apologized for the poor choices he made in his 20s, saying he regretted that alcohol was once "a big part" of his life. "I was very, very sorry to have been in a place in my life a long time ago where I made mistakes," Rankin said Saturday, adding that Nova Scotians he meets are more interested in talking about the future. Houston acknowledged he believes the Liberals will benefit from launching a campaign as the province emerges from a tough lockdown. "Iain has called the election because he thinks it suits him," he said Saturday. "Nova Scotians will decide whether it's appropriate." Houston, a 51-year-old chartered accountant who has led the Tories since October 2018, has argued the province should focus on getting the population fully vaccinated rather than electioneering. This will be Houston's first election as leader. His party has taken a tough line on the drunk driving issue, repeatedly saying Rankin misled Nova Scotians by downplaying the 2005 incident, which resulted in an impaired driving conviction that was later overturned on appeal. Meanwhile, Burrill, a 65-year-old United Church minister who has led the party since February 2016, is contesting his second election as leader. The last time the Liberals won three or more elections in a row was in the 1930s and 1940s, when they won six consecutive elections. The Tories won three or more consecutive elections between 1978 and 1988, and again between 1999 and 2006. The Liberals entered the fifth year of their current mandate in May and have been reduced to a minority in the legislature following resignations of members. At dissolution they held 24 of the 51 seats, followed by the Progressive Conservatives led by Houston with 17, the New Democrats under Burrill with five. There were three Independents and two vacancies. The campaign will feature races in 55 ridings because the province decided last year to revive four "protected" seats in districts where the government wants to increase the participation and representation of Acadians and African-Nova Scotians. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17, 2021. This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship. OTTAWA - Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino insisted Friday that Ottawa is working on a plan to help dozens of Afghans who are facing Taliban arrest or worse for having worked with Canada, but he stopped short of saying when that plan will become reality. Pte. Danny Drapeau, of Alpha Company 1st Battalion Royal 22e Regiment, waits to lowers the Canadian flag for the last time at Forward Operating Base Zangabad on Sunday June 19, 2011. The base, in the former Taliban redoubt, was officially handed over to an American unit as the Canadian withdrawal from Kandahar hits full stride. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Murray Brewster OTTAWA - Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino insisted Friday that Ottawa is working on a plan to help dozens of Afghans who are facing Taliban arrest or worse for having worked with Canada, but he stopped short of saying when that plan will become reality. The federal government is under mounting pressure to help dozens of former interpreters, translators and cultural advisers who aided the Canadian military and development efforts during the war in Afghanistan. Canadian veterans in particular have been sounding the alarm with growing concern, noting the Talibans rapid gains over the past couple of weeks after the sudden withdrawal of most U.S. forces from the country. Those veterans say the risk of torture or death that their former colleagues and their families are facing grows every day they remain in the country, especially in the southern province of Kandahar. Mendicino, in response to a reporters question while announcing a new refugee program to help people threatened for defending human rights, acknowledged the tremendous urgency of the situation in Afghanistan. I know even in the last number of weeks that the situation has gotten worse, that lives are on the line, he said. Everybody within government is doing everything in our power to try and put the final strokes to this plan so we can put into action. Immigration officials are currently working with the Canadian military and Global Affairs Canada to identify Afghans who provided essential support to Canada, he added, including translators, interpreters and people who worked at the embassy in Kabul. Yet Mendicino did not give a timeline for when help would actually arrive. The most important thing I want to convey with regards to this operation is that we know that Afghans put their own lives at risk by helping the Canadian effort in the war there, and we want to do right by them, he said. We hope to have more to say about that in the very near future. News that work is underway was greeted with cautious optimism from retired lieutenant-general Guy Thibault, chair of the Conference of Defence Associations, which counts numerous retired military officers and diplomats among its membership. While recognizing the challenge of screening and processing visas for those who helped Canadas war effort, Thibault pointed out that the federal government was able to screen and resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees in 100 days more than five years ago. "Our shared sacrifices must not be forgotten nor should we forget those who came to our aid during this dangerous mission, Thibault said in a statement. They were friends, allies and heroes. They deserve our greatest respect for the risks they took. Sheltering them from immediate danger is the least we can do. We urge the prime minister and his government to act swiftly and decisively. Three retired major-generals who previously commanded Canadian forces in Afghanistan have said there are 115 people in Afghanistan who need help. Retired corporal Tim Laidler, who served in Afghanistan in 2008 and is now executive director of the Institute for Veterans Educations and Transition at the University of British Columbia, said Ottawa should simply restart a previous program to help Afghans. While more than 800 Afghan interpreters and their family members were resettled in Canada under that program in 2009 and 2012, Laidler says many others wanted to stay in Afghanistan to help rebuild the country. Laidler, who ran for the Conservatives in the 2015 federal election, said he and other veterans are now in touch with many of those former Afghan colleagues who have received death threats from the Taliban, but have no way to escape. These interpreters are a very special, unique group within the hearts of Canadian soldiers and definitely deserve the full support of the Canadian government, he said. If we ever want to go into a conflict again, this needs to happen. Or else any time Canada goes overseas ... people are going to look back at this. They're watching us right now. They're saying: Canada is going to turn its back on us if we put our necks out. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 16, 2021. Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version incorrectly stated the year Tim Laidler ran for the Conservatives and the organization he is executive director of. HALIFAX - Here are a few quick facts about the three Nova Scotia party leaders ahead of the Aug. 17provincial election. This composite image of three photographs shows, from left to right, Nova Scotia Liberal Leader Iain Rankin, taken in Halifax on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021; Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Houston in Halifax on Saturday, October 27, 2018; and Nova Scotia New Democratic Party Leader Gary Burrill in Halifax on Thursday, May 25, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan, Ted Pritchard HALIFAX - Here are a few quick facts about the three Nova Scotia party leaders ahead of the Aug. 17provincial election. At dissolution, the Liberals had 24 seats in the legislature while the Progressive Conservatives had 17 seats and the NDP five. There were two vacant seats and three Independents. Iain Rankin, leader of the Liberal party of Nova Scotia: Age: 38 Hometown: Timberlea, N.S. Job before politics: Worked as a director of operations for a storage company in Ottawa, and as a project manager for Armco Capital after moving back to Nova Scotia in 2011. Leadership history: Elected to the legislature in 2013, served as environment minister and later as minister of lands and forestry under former Liberal premier Stephen McNeil; became Liberal leader in 2021. Key issues: Long-term care, affordable housing, environment and the economy. What to look for on the campaign trail: Rankin will stress the government's competency in handling the COVID-19 pandemic as the Liberals seek a third term in power but could be hampered by recent revelations of his past impaired driving charges. Did you know: Rankin owns two dogs including a rescue animal, and supported a change this spring to allow dogs to accompany their owners to restaurant, bar and cafe patios. Social media stats: More than 23,000 Twitter followers; more than 21,000 Facebook followers. Quote: "Were at the point now where weve crushed the third wave. Were looking forward to discussing ideas of what a future economy looks like." --- Tim Houston, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia: Age: 51 Hometown: Halifax Job before politics: Chartered accountant, worked with Deloitte. Leadership history: Elected to the legislature in 2013; became Tory leader in 2018. Key issues: Improving health care and rebuilding the economy. What to look for on the campaign trail: Houston will stress the need for leadership in helping the economy emerge from COVID-19. Did you know: Moved to Bermuda in 1995 where he worked as a chartered accountant until 2007. Social media stats: More than 5,500 Twitter followers; more than 12,000 Facebook followers. Quote: "We will get through COVID, but there are major challenges facing this province and also major opportunities that await us if we act properly." --- Gary Burrill, leader of the Nova Scotia NDP: Age: 65 Hometown: Halifax Job before politics: Burrill is a United Church minister and has worked as a community organizer, a writer, and an editor. Leadership history: Elected to the legislature in 2009 and served until 2013; became NDP leader in 2016 before being re-elected to the legislature in 2017. Key issues: Improved access to mental health care and the need for affordable housing and rent control. What to look for on the campaign trail: Burrill will stress that there needs to be a solid plan for "what happens next" as the province reopens its economy. Did you know: He has played piano and guitar at dances for years and two of his children are in the band Hillsburn. Social media stats: More than 4,700 Twitter followers; nearly 5,000 Facebook followers. Quote: "We have been through this intensely difficult period, and there are a number of things that need to happen next, and the election is going to be about whether we're going to have a government that is going to see to it that they happen." This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17, 2021. Want to praise someone or get something off your chest? Darts and Pats is the place to do it. Wanting to focus on acting rather than celebridom, Catherine booked a ticket to Los Angeles, where, after a series of smaller TV roles, she won her breakthrough gig alongside Antonio Banderas in 1998s The Mask of Zorro, produced by Steven Spielberg. This was followed by Entrapment with Sean Connery in 1999, and then Traffic in 2000, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination. By 2002, shed returned to her first love, musical theatre, in the film version of Chicago opposite Renee Zellweger, winning an Oscar for best supporting actress. That run of projects had a common thread: In my career, there has always been a kind of beauty aspect to it. I was pigeonholed for so many years as being a musical-comedy actress. I always wanted to be cast in one of Helena Bonham Carters roles in those period dramas. I dreamed of that, but it never really came my way. I think I was just too Welsh! Loading Topping lists for most beautiful women has its pressures, I say. Oh, always. When I read a script and the characters description has the prefix of beautiful, stunning, gorgeous, its always intimidating. Personally, I would never consider myself a great beauty but my mother always told me to make the best of myself. During this time, her personal life went up a mighty notch in the Hollywood stakes, too. While promoting Zorro in 1998, she was introduced to Michael Douglas by mutual friends Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith, who were a couple at the time. If she was already considered a Hollywood red-carpet favourite, her marriage to Douglas, 25 years her senior, cemented her standing. I married Michael Douglas, who was perceived as Hollywood royalty because hes the son of Kirk Douglas, so that sort of fed into my red-carpet looks, she tells me. (Michaels stepmother, Anne, passed away a few days before our interview. In a tribute on her Instagram page, Catherine wrote: Our loving matriarch Anne Douglas is now in the arms of her beloved husband Kirk. 102 formidable years old. I love you with all my heart Oma. ) Catherine and Michael had their first child, Dylan, in August 2000, and in November the same year they married at The Plaza in New York. (The story goes that it was the longest wedding the legendary venue had ever hosted they were meant to finish at 6pm; instead it finished at 6am the next day.) They had Carys three years later and, for 12 years, raised their son and daughter in Bermuda where Michaels mother was from away from the paparazzi. We wanted them to have a normal childhood, not being photographed going to school every day, Catherine says. We didnt want them to be on film sets with a tutor. If I was working, Michael would be home with them, and vice versa. Im very conscious of my kids being very rooted, very down to earth, and Im always big on manners. I get complimented on how unaffected they are and thats because they werent brought up in Hollywood. We managed to retain some of their childhood longer than other folk. After a series of high-profile films, including Oceans Twelve and The Terminal, Catherine took some time off. Then, in 2010, Michael was diagnosed with, and recovered from, tongue cancer. She came back with a bang, most notably when she portrayed Olivia de Havilland in the 2017 miniseries Feud: Bette and Joan. Dylan and Carys were at home Dylan from college and Carys from boarding school in Europe when the pandemic struck in early 2020. What was interesting was to be together as a family. It was really comforting. I love having breakfast, lunch and dinner with them Having them home took my husband and I back to a time when they were much younger. One of the things that concerns her now is the impossible beauty standards put upon younger women through social media. I really feel sorry for my daughters generation who are inundated with images on social media with filters, she says. Theres not a real representation of a woman. I was never brought up with that. I know for sure if I was brought up in that world, it would have affected me. I ask if she ever felt she needed to put on a front. Theres a confidence Ive sometimes had to put on when I walk down a red carpet. I have my insecurities like every other woman. But as Ive got older, Ive got much more confident about the way I look. For many years now Ive shied away from pretty roles, hoping for much more fleshed-out, real, warts-and-all characters to play. There are some interesting roles out there for women and its getting better for women over a certain age. As for her take on anti-ageing treatments: I am all for whatever makes you happy. There are so many treatments now that dont make you look like youve just stepped off Mars, so it goes back to self-confidence. An inner confidence is very empowering for women. Whatever that takes, do it. Im very conscious of my kids being very rooted, very down to earth, and Im always big on manners. Credit:Getty Images Catherine now seeks out scripts that have no description of the characters looks. Most of the more interesting roles are not glamorous. For many years now Ive shied away from pretty roles, hoping for much more fleshed-out, real, warts-and-all characters to play. There are some interesting roles out there for women and its getting better for women over a certain age. She recently joined the cast of the crime drama Prodigal Son, in which she plays a crazy, bad doctor alongside fellow Welsh actor Michael Sheen. Although only a year apart in age, and both hugely successful Welsh exports, they had never met before filming Prodigal Son. I was desperate to work with Michael, says Catherine. It was like six degrees of separation we know so many of the same people! We had a fabulous time working together. But Im ready to play a British role in the UK, she adds. Im always back in the UK but I dont go to London I go straight to Wales to see family. Im a very homebody kind of person. My friends call me Cath. I speak with my mam every day, sometimes three times a day. Loading Its essential for me to have the two sides of the world. I have friends who knew me before I became known internationally, people who have been with me the whole journey. It takes those people to keep you grounded. As well as her product line and acting roles, Catherine is also producing three projects, something she loves as it gives you the opportunity to find a piece of work that youre really passionate about and then work it out with the people you love to work with. Thats where Im at now. I dont want to work with any dickheads. I just want to work with really good people and do good work. Stella Magazine, The Sunday Telegraph (UK) We thought, You know what? People sail the ocean all the time, Mr Shephard said.Why not cross the Pacific? Im sure people do it. Wed never sailed before, Ms Ilic said. I couldnt swim until three years ago. The pair downloaded a marine traffic app, and after seeing the number of private sailing boats moving through the Panama Canal, realised it was their best chance of hitching a ride home. In January they flew from Mexico City to Panama, where they spent two months trying to find someone heading in the right direction who could use some extra hands on deck. Eventually, an Australian came through who was willing to take the pair. They set off on an 8000 kilometre trip, with the man who unbeknown to them had twice before attempted to cross the Pacific, unsuccessfully. On his second trip he ended up busting his sail and his motor and spent 28 days floating between Panama and Galapagos before the Ecuadorian Coast Guard towed him 300 nautical miles to the Galapagos Islands, Mr Shephard said. But we didnt know about this until we were already in the middle of the ocean. Things also took a turn on the captains third trip, with the couple on board. The yacht took on water, lost all navigational systems and power. The scary episode is documented in one of the couples many vlogs on their YouTube channel. We ended up dumping out 356 buckets of water because the bilge pumps didnt work, Mr Shephard says. After 39 days at sea, and a three-day emergency stop in the Galapagos Islands for repairs, the trio finally made it to Hiva Oa, the second largest island in the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia. Their next ride to Fiji was found via a Facebook page with a more experienced American captain. So after a quick flight to Tahiti, the pair again set sail for another 19 days, arriving in Fiji last month. Now the pair are awaiting a ride for the final leg of their trip either someone sailing to Australia or alternatively to New Zealand, from where they could fly home under the TransTasman bubble (currently suspended due to outbreaks in NSW and Victoria). Jake and Tamara somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, vlogging about their yacht taking on water. Credit:Youtube (Lockdown Travellers) Weve still got to find a boat, but were a hell of a lot closer to Australia, Mr Shephard said. By the time they finally return to Australia, the couple estimate they will have spent $15,000 getting home from Mexico including short flights, food for boat trips and coronavirus tests. We actually worked out that we spent a third of what we would have if we booked tickets [on flights from Mexico] and thats if those tickets went ahead, they could have been cancelled, Mr Shephard said. Although theyve missed 18 months of family milestones, they count themselves luckier than many other Australians stranded overseas. Tamara two weeks from land in any direction. Credit:Facebook (Lockdown Travellers) Despite the hair-raising moments along the way, the pair have given advice to other stranded Aussies thinking of taking the high-seas home, including a man stuck in Hong Kong. He has a family of four and its going to cost them 20 grand just to fly home. And he said to me, I can buy a boat for 20 grand, Mr Shephard said. I told him, Yeah, do it man, but make sure you get someone to captain who knows what theyre doing. Professor Allen Cheng, ATAGIs co-chair, says the expert body was trying to manage the process as safely as possible. Credit:Justin McManus Now, when the case numbers increase, as youve seen from ATAGI now, their advice changes. People have understood that, but I think it has created some confusion in the public. To be clear, ATAGI modelled three scenarios based on a low, moderate and high level of COVID exposure, where low is similar to the infection rate of the national first wave, moderate is similar to Victorias second wave and high is similar to Europes January 2021 conditions. The danger of COVID is then compared to the real but extremely rare danger of thrombosis-with-thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is more common in young people. This modelling is publicly available. Australia had very low infection rates in April when ATAGI changed its advice to make Pfizer the preferred vaccine for under-50s, and in mid-June, when that changed again to under-60s. Now the situation has changed, at least in Sydney. Consequently, ATAGI updated its advice last week to stress that in an outbreak area where access to Pfizer is constrained, people under 60 should reassess the benefits to them and their contacts from getting vaccinated with AstraZeneca. ATAGI also reduced the recommended interval between AZ doses for people in an outbreak area; from 12 weeks to between four and eight weeks. People who had their first dose more than four weeks ago should arrange their second dose as soon as possible. The debate is whether ATAGIs initial approach should have given more weight to the likelihood of this kind of outbreak occurring, and therefore prioritised wider, faster vaccination - even at the risk of more cases of TTS. There is also significant consternation about the vaccine hesitancy caused by the constant revision of medical advice. Associate Professor Chris Berg, an economist at RMIT University, argued ATAGIs risk model was woefully inadequate. They seem to be just taking a snapshot of exactly where we are right now and the likelihood of getting COVID exactly right now and the danger of the vaccine exactly right now, he said. That might have made sense when thinking about the risk of the flu, which is relatively static, he said, but not in the context of the rapidly evolving coronavirus pandemic. You can model an economy in equilibrium or you can model an economy that is changing, Berg said. It seems like theyve just taken this static equilibrium without calculating the actual risk, which is: will there be an outbreak in 12 weeks or not? Professor Terry Nolan of the Doherty Institute has defended ATAGIs approach. Credit: Changing the advice once theres an outbreak is nonsensical, he said, because the outbreak has already happened and there will be a long lag before anyone caught up in it gets the protection of both jabs. Professor Michael Sherris, of the University of NSW School of Risk and Actuarial Studies, notes that in general risk modelling you do need to be forward-looking and you cant just assume that because something hasnt happened its not going to happen. Professor Terry Nolan, who heads the Doherty Institutes Vaccine and Immunisation Research Group, chaired ATAGI from 2005 to 2014. He acknowledges the shifting AstraZeneca advice has affected peoples confidence in the vaccine - including among over-60s, for whom AZ is still the preferred jab. I dont think thats ATAGIs fault though, Nolan says. You dont [avoid] a recommendation because youre frightened its going to harm confidence. This sort of recommendation was very similar to the ones made elsewhere. Nolan says ATAGI is doing its best and the root cause of our woes, boring as it is, is that we dont have enough Pfizer vaccines. They may have made mistakes in terms of judgment [but] from my point of view I dont think theyve done anything seriously wrong, he says. In Nolans view, which he has expressed before, when it became clear Australias Pfizer supplies would be crunched, ATAGI and the government should have changed tack to deliver as many first doses to people as fast as possible, instead of holding back second doses. The English and the Canadians made a decision early on [to] get as many people under one dose as they could quickly. That in retrospect was a very good decision ... we should just learn from them, Nolan says. As a country we possibly got it wrong early this year in taking it too easily, believing wed be OK, wed be safe. Increasing the pace with which we tackle all of this ... would have helped us. ATAGI chair Allen Cheng - an infectious diseases physician, professor of epidemiology and until recently Victorias deputy chief health officer - makes several points in response. Firstly, ATAGIs advice applies nationwide and has to best fit the national situation at the time. The risk calculus in Geraldton, for example, hasnt really changed compared to the calculus in western Sydney. You dont [avoid] a recommendation because youre frightened its going to harm confidence Professor Terry Nolan There were a lot of unknowns in April and it was difficult to frame the advice accordingly. Cheng also says the calculus is slightly more nuanced than just risk of TTS versus risk of COVID. The question is: between now and when you would otherwise get access to Pfizer, what is that risk [of an outbreak]? One of the unknowns is when is that point in time? We think its probably the last couple of months of the year, but we dont know for sure. ATAGIs advice on AZ puts a premium on individual circumstances and individual risk assessment. To critics, this undermines the broader community goal of getting out of the pandemic quickly. But Cheng says it is important to let people decide themselves, with assistance from their GP, given the material risk of TTS. If the risk was really very small then I dont think wed have any hesitation in recommending for the benefit of the community that everyone get vaccinated fast, he says. [Last week he tweeted: If an SCG full of younger people got vaccinated, there might be 1-2 cases of TTS.] Cheng says ATAGI considered the change advocated by his predecessor, Terry Nolan, to delay second Pfizer doses to the six-week maximum and get more first jabs into arms. We did think about that, he says. [But] in the context of a Delta outbreak you want that second dose protection. Sydney University vaccine expert Professor Julie Leask says ATAGI has acted impeccably. Credit:Louise Kennerley English studies have indicated the second Pfizer dose massively increases protection against symptomatic infection by the Delta variant. The same data showed the second AZ dose also significantly increased protection. As for Morrisons comments about ATAGIs changes delaying the rollout, Cheng says there have been a number of factors in the relatively slow uptake of vaccines in Australia. He concedes the many changes to the medical advice have reduced public confidence in the AstraZeneca vaccine. We knew that at the time, Cheng says. But were trying to provide the best advice we can to make sure that were doing this as safely as we can. Loading Australian Bureau of Statistics research released on Wednesday found 15 per cent of unvaccinated Australians named wanting a different vaccine to what is available to them as one of the factors impacting their ability to get the jab. That figure rose to 35 per cent for people aged 50 to 69, and 26 per cent for those aged over 70. One of the nations foremost vaccine communication experts, University of Sydney professor Julie Leask, says ATAGI acted impeccably and took all of the relevant factors into consideration in its decision-making. They weighed the very real, known effects on hesitancy in the population that would come, as well as the impact on Pacific Island country neighbours where there was more COVID and this could also trigger hesitancy, Leask says. In a sense they took a middle ground. They didnt say AZ was banned. They kept the option open. They were careful to say this is based on a particular context and that context could change. As Leask points out, ATAGI gives the technical advice, politicians announce it - as Morrison and his Health Minister Greg Hunt did at a hasty and dramatic 7.15pm press conference in April. And the media was quick to amplify rare clot cases and interview scared people. Loading The message about AZ not being banned for under-50s was never clearly communicated from there on, says Leask. That meant that when the PM said by the way when youre under 40 you can have the vaccine - that was always the case. The question was whether the GP or hub would offer it if you were under 40. Leask also cautions that the effect of the advice changes on hesitancy should not be overestimated. Other shop owners complained that rules on wearing masks were an infringement of civil rights and voiced a litany of conspiracy theories regarding COVID-19 vaccines. NSW Police conducted what onlookers called a blitz in Mullumbimby on July 6 to ensure compliance with public health orders. Yoga teacher and nutritionist Crystal Cook recently moved to the Northern Rivers from Melbourne and she said it was the best decision she made. Credit:Elise Derwin A spokeswoman said NSW Police only provided statewide figures on fines but asked residents to report suspected breaches or behaviour that may affect the health of the community. Comedian Mandy Nolan, who lives in Mullumbimby, said conspiracy theories were spreading as quickly as the Delta variant in Sydney. There are hashtags that equate anti-maskers to freedom fighters, she said. To me this is an obscene misunderstanding of freedom and privilege. Ms Nolan, the Greens candidate for the federal electorate of Richmond, said a targeted public education campaign was needed to allay fears and educate about the vaccine. Getting through this anti-government sentiment and encouraging the community to do the right thing requires compassion and an understanding of how Scott Morrisons failure has contributed to this problem, she said. [Local anti-vaxxers] constantly tell people to do your research, and use stay-at-home-mummy-blogger YouTube videos as evidence. Nicqui Yazdi, Flattening the Curve admin Local solicitor Mark Swivel said COVID-19 had heightened already strong opposition to vaccinations. He said friends who ran shops and cafes had been abused for asking customers to wear masks. Our social media pages are full of complaints about customers refusing to wear masks and haranguing staff, he said. For some, COVID is the departure point for a whole world of paranoid, dystopic thinking, including a plan to microchip the species using the virus. Yet health authorities do not appear concerned about vaccine hesitancy and refusal. A spokeswoman for the North Coast Public Health Unit said the local health district works closely with stakeholders to promote the uptake of vaccinations generally and provide information about its safety and benefits. Mark Swivel has a beer in the Middle Pub in Mullumbimby. He is a mayoral candidate in the coming Byron Shire Council elections and is urging residents to get vaccinated in the northern NSW hippy town Credit:Elise Derwin She said the number of COVID-19 tests had risen to 5839 last week, compared with 3849 the week before, and there was significant demand for vaccination bookings. Residents and tourists had responded well to public health measures designed to curb the spread of COVID-19, she said. Loading Data from NSW Health shows about 63 per cent of two-year-old children are vaccinated in the Byron Shire local government area compared with a state average of 91 per cent but these figures hide even lower vaccination rates in Mullumbimby. Less than half of two-year-olds in the town were fully immunised in 2015-16, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare said. Byron Shire mayor Michael Lyon said vaccination was a divisive issue and I dont think it serves us as a community to continually debate it. It doesnt change anything, and ultimately people are entitled to make their own decisions in accordance with the law, he said. But Mr Swivel, who is a mayoral candidate in the coming Byron Shire Council elections, published a media statement earlier this month urging residents to get vaccinated. He said Mullumbimby had high rates of vaccine hesitancy and refusal. Loading Some shop signs ask people whove had the COVID-19 vaccine not to enter for two weeks after the jab because they risk shedding the virus and infecting others, he said. Some have called Mr Swivels pro-vaccination stance brave. On social media he has been labelled a danger if he gets in, and been told his pro-vaccination stance is potentially shooting yourself in your own political foot, doing his campaign a major disservice. Ive been called brainwashed, a moron and vanilla man, Mr Swivel said. Opponents are vehement. I would describe many comments Ive received online as verbal stoning. As a candidate for mayor, Ive had many say they wont vote for me and telling others not to. Mr Swivel said many local politicians were afraid to challenge anti-vaxxers. Facebook page Flattening the Curve, which aims to counter vaccine hesitancy, features anecdotes about shops flouting regulations on mask-wearing. The pages administrator, Nicqui Yazdi, said many customers baulked at using QR codes to check in when entering a shop. Unmasked local and musician Denis Pierre Johnson. Credit:Elise Derwin Public noticeboards were also filled with anti-mask posters, as well as conspiracy theories. Arrogant tourists also flaunted COVID restrictions, Ms Yazdi said, because they are on holidays and there are no rules on holidays. Ms Yazdi said vaccine hesitancy was rife in northern NSW, where there were more healers than GPs, and it was egged on by very loud anti-vax conspiracy groups. They constantly tell people to do your research, and use stay-at-home-mummy-blogger YouTube videos as evidence, she said. Or tell you to stop watching mainstream media, as it is all government lies. Or call you a sheeple if you do follow the science and vaccinate. Ms Yazdi said vaccines had been hard to get in the region, which was made worse by the absolute lack of any public information for this area as to where to get vaccinated. There has been no real campaign for compliance in this area from the health services or the police, she said. If COVID ever does take off here, it will be catastrophic due to the low rate of vaccine uptake and the high rate of blatant non-compliance, and of course the holiday attitude of tourists and visitors, who far outweigh locals in number. Its hard to engage in this type of learning but it must not be impossible, because NSW has a massive distance education program, she said. Theres a huge number of teachers in Dubbo [School of Distance Education] who just do this all day and every day. Some parents say their children finish the work within an hour, and, as one said, wreak havoc with little to do for the rest of the day. But a light touch approach suits Justine Toh, who is happy with the online lessons her children, who are in kindergarten and year 1, are being given. My kindy kid is getting five or six activities a day, she said. Realistically, it would be great if they said, if you have a kindy and a year 1, dont even worry about it. Paul Thurtell, a father of primary school students in Sydneys north and an IT expert, wonders why teachers and parents are still having to switch between Google Classroom, Zoom and other programs when the department has streamlined, cloud-based options that would be much easier to use. Its a whole mixed bag of everything, he said. I really feel for the teachers. Its also frustrating as a parent, knowing they could have well moved forward in this virtual space. Theyve had a whole year to do it, and another lockdown was always a possibility. The NSW Department of Education said it has put options and resources for schools on its learning from home hub, which include support for planning, programming and running remote classes, as well as guides about how much work students should be given. The Department has a range of high-quality teaching and learning resources on the Learning from Home Hub, which includes resources from Distance Education, a spokeswoman said. The Learning from Home hub also provides support to school leaders in planning their response to remote learning and access to a range of professional learning for school staff. Much of this advice draws upon the experiences of our Distance Education and Technology for Learning teams with expertise in remote delivery. Lindfield East Public school classroom with teacher Deanna Sonter remote teaching with zoom. Credit:Louie Douvis The diversity of remote learning approaches even within the public system is due to many factors - not least of which that no school can please all families, which have widely different needs even within a single class. In disadvantaged areas, schools may be inclining towards physical packs, which families come to collect, said Craig Petersen, the head of the Secondary Principals Council. In some cases, too there are requests from parents to use less Zoom. If youre zooming a lesson live and you miss it for some reason, youve missed it. Thats also important if theres limited technology in the household, and so youre not sitting in front of a screen all day. Another factor is a major change to the department less than 10 years ago that gave principals much more power to decide the teaching and learning strategy for their own community, with little intervention from a stripped-down department. School autonomy helps principals respond quickly to the needs of their community, but it means the states 2200 public schools also operate like franchises, making it impossible for the department to suddenly revert to a centralised system in a time of crisis. With each school and, often, stage, developing its own approach, those with less tech-savvy principals or teachers are more likely to limit their online delivery. Mr Petersen suggested parents give schools constructive feedback or ask for help if they are struggling with remote learning. They should be giving two lots of feedback - whats really working well, and whats not working for my child and me. After a week of remote learning, St Scholasticas College in Glebe has decided to combine the best of last years approach with the best of this years by reducing face-to-face instruction time to 65-70 minute lessons, allowing an extra session for pastoral support, extension activities and small-group tuition. Loading We will make necessary adjustments to our work to ensure we are offering the best possible education for the girls, principal Kate Rayment wrote in an email to parents. Many teachers are also frustrated, having thrown together online learning programs quickly over the school holidays as the COVID-19 situation rapidly deteriorated, and organising two more weeks after lockdown was extended. When children returned to NSW classrooms in May last year after seven weeks learning at home, they were four months behind, on average. More than 3000 students never even made it back to school. Now, as COVID-19 once more makes its way through a largely unvaccinated population in greater Sydney, we are asking our children and young people to sacrifice their learning and associated wellbeing again, mostly to protect adults who are far more likely than children to suffer severe illness or death from COVID-19. Remote learning must be a short-term measure. As the British Medical Journal said in an editorial last month, This pandemic has seen an unprecedented intergenerational transfer of harm and costs from elderly socio-economically privileged people to disadvantaged children. Multiple global studies have outlined the harms children suffer as result of school closures, and not just to their education. School closures are also associated with increased mental health problems and they leave children more vulnerable to abuse and neglect because teachers are less likely to identify and report children at risk. A long labour. A baby in distress. An emergency C-section. It was exactly this kind of difficult birth that Samantha Houteas had anticipated when she and her husband recruited a doula to support them from pregnancy to parenting. Last Sunday, the Houteases had a healthy baby girl. They were devastated, though, that their doula Gabriela Fearn was not allowed to accompany them to the hospital because of lockdown limits on visitors. This was despite a letter from their psychologists seeking an exemption on the basis that the couple, who have both had mental illness issues, needed support because they were at increased risk of perinatal depression. Samantha and Stephen Houteas with their one week old daughter. Credit:Steven Siewert Now at home in Sydneys inner west with a week-old baby girl, the couple is feeling isolated without the usual visits from grandparents and others. It is quite upsetting that we dont have the support we need, Ms Houteas said. Midwives and mental health experts warn Sydneys current restrictions could result in a cohort of new parents at even greater risk of postnatal depression than usual. A specialist dentist has won a $170,000 payout for a one-star Google review after she claimed that she had been defamed online by one of her patients. Victorias County Court this week awarded aggravated damages and all legal costs to Dr Allison Dean from Kew Periodontics and Dental Implants after she took action against former patient Catherine Puleio. Dr Allison Dean was defamed by one of her patients, a court has ruled. Ms Puleio told The Age that she was not aware that a judgment had been made against her and that she was worried about losing her house as she couldnt afford an appeal. According to the court judgment, Ms Puleio posted four defamatory publications on Google reviews under the names Cat and Daniela after she had several appointments at Dr Deans practice in 2019. As Victoria entered its fifth lockdown this week there were worrying signs Australias response to the COVID pandemic had descended into an internecine blame game. States were slamming borders shut (again). Victoria (rightly) wondered why NSW would be getting a more generous Commonwealth handout to cover COVID joblessness to which the federal Treasurer responded that the Victorian government was being petulant, childish and playing politics. Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday. Credit:Getty/Robert Cianflon Even the Prime Minister, whose modus operandi has largely been to skate above the details and bask in Australias overall COVID success, this week appeared to blame the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisations for slowing the vaccine rollout. Premier Daniel Andrews usually prefers a straight bat but neither could he resist a dig at NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. You only get one chance to go hard and go fast, he said, announcing our five-day shutdown in a way that suggested Sydney had done neither. In a grim news week, the intervention of former prime minister Kevin Rudd in the vaccine rollout debacle was a welcome spot of mischief. Last Sunday the ABCs Laura Tingle broke the story that in late June, senior Australian business figures based in the United States took matters into their own hands regarding the leisurely Pfizer vaccine rollout in Australia. They reportedly discussed making contact with the vaccine manufacturer in the US to see whether it could fast-forward its Pfizer deliveries to Australia, to get more of us vaccinated sooner. A welcome distraction? We are amused, Kevin Rudd. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The situation was considered especially urgent given the emergence in Australia of the Delta variant, the variant that has now forced our two largest cities 11 million people into miserable lockdown. Tingle reported that a senior businessman, who she chose not to name, met US Pfizer executives, who made it known they were dismayed and offended that Prime Minister Scott Morrison had not made personal overtures to their global chief, Albert Bourla. Apparently this is something Israels Benjamin Netanyahu had done about 30 times. More than 12 million Australians across Sydney and all of Victoria are in lockdown this weekend as the Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to spread. For Sydney, its the most serious COVID-19 outbreak since the start of the pandemic and it looks likely - as Premier Gladys Berejiklian ramped up restrictions on Saturday - that there are weeks of pain ahead. Scott Morrison and Gladys Berejiklian announce the new financial package for NSW. Credit:Wolter Peeters For lockdown-weary Melbourne, enduring its fifth stay-at-home stint since the pandemic began, there is a palpable sense of resignation the move is necessary. But its mixed with disappointment - and anger at the removalists who brought the infection over the border. The past week was also another fine illustration of Australias messy federal system, as the Prime Minister and state premiers battled it out over additional financial assistance - the terms of which were adjusted three times - and squabbled politically over whether Scott Morrisons home state of New South Wales had received special treatment. SoftBank-backed mobility firm Ola said that its electric scooter received a record-breaking 100,000 bookings within the first 24 hours, making it the most pre-booked scooter in the world. Ola Electric opened the bookings for its electric scooter on the evening of July 15. The Ola Scooter can be booked for Rs 499 via olaelectric.com. The company said it is seeing unprecedented demand from customers who continue to throng the website to book the scooter in record numbers. I am thrilled by the tremendous response from customers across India for our first electric vehicle. The unprecedented demand is a clear indicator of shifting consumer preferences to EVs, said Bhavish Aggarwal, chairman and group CEO, Ola. This is a huge step forward in our mission to transition the world to sustainable mobility. I thank all the consumers who have booked the Ola Scooter and have joined the EV revolution. This is only the beginning! The Ola Scooter, a product from Ola Electric, will be priced aggressively to make it widely accessible. Ola will reveal the features and price in the coming days. The Ola Scooter will be manufactured in India at the companys state-of-the-art Futurefactory, being set up in Tamil Nadu. The first phase of the Ola Futurefactory is nearing completion and will be operationalised soon. The full capacity of 10 million vehicles per annum will be built by next year. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor The housing finance arm of state-run Life Insurance Corp, LIC Housing Finance, on Saturday said stock exchanges are examining its proposal of of shares to the parent company. In June this year, had informed that LIC will infuse equity capital of about Rs 2,334.70 crore in the subsidiary by picking up an additional stake. (LIC HFL) fixed the issue price for the shares at Rs 514.25 apiece to its promoter of India (LIC) on a preferential basis. The company has, vide an email dated July 16, 2021, from BSE India Limited and National Stock Exchange of India Limited, received information the said is under examination by the exchanges, said in a regulatory filing. "It has further received a direction from the said exchanges that in the interest of investors in the securities market, the voting in the EGM may be carried on. However, the results of the voting on agenda item no. 1 may not be made public and the same shall be kept in a sealed cover pending the completion of examination," it said in the filing. The company said, in compliance with the directions of the stock exchanges, it will not made public the voting results. The same shall be kept in a sealed cover pending the completion of examination by the relevant authorities, it said. "The company is considering all its option regarding the said matter and we would like to categorically state the company has fully complied with the applicable provision for valuation of the equity shares offered to LIC on a preferential basis," said the housing financier. The company's EGM is scheduled for Monday, July 19, for the matter of of shares to LIC to be taken up for the approval of shareholders. LIC Housing Finance said it received email from BSE and NSE on July 12, seeking clarifications on compliance with the Provisions of Articles of Association (AOA) of the company regarding process arrived for the valuation at which the said equity shares are offered to LIC. It said the company had provided the clarification that "there is no violation of the provisions of AOA as the price has been duly determined in accordance with the relevant provisions of the AOA as well as the Act, 2013 and SEBI (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2018". The latest email of July 16 from the stock exchanges also sought further clarifications on why valuation report of a registered valuer has not been considered while determining the price of such shares proposed to be issued on preferential basis, it added. "The company had again reiterated that, the price for the preferential allotment has been arrived at in compliance with the provisions of AOA, the Act," it said further. Under the issue, LIC Housing Finance will allot 4,54,00,000 shares to of India (LIC). "The issue price of the equity share of the face value of Rs 2 each shall be Rs 514.25 apiece, which is the price calculated as per Sebi regulations, 2018," LIC HFL said in June. The matter assumes significance as the PNB Housing Finance's proposed Rs 4,000 crore capital infusion in lieu of preference shares to investors led by US based Carlyle group has come under the scanner of the capital market regulator and the matter has now reached the Securities Appellate Tribunal. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Home Minister on Saturday asserted that all gaps with neighbouring and Bangladesh will be filled till 2022. Shah made the announcement while addressing the 18th Border Security Force (BSF) Investiture Ceremony. Noting that fencing on border with neighbouring and Bangladesh is significant in view of security, Shah said, "There is no benefit of fencing the border if gaps are not completely filled. I want to ensure that there will be no gap in fencing on border by 2022." The minister said that all issues related to the fencing project have been resolved and if there is any hurdle found during implementation of the goal in future will also be solved. India has been erecting fences to plug vulnerable and infiltration-prone patches along its sensitive border with and Bangladesh for long and there is lot of work that is happening to secure the borders. The Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) that entails deployment of smart fences, advanced surveillance gadgets and anti-infiltration alarms has been sped up by the border management division under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Border Security Force along the borders with the two nations. --IANS rak/in (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Home Minister Saturday asserted that unfenced gaps along India's over 7,500-km-long land border will be sealed before 2022, thus covering areas that lead to infiltration and smuggling of arms and narcotics. He also asserted that India's security policy was either "influenced or was overlapping" with the foreign policy and it was only after Narendra Modi became prime minister that the country got an independent security strategy. Shah was delivering the annual 'Rustamji memorial lecture' instituted by the Border Security Force (BSF) in the memory of its first director general (DG) K F Rustamji. An officer of the 1938 batch of the British-era Imperial Police, Rustamji headed the 1965 raised force for nine years. He died in 2003. Shah also gave away gallantry medals to the serving personnel and to the family members of those who were killed in the line of duty from the country's largest frontier force. "I assure that there will no gap in our fencing before 2022 (2022 se pehle)," he said. Shah said about three per cent of the unfenced area leaves a "big gap" and makes the border vulnerable for infiltration of terrorists and other border crimes like smuggling of arms, ammunition and narcotics among others. India has fenced borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh and there are certain areas including the riverines ones which are not fenced. The Modi government has been plugging these gaps after resolving administrative obstacles and even by talking to neighbouring countries, he said. "I believe that (ensuring) border security is (ensuring) security," Shah said adding they are developing a "new model" of the border fence that cannot be cut or broken. He also spoke about the security policy of the Modi government. "I used to think if there is a security policy of this country or not? Till Narendra Modi became the prime minister we did not have any independent security policy," Shah said. "It was either influenced by foreign policy or it was overlapping with the foreign policy," he said. After Modi became prime minister, the country got an independent security policy. "Our idea is to have peaceful relations with all but if someone disturbs our borders, if someone challenges our sovereignty, the priority of our security policy is that such an attempt will be replied in the same language," Shah said. He said this security policy was a "big achievement" as the country wanted such a good plan. "I believe without this (security policy) neither the country can progress nor democracy can prosper," the home minister said. "Modiji (PM) has done this big job. I do not want to give examples as it is well known," he said adding the policy was made operational on the ground by his government. Shah said India was working to soon develop an indigenous counter-drone technology, which is being carried out by technical organisations like the DRDO and some other agencies. His comments came in the backdrop of the first-ever drone attack on the IAF station in Jammu last month where two unmanned aerial vehicles dropped bombs injuring two airmen and damaging a portion of a building inside. He added that the security establishment of the country is preparing a long-drawn project to thwart artificial intelligence and robotic technology enabled attacks from across the borders. Shah gave out figures to showcase how the Modi government worked to enhance and fortify border security. He said while only 3,600 km of border roads were made between 2008-14, the period between 2014-20 (Modi being the PM) it has seen a jump of 3.5 times with 4,764 km of these roads being constructed. The budget for this job was enhanced from Rs 23,000 crore to 44,000 crore, a total of 14,450 metres of bridges were made during 2014-20 as compared to 7,270 metres made during 2008-14, he said. While one border tunnel for transportation was made earlier, six tunnels have been made by the Modi government in the last one year while 19 such structures are in the pipeline, Shah said. Similarly, a total of 170 km of border roads were resurfaced during 2008-14 and it was enhanced to 380 km after the Modi government came to power. The cutting and formatting of roads along the China border has now been enhanced to 470 km per year as compared to the earlier 230 km per year. Shah said the government has sanctioned 32 more border roads measuring about 683 km for the Sino-India frontier. "The prime minister believes that till border infrastructure is upgraded and strengthened the security forces will not be able to do their job properly." "The PM has said that if border infrastructure is not proper the local population will continue to migrate from these areas and this will make our borders unsafe," he said. The home minister stressed that forces like the BSF should take steps to ensure that border population is provided all basic amenities and that they do not migrate to other area because of these issues. The officers of these forces should execute "out of routine" thinking and plan so that we are two steps ahead of the adversary, he said. He asked them to maintain "regular touch" with their troops, resolve their problems and also take feedback from them. BSF DG Rakesh Asthana said during the event that the force has made 61 drone sightings and unearthed 4 tunnels along the western front in the last one year. The about 2.65 lakh personnel strong BSF guards over 6,300 km of Indian fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh on the east. Ministers of state for home Nityanand Rai, Ajay Kumar Mishra, home secretary Ajay Bhalla, Intelligence Bureau director Arvind Kumar and RAW chief Samant Goel attended the event. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The was handed over its first two MH-60R Seahawk multi-role (MRHs) in a ceremony held at San Diego, the US, on Friday. The helicopters, which are the first of 24 Seahawks contracted last year by the for $2.12 billion, were formally accepted by Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Indias ambassador to the US. Another four Seahawks are expected to be delivered this year by Sikorsky Helicopters, which is a part of the worlds largest defence firm, Lockheed Martin. These MRHs will operate off naval warship decks to perform a range of combat missions. These include anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), combat search and rescue (CSAR), vertical replenishment (VERTREP) and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC). The Seahawk is also designed to fly in Special Forces teams into enemy territory for commando missions. MH-60R is an all-weather helicopter designed to support multiple missions with state-of-the-art avionics and sensors. The would also be modified with several India unique equipment and weapons. In order to exploit these potent helicopters, the first batch of Indian crew are presently undergoing training in the US, stated the on Saturday. Introduced into the in 2006, there are over 300 Seahawks in service worldwide, including in the US, Danish, Australian and Saudi Arabian navies. According to Lockheed Martin, the Seahawk has a 98 per cent mission availability rate and the lowest life-cycle cost in its class, costing less than $5,000 for each flying hour. MH-60R is the most advanced maritime multi-mission helicopter in operation - deployed globally, and its mission performance by far, second to none. We appreciate the tremendous confidence placed in Team Seahawk by the Indian Navy through their selection of the Romeo, said William L. Blair, chief of Lockheed Martin India. Successive Indian Navy chiefs have identified the shortage of MRHs as one of the navys biggest operational deficits. Presently, the navy makes do with barely 10 Seaking Mark 42B/C that are decades old. As the Seakings retired, helicopter hangars on board the navys aircraft carriers, destroyers and frigates emptied, severely reducing the warships combat capability. Given this shortfall, the navy contracted for 24 MH-60R Seahawks in fully-built condition under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. This is a US-led process that involves no tendering. Instead, the Pentagon acts as an agent of the buyer (the Indian Navy), and negotiates price and supply terms with the US vendor (in this case, Lockheed Martin). FMS procurements come with US government guarantees on weapons and equipment performance. In many FMS purchases, the foreign buyer manages to procure the equipment for less than what the US military paid, since the Pentagon benchmarks the price to what the US military paid for its last procurement of that equipment. Alongside the FMS purchase of 24 Seahawks, tendering is under way for another 99 Seahawks that are proposed to be built in India through the Strategic Partner (SP) route. The procurement of 24 Seahawks was cleared by the defence ministry on August 25, 2018. On April 2, 2019 the Pentagon notified the US Congress about the potential sale for an estimated cost of $2.6 billion. According to the Pentagon notification, the sale is for 24 fully kitted and armed helicopters, along with 12 spare engines, six spare multi-mode radars and six multi-spectral targeting systems. Also included are 1,000 sonobuoys, or portable sonar systems, for detecting enemy submarines; and Hellfire missiles, rockets and torpedoes to destroy surface and sub-surface targets. A range of communications equipment is also included, the transfer of which is now enabled by the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) that New Delhi and Washington signed in September 2018. Sikorsky has a storied history in helicopter development. In 1957, it built the first helicopter to carry a US president Dwight D Eisenhower. Even today, the US presidents helicopter, designated Marine One, is a Sikorsky machine. The famed UH-60 Black Hawk, a stealth variant of which was used in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan, is built by Sikorsky. In a separate, ongoing, navy procurement for 111 naval utility helicopters, Lockheed Martin is offering its smaller Sikorsky S-76 helicopter. The annual Kanwar Yatra in has been cancelled this year, a senior government official said here on Saturday night. The development came a day after the said it cannot allow the government "to hold 100 percent physical Kanwar Yatra in view of COVID", stressing that sentiments, including religious, are subservient to the Right to Life. "The Kanwar Yatra has been cancelled by the Kanwar Sanghs on the appeal of the government," Additional Chief Secretary Information Navneet Sehgal said on Sunday. The yatra was scheduled to start on July 25. The Uttarakhand government has already called off the Kanwar Yatra citing fears expressed by experts of a possible third wave of the pandemic and the risk posed by such gatherings. The yatra goes on till the first week of August and sees thousands of Shiva devotees called kanwariyas' travelling mostly on foot from neighbouring states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi to collect water from the Ganges in Haridwar. The Centre had told the top court that the state governments must not permit any kind of Kanwar yatra because of the pandemic and arrangements should be made for water from the Ganges to be available through tankers at designated places. Uttar Pradesh had said it was going ahead with a pared-down symbolic version. Earlier on Friday, the which had taken suo motu cognisance of the matter had asked the to inform by July 19 whether it would reconsider its decision to hold a "symbolic" Kanwar Yatra. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre has placed an order to procure 660 million more doses of Covishield and Covaxin to be supplied between August and December this year, at a revised price of Rs 205 and Rs 215 per dose, respectively, excluding taxes, official sources said. They said 375 million of Covishield doses from the Serum Institute of India and 285 million Covaxin doses from Bharat Biotech will be procured by December. "An order to procure 66 crore more doses of COVID-19 vaccines--Covishield and Covaxin--to be supplied between August and December, at a revised price of Rs 205 and Rs 215 per dose, respectively, excluding taxes, has been placed," the source said. The price of each dose of Covishield amounts to Rs 215.25 and Covaxin Rs 225.75, including taxes, it said. The Union health ministry which was procuring both the vaccines at Rs 150 per dose, had indicated that the prices would be revised after the new COVID-19 vaccine procurement policy came into effect from June 21. Under the new policy, the ministry will procure 75 per cent of the vaccines being produced by the drug manufacturers in the country. While the Centre has asked both the vaccine manufacturing firms to scale up their production, the manufacturers had indicated that getting Rs 150 for each dose while making investments to ramp up the production was not viable for them, sources said. The Union government had earlier allowed states and private hospitals to procure 50 per cent of the vaccines following demands for decentralisation of the process. However, after several states complained of problems including of funding, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the revision of the vaccine guidelines on June 8. Domestic vaccine manufacturers are given the option to provide 25 per cent of their monthly production of vaccines to private hospitals. According to the revised guidelines which came into effect from June 21, vaccine doses provided free of cost by the Centre will be allocated to states/UTs based on criteria such as population, disease burden and the progress of vaccination, and all above the age of 18 will be eligible for the free jabs. Any wastage of vaccine will affect the allocation negatively. The states and UTs would aggregate the demand of private hospitals keeping in view equitable distribution between large and small private hospitals and regional balance. "Based on this aggregated demand, the Government of India will facilitate the supply of these vaccines to the private hospitals and their payment through the National Health Authority's electronic platform. This would enable the smaller and remoter private hospitals to obtain a timely supply of vaccines, and further equitable access and regional balance," the ministry had said. The price of vaccine doses for private hospitals would be declared by each vaccine manufacturer, and any subsequent changes would be notified in advance, it said. More than 41.69 crore vaccine doses have been provided to states and UTs so far, through all sources, the health ministry said on Saturday. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To encourage and promote small industries in the rural areas, the government will soon introduce the 'One Block, One Product' scheme, Deputy Chief Minister said on Saturday. Under the scheme, the state government plans to connect every block of the state with some industrial vision and the government is working expeditiously on this scheme, he added. The Deputy Chief Minister informed that in the last one year, Haryana's 'One District, One Product' Scheme which is being implemented under MSME, has come up as a model across the country. "Moreover, it has been adopted by the Central Government in its budget as well," he said in a statement here. While promoting this scheme further, he said that the state government would take it up at the block level in rural areas as well. Chautala informed that the state government is planning to introduce One Block, One Product in 137 blocks of the state, wherein arrangements for common services, lab testing, packaging, transportation, accountancy will be set up in the cluster itself. He said that with this, the small entrepreneurs working in rural areas would be able to compete with large industries. The Deputy Chief Minister said that about two weeks ago, the state government had given a target to the team of officers constituted with regard to implementation of this Scheme. Chautala expressed contentment that the team had started work on the selection of products by segregating 137 blocks. He said that during this process a block of state also came to fore in which a wide array of (about 300 types) of traditional footwear are manufactured. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Hungarian government will offer citizens the option of receiving a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine starting in August, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday. The third dose will be available to all people regardless of age, health condition or which vaccine he initially received, Orban said in an interview with public radio. The government recommends, but does not require, a third dose to be injected at least four months after the second, and doctors can choose whether to give the patient a different vaccine than those he has previously received. "There is no reason to fear a third dose of the vaccine. If people are not afraid and their sense of security is enhanced if they receive it, why would we deny them that option? Orban asked. is the last European country to offer a third dose of the vaccine in the midst of concerns that some vaccines do not provide full protection against COVID-19. In May, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain announced they would offer a third dose to those who received the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine after expressed concerns that it was not developing enough antibodies to protect against the virus. In Hungary, which also uses the Sinopharm vaccine, some have expressed concern that they are not fully protected from OVID-19, and have requested a third dose, according to an American news agency reports. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Italy's national Covid-19 reproduction number and incidence rate have both increased again in recent days, the latest monitoring survey published by the Health Ministry and the National Health Institute (ISS) showed on Friday. The new figures suggest a trend reversal as the preceding weeks had been marked by declines in both indicators, Xinhua reported. The COVID-19 incidence rate -- the number of people testing positive over the total number of people who underwent a swab test in the period -- grew to 19 cases per 100,000 people from 11 a week earlier. The survey also showed that the number of infections was on the rise in 12 of the country's 20 regions in the past 14 days (ending on July 14). The overall reproduction number (Rt) was 0.91 in the week of July 7-14 against 0.66 in the previous one. "The transmission rate is worsening again, and several regions are now moderate risk areas," ISS President Silvio Brusaferro told a press conference. "Luckily, the impact of COVID-19 on hospitals at this stage remains minimal," he said. He warned about the potential effects of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in the coming weeks, stressing that contact tracing and quarantining infected people will remain crucial to counterbalance those. Meanwhile, the vaccination campaign is continuing at full steam. The northeastern Veneto region and the islands of Sicily and Sardinia are the three regions currently reporting the highest reproduction numbers, according to the ISS. Those areas will remain under monitoring, and next week they may even be moved back to the so-called "yellow zone" -- the second lowest tier in Italy's color-coded system with the least amount of COVID-19 restrictions. Currently, the whole country is in the low-risk "white zone," which means practically no restrictions except for the mandatory use of face masks and social distancing indoors. In light of the summer holiday period, and especially the higher transmission rate of the Delta COVID-19 variant, the ISS warned that "the transmission number in in August might range between the (minimum) values of 0.58-0.62 and the (maximum) values of 0.8-1.3." --IANS int/pgh (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Committee to Protect (CPJ) on Saturday said Afghan authorities must conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the killing of Reuters photojournalist Danish Siddiqui. Pulitzer Prize winner Siddiqui was killed while covering a clash between Afghan security forces and fighters in the town of Spin Boldak, near the border with Pakistan. In a statement posted to Twitter, Reuters President Michael Friedenberg and editor-in-chief Alessandra Galloni wrote that the agency was "urgently seeking more information" about the circumstances surrounding the journalist's death. "The death today of Reuters photojournalist Danish Siddiqui is a tragic notice that even as the US and its partners withdraw forces, will continue to work in Afghanistan, documenting whatever comes next at great risk to their lives," said Steven Butler, CPJ's Asia program coordinator, in Washington, DC. "Combatants need to take responsibility for safeguarding journalists, as dozens of have been killed in this conflict, with little or no accountability." According to CPJ, Siddiqui was embedded with Afghan special forces at the time of his death and was covering fighting between Afghan forces and fighters, according to those reports. He told his employer that he had been wounded in the arm by shrapnel earlier today while reporting, and had resumed work after receiving medical treatment. Siddiqui was talking to shopkeepers when the attacked and was killed in a subsequent crossfire, an Afghan commander told Reuters. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters that the group had not been aware there was a journalist on the scene and said it was unclear how Siddiqui was killed. Siddiqui was a member of the Reuters photography team that won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for feature photography for "shocking photographs that exposed the world to violence Rohingya refugees faced in fleeing Myanmar. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government on Saturday said that it will not allow employees posted in the civil secretariat and directorate offices to join duty and stop their salaries if they are not vaccinated against or fail to provide Covid negative certificates every 15 days. The High Powered Committee (HPC) on COVID-19 made the decision on Friday in the interests of public health and safety, Chief Secretary J Alam said in an order. "All employees/staff in the Civil Secretariat and Directorates will be required to be vaccinated to attend office, or to produce COVID-19 negative test report by getting tested every 15-days through either RT-PCR, TruNat, or CBNAAT on self-payment basis as per government approved rates," the order stated. The salaries of those who have not taken a single dose of the vaccine against or who will fail to furnish COVID-19 negative test report will be stopped beyond July 31, 2021, and they would not attend office, it said. The period of absence of such employees will be treated as leave without pay, the order said. The chief secretary directed the head of departments in the secretariat and directorates to enforce the directive and submit a report to the Home Department on or before 15th of every month giving in detail the status of vaccination or submission of Covid-19 negative test report of all employees, and the salaries deducted until further notice. Meanwhile, would be entering into the Unlock-3 phase from Sunday. The chief secretary issued another order extending the ongoing measures for 15 more days from July 18 to August 1 in the state with further relaxations. Colleges are allowed to reopen from July 26 provided all teaching and non-teaching staff have taken both doses of Covid vaccine or at least 15 days have passed since they were administered the first dose, the order said. Schools are also allowed to reopen for classes 11 and 12 from August 2 if the same conditions as for the colleges are met, it said. A government spokesperson on Friday had said that schools would be allowed to reopen for classes 11 and 12 from July 26. Social, political, religious and other gatherings are allowed to a maximum of 50 people when the events are held indoors, and a maximum of 100 people when they are conducted outdoors, subject to strict adherence to Covid appropriate behaviours. Restaurants can resume operations at 50 per cent capacity if the employees are fully vaccinated or at least a fortnight has passed after they took the first dose, the order said. District authorities have been asked to map areas for micro-containment zones in case the situation so warrants, as per the detailed guidelines to be issued. The order stated that returnees and travellers entering the state who are asymptomatic and fully vaccinated will not be tested for COVID-19 at the point of entry or quarantined. Those who have taken the first dose of the vaccine and at least 15 days have passed since taking it will be quarantined for seven days, the order said. The chief secretary also asked District Task Forces to enforce that people like shopkeepers, barbers and taxi drivers display their vaccination status. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) president met Prime Minister here on Saturday. The Prime Minister's Office tweeted a picture of their meeting but shared no details about their talks. In a tweet Pawar said, "Met the Hon. Prime Minister of our country Shri Had a discussion on various issues of interest." The meeting comes two days before Parliament's Monsoon session starts on Monday. A veteran leader widely recognised for his political acumen, Pawar is the main architect of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra and is seen as a lynchpin for any future opposition alliance against the BJP. Squabble among alliance partners over one issue or another has often come to the fore, with state Congress president Nana Patole's frequent digs at other two partners -- the Shiv Sena and the -- making news of late. The 80-year-old veteran leader is also known for his warm relations with politicians across party affiliations. Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Piyush Goyal had met Pawar on Friday. While the defence minister had briefed Pawar, also a former defence minister, on the border row involving China, Goyal had met him as part of the government's outreach to opposition leaders before the session starts. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Odisha's COVID-19 caseload surged to 9,52,111 on Saturday after 2,182 more people tested positive for the virus, while 67 fresh fatalities pushed the death toll to 4,992, a health department official said. The state now has 21,540 active cases, and 5,25,526 patients have so far recovered from the disease, including 2,317 since Friday, he said. Of the new fatalities reported from 15 districts, Khurda alone accounted for 25 deaths, followed by Ganjam (8), Sundargarh (7), Mayurbhanj and Puri (6 each), Bargarh (4) and Nayagarh (3). A total of 53 other COVID-19 patients have also died due to comorbidities, the official said. The fresh infections, detected in all the 30 districts, include 510 from Khurda, Cuttack (308), Jajpur (175) and Balasore (161). Odisha has thus far conducted over 1.49 crore sample tests for COVID-19, taking into account 73,027 in the past 24 hours. The positivity rate stands at 6.35 per cent. Meanwhile, the Health and Family Welfare Department has asked all district collectors and commissioners of municipal corporations to ensure 100 per cent vaccination of transgenders. In a letter to the district authorities, the department said the Union Health Ministry has called for inoculation of all transgenders without any discrimination or causing any inconvenience and social stigma. "If such persons don't have any identity card, then SoPs communicated earlier regarding vaccination of citizens without any prescribed ID card shall be followed, and registration and vaccination will be ensured," the letter said. Till Friday, 1,39,31,378 people were vaccinated in the state. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The cumulative number of COVID-19 doses administered in the country has gone past 40 crore with over 46.38 lakh doses given on Saturday, according to the Union A total of 21,18,682 beneficiaries in the age group of 18-44 years received the first dose, while 2,33,019 were administered the second dose of the on Saturday, the ministry said. "India's cumulative COVID coverage has surpassed 40 crore (40,44,67,526)," according to a provisional report compiled at 7 pm. More than 46.38 lakh (46,38,106) doses were administered on Saturday, the report said. Cumulatively, 12,40,07,069 people in the 18-44 age group have received the first dose and 48,50,858 have been administered the second dose across the 37 states and Union territories since the start of the third phase of the nationwide drive. Eight states -- Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra -- have administered the first dose of the vaccine to more than 50 lakh beneficiaries in the 18-44 age group each. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Uttarakhand and West Bengal have administered the first dose of the vaccine to more than 10 lakh beneficiaries in the 18-44 age group each. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister on Friday announced the COVID assistance package of Rs 453.50 crore for self-help groups under According to the announcement, Rs 169 crore will be given to the 338 block-level federations for the construction of their own Bhavan, a revolving fund of Rs 84.50 crore for the business development and 200 crores will be provided towards interest subvention on bank loans to the Self Help Groups (SHGs) under the state Mission Shakti. "Today is a historic day and the Mission Shakti Bhavan, which will be constructed at block-level for self-help groups will be used for training, the opening of sales outlets for manufactured goods and discuss their own programs," he said. Speaking on the occasion Chief Minister said, "The Mission Shakti is a huge institution of 70 lakh Women and the development force of Odisha." Expressing confidence in their ability, the Chief Minister said, "You go ahead, I am with you." The Chief Minister also said that the Women have enhanced the reputation of the Mission Shakti movement by doing a lot of good things, starting with the management of temporary health centers during the COVID period, making masks, creating awareness among the people. "I have always said that if women are empowered, the family and society will be empowered and the nation will be strong. The course of history will also change."He further said the state government had sanctioned Rs 84.50 crore as a revolving fund to the Block Level Federation's adding that the state government is providing interest-free loans to the women of Mission Shakti. "Last year, the state government paid Rs 125 crore as interest rebates, but this year it has increased to Rs 200 crore,". As per Sujata R Karthikeyan, Commissioner Mission Shakti, In the last two years goods and services of worth Rs 2,800 crore have been procured from various self-help groups of Mission Shakti, she said that the target is to provide Rs 6,000 crore bank loans to Mission Shakti women have been set for the year 2021-22. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's security policy was either "influenced or was overlapping" with the foreign policy and it was only after became prime minister that the country got an independent security strategy, Union Home Minister said on Saturday. Shah was delivering the 'Rustamji memorial lecture' and it was being attended by personnel and officers of the Border Security Force (BSF). He also gave way gallantry medals to serving personnel and for those killed in the line of duty from the country's largest frontier force. "I used to think if there is a security policy of this country or not? Till became the prime minister we did not have any independent security policy," Shah said. "It was either influenced by foreign policy or it was overlapping with the foreign policy," he said. After became prime minister, the country got an independent security policy, he added. "Our idea is to have peaceful relations with all but if someone disturbs our borders, if someone challenges our sovereignty, the priority of our security policy is that such an attempt will be replied in the same language," Shah said. He said this security policy was a "big achievement" as the country wanted such a good plan. "I believe without this (security policy) neither the country can progress nor democracy can prosper," the home minister said "Modiji (PM) has done this big job. I do not want to give examples as it is well known," he said adding the policy was made operational on the ground by his government. Shah also declared that his government is working to ensure that there "will be no gap in the fencing" along India's borders by 2022. He said about three per cent of the country's border was unfenced at present and this has left a "big space" for infiltration of terrorists and other border crimes like smuggling of arms, ammunition and narcotics among others. The home minister said India will soon develop indigenous counter-drone technology which is being carried out by technical organisations like the DRDO and some other agencies. His comments come in the backdrop of the first time drone attack on the IAF station in Jammu last month where two unmanned aerial vehicles dropped bombs injuring two airmen and damaging a portion of a building inside. The minister added that the security and technology development establishment was also working on artificial intelligence and robotic technologies as part of a long drawn project. The about 2.65 lakh personnel strong, the BSF guards over 6,300 kms of Indian fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh. The memorial lecture and investiture ceremony is an annual affair to remember the contribution of its first chief or director general (DG) K F Rustamji. A officer of the 1938 batch of the British time Imperial Police, Rustamji headed the BSF for nine years. He died in 2003. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) has approved the emergency use of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine against COVID-19. It is the second Chinese COVID-19 vaccine approved by Sri Lanka's National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), News First reported. The country has already been administrating China's Sinopharm vaccine. on Thursday announced that it will donate another 1.6 million doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine to Besides this, Covishield, Sputnik and Pfizer vaccines are also being administrated in the country. Sinovac CoronaVac has been developed by Sinovac/ National Pharmaceutical Group. In June, the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization has issued Interim recommendations for the use of the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine. According to the data published by the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health showed that, as of Thursday, more than 51 lakh people have obtained their first shot in the island nation, which has a population of 2.18 crores. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) on Friday received over 1.5 million doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine donated by the The 1,500,100 doses of the vaccine arrived in on Friday under the dose-sharing mechanism of the COVAX facility, Daily News reported. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US is committed to vaccinating as many people as possible to save lives and rebuild the global economy. "The is proud to lead the global fight against COVID-19 by sharing 1.5 million Moderna vaccine doses with our Sri Lankan friends. We are committed to vaccinating as many people as possible to save lives, rebuild the global economy and stop the threat of new variants," he tweeted. "The Government of would like to commend the for taking the lead in sharing these doses with the people of Sri Lanka", said Minister of Health, Pavithra Wanniarachchi. "This will add momentum to our ongoing efforts to protect our people from the pandemic through vaccination. The pandemic is not confined to a single country, therefore this kind of mutual support will strengthen the global efforts in combating COVID 19 pandemic", Wanniarachchi added. According to the data published by the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health showed that, as of Thursday, more than 51 lakh people have obtained their first shot in the island nation, which has a population of 2.18 crores. Sri Lanka began its vaccination process in January and has been administering Covishield, Sinopharm, Sputnik and Pfizer vaccines. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After the government decided to cancel the Kanwar Yatra this year in light of COVID-19, Haridwar police on Saturday said that borders of the state will remain sealed and a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) of the police will also be deployed. A notice issued by the Haridwar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Senthil Avoodai K Raj S said, "All the boundaries of the district will remain sealed so that the Kanwariyas cannot come to Haridwar. Along with this, QRT of the police will also be deployed." He further said that mobile teams of police have also been formed, which will reach the spot as soon as the information is received. "Under no circumstances will Kanwariyas be allowed to come to Haridwar," he said At the same time, the police have also banned the Kanwar market in Haridwar. "This year there will be no Kanwar market," SSP said. Earlier on Wednesday, Haridwar police asked people not to arrive in the district for the yatra, warning that those who try to enter the district, their vehicles will be confiscated and legal action shall be taken against them under the Disaster Management Act for violating the rules. On Friday, the Supreme Court granted one last opportunity to the Uttar Pradesh government to reconsider its decision of holding "symbolic Kanwar Yatra" amid the COVID-19 pandemic while stressing that the health of the citizens of India and the right to life is paramount. A Bench headed by Justice Rohinton F Nariman gave an ultimatum to the Uttar Pradesh government to either "reconsider" its decision or the court will pass orders on Monday. Soon after, Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Jai Pratap Singh on Friday said that the state government will look into the directions issued by the Supreme Court regarding the Kanwar Yatra and is likely to announce its decision by the evening today. The Kanwar Yatra, in which Shiva devotees from northern states travel on foot or by other means to collect water from River Ganga at Haridwar, Uttarakhand, to offer at Shiva temples in their areas, is set to begin from July 25. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US has said it is 'deeply saddened' by the death of Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui during clashes between Afghan forces and in Kandahar, and called for an end to the violence in Taking to Twitter, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price argued that a political settlement is the only way forward to end the current political crisis in "Deeply saddened by the death of Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist Danish Siddiqui today. We call for an end to the violence in Afghanistan, which has claimed far too many lives, including the lives of many journalists. A political settlement is the only way forward," he tweeted. The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Siddiqui was killed while covering a clash between Afghan security forces and Taliban, according to news agency Reuters where he was Chief Photographer. In a tweet, United Nations Assistance Mission in (UNAMA) said the killing of the journalist was a painful reminder of mounting dangers faced by media in Afghanistan. "Media working in Afghanistan and journalism itself in the country is under increasing threat. Our deep condolences to the family & friends of @dansiddiqi. A painful reminder of mounting dangers faced by media in Afghanistan. Authorities must investigate this and all killing of reporters," the UNAMA tweeted. TOLO News reported that Siddiqui was killed in Kandahar's Spin Boldak district, which has been captured by Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Friday expressed grief over the demise of Indian photojournalist Siddiqui. "I am deeply saddened with the shocking reports that Reuters Photojournalist Danish Siddiqui was killed while covering the atrocities in Kandahar," he said. "While I extend my heartfelt condolences to Sidiqqui's family and also to our media family, I reiterate my government's unwavering commitment to freedom of speech and protection of free media and journalists," he asserted. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vice President and Chairman has called a meeting of all floor leaders of the Upper house at his residence on Saturday, ahead of the Monsoon session of the Parliament from July 19. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has been appointed as the Leader of House in the Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has called an all-party meeting at 11 am on July 18 in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to be present. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will also chair an all-party meeting of the floor leaders of the lower house of Parliament on July 18. The government also has a series of legislations on its agenda in the Parliament session which will begin on July 19 and conclude on August 13. The Opposition is gearing up to corner the BJP-led NDA government on a range of issues including price rise, increasing cost of diesel and petrol and issues related to tackling of COVID-19 pandemic. The will continue till August 13. The two Houses will meet daily from 11 am to 6 pm with a one-hour lunch break. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Praveen Menon WELLINGTON (Reuters) -Leaders of the Asia-Pacific trade group APEC, including U.S. President Joe Biden, Russia's Vladimir Putin, and China's Xi Jinping, pledged on Friday to work to expand sharing and manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines to fight the global pandemic. The leaders, struggling to tame outbreaks exacerbated by the Delta variant of coronavirus, said they would encourage the voluntary transfer of vaccine production technologies "on mutually agreed terms" as the region prepared for future health shocks. "The pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on our region's people and economies," the leaders said in a joint statement issued after a virtual meeting chaired by New Zealand. "We will only overcome this health emergency by accelerating equitable access to safe, effective, quality-assured, and affordable COVID-19 vaccines," they said. The leaders met virtually to discuss collective actions to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impacts. New Zealand, the revolving Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation host, said this week it would chair the extraordinary meeting ahead of a formal gathering in November, the first time such an additional meeting has been held. "Our discussions moved us beyond vaccine nationalism. Now we are focusing on all aspects of contributing to the global vaccination effort - making vaccines, sharing vaccines and using vaccines," New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said after the meeting. She said the leaders agreed this will not be the world's last pandemic and that preparedness was critical. The meeting highlights growing concerns around COVID-19, which is raging in the region as countries including Indonesia, Thailand and Australia face new waves of infections. U.S.-CHINA TENSIONS The White House said Biden emphasized the importance of multilateral cooperation and his commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. "President Biden also discussed the importance of investing in better global health security and preparedness so that we are ready the next time we face a pandemic," it said in a statement. Putin told the group that global barriers to vaccine production and deliveries needed to be removed, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga expressed his determination to hold a safe and secure Olympics. Despite their show of resolve, there are tensions among members, most notably between the West and China - over issues ranging from the origins of the to trade, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and the South China Sea. Just as the meeting concluded, Washington announced sanctions on seven Chinese individuals over Beijing's crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong, its latest effort to hold Beijing accountable for what it calls an erosion of rule of law in the former British colony. The United States and China have a troubled relationship and they have had little high-level, face-to-face contact under the Biden administration since a March meeting between senior officials in Alaska, where the Chinese side expressed anger at U.S. sanctions announced just ahead of the talks. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said China's Xi delivered pre-recorded video remarks at the meeting and was not in attendance. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment. The grouping includes the world's three largest economies and impoverished nations such as Papua New Guinea, as well as members at vastly different points in the COVID-19 cycle, providing further challenges for building consensus. That consensus model of APEC has been tested in recent years, with the group unable to agree on a communique at their 2018 meeting in Papua New Guinea, driven by differences between China and the then U.S. president, Donald Trump. The 2019 APEC meeting in Chile was cancelled due to protests while the one in Malaysia last year was side-tracked as officials hastily organised a virtual meeting as the pandemic locked down the world. In June, APEC trade ministers agreed to review trade barriers and expedite the cross-border transit of COVID-19 vaccines and related goods, but stopped short of a broad commitment to remove tariffs which New Zealand was pushing for. There have been over 50 million cases of COVID-19 within APEC's borders, with over 1 million deaths. APEC-wide GDP contracted by 1.9% in 2020. (Additional reporting by Jeff Mason and David Brunnstrom in Washington, Tom Allard in Jakarta, Yew Lun Tian in Beijing, Ben Blanchard in Taipei, Panu Wongcha-Um in Bangkok and Swati Pandey in Sydney; Writing by Jeff Mason and Praveen Menon; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Jon Boyle, Daniel Wallis and Marguerita Choy) (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister on Saturday dismissed rumours about his resignation, saying it is not at all true. He also said that he will meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and chief J P Nadda before returning to Bengaluru. "Not at all. Not at all," Yediyurappa told reporters at the Bhavan here when asked if he has resigned. There is no truth in the rumour, asserted the chief minister, who will return to Bengaluru on Saturday after meeting the chief and the Union ministers. On Friday, Yediyurappa had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed pending state works, including Mekedatu project across river Cauvery. The meeting came at a time political circles are abuzz with speculations of Yediyurappa being replaced as the chief minister. Repeated open remarks by some disgruntled leaders within the targeting him and his family with accusations of corruption and interference in administration have embarrassed the party and the government, despite warnings of disciplinary action by the leadership. Another section of the party is demanding the replacement of Yediyurappa (79) citing his age and the need of projecting a new CM face ahead of assembly polls in 2023, sources had said. On a possible cabinet rejig, Yediyurappa, before the meeting with the prime minister, had said, "I will tell you if there is any such discussion with (party) seniors over the restructuring or expansion of the Cabinet." An official statement issued after the Friday meeting had said the chief minister discussed various state issues with the prime minister. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Airport International on Saturday signed a shareholder agreement with the Uttar Pradesh government's entity NIAL in Lucknow for the development of the Noida International Airport, a statement said. Arun Vir Singh, CEO, Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL), and Christoph Schnellmann, CEO, Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd (YIAPL), signed the agreement in the presence Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and senior officials of the UP government, the Airport International's statement said. YIAPL is a 100 per cent subsidiary of Airport International and has been incorporated to develop the Noida International Airport in Jewar, which is around 70 km from the main Delhi region. According to the agreement, NIAL will hold one golden share in YIAPL and the right to nominate two directors to the board. "The directors to be added to the board will be Arun Vir Singh, CEO NIAL, and Vishak Iyer, Director, Civil Aviation, Government of Uttar Pradesh," it added. The shareholder agreement also underpins the UP government's support to "establish and continuously improve surface access to the airport, establish and expand utilities required to run the airport (water, electricity, waste water), maintain law and order, including monitoring at the airport, and grant the necessary clearances to build and operate the airport". The signing of the shareholder agreement is the next step in the direction of progress for the state. The Noida International Airport will be the benchmark for a modern, world-class airport in India, a statement quoted Adityanath as saying. It will accelerate the development of industrial infrastructure, boost tourism, promote exports, ease air traffic and lead to creation of more jobs in the state. It will generate multi-dimensional progress, leading to economic development in Uttar Pradesh, he added. Last month, the YIAPL had announced that it has secured a loan of Rs 3,725 crore from the State Bank of India for the development of Noida international Airport. When it won the bid on November 29, 2019 to build and operate the Noida airport, the Zurich Airport International had said the airport will be able to handle 12 million passengers per year after the first phase of construction. Officials of the Uttar Pradesh government and the Swiss company had signed a concession agreement on October 7, 2020 to begin the construction of the Noida airport, estimated to cost Rs 29,560 crore. In December 2020, it had submitted the master plan for the first phase of construction to the UP government and selected a four-company consortium to design the passenger terminal for the greenfield airport in Jewar. The Zurich Airport International had outbid Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), Adani Enterprises and Anchorage Infrastructure Investments Holdings Limited to win the 40-year concession for the Noida airport in November 2019. The Zurich Airport International is itself a 100 per cent subsidiary of Flughafen Zurich AG, a listed company that operates the Zurich airport. Zurich Airport International AG (ZAIA) CEO Daniel Bircher said, We are pleased to sign the shareholder agreement, which strengthens the partnership between ZAIA and NIAL. The Noida International Airport will be an engine of economic growth for India and Uttar Pradesh, stimulating residential and industrial activities in the catchment area as well as the development of cargo and logistics cluster in the NCR region. This agreement reaffirms UP government's commitment to provide road and rail connectivity along with other various utilities and to ensure safety and security for the upcoming Noida International Airport, he said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwathnarayan on Friday, who is also the minister for higher education, announced the schedule of examinations of Diploma and courses. This was decided in a meeting with higher officials of the department. Addressing the media, Narayana announced, the practical exams for odd semesters (01-03-05) will be held from July 26-28 and theory exams for the leftover subjects of 01, 03, 05, and other semesters will be held from Aug 02- Aug 21. The practical exams for even semesters (02-04-06) are scheduled to be conducted from November 2 to November 12 and theory exams for the same semesters will be conducted from November 17 to December 12. The exams of courses for odd semesters (which has been completely kept pending in Gulbarga, Karanata & Bengaluru universities and a few subjects leftover in some other universities) is scheduled to be completed by August 15, and for even semesters in the month of October, for which the dates will be notified shortly, he informed. To facilitate students writing the examination contact classes will be held and they can approach to get any clarifications or clear any doubts and to prepare for the examinations, he emphasized. With regard to the vaccination of students of higher education, 65 per cent of the students studying in government and government-aided institutions have been vaccinated. Considering the fact that there are many students from other states and other districts, the present progress is satisfactory, Narayana opined. Pertaining to the opening of regular classes for classes, the decision will be taken in 3-4 days after consultations with the Chief Minister, BS Yediyurappa, he pointed out. Dr Thimmegowda, Vice-Chairperson, State Higher Council, Kumar Naik, ACS, Department of Higher Education, Pradeep P., Commissioner, Department of Collegiate were present. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Secretary of State has said that he believes Afghan forces can secure the country as the US withdraws, but success will depend on whether they have the will to put up a fierce fight against the Thousands of Afghans have fled the country in recent days as forces have surged through northern Pompeo said on Friday that he is confident Afghan forces can repel the Taliban, but it's a matter of will. I saw on TV the other day, I saw some 22, 23-year-old Afghan males say, 'It's really dangerous here, I want to get out,'" the former secretary of state said. What those Afghans should have been saying is it's really dangerous here, give me an M16, he added. Under former President Donald Trump, Pompeo oversaw US negotiations with the and remains the only secretary of state to have met face-to-face with senior Taliban officials. He applauded President Joe Biden's move to withdraw from rare praise from a Trump loyalist but said he was worried that US counterterrorism operations could be hurt in the process. Pompeo was in Des Moines, Iowa on Friday speaking at several political events, including a conference for conservative Christians. Since leaving the office at the end of former President Donald Trump's term, Pompeo has formed a political action committee and is considered a potential 2024 presidential candidate. He said he is currently focused on fundraising and recruiting for other candidates. Pompeo pushed Biden to increase pressure on the Cuban government as anti-government protests erupted there. Pompeo re-designated Cuba a state sponsor of terror during the Trump administration's final days, even as Biden was promising a new approach to the communist-governed island. The protests have been spurred by food shortages, rising prices and power cuts, but Pompeo stuck to a hardline, America first view of foreign policy. He warned that any moves to send funds to Cuba would show a fundamental misunderstanding of totalitarian regimes. You can't fund them, you can't underwrite them, he said. He suggested instead the US could make moves like opening internet access that would help protesters coordinate and increase pressure on the Cuban government. There are lots of tools that the American government has in its possession and it demands leadership that wants to destroy communist regimes. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President will meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi later this month in Washington, the has said. The meeting set for July 26 comes at a pivotal point in the US- relationship, and amid growing concerns about more frequent attacks against US troops in and Syria. There have been at least eight drone attacks targeting the US presence since Biden took office in January, as well as 17 rocket attacks. Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Biden also looks forward to strengthening bilateral cooperation with on political, economic and security issues to include joint efforts to ensure the enduring defeat" of the Islamic State militant group. The attacks on US forces have been blamed on the Iranian-backed militias that make up the bulk of Iraq's state-supported Popular Mobilization Forces. The Biden administration has responded by twice targeting Iraqi militia groups operating inside Syria, including one close to the Iraq border. The relationship has been complicated since last year's US drone strike killing of Iran's expeditionary Quds Force commander Qassim Soleimani and senior Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at Baghdad Airport. That strike was ordered by then-President Donald Trump. But with the Biden administration seeking to revive an Obama-era nuclear accord with Iran, there have been signs that Iran is looking to curb, at least for now, militia attacks on the US. Soleimani's successor Esmail Ghaani last month called on Iranian-backed militias to remain calm until after nuclear talks between Iran and the (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A has been enforced in the Afghan city of Kandahar to curb the violence that escalated due to clashes between the Afghan forces and fighters. Restrictions on movement will be in place from 9 pm until 5 am, Sputnik reported. The Kandahar military security council recommended that residents staying in other parts of should not return to the city until further notice. Kandahar in recent days witnessed a massive surge in Taliban-infused violence after insurgents launched multiple attacks to get hold of the provinces of Kandahar. Afghan national army commandos are deployed to counter resurgence in respective disturbing zones. The violence surge comes amid the drawdown of foreign forces from As the continues to seize new territory, US officials have been engaged in talks with countries neighbouring to support the Afghan Defense Forces. Other south and central Asian countries are also engaged in talks to advance peace talks. The came hours after Sediq Karzai, a Kandahar special forces commander, was killed in clashes with the Taliban over control of the town of Spin Boldak on the border with Pakistan. During the violence, Indian photo-journalist Danish Siddique was also killed. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The from the devastating triggered by torrential rainfall in western and southern has increased to more than 100, with thousands missing, according to police and local authorities. The federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate were hit particularly hard, with 43 people and 60 people dead, respectively, reports Xinhua news agency. "It is a national disaster," said Malu Dreyer, minister president of Rhineland-Palatinate at a press conference on FRiday, adding that "people can count on all forces in the country to stand together". A large number of people are still missing. The district of Ahrweiler alone currently estimates about 1,300 missing people, while around 3,500 are being treated in care facilities. "Due to the complex damage situation, a final assessment of the situation is not yet possible," the district announced via Twitter. North Rhine-Westphalia's minister president Armin Laschet said that ways would need to be found to get roads, bridges and other infrastructure up and running again. "A great national effort is required so that the worst things are quickly removed." More storms and heavy rainfall are expected to hit Rhineland-Palatinate and the federal state of Saarland. The German Weather Service (DWD) warned of local thunderstorms with precipitation between 15 and 25 litres per square metre as well as hail and gale-force winds. --IANS ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Afghan security forces repelled an attack by the on Shiberghan city, capital of Jawzjan province, killing and injuring dozens of militants, a police officer said. Sporadic fighting started early Friday when dozens of armed with guns and heavy weapons entered from two directions in the south and east of the city, provincial police officer Abobakar Jilani told Xinhua news agency. "The Afghan army, police backed by local public uprising fighters repelled the attackers and prevented them from advancing to the central part of the city," he said. The Afghan Air Force conducted several airstrikes on militants' positions on the outskirts of the city, 390 km to the north of national capital Kabul, an official from the Afghan National Army told Xinhua. "Within the past 24 hours, 60 have been killed and many others wounded. The army personnel will soon reopen two provincial highways which connect Shiberghan city with neighbouring Balkh and Sari Pul provinces," he said. --IANS ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A former official of the Haitian Ministry of Justice ordered the assassination of the country's President Jovenel Moise, Colombian authorities said. "Joseph Feliz Badio, who was an official of the Ministry of Justice and worked in the anti-corruption unit with the General Intelligence Service, tells Duberney Capador (former Colombian military officer) and German Rivera (former agent of the Colombian army) that what they have to do is to assassinate the president of Haiti," General Jorge Luis Vargas, director of the Colombian Police, said at a press conference here on Friday. Vargas said Badio had informed Capador and Rivera "apparently three days before" the operation that the order was not to arrest Moise, but to kill him. On Thursday, Colombia's President Ivan Duque said former members of the the country's military who participated in the killing will have to be tried by the Haitian judicial system. Duque said his administration has been "collaborating" with Haitian authorities after a group of Colombian mercenaries took part in the assassination. The Haitian President was assassinated on July 7 at his residence by a commando of mercenaries. At least 28 people participated in the of the Haitian President, including 26 Colombians and two Haitian Americans. --IANS ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Syrian President Bashar Assad was sworn in Saturday for a fourth seven-year term in the war-torn country. The May elections were described by the West and Assad's opposition as illegitimate and a sham. The swearing-in ceremony was held at the presidential palace and attended by clergymen, members of parliament, political figures and army officers. In power since 2000, Assad's re-election in a landslide was never in doubt. His new term starts with the country still devastated by 10 years of war and sliding deeper into a worsening economic crisis. The U.N. estimates that more than 80% of Syrians live under the poverty line. The Syrian currency is in a free fall and basic services and resources have become scarce or are offered at exorbitant parallel market prices. Fighting has largely subsided, but parts of remain out of government-control and foreign troops and militias are deployed in different parts of the country. Nearly half of Syria's pre-war population is either displaced or living in neighbouring countries or Europe as refugees. The war has left nearly half a million killed, tens of thousands missing and devastated the infrastructure. The conflict that began in 2011 started after the government cracked down on peaceful protests, turning the opposition against the decades-long rule of the Assad family into an armed rebellion. Assad, targeted by widening sanctions and isolated by the West, is supported by Iran and Russia, who sent in troops and assistance that have propped him up throughout the war. European and U.S. governments blame Assad and his aides for most of the war's atrocities. Assad calls his armed opposition terrorists while U.N.-led talks to end the conflict have lacked any progress. Assad took over in 2000 after the death of his father Hafez, who seized power in 1970 in a bloodless military coup. U.S. and European officials have questioned the legitimacy of the election, saying it violated U.N. resolutions in place to resolve the conflict, lacks any monitoring and is unrepresentative of all Syrians. Assad garnered 95.1% of the vote in the election, in which officials said turnout was 78.6% of some 18 million registered voters. There were no independent monitors of the one-day vote. Competition was symbolic, with two candidates running against Assad. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The UN humanitarian chief in appealed for USD 850 million Thursday to help the war-torn country cope with the impact of the offensive, protracted malnutrition for a third of the country, a severe drought, and the return of 627,000 Afghans this year, most of them deported from neighbouring Iran. Ramiz Alakbarov told reporters at UN headquarters after a virtual briefing from the capital of Kabul that at least 18 million Afghans are in need of assistance and the UN plan is to provide help for at least 15.7 million of them. But he said the UN's USD 1.3 billion appeal is only 37 per cent funded -- USD 450 million with the United States the largest donor. He said the remaining the USD 850 million being sought is desperately needed. As American and NATO troops complete their pullout from after nearly 20 years, the in recent weeks have gained control of many districts and key border posts with neighbours Iran, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. In many instances, Afghan security forces and military have put up little or no resistance after often being left without supplies or reinforcements. Alakbarov said the second drought in three years and the Taliban's offensive have led 270,000 people to flee their homes in rural areas toward urban areas and regional centers, where they need food, water, shelter and sanitation. The UN is also seeing very intensive movements of population in the areas when the Iranian and Pakistan borders are now largely closed, with Afghans trying to use paths away from the official crossings to try to leave the country, he said. Alakbarov expressed hope that Afghanistan's neighbours will look at the situation in terms of human rights and their responsibility to protect people from suffering and allow Afghan refugees into their countries. The registered 627,000 Afghans who have returned from neighboring countries so far this year, he said, and most of them are from Iran. Alakbarov reported a significant increase in attacks on humanitarian workers this year. He said 35 humanitarian workers have been killed and 63 injured, which represents a 30 per cent increase compared to last year. He also reported threats and interference involving aid staffers, citing 1,095 incidents in the first six months of 2021, compared to 1,100 in all of 2020. He said most difficulties faced by aid workers arise from military activity, including having to deal with mines on roads, being caught in cross-fire, and coming under attack from groups that target female health workers, women who do vaccinations and mine-clearing teams. Alakbarov said that in the current situation, everything is a challenge" and COVID-19 hasn't made it easier, with deaths from the coronavirus doubling in the last 2 months. While the UN has humanitarian supplies in for needs through August, he said, the closure of border crossings could pose future problems. He added the insuring security at Kabul airport is absolutely imperative. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Biden administration is investigating a recent rash of mysterious health incidents reported by American diplomats and other government employees in Vienna, Austria, US officials said Friday. Some of the symptoms are similar to those first reported by and spies in Havana, Cuba, in 2016 and 2017 for which no definitive cause has yet been determined, according to the officials, who said more than 20 new cases were being looked at by medical teams at the State Department and elsewhere, including the Pentagon and CIA. In coordination with our partners across the US government, we are vigorously investigating reports of possible unexplained health incidents among the US Embassy community, the State Department said. Any employees who reported a possible UHI received immediate and appropriate attention and care. Some believe the unexplained injuries, which include brain damage, are the result of attacks with microwave or radio wave weapons. However, despite years of study there is no consensus as to what or who might be behind the incidents or whether they are, in fact, attacks. The Vienna-based employees have reported suffering from mysterious symptoms since President Joe Biden was inaugurated, according to the officials. The cases were first reported Friday by The New Yorker magazine. has for centuries been a center for espionage and diplomacy and was a hub for clandestine spy-versus-spy activity during the Cold War. The city is currently the site of indirect talks between Iran and the over salvaging the nuclear deal that was negotiated there in 2015. Those talks are now in hiatus and it was not immediately clear if any members of the US negotiating team were among those suffering from injuries. The problem has been labelled the Havana Syndrome, because the first cases affected personnel in 2016 at the US Embassy in Cuba. In May, officials said at least 130 cases across the government are were under investigation, up from several dozen last year. People who are believed to have been affected have reported headaches, dizziness and symptoms consistent with concussions, with some requiring months of medical treatment. Some have reported hearing a loud noise before the sudden onset of symptoms. Particularly alarming are revelations of at least two possible incidents in the Washington area, including one case near the White House in November in which an official reported dizziness. Although some are convinced the injuries are the result of directed energy attacks, believe the growing number of cases could actually be linked to mass psychogenic illness, in which people learning of with symptoms begin to feel sick themselves. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) During a phone conversation with his Afghan counterpart Ashraf Ghani, Chinese President pledged Beijing's continued support for the "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned" principle, as well as the peace and reconciliation process in the war-torn country. The conversation took place between the two leaders on Friday, reports Xinhua news agency. Xi stressed that China firmly supports the Afghan government's endeavour to safeguard national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, which is in the interests of the Afghan people and countries in the region. China always believes that political dialogue is the fundamental way to achieve national reconciliation and lasting peace in Afghanistan, the Chinese leader told Ghani. The Chinese side is glad to see that the Afghan government and relevant parties in have reached positive consensus during the recent dialogue in Tehran, he said. China, Xi added, hopes that both sides engaged in the dialogue will put the interests of the Afghan people first, and agree on a political solution through negotiation at an early date. Regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, Xi said that China is ready to continue to provide support and assistance for Afghanistan's fight against the health crisis. --IANS ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On a consolidated basis, Den Networks' net profit tanked 30% to Rs 41 crore on 1% increase in revenue to Rs 303 crore in Q1 June 2021 over Q1 June 2020. Revenue from subscription stood at Rs 185 crore in Q1 FY22, a decline of 13% year-on-year (YoY)and a decline of 2% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ). Activation revenues were at Rs 21 crore in Q1 FY22, a decline of 12% YoY and a decline of 40% QoQ. Profit before tax skid 30% to Rs 41 crore in Q1 FY22 as against Rs 59 crore in Q1 FY21. EBITDA dropped 25% to Rs 48 crore in Q1 FY22 as against Rs 64 crore in Q1 FY21. EBITDA margin stood at 16% during the quarter compared with 21% during the corresponding quarter last year. Sequentially, the company's net profit rose 21% while revenue decline 7% in Q1 FY22 over Q4 FY21. Den Networks is a leading cable TV distribution company in the country with a wide gamut of services including Cable TV and Broadband. Its cable operations covers over 500+ cities/towns across 13 key states (Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Kerala, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand) in India. Shares of Den Networks lost 0.45% to close at Rs 55.20 on Friday. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday said there are signals that the third wave of Covid-19 is in its early stages. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has also warned that it was inevitable and imminent. The ferocity of the second wave and the damage it did to lives and finances is fresh in our minds. While escaping the virus should be our top priority, we also need to prepare for the financial emergencies that can arise due to the third wave. Maintain an emergency corpus Have an emergency fund equal to at least 12 months ... has reported 43 deaths and 2,205 new cases of COVID-19, the Health Department said on Saturday. Of the fresh cases, two were those of returnees from Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, said the department. The new cases pushed the tally till date to 25,33,323 and the number of fatalities so far to 33,695. Recoveries outnumbered the new infections with 2,802 people getting discharged, aggregating to 24,71,038 leaving 28,590 active cases, according to bulletin. Thirty-one districts reported new infections in double digits and 18 districts saw nil deaths. Chennai recorded 137 new infections and took the count to 5,36,032 and the toll of fatalities to 8,292 with six deaths over the last 24 hours. Among the districts, Coimbatore reported the maximum of 241 cases and Perambalur least with 12. A total of 1,45,814 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, pushing the cumulative number of specimens examined to 3,54,14,538 till date. Of the 43 fatalities, 30 were reported from government hospitals and the rest from private ones. Eleven people died but had no co-morbidity or pre-existing illness, the bulletin said. Meanwhile, Minister for Medical and Family Welfare Ma Subramanian told reporters that the government has proposed to the Centre to set up another All-India Institute of Medical Sciences College in Coimbatore besides the one proposed for Madurai. The Centre has promised to consider the proposal, the Minister said. On the vaccination programme, he said the State has received 1.77 crore doses of vaccines and 1.76 crore people have been vaccinated. "We have 4,15 lakh doses in stock," he pointed out. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi [India], July 17 (ANI/PNN): The BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry organized a webinar on Future of Energy Innovation: an Interactive Session on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency on July 16, 2021, 5:30 PM IST virtually. In line with the BRICS 2021 Agenda, the BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry evaluated the sustainability factor of renewable energy through the panel discussion by assessing the current policy scenario on efficient use and innovation of energy at the global and national level. The session was inaugurated with a welcome address from Vishwas Tripathi (Chairman, BRICS CCI) who remarked, "We are witnessing an unprecedented momentum for decisive global action to tackle energy access for the first time." Theme 1: Roadmap to Sustainability: Energy Efficiency and Innovation: 1. Dr. Elbia Gannoum - Chief Executive Officer at ABEEolica - AssociacaoBrasileira de EnergiaEolica, Brazil & Vice Chairman, Global Wind Energy Council 2. Dr. Jai Asundi - Executive Director, Center for Study of Science, Technology & Policy 3. Arjun Agarwal - Founder & CEO, KR Biofuels 4. HemantMallya - Senior Programme Lead, Industrial Sustainability & Competitiveness, Council on Energy, Environment & Water 5. Frank Cato Lahti - Founder/CEO, Othalo 6. Eric Lau- Strategic Business Leader, V-Flow Tech, Singapore Dr Elbia Gannoum said, "Brazil has a lot of renewable sources of energy production. New technology has increased the potential of electricity generation. Now we have a hybrid process where you can club solar and wind energy. In the next 10 years, we have special possibilities of producing green hydrogen. We expect that in 2030 we will have 3 times more production than in 2020." Dr Jai Asundi said, "There is no doubt that renewable energy is a source of future energy. It can have different forms it can be through large solar plants, large windmills and we can also have decentralized renewable energy, it can be looked at from a perspective that the small smart grids that give entities such as villages and towns which are away from town to get access of energy, we have been working on developing techniques for rooftop photovoltaic, coming up with solutions for barriers that are both technical, regulatory and financial" Hemant Mallya said, "In our recent study we focused on job generation opportunities in the floating solar space, which is traditionally solar plants located on land, but in this case, we are looking to float solar panels on water bodies and generate power from them. " Eric Lau said, "We at V Flow tech have invested 7-8 years of research work and innovations for new technologies basically focused on Million flow batteries and commercialization of it. As you know the previous decade belonged to solar energy because of its cheapness and renewable source, however, its growth is unsustainable because existing storage solutions are insufficient to support it, so there is a need for reliable, low cost and long-duration energy storage solutions." Theme 2: Renewable Energy Market: What does the Future Hold? 1. Ranjit Gupta- CEO, Azure Power 2. Ismael Guerrero Arias - President of Energy Group & Corporate Vice President, Canadian Solar Inc. 3. Kelly Grace Alcock - Global Impact Project Officer, Oxfam, South Africa 4. VinodRijhwani- Managing Partner, Surja Energy 5. Ram Divedi- Co-Owner, Pravaig Dynamics 6. PashuGopalan- CEO & Co-Chairman, SunEdison Ranjit Gupta said, "The sector over the last ten years has evolved quite a lot, you could not recognize how the sector was four-five years back. Climate change has made us understand how important it is for all of us to ensure we go towards more carbon efficiency. And there has been a push from the government to move away from fossil fuel." Kelly Grace Alcock said, "In regards to BRICS nations' focus on renewable energy has helped our countries to recover and it has been very beneficial in terms of socio-economic opportunities such as improving the security of applications and improving the cost of electricity." Pashupathy Gopalan said, "I think we have to realize that energy is a big part of the civilization that is going through a transformation and it's my belief that when we look back these two years are going to be instrumental in transforming energy and hydrogen is the future of the entry. The BRICS countries need to recognize the possibility and the beauty of hydrogen is not really new, around 70 million metric tons of hydrogen is used in fertilizer and oil refining processes." This session was moderated by Ruhail Ranjan (M.D., Chandrika Power and Member of the Governing Body, BRICS CCI). This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Incessant downpours continue to lash parts of China, resulting in flooding. In Henan province, precipitation in multiple areas has exceeded 7 inches, and the rain is expected to last until Thursday. Two dams in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region collapsed due to heavy rains Sunday, affecting thousands of residents. The National Meteorological Center predicts more rainfall in the next few days, with two typhoons expected to make landfall along the coast Tuesday night Jul 20, 2021 05:15 PM St. Johnsbury, VT (05819) Today Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 78F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 63F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. remaining of Thank you for reading! This is your last free article before you will be asked to subscribe. Already have a paid subscription? Sign in Dr. Matthew Godfrey, left, a N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission sea turtle biologist, and Brianne Phillips, then a zoological medicine resident with N.C. States College of Veterinary Medicine, examine a stunned sea turtle in 2014 at the Center for Marine Science and Technology in Morehead City in this file photo. (Mark Hibbs photo) Cruelty including one duck whose feet were cut off forces removal of birds from Statesville park Belle has had a beautiful start. The eighth feature from Mamoru Hosoda premiered out of competition at Cannes yesterday, reportedly earning a 14-minute standing ovation. The audiences enthusiastic reaction is backed up by strong reviews. Belle has the look of a winner for the teen set, writes Deborah Young in The Hollywood Reporter. The visuals are often astounding. Indiewires David Ehrlich was a little more measured in his praise: [W]hile [Hosodas] most ambitious moonshot to date isnt quite able to arrange all of its moving parts together along the same orbit, its impressive to see how many of them remain moving all the same. Photo: Victoria Times Colonist Jared Lowndes The national union representing RCMP officers is pushing back against criticism by the family of a man killed by RCMP in Campbell River on July 8 in a statement that suggests Jared Lowndess own actions led to his death. We send our sympathies to the Lowndes family and friends following the death of Jared Lowndes last week, Brian Sauve, president of the National Police Federation, said in the statement. If Mr. Lowndes had not, however, evaded police, stabbed PSD [police service dog] Gator and injured an RCMP officer, and instead turned himself in to the courts to comply with a warrant for weapons offenses, he could be alive today. The unions statement was devastating for Lowndess mother, Laura Holland, said Fay Blaney, a close friend and great-aunt to Lowndess children. She was furious. Shes so hurt. Shes so wounded with the loss of him to begin with, Blaney said. Sauve also emphasized the need to avoid speculation or inappropriate external influence while an investigation is ongoing by the Independent Investigations Office of B.C., tasked with looking into incidents involving officers that result in serious harm or death. The union did not make someone available for an interview Friday. Lowndes, a 38-year-old Indigenous father of two young girls, was shot and killed on the morning of July 8 outside a Campbell River Tim Hortons, after an officer tried to stop his vehicle for an outstanding warrant. A police dog also died in the incident, and the dog handler was treated for knife wounds, the B.C. RCMP said in a statement hours after the shooting. The RCMP issued two more statements later that afternoon, detailing police dog Gators service and thanking the Campbell River community for its support following the dogs death. Over the weekend, Campbell River residents came out to watch a procession of RCMP vehicles in honour of Gator. Suggesting that if Lowndes had behaved differently he could still be alive, while stressing the need for due process during the investigation, is really quite dissonant, said David Black, an associate professor in the school of communication and culture at Royal Roads University. It seems that theyre getting out ahead of the facts. And, you know, its not for them to determine the outcome of this investigation, Black said. Black also criticized the RCMP statements mourning the dog as tone deaf, particularly at a time when the lack of value placed on Indigenous lives in Canada has been thrust into the national spotlight with the discovery of what are believed to be unmarked graves at former residential schools. Dogs are lovely things, but their lives are simply not equivalent to a human being, no matter how guilty or innocent, you know, that person is, Black said. The communication from both the RCMP and the police union is hurting a charged situation, Black said. Lowndess family has said they believe the RCMPs tributes to the slain dog have fuelled racist reactions to the mans death. A memorial to Lowndes has been disturbed several times, with tributes from his daughters torn and signs placed face down. In person and online, his family and friends have been told his life was worth less than the dogs. Sgt. Chris Manseau of the B.C. RCMP said he doesnt believe the RCMP statement was tone deaf. He said Gator was a beloved police dog and a member of the community. The statements came from officers who were close to Gator and had worked with him for a long time, he said. I dont think it was intended to make light of the loss of any other life. It was from the heart, Manseau said. - Victoria Times Colonist There were a few letters recently with divergent opinions about backcountry access. Tom Klassen (Keep the bush open) and Mick Bell (Don't ban the backcountry) want to maintain access to the backcountry while Patti Connolly (Shut down the bush) holds a contrary opinion. I have the perfect compromise solution. An IQ test would allow society to filter out the stupid and ignorant among us. Canada has the 9th highest IQ in the world, at between 99-100 depending on the source. In Kelowna based on observed behaviour, that seems to drop to about 85, and even lower during summer. 100 is considered an average level of intelligence, so keep in mind to process an IQ test to filter the wheat from the chaff, we'd need to keep the margin of acceptability to a score of at least 120, maybe higher. Since the vast majority of the population has accepted 16 months of medically driven tyranny and oppression, surely they would accept 'testing" to determine things like access to the backcountry? In fire season, we could lock down the cities and prevent the low IQ horde from escaping the confines of the city limits. Volunteers and other interfering busybodies could patrol the bush asking people to show their IQ Pass. Fines could be issued to the stupid for daring to leave the confines of their hovels. The carrying of an IQ Pass is all that's required to facilitate this, and of course, it needs to be mandatory to gain access to the great outdoors. Precedents have already been put in place, and this could be triggered by declared provincial states of emergency due to risk of fire hazard. Since so many people have willingly embraced, and even demanded, such controls and restrictions, they should be grateful that the government is trying to keep them safe. And they should support the protection of BC residents from seasonal invasions by stupid people, therefore border checkpoints should be set up with mobile IQ testing systems so we can deny entry to the stupid and dangerous. This would be a great use of RCMP resources, since there's obviously no serious crime in the province that takes priority. We could enjoy a daily press update, with the amount of IQ testing being completed and the rolling average IQ. Mick Bell writes, I'm so tired of being denied simple joys because of a few dumb asses. But he's missing a few opportunities to lock this down even further. The low IQ horde shouldn't be permitted to operate motor vehicles, or any sort of equipment. Including things like lawnmowers, weedwhackers, and chainsaws. Maybe even table saws, since that is also a major cause of low IQ people losing limbs and fingers. Stupid people need to be kept safe, and retailers could easily restrict sales of anything considered potentially dangerous via the production of an IQ Pass. This might include cigarettes, lighters, propane tanks, knives, scissors and other sharp objects. Stricter controls on driver licensing would surely reduce motor vehicle accidents. It would clear up left-lane hoggers. Even the speed limits could be increased, since they only exist as lowest common denominator controls to prevent stupid people from killing themselves at a higher rate. It would be fantastic for the green movement, since the stupid would have to use public transportation. But not bicycles, since their failure to wear helmets and ability to get hit by cars is a risk to every road user, and we must all be kept safe. Surely this is the sort of greenwashing PR opportunity that Mayor Basran would support, even if he might not qualify for it. After all, it's for the greater good, and we are all in this together. Unless you live in the bush and your life and livelihood is threatened by the very idiots starting forest fires. And to answer Brad Boschee's question, yes, people throwing cigarettes out of vehicles during fire season should be banned from rural highways, charged with reckless endangerment, fined significantly, and put through a mandatory, and expensive, wildfire awareness program. This would raise funds for local volunteer firefighter services. Consequences are required for such ignorant actions. Force them to display a large cigarette shaped decal on the back of their vehicle with a tagline that reads honk if you think I'm a stupid firestarter. Let's set the bar at an IQ of 135 and see where we go from there. It would certainly release us from the many burdens that stupid people place upon society. And we must follow the science. After all, science tells us that low IQ scores in early adulthood were associated with a subsequently increased risk of unintentional injury and the link between IQ and mortality could be partially attributed to the healthier behaviours displayed by those who score higher on IQ tests. Don't be stupid. Stay home. Trust the science. Stay safe. Get IQ tested. It's for the greater good. Ricky Daytona, West Kelowna Photo: CTV News Vancouver According to the B.C. Coroners, the number of deaths from the recent heat wave is up to 808. CTV News Vancouver has reported those deaths were recorded from June 25 through July 1, as a rare heat dome sent temperatures skyrocketing to dangerous highs in many parts of the province. The deadliest day recorded was June 29th, where temperatures in Lytton reached 46.9 degrees Celsius, which set a new Canadian record. The coroners said 300 deaths came on that same day. Officials are still determining exactly how many of the 808 deaths were directly related to heat, but the average number of deaths reported during the same period over the previous five years was 198. Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe has noted many of the deaths involved seniors who lived alone in poorly ventilated homes. "All deaths reported are currently being investigated to establish cause and manner of death," reads a message on the BCCS website. "Data is preliminary and subject to change." The government's response to the heat wave has been criticized for not doing enough, though officials, including Premier John Horgan, have stressed the "unprecedented" nature of the heat dome. The province has promised to analyze the heat wave and the response in the hopes of avoiding a tragedy on the same scale next time temperatures spike. -with files from CTV Vancouver